Locations for my Documentary (Home environment)

For the purpose of my documentary it was vital there was a number of 'real life' locations filmed within the content to provide a 'comfort' feeling for my target audience - therefore there would be a greater chance of them identifying with the girls in the filming. The message in my plot would impact harsher and more deeply if they themselves can witness anorexia occurring in familiar environments, emphasising the illness survives in ordinary settings we all encounter in regular life and is not 'worlds away'. Moreover I wanted to gain insight from families involved with the disorder, particularly those who have relations inflicted with an eating disorder as this demonstrates a wider range in the filming style, seperating those girls who are recovering at home from those individuals needing immediate attention in hospital. I managed to gain consent from two families who were interested in participating in the filming of the documentary and was given entry into their homes to document the surroundings as part of my planning stages.  The shots presented below are taken from an 18 year old females shared home with her immediate close family.

I took some photographs of the main living room, an ideal setting to conduct interviews in and gain a personal understanding of their every day lives by filming them in regular activities - such as watching TV - to confirm the message to the audience these are normal people no different from them just afflicted with extraordinary circumstances. These sort of rooms are standard in most houses so the viewers should be able to relate to this as a familiar surrounding.

Above is an image of the family kitchen, this is an excellent source to conduct filming in as it will give a personal documentation of meal times with the daughter suffering from anorexia, this is the location she is most likely to be in and where most conflict is to occur if any. I may have to distribute a consent form to the family to sign as tackling private circumstances is a sensitive matter and they may not choose for it to be documented. However if they do it will be an excellent way of displaying how an anorexic prepares her food etc and may shed some typical stereotypical beliefs the audience have about the illness (for example that they don't eat)

The conservatory would be perfect for personal interviews with individual family members as it is a secluded location from the rest of the house therefore the format is less likely to be disturbed. Furthermore the whole layout is relaxing, this aids in making the interviewee more comfortable as causing unecessary stress (because of unfamiliar locations) may cause them to present untruthful answers or demand characteristics (telling the interviewer what they want to hear because they don't feel relaxed enough and not disclosing their true opinions)

I wish to spend more intricate time with the daughter within the confines of her own bedroom, it is a theraputic environment to conduct an interview in as she will be isolated from anyone else who she feels could judge her on her opinions/thoughts, as a bonus it gives her a place to relax as she is comfortable in the surroundings its to commence in. The location broadcasts the notion to my audience that she is still an normal, young adult who enjoys activities, hobbies and interests most other girls her age share, she is more then just an illness which doesn't define her.

As a final incentive I captured some images of the family back garden to finish my photoshoot. It would have been ideal to do some filming outside however with the bleak, chilly autumn weather I don't consider this an appropriate thought anymore as it may be uncomfortable for people to be in freezing conditions.