Treatment (Finally)

Nicole!
This was worth the wait girl!
You have a lot of good ideas swimming around in here and I know you got some equipment out so I just want to do a little tightening up before you get serious...
First- Who is your narrator? You? Have you talked to someone yet?
Also- do you have people picked out that you will interview and follow and focus on their insomnia specifically? Can you tell me who they are just so it's easier for me to help you in the future? Also when you start using people as examples there is always the option to use them throughout the piece and have them speak in different segments. Have you broken your piece into categories just for editing purposes so you can separate footage based on what they are talking about? Just a thought...
Three- I really like the idea of switching between narrator, interviews, and montages. From what you mentioned in class it sounds like you have already figured out a way to make the montages look coOL! i like what you were saying about shining a flashlight on your brother! Things like montages are used so frequently that sometimes they can seem silly or overdone so what is important for you is to find a new way to show them! Which I think you already know this but im excited so i'll say it again... Also something that i think is important for you to keep in mind about finding new ways to represent are interviews. Obviously these are usually a major part of documentaries and have been done bagillions of times. so if you can figure out ways to make the backgrounds interesting and representative of the subject and the topic that is what helps certain documentaries stand out over others.
FOUR- what are the visual examples of being stressed out and crazed? acting?
OK FINALLY THE FINAL SEGMENT----==----++++----- this is what i think still needs the most work (which is not even that much work anymore!) I like the idea about talking about alternative solutions that are not drugs. The hypnotism thing could be really interesting once researched a little more. But what I wanted to know is if this segment will be more of the narrator talking and letting it's audience know what methods of curing insomnia are, OR if it will be a study of what these characters which you have introduced and interviewed and we have grown to love and sympathize with will be discussing what THEY do to cure themselves. Or if these can be two different segments? I think this will all be easier ot figure out once you have done more research and find things that interest you on the subject. Don't forget that it's your project and it's not for school and it's also to help you learn something about this topic and yourself so you can do wahtever you want! Don't hold back because of what you think other people will think!
There is so much to do with this that i think it would be really wise to do a bunch of preproduction (like writing out your questions, scheduling people to meet and talk with you, arranging where you will show them, making a shot list, and writing out what you want in your montages). I know this is tough because time is limited on when you can take the equipment out and stuff but this is all i can say: plan ahead, shoot like crazy get as much as you can! then you will need even more time than when you shot to edit so alot yourself lots of time for cutting and reviewing and such.
I'm so excited to see this develop! Don't hesitate to ask me and joey joe joe quesitons!!!
Lenora