Problem Solving

Planning for theoretical problems

Problems I may encounter when researching and How I plan to resolve
planning
o Research about topic o Do focus groups with home educators
- Have sit down interviews and draw
research
o Find books and articles

o Responses to surveys o Share on all social media platforms

- Instagram
- Facebook
- Snapchat
- Email
- Text message

o Storage on USB drive and hard drive o Split all files between both storages

o Finding topic documentaries o Look for videos on amazon to buy or take

out at the library

o Opinion on home education o Write up research then comb through and

get rid of opinionated work

Planning for practical and technical problems

Practical and technical problems I may encounter How I plan to resolve
o Interviewees drop out o Set up contingency days

o Equipment o Use own equipment (cameras, tripods)

- Book college equipment far in
advance

o Filming interviews o Equipment

- Camera batteries charged
- Bring back-up camera
- Cameras focused and set up
properly

o Interviewees o Ask around on Facebook, group chats

o Editing time o Edit day & evenings

Mid Project check-up (After Research and Planning)

 Problem Solving

So far, I haven’t needed to fall back on a lot of the first section.

o I did have to do some research from homeschoolers themselves. I didn’t feel that I had
enough research, so I talked to my mum, my brother, 2 homeschoolers at a home-ed
group in Watford and a family that I have known for years (the mum). They were all video
type of interviews, apart from the Sharon Mura, because I was meeting her at Starbucks I
wrote down most of it and also voice recorded some but the quality was bad so there
wasn’t much I could take from that. This really helped me to get more information,
especially when it came to writing my shooting script.
o My opinion in my home-ed research. I tried not to opinionate my work, but I did anyway.
After feedback from my teacher, I was able to go back and change the wording or change
the approach. I found it quite hard to do this because this subject is so close to home.

o I did take out a few books from the library, as well as a DVD, I used these to help broaden
my knowledge on schools. I got two books on school and the education system, these
were very helpful and helped write my shooting script. I also got another on learning
difficulties which I knew I wanted to touch on, so I read it. But it wasn’t telling me
anything that I didn’t already know (coming from a family with learning difficulties). I also
got a book on documentaries, I probably used this book the most. That book had a lot of
good points and was really helpful, I even made a part in my codes and conventions
section about it.
o I was very fortunate in that my teachers would send me articles that would help my
research. They were from BBC, The Guardian and a few others. This was very helpful, and I
really appreciated the extra help.
End of project review
Overall, I think that everything went as planned, I was able to predict a few of the problems I thought I
would come across.
o I did encounter one of my interviewees not being home for me to film her. I went to
Harrow to interview Sophia and her 3 children. My dad took the day off to drive me,
because my mum was unable to drive at, he drove me, my mum and brother there and
would wait around while I filmed. Unfortunately, I did not foresee that Sophia had
forgotten we were coming and had agreed to work at her part-time job in the school. We
had travelled over an hour to get there and to come back almost immediately. My dad
had missed a day’s work for me, fortunately he was able to do some work but unofficially.
My mum and I had been in contact with Sophia, but we didn’t hear anything from her. We
had talked to her husband who was in the drive when we pulled up, he tried to get in
contact with her and even checked her calendar/diary. She had clearly forgotten. And so, I
had to cancel my trip to Germany in the second week of Easter just, so I could film her. I'm
tried to look for alternatives just in case, because I didn’t want to be let down again. I did
have contingency days but unfortunately, she couldn’t do any of the days that I asked if
she could do. Then had to forfeit my holiday.
 Problem Solving

o When it came to the editing side, I did have to edit in the day and in the evenings. I didn’t
want to be behind, so edited around the clock and was constantly improving my work as I
went along. I started off with my interviews, editing these separately was very important
to me because editing isn’t my strong suit and I struggle to stay focused (ADD). This was
very hard for me to stay sat on my laptop staring at my screen, I did get a few migraines
and had to take 10 minute breaks every once in a while.