FINITO!

After a lot of hard work, the project is finally over!!!
I hope you enjoyed following everything I have done.
Now all is left is the exam!!
YAY :D

Evaluation

Website

I decided to create a small website where I could store all of my final pieces of work together more professionally, so they are not all jumbled up on this blog. I have included the website link below:

http://www.wix.com/manousos/mbfgp

I may also use a similar technique in posting my evaluation later with it including some kind of directors commentary running through the documentary itelf. Enjoy!

Finished Documentary

Ancillary Task Two - Double Page Spread

Above is the piece of work that I am submitting as my second ancillary task. This is a double page magazine spread that it used to engage the interest of the audience. 

From my research, generally double page spreads are split into having the text and the title of the product on one side, and having a picture (usually a human) on the other. I have also adopted this style for my ancillary task.

I have used quite strong images, with a strong black and white presence coming from the figure on the right, and also a lot of red has been used to give it more tension. It can be used to symbolised blood and violence which will shock and draw peoples interest. I have also included the Greek flag in the background. This can can provide either a more peaceful balance to the page by providing a hit of blue, but can also be seen as quite menacing due to the patriotic way it is put together.

I have used the same title that I have done in the newspaper advert to provide continuity throughout the project. However, instead of leaving the background behind it blank like I did on the newspaper advert, I have decided to mix in a blend of grey and red again to make it look a lot more sinister.

I have also included the same slogan as was on the newspaper advert at the bottom of this double page spread. I have however put in a plain background for this, 

Ancillary Task One - Newspaper Advertisement

*This advert is designed to be seen down the side of a newspaper as an advert, rather than as a whole page.

Narrative of Documentary

The Idea

I have decided to use completely new narrative form in my documentary to make it more interesting for the viewer to watch. It means loosening the documentary format slightly and making it more like a short film or a movie. However I feel that from my research, there needs to be an element of this to make things more relevant for my younger target audience.

I have taken the ideas show at the beginning and end of 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin' and adapted them to my character and piece of work. Dr Giannis at the beginning of the film is shown narrating whilst writing a letter explaining the state of Khephalonia to who we will at the end find out to be Captain Antonio Corelli, one of the heroes of the story.

I want to adapt this to my character to fit my character and his current predicament being situated in the middle of Athens in the present day. He can be writing a letter to someone explaining what is going on in Athens at this time with the documentary material being used as his narrative. 

Dr Giannis talks of the way that Khephalonia is a place that has been ravaged by war and natural disasters and that has no doubt caused problems for society at the time. The same can be implied with my character and the riots, protests and political corruption which are similarly destructive on society and therefore can be related to war and natural disaster.

In terms of the character that is being written to I think that perhaps the character will be known as Alex at the beginning of the documentary. The content of the letter will be the same as the content as the documentary and the same issues and ideas will be discussed, including the death of a young boy near the home of the person who is being written to. At the end of the documentary, the character will write 'Alex since you died things have gone very wrong here..'. The character will be the boy who died before the protests and riots irrupted into madness I think this will be a very powerful and emotional ending to the story and will certainly engage with audience, whether they are young or old. Alex will be seen as the hero of the story, just as Captain Corelli is in the film.

It is likely that I will have to change both the introduction and conclusion of the script to fit these ideas, but only to a minor extent and I think it will drastically improve the quality of my work overall. To be a media studies student you need to take risks and be creative and I think I am proving that new ideas can be incorporated into existing media formats.

Introduction Changes

Original 

'This is Athens. The birthplace of democracy, a popular tourist destination and a place of major historical importance. My name is Manousos. I am 18 years old and am a student. My dream is to one day travel abroad and study at a good University. However, being from Athens that dream is slowly dying and disgruntled people such as myself are taking to the street in protest. Welcome to the world that I call My Big Fat Greek Politics.'

New

'Alex, it is a long time since I last saw you my friend. Greece is still as you remember it. A popular tourist destination, a place of great historical importance and the birthplace of democracy. I am eighteen now and dreaming of one day studying at a good university. But as we both know, thats never going happen whilst still in Athens. People are upset and taking to the streets. Things are becoming chaotic here because of these governments. I have started to call it My Big, Fat, Greek Politics.'

Conclusion Changes

Original

'The Greek riots and protests are a large scale social movement of which people are hoping to find a government that better represents them and their needs. The anger stems from a long line of lies and betrayals that corrupt capitalist governments have given the population over and over again. With such actions taking place is it fair to say that democracy has suffered a painful death in the very same city in which it was born? Should people not be allowed to fight for the change that so desperately need? Should people judge them for fighting in what they believe in? Only one thing is for sure, there will be no peace on the streets of Athens until something drastic is changed.'

New

'It is fair to say Alex, that the protests in Athens have turned into a large scale social movement  where people are hoping to find a government that better represents them and their needs. The anger leads from a long line of lies and betrayals from corrupt capitalist governments and it safe to say that unless something drastically changes then the anger amongst the people will continue. The same is happening in Tunisia, Egypt and other countries across the Mediterranean. I must ask whether it is fair to say that democracy has suffered a painful death in the very same city in which it was born? Should people not be allowed to fight for the change that so desperately need? Should outsiders judge them for fighting for what they believe in? We will always remember you my brother, and your death is now a symbol for what our people are fighting for. RIP my friend. Manousos.'

I may also adjust the section relating to Alex himself, making it less obvious that it is him I am talking about. This will increase the emotional impact on the audience when it is revealed that he was the boy that died towards the end of the documentary.

Original

'December 2008. Things were about to get a whole lot worse. A boy, just sixteen years old named Alex Grigoropoulos was out with some friends in the Athenian suburb of Eksarheia. They were confronted by two men in police uniform. This engagement ended in the shooting dead of Alex in the street and the fleeing of the two men involved. Although rumours have spread blaming the group of friends for initiating the argument, eye witness reports have proved this to be false and it was in fact the boys who were approached and verbally attacked by the police, showing just how dangerous they can be when out of control. Just like in the 70s it was the death of a young person at the hand of someone in the pay of the government that sparked extreme political unrest. The riots had begun.'

New