With the topic of my choice revolving around eating disorders for my task I believed it would be crucial to obtain a realistic, convincing environment to conduct the majority of my documentary in. Since a few of the scenes I desire in the filming to be based in a hospital like surroundings, I took time and effort in my free time to discover a location that would be suitable to film within. Listed below are images I have succeeded in taking on a mental health ward that specialises in the treatment of the condition anorexia nervosa.
The image presented above is of a communal conservatory area that is used for recreation during free time for the patients whilst also functioning as a theraputic environment for group sessions and cognitive therapy. It would be ideal if i could film a scene in here, especially if there was multiple patients as it gives the feel the audience would be immersed in the treatment around them. This room could serve highly as a fundimental area to conduct interviews in, as it is quiet and a familiar comfortable place for patients. A camera could easily be set up for steadicam properties however the living space isn't wide enough to use tracking shots/hand held footage as it would be difficult to manouevere in a tightly constructed space with the equipment.
Here I captured a shot of a whiteboard that details some indication of what the viewer is likely to expect whilst observing a therapy session. For confidentiality reasons it would be morally wrong to disclose a patients thoughts in the running of the documentary if they did not wish their opinions to be broadcasted - since therapy sessions can be emotional,sensitive and sometimes embarassing. Although if they are happy to disclose personal experiences I would credit that - for those who wish their information to remain private it would be a neccessity to get them to sign a confidentiality consent form.
This is personally one of my favourite images I photographed on the ward and where I would like some of the filming potentially to be recorded. It displays a communal living arrangment where patients would spend rest periods after meals or if they decided they'd enjoy to socialise. If recording was executed here it would allow us to see 'personal time' with the patints whilst also impersonating the illusion the audience is involved in there with them. A tripod could easily be positioned in the room to allow a panning shot, this would acheive a complete view of the room and if all the patients are present in it provides there is a sense of community and support here. This would allow the viewer to feel part of the 'communitive edge', that they are included in this tightly woven network.
Here is another sample of what I'd expect the audience to witness on screen of the lounge living space surroudings on the ward. In this screen capture I focused on the TV, as this aspect in my opinion displays the notion these patients are not withdrawn from the outside world, that they can constantly relate to what is occuring outside of the confines of the building - this makes them real people and easier to connect with. Moreover the fact that they can enjoy watching a show whilst sitting down offers the notion these are ordinary citizens and not falsifications of what others perceive indiviudals with an eating condition to be like (for example always exercising or purging in some manner). This personifies they can engage in common recreational activities, as viewing the television essentially is an aspect many of us do. Realistically it would be possible to use a tracking shot to get a basic overview of the room, even an establishing shot could be acheived as there is a vast amount of space to operate the equipment in. For personal reasons it would be wrong to infringe or violate someones privacy so patients can be shown only throiugh their own consent.
Although this is a slightly unrelevant photo (being of a suggestion box for improvements to the ward as brought to attention by the patients themselves) I thought it would be ideal to include something like this in the backgrond of the filming. Not only does this indicate that all their woes and concerns are taken into consideration but it portrays a more realistic environment to the audience and that events are taking place constantly even when the camera isnt there to show an operating medical system.
This is an initial image I took in the corridors of the specialist ward. The entrance is visible to the naked eye with staff control rooms positioned on the left of the frame. I think it would be perfect for the opening of my documentary to be set here - by pushing the camera through the doors on a platform or by operating a hand held device it gives a personal point of view perspective to the audience and could give the illusion they themselves are being admitted to the unit.
Here is another lengthways depiction of a corridor on the ward. Indicated on the right are some of the patients bedrooms and a treatment room is located at the top out of the way. A shot like this creates an atmosphere as if implying a long journey is ahead of those in treatment, it also signifies the isolation of the disorder and how help seems a long way for those effected. Tracking shots would be significant here as there is plenty of open space for the camera to follow patients without disruption. Steadiccam would be most effective, allowing me to compose several long shots, essentially this gains a larger view of the ward and captures more points of interests in it. However it also personfiies the length of time patients spend here as the illness itself robs so much time from their hands.
On my final location I decided to shoot some images in a bedroom belonging to one of the patients themselves. The white walls make an excellent back drop, this is where I plan to construct the majority of interviews with the individuals themselves. It offers a realistic environment which we can all relate to with a sense of familarity and being in someones personal space secretes the realism of the documentary as I am actually indulging in their daily lives with them, showing these events did indeed naturally occur.
I took a photograph of the room but full lengthways this time so to highlight the cramped confines the bedroom offers, this emphasises the fact that I will only be viable to employ steadicam technology in here as it is physically impossible to move around in such limited conditions. However the bedroom will serve an excellent purpose of being an ideal set up for some personal interviews as the camera can be focused soley on the patient being questioned - this allows me to construct a more detailed, planned shot which ideally will come out authentic and professional.
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