One of the final assignments we are due to undertake before finishing university is the production of the 'Land' documentary. This will be produced by the third years on the journalism course, all focussing on different aspects of land - housing, farming, national parks etc - which will then be edited together over the summer to result in a full documentary. The previous third years collectively produced Coastlines.
The Land documentary will be based around the Radio 2 'Radio Ballads' - having and interview explaining a certain topic e.g. Travellers, with folk music in the background.
Claire and I are focussing on farming - detailing the Spring season, officially beginning tomorrow, 20th March 2012. We will be looking into the equinox, which is the tilt of the Earth's axis being neither toward or away from the Sun. The aim of our documentary is to explore the preparation for Spring as well as between Spring and Summer, and the extent to which farmers are effected by the change.
We have obtained permission from the record label of an American band to use a song which is very applicable to our focal point. During the edit we will decide whether to use just the instrumental version of the folk song or the original version - we have permission for both.
Today was our first day of filming in which we ventured towards Alresford to shoot establishing shots and to find a suitable place to film the sunrise tomorrow morning. The sun will rise at 6.00am meaning an early start with of course flasks of tea!
We have a number of farms we will be attending this week and next, which we will be looking to film not only the standard practices within farms, but also an interview.
