Review and critique at least one short film production
Documentary-Before the storm
Director- Jake Churchill and Prokopi Constantinou of itdrewitself
Country- England (london)
Year-2018
This documentary is very character driven. The film is about a group called bikestormz and how it has helped bring a lot of young adults and kids together in rough places and bring them together just to ride bikes and getting them off the streets. The doc is lead by 3 main people (characters) the leader mac who runs the group, the kids in the group they talk about the effect the biketorm has had on them and a professional bike rider jake. The story of bikestrom is told through these people each story comes together to make a meaning about role models and male influencers in your life.
They used a lot a hand-held camera shots witch i really liked it made the doc feel really raw and real. Like it wasn’t to overproduced it was real emotion and a real story I think it gives a real element of connection with the watcher i also love the filming on the bikes themselves it feels like you’re there with them on the bikestormz and you get the feeling of excitement in it.
The editing style is fast and smooth, cutting to loads of action shots while people talking about the storm and what it does. The film doesn’t have a moment where it doesn’t have some sort of action in it there’s always some sort of image of riding. When anyone is talking there’s always cuts to the whole group talking, laughing, riding toter having a good time which is really nice editing as it shows the community. I like how simple the editing is and how effortless it flows it doesnt need any fancy cuts or effects to show the emotion and story it’s telling.
The film wants me to know more i would love a longer version of this doc as its so interesting to me and i feel like talking to more kids it has helped would be amazing. I enjoy all the energy in the doc there’s no slowing down there’s constant movement always keeping you on your toes and i love that feeling it doesn’t been to be depressing to show its emotion. I would love to make something like this one day myself.
Hi Amy this is a great discussion of this film and how it works to highlight issues through using personal story – something very relevant to the documentary you are making with your group, so its a really good choice. You show good understanding of the filmmakers choices to use handheld camera and the intimacy of the bike footage, and the audience impact of this. Please can you add more detail on other techniques in order to complete this learning outcome. Thanks, Ses