Shot Types Required for Filming

Before any of the initial filming stages began I decided it would benefit me to list the particular shots I would require in the construction of my documentary 'The Girls Who Wouldn't Eat' to give me a basic understanding of how I would like my drama to be placed on screen to my target audience and which shots would be necessary to draw focus on more interesting aspects of the footage. 

Establishing shot - Not only is this a very typically used convention during the making of any filmed product (they are normally used to establish the scene in a move so the audience is aware of the location or in a documentary to display where it is to take place and gives us an idea of what to expect in the footage) but I believe it is vital to create a rhythm in my programme as it will enable the viewers to grasp the concept of where the filming has taken place, this way they can relate to the environments used (such as a house as this is a common setting we have all experienced so therefore can relate to). I am planning on including some facts about anorexia in my documentary which will be placed on top of a live action scene, these moreover can act as establishing shots as they will generate understanding of how the scenes will potentially follow on from one another and how they intergrate together to form a particular girls story (for example a shot of an empty park will quickly lead on to the girl in question walking through that area once the facts have disintegrated from the screen)

Medium shot - These will be typically used throughout the interviewing process of the girls and their parents in question. This specific shot will be employed when the interviewees are not talking about more serious concepts relating to the eating disorder as not much emphasis will be required on these parts. They are also critical to immerse the interviewee in their natural environment (e.g in their own home) as this type of capture will make them appear more comfortable and relaxed in the setting rather then being anxious as if they were in a foreign environment such as an interviewing room. I am interested to use these in the additional scenes, specifically when the girls are engaging in preparing food or doing a normal activity (shopping) as this allows them to be placed in an average task or environment and similarly as I stated above shows them being content in the setting they are immersed in.

Close up - Will be intergrated into the filming at the appropriate time, the medium shots will be alternated to these in particular when the more deeper and mature answers start to be said in relation to the increasing seriousness of the questions. It will allow me to highlight significantly the more dangerous aspects of the illness to the audience, a close up will allow me to demonstrate this concept as by focusing upon the interviewees face it creates dramatic emphasis upon their body language and facial expressions which will heavily relate to their emotions at the time of filming. Therefore that seriousness can be reinforced further to the viewers through a combination of words and body movement/eye direction.

Extreme Close up - This is just another technique of re-affirming the mature serious concept of the content of my documentary. As i've stated I intend on using close ups for the more interesting and crucial areas of my documentary where it is essential of me to emphasise a particular word, comment, person or scene more clearly. These shots will only be used when something of dramatic importance comes up ( for example if one of the girls begins to describe her admission into hospital, that will require the emphasis in particular to indicate how serious her condition got upon her physically and mentally)

Tracking shot - I am interested in using these for the move functional scenarios, such as when the girls are moving around in their every day lives (shopping, preparing food etc) and because like I had seen in other documentaries from the likes of Louis Theroux, tacking shots can be vital when trying to illustrate the realistic nature of the programme and how it revolves around every day life and exeriences. Furthermore to personify more realism in my filming I think these shots will be of most use to me.