Anniversaries - good place to start
'Dreams of a Life'
Sources
- Contacts - pretty obvious - keep a in book
Other media
- look in papers that the rest of the media don't read. Read the letters pages. Listen to talk radio
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| http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-33735517 |
'The School That Turned Chinese'
- Documentary which follows Chinese teachers teaching English pupils the Chinese school life
- 10 hour days
- Exercise
- Repetition and discipline is very important
Get behind the headlines - scoop up all the key interviewees about a seminal moment. Norma Percy's films take a candid look at monumental events once the dust has settled - in some cases quite literally
Browse the best seller list - what are people reading for pleasure? Or what are they watching online?
'Ted Talks'
American academic Robert Neuwirth who wrote a book called "The Stealth of Nations" all about the informal economy.
'Slum Survivors'
- Appeals to a younger audience
- Plays on our fears - could we cope?
- Challenges people
- Characters and stories are the most important thing
Brainstorm with energetic people - say and think the unsayable - in CA brainstorms we pretend to be someone else
Location, location, location - come up with interesting location and generate an idea or film through that - a gym in a town beset with weight problems for example. A BBC2 series used Victoria Bus Station as a focal point to look into the trials and tribulations of economic migrants. Or the award winning 'Secret History of our Streets' examined social change through a particular postcode.
Investigate
Go digital - whether it is Google advanced search, Twitter, Facebook and social media can help you to source original stories
But proceed with caution - you need to ensure that it's genuine and the people are authentic
Amazing Footage - user generated or intimate archive - the internet now has a huge range of 'tools' that can help you find content
A good title or a well worn format
Get a life - don't sit in front of a computer, go for a walk - 'Come Dine With Me' was come up with from someone sitting on a toilet
Hemmingway and the tale of the six word story - 'For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn'
- makes people think there is a story there - maybe people had a baby then didn't want one? Something happened to the baby?
A big question/s - What is it in your story that is going to leave the audience in anticipation, what is it that they will what to find out?
The hook - audience need to want to commit their time to it.
A strong central character/s - Eyewitness or personal testimony. Whose story is it? Who is the character or characters?
Universal themes/relatable - every great story has to either affect your mind, heart or wallet. Does your story make the audience happy or angry or play on our fears?
A strong narrative and structure - a beginning middle and end and sustain the duration - normally you need some conflict, a decision to be made, a turning point.
The best stories are simply told with great characters, human emotion and beautiful pictures.
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