I'm glad you've got a pretty solid structure going on now. I was a little concerned that you still didn't have many interviews and stuff. But at least now since you know what you want it will make filming easier.
One concern I have is the fact that you want to do a voiceover about your experiences as a server. I suppose there's nothing wrong with that, but I think it would be a little better to separate yourself from the project. Just compile what other people have to say rather than fill up so much time with your opinion. Especially since you said you're just planning on talking about before your were a server. You could easily get an interview with someone else talking about that.
I like the idea of talking about servers wages throughout the country. Do you have many interviews set up with people from other states?
Hey Gurl... I couldnt open up your file cause it was in a Word Document X!!!!!!! Something from the future that us Mac owners cant access (or at least I couldnt!)
Lauren, this is pure genius! My favorite part is the part on tipping. This project is really coming together. Just wondering how many interviewees do you have like for sure lined up? Oh and how did the interview with Joe Cross go? I saw the Waiter Rant clip and I think it's a good idea for you to start reading that asap. I thought about it around page 1 but before I read it on page two, but I think showing a waiter with a child is a great idea, because it tells the audience that hey this server has to provide for another human being! Ya know, it hits home. However, to show waiters going to a bar could work, but it depends on the ages. Say during this film a bad tipper is watching and you begin to change his mind but you end with college aged waiters going to a bar, that audience member is just gonna think "oh they're just gonna blow it on booze" or "they'll just waste it". Even though it's totally okay for the waiters to be going to places and spending their money however they choose to, that bad tipper/audience member will probably walk away unchanged. But if you show the parent working to support her child, that bad tipper can walk away with a new point of view.
Love the second clip: Waiting Tables. Def need to put the IRS fact in your doc. This clip has a lot of servers. How many do you have lined up? Reservior Dogs clip was good example. The fourth clip about Tips for Tipping was also good. B roll was really good. I like that you want "comedic relief" in this film and you're last couple of clips provide good examples of what you're going for. For funny parts you definitely need waiters with personality.
I know a former waiter who refuses to server his own waiter when he goes out because ppl never used to tip him, so he wont tip others. Also, I know a girl who waited at a really nice restaurant and she's got a few horror stories if you want them. But I really like this project. Good job!
i really like the fact that you want to do the voice over in your project, i think you should definitely keep that in there. you may have to be careful about what you say. i also dont know if you should go into too many details about your personal experience especially if you plan on doing it in a V.O. if you want to go this route i think you should be more like the narrator, (who has opinions) and let your "character" shine through that way. oh, and thanks for adding the links, thats a great way to develop ideas. having people debate over a table is an interesting idea. i almost like the regular sit down for an interview-way better. only because it may not be as confusing for the audience or you. if you are set on having everyone sit down around a table make sure you plan out your shots carefully.. remember that thing we watched in class about the dinner conversations in movies, the camera has to be placed strategically so not to confuse the audience.
Like everyone already touched on, my biggest concern is this film sounding too whiny by using your own experiences. I would try to make those as few as possible or just a small sidebar during another sequence. Maybe you could use your experiences as a device to makes jokes between scenes.
Personally, I think if you left out your personal experiences it would make the piece stronger. Since this is your piece, it will look like you are trying to persuade the audience a certain way. I think if you just have the interviewees talking, you will get both sides of the story without being bias. If you are going to do a voice over, just do it to explain to the audience as a set up for what they are about to see rather than YOU share your experience. (i hope that made sense- i can explain more in class)
Other than that, i think your piece is strong! Just be gentle with asking the questions so people dont get mad (i think you just have to be worried about older people)
Here's something I'm going to caution about - watching the waiting tables documentary that you put up - it's all waiters complaining about their customers and honestly I just stopped watching it after a few minutes because I don't care. I don't want to listen to them bitch about their jobs and the customers because if it's really that awful and the tips (even if they're small) don't make it worth it - then friggin quit. Why continue to wait if you're treated poorly and you don't make the money you should? Just be careful of not making your doc like this and pissing off your audience from the get go.
I def would not use your own experiences because it will make the whole thing seem really biased, and i think a more subjective approach would make your piece stronger.
the first clip was great, that guy brought to light issues he has dealt with, without sounding whiny, which is definitely what you are going for, i say shoot high, and try to get a hold of that guy for a quote or something and figure out the fundamentals of tipping from him. why not try? right?
i like the second one, especially the funny parts, which would be necessary in your doc in order to lighten up the mood, i was interested for the whole 10min, but i think that is just because i am a server, anyone who isnt might get bored watching the talking heads for so long, whoever made this just got lucky cause they got interesting people to interview.
i would like to see some talking heads however, i think we would have more sympathy for these people if we see who they are, a good medium between the 2nd and 3rd clip would be great
Aloha, senorita.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you've got a pretty solid structure going on now. I was a little concerned that you still didn't have many interviews and stuff. But at least now since you know what you want it will make filming easier.
One concern I have is the fact that you want to do a voiceover about your experiences as a server. I suppose there's nothing wrong with that, but I think it would be a little better to separate yourself from the project. Just compile what other people have to say rather than fill up so much time with your opinion. Especially since you said you're just planning on talking about before your were a server. You could easily get an interview with someone else talking about that.
I like the idea of talking about servers wages throughout the country. Do you have many interviews set up with people from other states?
Lookin good, chick.
Hey Gurl... I couldnt open up your file cause it was in a Word Document X!!!!!!! Something from the future that us Mac owners cant access (or at least I couldnt!)
ReplyDeleteGet it together please!
Ian
haha...sorry guys i completely forgot when i posted this after no hours of sleep this week. so i just posted the pdf version. sorry again.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLauren, this is pure genius! My favorite part is the part on tipping. This project is really coming together. Just wondering how many interviewees do you have like for sure lined up? Oh and how did the interview with Joe Cross go? I saw the Waiter Rant clip and I think it's a good idea for you to start reading that asap. I thought about it around page 1 but before I read it on page two, but I think showing a waiter with a child is a great idea, because it tells the audience that hey this server has to provide for another human being! Ya know, it hits home. However, to show waiters going to a bar could work, but it depends on the ages. Say during this film a bad tipper is watching and you begin to change his mind but you end with college aged waiters going to a bar, that audience member is just gonna think "oh they're just gonna blow it on booze" or "they'll just waste it". Even though it's totally okay for the waiters to be going to places and spending their money however they choose to, that bad tipper/audience member will probably walk away unchanged. But if you show the parent working to support her child, that bad tipper can walk away with a new point of view.
ReplyDeleteLove the second clip: Waiting Tables. Def need to put the IRS fact in your doc. This clip has a lot of servers. How many do you have lined up? Reservior Dogs clip was good example. The fourth clip about Tips for Tipping was also good. B roll was really good. I like that you want "comedic relief" in this film and you're last couple of clips provide good examples of what you're going for. For funny parts you definitely need waiters with personality.
I know a former waiter who refuses to server his own waiter when he goes out because ppl never used to tip him, so he wont tip others. Also, I know a girl who waited at a really nice restaurant and she's got a few horror stories if you want them. But I really like this project. Good job!
laurennnnn!
ReplyDeletei really like the fact that you want to do the voice over in your project, i think you should definitely keep that in there. you may have to be careful about what you say. i also dont know if you should go into too many details about your personal experience especially if you plan on doing it in a V.O.
if you want to go this route i think you should be more like the narrator, (who has opinions) and let your "character" shine through that way. oh, and thanks for adding the links, thats a great way to develop ideas.
having people debate over a table is an interesting idea. i almost like the regular sit down for an interview-way better. only because it may not be as confusing for the audience or you. if you are set on having everyone sit down around a table make sure you plan out your shots carefully.. remember that thing we watched in class about the dinner conversations in movies, the camera has to be placed strategically so not to confuse the audience.
cant wait to see how its going to turn out!
Like everyone already touched on, my biggest concern is this film sounding too whiny by using your own experiences. I would try to make those as few as possible or just a small sidebar during another sequence. Maybe you could use your experiences as a device to makes jokes between scenes.
ReplyDeleteHey Ian, you slacker. Download XML Converter and then you can stop using that lame excuse of not being able to download people's stuff. GOSH!!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think if you left out your personal experiences it would make the piece stronger. Since this is your piece, it will look like you are trying to persuade the audience a certain way. I think if you just have the interviewees talking, you will get both sides of the story without being bias. If you are going to do a voice over, just do it to explain to the audience as a set up for what they are about to see rather than YOU share your experience.
ReplyDelete(i hope that made sense- i can explain more in class)
Other than that, i think your piece is strong! Just be gentle with asking the questions so people dont get mad (i think you just have to be worried about older people)
Why are you only interviewing 20 somethings?
ReplyDeleteHere's something I'm going to caution about - watching the waiting tables documentary that you put up - it's all waiters complaining about their customers and honestly I just stopped watching it after a few minutes because I don't care. I don't want to listen to them bitch about their jobs and the customers because if it's really that awful and the tips (even if they're small) don't make it worth it - then friggin quit. Why continue to wait if you're treated poorly and you don't make the money you should? Just be careful of not making your doc like this and pissing off your audience from the get go.
I def would not use your own experiences because it will make the whole thing seem really biased, and i think a more subjective approach would make your piece stronger.
ReplyDeletethe first clip was great, that guy brought to light issues he has dealt with, without sounding whiny, which is definitely what you are going for, i say shoot high, and try to get
a hold of that guy for a quote or something and figure out the fundamentals of tipping from him. why not try? right?
i like the second one, especially the funny parts, which would be necessary in your doc in order to lighten up the mood, i was interested for the whole 10min, but i think that is just because i am a server, anyone who isnt might get bored watching the talking heads for so long, whoever made this just got lucky cause they got interesting people to interview.
i would like to see some talking heads however, i think we would have more sympathy for these people if we see who they are, a good medium between the 2nd and 3rd clip would be great