Major Project: DVD Cover

For the major project, I designed the cover for the DVD. Here is the finished version.

Professional Practice: Commission Piece: Reflection

My commission piece was a three minute promotional video for Zeroth Clinical Exercise Centre in Maidstone, Kent. In order to ascertain what sort of video the manager wanted. We had a meeting where we discussed what sort of style, look, music, and so on he wanted. Then I began to script it, and showed the script to my tutors and my commissioner to make sure they were happy with it. Then once everyone was happy with the script, I proceeded to book out a camera. On the day of the shoot itself, things didn't go as well as I would have liked, as we got stuck in traffic on the way to the filming location, so we had less time that we should have done. Also, when we got there, because I was flustered and hurrying a bit, I forgot to direct my camera operator to shoot everything three times, in wide, medium, and close up. This meant that I was very limited regarding the choice of shots when it came to the editing process. Therefore in the edit I had to resize and reframe a selection of shots to give the video more variety and make it at bit more interesting. The music in the video was chosen from an online resource that provided royalty free music. I chose the music because I wanted something calm and relaxing, in accordance with the commissioner's wishes. Another aspect I had to capture for the video was a voice over/commentary. To this end, I brought in the services of a friend of mine, because I felt he had a distinguished and clear voice. I did have one slight drawback when recording it, which is that his eyesight isn't what it was, so he had some difficulty reading the script. To overcome this, I re-wrote the bits of the script he had to read on single lines, so that he could read it. Despite doing this, there were still an awful lot of gaps and pauses in the voiceover. I did a lot of work on this in the editing process, closing gaps and adjusting the volume, so that it now sounds clear, concise, and makes sense. I did notice during the edit, that the shots I got of the manager for the interview were a bit too low angle, so it looked like the camera was looking up at him. I managed to cure this to a certain extent in post production by reframing the shot and making it a close-up. I also positioned him off centre, so that there was room for the aston containing his name. Overall from producing this video, I have learnt a great deal, mainly to ensure I get plenty of coverage when at the shoot, make sure that I frame shots correctly, position the camera correctly, and ensure that I direct my camera operator correctly to ensure I get the shots I want.

Professional Practice: Commission Piece: End Result

Well, after more work following my commissioner viewing the original version of my video, here is the finished article. I have done a lot of work on reframing a selection of the shots to give it more variety, and have also corrected a few sound and sync issues. Enjoy!

Professional Practice: Commission Piece DVD Cover

Now that my commission piece is completed, I have designed a DVD cover for it.

Here it is:

Professional Practice: Commission Piece: Risk Assessment

Before shooting my commission piece, I undertook a risk assessment to ensure that my crew and I, as well as the clients of the exercise centre, would be safe while I was shooting. The main risks I highlighted were trip hazards caused by cables from the camera, or the tripod being in the way. These issues were overcome by simply placing the tripod in a more suitable location in the exercise centre so that it was not in anyone's way, and the issue of tripping over cables from the camera was overcome by running the camera on battery, and ensuring that one of the crew had a hand on the cables at all times, to avoid them dropping on the floor.

Professional Practice: Commission Piece: How I decided on the style

Before shooting my commission piece, which is a promotional video for Zeroth Clinical Exercise Centre in Maidstone, I had a meeting with the manager, Jim Maynard, to discuss how we wanted it to look, and the message we wanted it to convey. We agreed on the following:

• It would have a calm and relaxed tone
• It would show that the centre is a vibrant, happy and safe place to exercise
• It would inform people viewing the video about what the centre specialises in
• It would give a brief history of the centre and how it came to open
• It would promote the centre and highlight why people should attend
• It would use testimonies from existing members to help promote it and help accentuate it's strong points
• It would give an accurate representation of the centre and the services they offer

Overall, having shown the video to Jim, we have both agreed that it meets all the criteria set out at our original meeting, and Jim is happy to include it on his website to show potential new clients.

Professional Practice: Commission Piece: Music

In trying to locate music for my commission piece, I came up against the barrier that is copyright. To overcome this, I searched online for royalty free music, and came across the website www.incompetec.com. This has a massive library of royalty free music to choose from in all genres. For my piece I decided on something that was calm and easy listening, entitled Local Forecast. Here is a link to the song.

Local Forecast

Professional Practice: Commission Piece: Script

Here is the script for my commission piece for Zeroth Clinical Exercise Centre.

Zeroth Clinical Exercise Centre Script

Professional Practice: Commission Piece

After having a tutorial with my tutor, it was decided that my commission piece needed a bit more work, as it was rather bland to watch. So now, I have changed the order of shots, and resized a selection of shots to give it more variety. Here are a couple of screenshots from the finished article.

Commission Piece: Editing

Now that I am in the editing stages of my commission project, I have realised the importance of coverage on the day, as I am lacking a few shots that in an ideal world I need to make my project flow properly. However, I am showing my client the version I have made now, and I will see what his opinion on it is before I take any further action.

Major Project: Locations

In researching locations for the project I came across the website 28 Days Later. This is an urban exploration website that contains photos of derelict locations that will be suitable for our homeless scenes. Here are a couple of examples:

Here is the link to the website that I found this location on: Rochester Shorts Tunnels

Major Project Unit: Actors

This is one of our actors, George Haynes. He was very enthusiastic about the role, and couldn't wait to get started.

Here is his profile on Casting Call Pro:

George Haynes's profile on Casting Call Pro

Major Project Unit: Revised Script

Me and Jamie have revised the storyline slightly for our project, including a different opening scene and reducing the amount of voiceover in the film. This means we are able to tell the story more through the pictures, and less through the voiceover. Here is the revised script.

Diamond in the Gutter

Major Project Unit: Editing Script and getting more actors

Today I am at the studios with Jamie editing the script for Diamond in the Gutter, as well as hopefully holding a Skype audition with another actress for the role of Lucy. We held auditions on Thursday 31st October, and we thought we had our actor and actress, as they were both excellent and said they were happy to fill the parts, but our actress later decided the role wasn't for her, so now the search is on for another actress. However we have another couple of actresses waiting in the wings who couldn't make it to the auditions last week, but who are happy to do a Skype audition for us. Happily, we still have our actor to play the male character, which is excellent, as frankly, he was simply superb.

Major Project: Change of Role

Due to personal circumstances, my own major project idea is now no longer going ahead and I am assisting Jamie on his project Diamond in the Gutter. Today I have been contacting actors and actresses that have responded to the ad I placed on Casting Call Pro at the end of last week. We are holding auditions for these roles tomorrow and so far we have one actor and one actress confirmed as coming with the others getting back to me when they know they can come. Tomorrow will be a great opportunity for us to get to know them and vice versa, so that they can get an idea of the project and we can get an idea of their acting style. It will be great preparation for all of us to help the shoot next week run as smoothly as possible.

Professional Practice: Critical Perspective

Yesterday I spent all day at the campus working on my presentation for my dissertation proposal, and I had planned to carry on working on it today at the studios, however due to a technical issue I am unable to, thankfully I have my notes so I am able to work on the bits that I need to complete for the presentation and then slot them into the one I did on campus when I go there on Friday. The presentation is looking good though, it covers everything required to ensure that my colleagues know what the topic of my dissertation will be.

Major Project: Multi Camera Workshop

Today we had a multi camera workshop with Fergus in the studio. We set up a scene from a pop video as this is what one of my colleagues is doing for their major project, so this allowed them to gain an idea of how they may want theirs to look. This afternoon we did a scene from a fiction piece, to explore more multi camera options available to us all.

Major Project Unit: Research

I have done some more research on my chosen topic for this unit, and when I have collated my findings into an understandable form I will of course post them on my blog. My next task is to see if I can get more information regarding my topic by applying to the council for information via a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

Professional Practice Unit: Critical Perspective Aspect

For this part of the Professional Practice Unit, I have decided to do my dissertation on how Margaret Thatcher was portrayed in the media and whether there was any bias in it for example. This is just one aspect, as I hope to learn much more of the politics of the era by choosing this subject. To that end, I recently watched The Iron Lady, a film telling Mrs Thatcher's story. I feel it is a good attempt to tell her story, and certainly gives an insight into her life.

Major Project: Presentation

Here is my presentation outlining my major project idea :)

Major Project Presentation

Major Project Unit: Development

After meeting with one of my contributors today, and following a discussion with my tutor, I have decided to produce my show in a "day in the life" style, to show the struggles the couple face due to the house they currently reside in, and I will use this to point out why they so desperately need to move, and I will try to touch on the housing association's criteria here, to see if I can unravel why they have not yet moved.

Major Project Unit: Research

For this unit, I have done research into different documentaries and programs that have aired that cover the topic I am covering. I have found a couple that I feel are very relevant to my topic.

The first of these is Dreams of a Life, a film about a woman called Joyce Carol Vincent, who disappeared without trace and was dead and decomposing in her London bedsit for approximately three years. I know that the story is not the same, but metaphorically I think it could be, as it tells the story of someone who was possibly neglected and most definitely forgotten about.

Another program I have found is one that aired recently on Channel 4, entitled How to Get a Council House. This shows the inner workings of the housing association and how they decide who is eligible for what sort of property. You can watch it here:

How to Get a Council House

Professional Practice Unit: Change of Plan

My original plan for this unit had been to commence a work placement with the Kent Fire and Rescue Service but due to unforeseen circumstances this is no longer going ahead. Instead I am now going to be producing a promotional video for a business that I have been involved with for a number of years, this is the gym I go to. The video will be to promote the products and services they offer, as well as a brief history of the business.

Professional Practise Unit: Dissertation Tutorial

Today I had my dissertation tutorial with Chris at the UCA campus, and after feeling that my initial idea, (which was to focus on how cars are represented in films) wasn't really going anywhere, I did some more thinking and some more research and I have now decided to focus on Magaret Thatcher's reign as prime minister of Great Britain, and use the film that depicts this story (The Iron Lady) as a case study. I also have an idea to compare and contrast this to a film made about another famous figure, namely Lady Dianna Spencer. The film, which is self titled, is similar to the Iron Lady as it tells the story of another very famous individual.

The main reason I have chosen this subject for my dissertation is I have always had a slight interest in what went in during the reign of Thatcher, her acheivements, people's opinions of her, how she was portrayed in the media and so on. Hopefully by choosing this topic I will be able to broaden my knowledge of this undeniably important period in Great Britain's political and economic history. 

Major Project and Professional Practice

Having been given a clear idea of what is expected from us during this semester, I have secured a work placement in the Media Team at the Kent Fire and Rescue Service. I will be shadowing the audio visual officer during my time there. The role of audio visual officer means the person who is responsible for the filmmaking side of the media operations, so coming up with the ideas and so on. They are also responsible for the handling and use of all equipment belonging to the media department. 

Regarding the major project, I have chosen to go with an idea I first had for the documentary unit in our first year. I am planning to do a documentary on the problem of the lack of appropriate housing for people who have mobility issues thanks to a degenerative illness or an accident that has left them with reduced mobility. 

Start of a new semester!

So after a lovely long summer break, we had our first day back today, and we were briefed out on the two units we are working on this semester. These are Major Project and Professional Practice. I have potentially secured a work placement for the professional practice unit but I am still playing with ideas for my major projects. Obviously as the ideas come I will regularly update my blog with them. All in all it's set to be a pretty exciting semester!

Professional Practise Unit: Potential Work Placement

I have potentially found an ideal work placement for me at the Kent Fire and Rescue Service, in the Media department. This would involve me going out and helping to shoot and then edit educational videos for them, as well as various other tasks. I am hoping to secure this work placement as it is well suited to me and includes roles that I enjoy.

Here is an example of the sort of videos they make:

Keep them safe!

End of semester proper!

Well, everything is done! I have completed and handed in all my fiction adaptation pieces, and I have now also completed my production report to be handed in today. It has been an eventful semester, but an enjoyable one nonetheless.

End of semester

Today I handed in my fiction adaptation film, location adaptation and music video mash-up, as well as my essay. I now just have to complete my studio production report and I am done.

Studio Production Unit: Rehearsal and Record Day

I have been assigned the role of Production Assistant on Urban Review, so I am responsible for making sure all the paperwork is in order, and making sure that everything runs smoothly and to time on the day. Yesterday we had a day of setting up and rehearsing, which went well and enabled us to prepare for today. Then this morning, we have been rehearsing all the sequences to ensure they are correct, and this afternoon we are recording! I will blog again with details about how it went and how I got on in my role.

Studio Production Unit: Preparation for Rehearsal Day

Today I helped edit one of our intro VT's for Punchlines, in my role on the VT team, and in my role as PA, I have printed out scripts and running orders for all the team when we rehearse tomorrow.

Fiction Adaptation Unit: Editing New Idea

So last weekend I re-filmed my Fiction piece, and today I am beginning the edit of it, it is going well as all my shots turned out how I wanted them. I did have reservations about the sound on a couple of shots where I used the radio mic to capture dialogue, but it turned out to be nothing more than feedback through the headphones, so the sound on the shots is perfect. Below you can see a still from the edit :)

Fiction Adaptation Unit: Re-shoot

Today I showed my new idea to Helen and apart from the end which I had to rework a bit, she declared it a far better idea than the original. So tomorrow I am going out to shoot it and I will make sure I take time setting up to get the best possible shots.

Fiction Adaptation Unit: Idea Rethink

After showing Helen my fiction piece yesterday it became clear that there was no real story there and a bit of a rethink was needed, so today I have been storyboarding a new idea and photos of this are below.

Fiction Adaptation Unit: Shooting and Editing

Last weekend I managed to get all the shots I needed for my main Fiction Adaptation piece of coursework. I shot in a relatives house as it was a good setting for the story, owing to its size and location. I filmed mainly in point of view, and also shot a few close-ups so that the film does not simply jump cut between a selection of point of view shots. Today I am beginning the editing process by first putting my clips in order on the timeline, then trimming them down and adding effects so that I can tell the story in the most effective way.

Here is a still from the editing process:

Fiction Adaptation Unit: Experimental Short Films

Here are some links to short films I have found on Youtube to give me some pointers and ideas of how to tell a story when it comes to shooting my Fiction Adaptation Piece.

Visitation

This one is particularly useful to me as it has a point of view scene in it. As my whole film is to be shot in point of view this was very helpful to me.

Reverie

This one is very experimental, with a lot of moody lighting and the whole thing is shot in Black and White.

Shadow (4D)

This one, as the name suggests, relies heavily on shadows throughout, it is another short film which is very experimental but tells a good story nonetheless/

Televisual Man

I really like this one, as it is based on George Orwell's 1984, and it has a very grainy, homemade look to it.

Fiction Adaptation Unit: Further Idea Development

Today I have spent time further developing my idea for the Fiction Adaptation Unit. I originally wanted to film it from the point of view of one character, but featuring another character in it as well, however due to difficulties in finding a suitable actress, I have now decided I am going to film all of it in point of view of the main (male) character and use voiceover for the female character, so that the story still features two characters, but they are only heard and not seen, as I believe filming it in point of view will give a more personal view of the character and the story.

Fiction Adaptation Unit: Music Video Mash Up

Here is my Music Video Mash Up for the Fiction Adaptation Unit

It features period adverts, and clips from The Italian Job (1969), Mr Bean, Goodbye Pork Pie, and Mini racing at Brands hatch, as well as onboard footage from Mini racing.

Fiction Adaptation Unit: Music Video Mash Up

Last Friday we were given the task of producing an alternative music video to an existing song by Helen. I chose Riff Raff by AC/DC as my song, and chose to pair the song with footage of the classic Austin Mini racing and starring in films. I chose to do this as it is quite a fast paced song and the Mini racing is quite a fast paced activity, so the two go together well. I am currently experiencing a small difficulty with Final Cut Pro dropping frames, but I am working to resolve this. Overall though, I am quite pleased with how my piece has turned out.

Studio Production Unit: Workshop 14.3.13

On Thursday we had a studio workshop with Hans Petch. We were all able to get to grips with the various roles required in the recording of a studio production. I have been given the role of Production Assistant on both productions so Hans was able to show me what this role entailed.

I will be in charge of timekeeping on the record days, that is, making sure everything runs to time. It is a big responsibility and a challenge but I can't wait to get stuck in!

Fiction Adaptation Unit: Location Adaptation

Last weekend I went out and took my photographs for my location adaption of 1984 by George Orwell. Then I imported the photos into Final Cut Pro and edited them together and added in the music Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber. Overall I feel the adaption is good, however it would have been better if I had edited the photos more to create more of a mood with the piece.

We watched each others location adaptions yesterday and I enjoyed all of them, everyone did a good job with their photos and choices of music to accompany them.

Fiction Adaptation Unit: Essay Research

This afternoon I have been doing research for my essay for the fiction adaptation unit. I have decided to  focus on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, specifically the 1980 and 1995 television series adaptations. Here are some websites I have taken information from on this subject:

Story about Jane Austen
Guardian 200th Anniversary of Pride and Prejudice
BBC 200th Anniversary of P + P

Fiction Adaptation Unit: Location Adaptation

Yesterday Helen briefed us out on our location adaptation piece, and we were given a choice of three extracts that we could adapt. I chose Chapter 1 of George Orwell's 1984, and I have settled on a location near to where I live which has children's playgrounds and garages en block so it will be possible to create a look of desolation and isolation in these locations. I plan to have a real, gritty look to my piece, to show urban decay caused by poverty and so on.

Studio Production Unit: Possible VT Locations

I am in Sam Wilder's team for the production Funny People on the VT Package team, so I have done some research into possible filming locations. We have decided to film in London as there is a more vibrant atmosphere than in Maidstone.
Possible locations include the following:
Outside railway stations e.g. Victoria and St. Pancras, as there will always be a lot of people outside them, The South Bank, as this is another source of lots of things happening and lots of people around, Parks, such as Greenwich Park, this is all I have come up with so far, but I shall keep thinking and post again when I have more location ideas.

Fiction Adaptation Unit: Ideas

Today I am refining my idea for adapting Ah! vous dirai-je, Maman, which is the 18th century poem written to the tune that the nursery rhyme twinkle twinkle little star has become associated with.

Fiction Adaptation Unit: Defining Words in the Poem

I found out the definitions of some of the more important words in the poem I am adapting to try and give my story more layers. Here are the definitions

Definitions of words in the poem

Torment – to agitate or upset greatly

Blushes – shame/ashamed

Unfortunately – underserved bad luck

Betrays – being false and disloyal

Take advantage – Superiority – Non emotion from either character to get their way

His weakness – A personal defect or failing

Foolish – stubborn and unreasonable

Tender – easily crushed and vulnerable

Air – a giant void of nothingness

Wolfgang (Name) – The hero in front of the wolf

Studio Production Unit: Pitches and Roles for the Studio Productions

I pitched my idea to Simon and Helen on Monday, I thought it went ok but it was clear while pitching that I should have done more research into my idea and this is probably one of the main reasons why my idea wasn't picked. However, all is not lost as I have now gained myself the role of Production Assistant on both of the studio productions, which I am very pleased about. Today we are being interviewed for the other roles on the production, I will be being interviewed for a role in one of the VT Package teams, as despite being Production Assistant I still need to fulfil a pre-production role, and this is the one that holds the most interest for me.

Studio Production Unit: Pitch Preparation

I have been working on preparing my pitch this afternoon ready for Monday. I am now pretty confident about my idea, you can read all about it below:

Studio Production Idea

Title: Access All Areas

Format: Factual/magazine show

Idea: My idea is a factual magazine show which will focus on mainstream events; there will be a VT section covering shows and exhibitions with a roving reporter, who will review them for the benefit of everybody, but will as a sideline discuss the access and so on for disabled visitors. There will also be a review of a mobility scooter or some other piece of mobility equipment, this will be another VT section. The studio section will be an introduction, and a discussion around how participation of disabled people in sport has risen since the holding of the Paralympics in London last year. There will also be a discussion around employment for disabled people, and how it has become easier for those with disabilities to gain employment in the last few years.

Channel/broadcaster/schedule: BBC Two, 8:00 PM, Friday, because it is a factual show, so it can be broadcast after people have got in from work, had their dinner and unwound etc.

Target Audience: The age range will be adults in their 20s to 30s, as the show will be factual but will have elements of humour in it when reviewing the products.

Possible VT: Discussion around disabled people and employment, how employment for people with disabilities is now easier to come by than a few years ago, due mainly to the passing of the Disability Discrimination Act of 1995, and the Equality Act of 2010 which was a follow-on from the DDA

Possible VT 2: A review of the latest mobility scooter or other product that aids mobility. This will be useful for people with disabilities as they will be able to make a decision on whether they need the product or not, and it will be useful for people who are able bodied because if they are a carer for someone with a disability then they may need to know the information so they can tell the person they care for about the product in question.

Fiction Adaptation Unit: More Research

Today I am in the library on campus doing research for my essay on this unit. I am hoping to discuss one of the Harry Potter books/films in my essay, but the essay questions state that we have to discuss a text adapted for broadcast on television, so I will ask my tutors if we are allowed to discuss films or whether it has to be something that was broadcast on television.

Fiction Adaptation Unit: Research

Today is studio support at the studios, I have been doing more research for my fiction adaptation idea. After disecting the words in the original rhyme, I have decided to do a modern day Film Noir style piece, as the definitions for a lot of the words in the rhyme point to being vulnerable, frail, agitated, ashamed etc. Finding out the definitions of these words has enabled me to visualise parts of the story for my piece and enabled me to put them together. Also, I would thoroughly recommend to all my classmates to utitlise studio time when Simon is available in order to discuss your ideas and take on any changes or improvements he suggests. As I have been the only second year student in today, I have been able to take full advantage of him being here and have discussed my idea with him at different points throughout the day. I now have a slightly clearer idea about what I am doing and where it is going.

Fiction Adaptation Unit: Research

Today I have done some more research into the nursery rhyme Twinkle Twinkle little star that I planned to adapt for this unit. However, I have now found that the tune that the nursery rhyme is sung to was first paired with an 18th century French rhyme called Ah! vous dirais-je, Maman, that is as far removed from twinkle as it is possible to be. Here it is, translated into English:

Ah, would I tell you, mom?


What causes my torment;
 Since I saw Wolfgang


Look at me with a tender air; 
My heart says every single moment


Can people live without lover?

He blushes and unfortunately


A sigh betrays his heart.


The cruel with address, 
Take advantage of his weakness:


Alas, Mum! one foolish mistake


Makes him to fall into her arms.

This translation into English has inspired me to make a dream sequence for the above text, whilst using the original tune from Twinkle to depict a car journey at the beginning of the piece where the person falls asleep and begins to dream, and another at the end when they wake up.

Studio production workshop with Hans Petch

On Thursday 7th February, we all did a studio workshop with Hans Petch, visiting lecturer. We all had to fill different roles in the workshop, here are some photos of me filling the role of camera operator.

Studio Production Unit: More Ideas

Here is another idea I have had for the studio production idea, something a little bit closer to home!

Title: Ticket to View

Format: Factual programme about the history of Maidstone Studios.

Idea: Factual programme which will showcase the history of Maidstone Studios and will discuss some of the shows filmed there in the past and also what plans lie ahead for the future of the complex, so there can be a discussion around the current renovation work taking place, the studio section could comprise interviews with past and present employees, possibly people who have been in shows made at the studios etc. VT’s could include a walkaround at the studios, a guided tour, and there is the possibility for some archive footage to be included too.

Channel/broadcaster/schedule: BBC Four, 9PM, Monday.

Target Audience: The age range will probably be people from 30 onwards, who will remember the studios in it’s earlier years and also remember some of the programmes that have been made there.

Studio Production Unit: Is this the year of disability on TV?

Whilst doing research for my studio production idea, I came across this article, which enforces my way of thinking with regard to my subject: Is this the year of disability on TV?

Studio Production Unit: Idea

I have been feeling a bit nervous about this unit, especially if my idea gets chosen for production. However, despite these feelings of nerves, I am also excited at the idea of potentially being a producer on my own production. So here is my current idea for the studio production, it is still in it's early stages and needs a bit more refining, but the basic idea is there.

Title: Access All Areas

Format: Factual/magazine show

Idea: My idea is a factual magazine show which will focus on mainstream events; there will be a VT section covering shows and exhibitions with a roving reporter, who will review them for the benefit of everybody, but will as a sideline discuss the access and so on for disabled visitors. There will also be a review of a mobility scooter or some other piece of mobility equipment, this will be another VT section. The studio section will be an introduction, and a discussion around how participation of disabled people in sport has risen since the holding of the Paralympics in London last year.

Channel/broadcaster/schedule: BBC Two, 8:00 PM, Friday.

Target Audience: The age range will be adults in their 20s to 30s, as the show will be factual but will have elements of humour in it when reviewing the products.

Fiction Adaptation Unit: From War to the Nursery

Another idea I have had is to do an adaptation of the nursery rhyme Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, but in an inverted way, so instead of it being an innocent children's nursery rhyme, it has a darker subject, perhaps around the afterlife. The lyrics from the nursery rhyme come from a 19th century English poem called The Star, published in 1806 and written by Jane Taylor. Here is the poem:

 Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
     How I wonder what you are.
     Up above the world so high,
     Like a diamond in the sky.

     When the blazing sun is gone,
     When he nothing shines upon,
     Then you show your little light,
     Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

     Then the traveller in the dark,
     Thanks you for your tiny spark,
     He could not see which way to go,
     If you did not twinkle so.

     In the dark blue sky you keep,
     And often through my curtains peep,
     For you never shut your eye,
     'Till the sun is in the sky.

     As your bright and tiny spark,
     Lights the traveller in the dark.
     Though I know not what you are,
     Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

     Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
     How I wonder what you are.
     Up above the world so high,
     Like a diamond in the sky.

     Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
     How I wonder what you are.     How I wonder what you are. 

My main reasons for choosing this piece are that it holds happy childhood memories for me, and it also tells a good story which has a lot of potential to be very different to anything else that has ever been done before.

Fiction Adaptation Unit: Ideas

After today's session, I now have a couple of ideas for the fiction adaptation piece, as follows:

I had an idea that I could take the War Poem Dulce et Decorum Est, and possibly change it to reflect a recent issue, such as the 2011 riots in the United Kingdom. Here is the poem in it's entirety:

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, 
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, 
Till on the haunting flares(2) we turned our backs 
And towards our distant rest(3) began to trudge. 
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots 
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind; 
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots(4)  
Of tired, outstripped(5) Five-Nines(6) that dropped behind.
Gas!(7) Gas! Quick, boys! – An ecstasy of fumbling, 
Fitting the clumsy helmets(8) just in time; 
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling, 
And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime(9) . . . 
Dim, through the misty panes(10) and thick green light, 
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. 
In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, 
He plunges at me, guttering,(11) choking, drowning. 
If in some smothering dreams you too could pace 
Behind the wagon that we flung him in, 
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, 
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin; 
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood 
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, 
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud(12)  
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues, 
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest(13)  
To children ardent(14) for some desperate glory, 
The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est 
Pro patria mori.(15)

I had the idea for choosing this poem as I have studied it before at A-Level, and I have been told by my mother about my grandfather who was fighting in the second world war, and whilst this poem is about the first world war, I can relate to it and how my grandfather was feeling whilst in the middle of a war zone.