Purpose: make people aware of a SF-run organization named “United Playaz” and how it reaches to troubled youth in order to strengthen their self-confidence and also strives to teach young adults how to make smart decisions in violent situations.
Contacts:
Misha Olivas - (415) 573-5138
main building - (888) 975-2929
misha@unitedplayaz.org
Rudy Corpus - (415) 573 6219
Interview Questions:
workers/leaders/supervisors:
Can you tell us about yourself?
Where is United Playaz located? (background of neighborhood filled with deliquants)
What is United Playaz and what does it offer in terms of opportunities/aid to kids?
What inspired you to join/be a part of United Playaz? (what are your contributions?)
What is your role in running United Playaz?
How has United Playaz changed people’s lives? Has it changed you?
What do you have to say about children going through rough times right now?
Personal stories you’d like to share?
***ask to take us around places of the building/streets. showcasing historical significance or location of some of the areas.
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teens/adults/parents:
History of life before outreach programs such as United Playaz?
What does United Playaz mean to you?
What have the people here done for you?
How does it affect the community? Are you glad United Playaz exists?
Shot List-
Interviews - MCU/CU/MS (depending on space)
Opening:
LS of cars
ELS of citizens
LS Crane/Tilt-Pan of United Playaz building
Handheld walkthrough of building (sped up)
B-Roll
LS Kids playing around or whatever
MS Workers interacting with children/at desk
CU of back of t-shirt “It takes the hood to save the hood”
General Flow:
beginning - shots of streets of San Francisco. Police Cars. Homeless. Stores. Streets with Graffiti. Cars buzzing by and children waiting or standing on the block. Voice-over of one of the employees explaining where United Playaz is located. Explaining the crime and bad influences of the city life on people. Hip-hop track? Then transition to what UP strives for and goals. Middle - interviews with UP employees/kids.
Shots of the places around the SF including inside of UP.
personal tour of the streets along with one of the creators of UP.
B-ROLL.
Ending - The main director of the group speaking positively about their work towards improving the lives of children. Personal statement that is inspiring and motivational. Ending shot of the crew helping children or just them having fun with the children, or a child holding up a sign of United Playaz. Oh or maybe a still positioned camera that switches between all the individuals who are in UP. ideasideasideas.
Scripts:
Intro: (voice over) short spiel over how rugged and how looming the streets of SF can be. talk about the influence of gangs and police activity in the street and how United Playaz is stationed. desired to help the youth and prevent a life of wrong choices.
Closing: (voice over) over all the shots of UP workers helping people or forming strong relationships with one another and their guests.
This seems like a very well thought out idea and it has many concepts I would like to see. Learning about a touchy subject such as this will be interesting to see. I like how you organized the film into parts that will do a good job in conveying what this organization really strives for and how they operate. I also like the use of an urban location involving crimes and violence which will show a unique aspect of life that is not known to many people. I imagined a dark sort of atmosphere in your piece as it starts out and while the documentary continues and the audience is introduced to the workers and the children, the tone and atmosphere becomes more lively and joyous and optimistic. This can easily be done through music choice, cuts, and the voice overs you will use. I was also thinking that you could use the broll you talked about in the "beginning" section because that is the actual imagery I would use if i were to do this project. Well done!!
ReplyDeleteWhen I first heard about your project in class, I instantly liked it. From this, I can see that it could be a good one especially because of how little I know about the organization and because how just the name itself got my attention. What I would expect to see in this documentary are some personal stories. Obviously you will go over what the organization is and what it does, but I feel the interviews will play a significant role in showing what makes every person there unique. What a name so unique, they have to have some interesting people working there. As you said, you wanted to have shots in that area of the city, I would recommend you bring as minimal gear as possible. While shooting our short film, my group brought too much to our locations and were were in a constant fear of someone walking up to us and taking it. So for something like that, I say be extremely careful about what you decide to show in public. For your documentary, I imagine it beginning out as a bit dark and by the end lightening up because of the interviews to show positive change in the people involved. I know you've had a hard time getting a hold of your contacts, but I wish you the best of luck.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea that you have for your documentary. I's always good to get the message out about organizations that helps kids. Some suggestions I would have would be to get good B-roll and a lot of it because the b-roll that you get may not be able to show what the interviewee is talking about. Make sure that you ask good questions and try to get good answers out of people. Like Prabhjot said earlier before, make sure you travel light. I would suggest bringing a camera and the monopod/tripod and a mic. I think that your documentary would be great to see and good luck with your shoot. Sometimes you may need to be a creep and film random people.
ReplyDeleteI think you do a good job approaching this topic. I would just like to suggest that you ask about the future plans for United Playaz. I, as an audience would like to know what they plan to do, like expand this project. Do they need help to do so, etc. But I think you are really good questions that would give you good information and create a good documentary. I think you’re opening is great and it seems that you have everything cover, good B-ROLL. Overall I really like it and i think it’s a great topic. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteWazzup playa. Although the name seems rather comedic, it seems like an effective organization for the troubled adult and adolescent. Looking over your pre-production, everything seems solid in terms of questions, B-roll and the general flow of the whole documentary. One problem that seems to appear would be the safety of the location with all your high budget equipment and such. I think with good time management your documentary will turn out great. Just gotta throw down a sick A-track down on dat film and you all good doe. Good luck and stay safe fella.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoy this idea for a documentary (despite the name seeming kind of funny). It's always good to show the world, or at least our film class, an organization that helps out adolescents and adults who aren't necessarily offered great help. I think that voice overs are what is going to help maintain fluidity throughout your piece. Good luck my dearest Kim <3
ReplyDelete