Mark in Time - Presentation

What is the narrative?

Narrative follows main 3 characters:

• Richard Newman

Takes pictures of people, ‘collects’ them. “I’ve always been an observer”

• John Dockerty

Wants to be an entertainer, likes people who are different.

• Woman (unnamed) who was an actress.

From Birmingham, unhappy with where she moved to. “I’m fed up with all these old people!”

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Key Elements

• The key elements are the events that take place in the main characters parts of the documentary.
• Follows them in their everyday lives
• Focuses on the characters – the narrative is driven by what they do – makes it unpredictable (not staged).

3

Key Relationships

• The key relationships lie between the characters as individuals and the camera, but more importantly the audience.
• Because the characters address the camera directly, they are therefore sharing their experiences with the audience, making the documentary feel much more personal.

4

What works/ doesn’t work?

• The main focus on the three characters. It switches back and forth between them, therefore it does not become boring (as we are not seeing one character for a long length of time).
• However, there is less focus on the woman’s character, and the film therefore does not feel balanced between the three main characters.
• The voice-over tells the audience straight away what it is going to be about. It sets up the story and sets the tone for the rest of the documentary.
• There were several scenes which seemed random and were not fully explained – i.e. The woman researching her family tree at the beginning is never seen again. As is the man out side the ‘Mermaid Inn’ – their appearances are never explained and therefore not only seem irrelevant, but disruptive if the narrative.
• The music works as a transition between the scenes – when a scene is changing to another character, piano music plays, separating the two scenes.
• This is also done with individual shots – for example, while the music plays, shots of the countryside are often used as part of the transition.
• There are also random images flashed onto the screen when the characters are speaking – I did not feel that this worked as there did not seem to be reason behind them, and this was not explained. In the context of documentary as a genre, I did not feel it was appropriate.

5

Character Themes

Being An Entertainer

• The key themes seem to be about ‘wanting to be an entertainer’ in when it comes to two of the main characters, but not to the other. He is more focused on capturing images as a hobby
• Though this is creative, it does not tie in with the other two characters. Perhaps it would have been better to include another character instead of him who also longed to be an entertainer?

Eccentricity

• Each of the characters is entertaining to watch because of their personalities – they are unpredictable and amusing, as well as interesting to hear about.

A Feeling of ‘Not Achieving’

• Each character shares a sense of underachieving, which ties them together.
• For example, Richard Newman says later in the documentary “Some people are successful early, some later” – he does not feel that he has done as much with his life as he would have liked to.
• John Dockerty also says “I don’t think I’ve achieved” – hence his desire to be recognised as an entertainer
• The actress discusses how she “used to go out” and “had fun with friends”, but since moving feels that she lives in a “grave diggers’ wedding”. She longs for what has already passed

They all want to leave their mark, be recognised.

6

How would I change it?

1. Black. Piano music begins, fade into shots of fields.
2. Narration begins – introducing characters.

- Shot of Richard Newman in red light, developing pictures. “I’ve always been an observer”

- Shot of actress, putting on make-up. “I’ve always been an entertainer....theatre is in my blood.”

- Shot of John Dockerty playing the keyboard. “I want to become an entertainer”

3. Cut to Richard Newman, back to developing pictures. Music has ended. Then cut to him showing the camera pictures. Quote “Time flies...”

[Ref. To old people connects to next scene.]

4. Cut to actress on beach, explaining how she got there. “I’m fed up of all these old people!” Putting on make-up, talking about how she has “always been an entertainer....theatre is in my blood.”

[Being an entertainer connects to next scene.]

5. Cut to John Dockerty. Playing the keyboard/singing. “I’ve always wanted to be an entertainer......I like people who are different.”

[Piano music an transition to first character starts again.]

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• 6. Cut back to Richard Newman, now in car. Discusses being “technophobic”

[Not as necessary to link the scenes together here, as the characters’ similarities has already been established.]

7. Cut to actress, now dancing on stage. Scene dancing alone, singing

8. Cut to John Dockerty, station chippy. Discussing being on song and dance shows

[Transition of random shots, images, over piano music.]

9.Richard Newman in market, taking pictures of the elderly.

10. Cut to actress, make-up mirror. Getting dressed

11. Cut to John Dockerty, in hotel

[Piano music begins, voice-overs indicate the documentary is coming to an end.]

12. Richard Newman, voice over clips of him showing pictures, taking pictures in market, in red room etc. “I’ve always been an observer....I’ve always been a people person.....Some people are successful early in life, some later....”

13. Actress, voice over clips of her in front of mirror, dancing, singing, on beach. “It’s like a grave diggers’ wedding....I’m sick of all these old people...Theatre is in my blood....I didn’t make the most of opportunities...”

14. John Dockerty, voice over clips of him playing the keyboard, singing, in the chippy, in the hotel. “I like people who are different....I have a normal life....I want to become an entertainer....I don’t think I’ve achieved....”

15. [Piano music continues, over shots of fields. Ending on characters discussing how they do not feel they have achieved, wraps up meaning of documentary.Fade out.]

8

Summary

• I would give the documentary linearity – for example, keeping the order of character appearances the same.
• The time given to each character will be equal.
• To maintain the audiences interest, every time the scene changes back to a character, they will be in a different scenario.
• Left out unnecessary scenes - characters who are never mentioned again, John Dockerty discussing his childhood, also in garden. Did not contribute to overall film, and would have made his section of the film longer, therefore making the characters unbalanced.