A series of mini-documentaries created by Film & TV Production – BTEC Level 3 students will be airing on Notts TV over the holiday period beginning Friday 16 December.
Earlier this year, Film & TV Production – BTEC Level 3 Course Leader, James West, set his students a competition brief to produce a mini-documentary that would fit the Notts TV schedule – Notts TV is a local TV channel focused on the city and county, their schedule covers business, news, sport, culture and lifestyle programming.
The documentary project was sparked by a conversation between James and a member of Notts TV’s broadcasting team, who just so happen to be based right next door to Confetti on Beck Street. James was keen to include a documentary project within the course’s assessment schedule and saw an opportunity to create one, he said:
“At Confetti, whether you’re studying Film and TV, Games Art, or Music Performance, we’re always looking for ways to make the courses more vocational and meaningful.
“Notts TV came in and delivered a guest talk to our students and they were really enthusiastic about working together. From there, one thing led to another and before you know it, students are working on a real client brief with a real output and a credit on Notts TV.”
The brief was to produce a mini-documentary, roughly 2 minutes-long on a local topic of interest. With the support of their tutor, students went through the proper process, first generating ideas around pre-production with an emphasis on permissions and not infringing copyright. Students then filmed and edited their documentaries, with a strong focus on stringing a compelling narrative together. They also put their post-production skills into practice, adding music, titles, graphics, and recording a voiceover in post.
Notts TV live evening news programme, Notts Today – weekdays at 5.30pm – will be airing a selection of the best documentaries over the holiday period. Here’s the running order along with the names of credited students:
Friday 16 December
Documentary one: Broadway Cinema
A look into one of the best cinemas in the UK, the Broadway Cinema. The film explores why it is so important to creative filmmaking in the region and the importance of independent cinema.
Sam Leary & Tyler Buxton
Friday 23 December
Documentary two: Street Artist – Kid30 street art around Nottingham
Local street artist Kid30 discusses his unique take on famous characters and why street art is a valuable asset to tourism in Nottingham.
Lee Deane & Logan Spooner
Wednesday 28 December
Documentary three: Wollaton Hall
The film is about Wollaton Hall, a green space in the middle of a city. The Hall was constructed between 1580 and 1588, with grounds that include a deer park, formal and botanical gardens, an orangery, a lake and numerous trails.
Grace Parton & Tahlia Lee
Thursday 29 December
Documentary four: River Trent and its inhabitants – saving water/conserve water
A documentary about the River Trent and how too much nitrogen and phosphorus from the pollution in the water causes algae to grow faster than ecosystems can handle, making the water unsafe, causing the fish and wildlife to suffer because of the toxins that the algae releases.
Gabi Petrenaite
Friday 30 December
Documentary five: Vintage Clothing
The film ‘Vintage clothing’, talks about the shops Wild Clothing and Hopkinson and the importance of independent outlets like these in the city and the history they have.
Eve Hudson & Laurenjean Smythe
Friday 6 January
Documentary six: OWEN (Open Water Education Network)
Owen’s story is one of heartbreak and inspiration. Nicola Jenkins, narrates the journey of how she started the OWEN programme following the tragic death of her son in 2017. Set at the side of Beeston Weir where Owen tragically lost his life, this short documentary shows how an educational programme now helps to prevent open water incidents from happening and what to do if they occur by giving people the skills and knowledge to stay safe around water.
Tyler Cope
We caught up with Notts TV Channel Manager, Chris Breese to find out his thoughts on the student-made documentaries:
“We’re really pleased to be able to bring the students’ work to the Notts TV audience. All the films show stories or locations in Notts many people might not know about, and they’ve been made with dedication and skill. The students’ commitment is there for everyone to see on-screen and we hope everyone enjoys them.”
Be sure to tune into the live evening news programme, Notts Today, on the mentioned dates at 5.30pm, available on Freeview channel 7, Virgin 159 and BT/YouView 7. You can also watch Notts Today on demand via the Notts TV website.
Are you interested in studying Film & TV Production – BTEC Level 3, and getting hands-on work experience as part of your studies? Book onto an Open Day to find out more about all the opportunities on offer here at Confetti.
