My Final Major Project At College

[AlanBartlett]

The time has come, that I'm almost at the end of my college course and for the final major project we have a choice of what format to create a video on, So I'm thinking I might revisit my old jowett documentary and redo it, well re make it completely to a higher standard and include more variety of content. For example more interviews with various jowett members and juniors, their opnions and views, some technical talk, demonstrations of technical talk. differences between jowetts and cars made modern times. Maybe some moving footage, or a run or a ride in a jowett.....

Like to hear your feedback on this, or if anyone has any other ideas, which they think might be good, or would like to take part in the documentary add to this topic.....

[Alastair Gregg]

If I can help, let me know. When does it have to be in by, I suppose I'm thinking can you use Crieff as a time and a place to conduct interviews.

[AlanBartlett]

I think the deadline is at the end of may, im not sure, as havent been technically given the assignment I'm just thinking ahead....

[Alastair Gregg]

Hmmm! I have a daughter who is a student and even by her standards of doing things at the eleventh hour and fifty nine minutes and fifty nine and a half seconds thats cutting it a bit fine.

Why don't you set up interviews, say get a Bradford owner to get a member of his family to interview them and get them to video it, then send the footage on DVD (or tape) to you. You would need to decide what you wanted asked as its your Documentary and then repeat the process with different topics and different cars. Your enthusiasm for your car has made you a lot of friends and if they are technically competent on the video side of things I'm sure they would help if you asked.

[PAUL BEAUMONT]

Somewhere on the site there is Roger Young's interview at the great Dorset Steam Fair. This includes footage of Sara and Rachel, might be useful to "borrow"

[Tony Fearn]

Hello again Alan.

This sounds like it could be a "tour de force" in the Jowett world if you can make it happen.

I would suggest that as well as involving we 'cyberspace' Jowetteers, you should ask around the wider Jowett community as well, through the pages of our 'Jowetteer' magazine.

This would involve very many more people, all who are dedicated to the Jowett marque, but as well may have skills in the very medium you are working in.

Re. The major project - Make sure you convince those who need to be convinced that this is what you want as an assignment - if it really is. Sort out the time logistics asap as 'tempus fugit'

Send a comprehensive, considered letter (or email) off to Alan Brierley, with perhaps a photo of you and your car, so that it can go in the January edition of the 'Jowetteer'. Mention the items you have already posted on the wider web as well as JowettTalk and Gallery.

Keith Wear is the Film Librarian. Noel Stokoe is our Publicity Officer and Librarian. Ian P., Paul B., Eden L., Ed. N., and John Stockwell are our Registrars, and I would guess they will be only too willing to help, as will the majority of the membership. It's Eden that does a CD of each National Rally.

Alastair's idea about interviews is good. You've already touched on this with Geoff Wills, but a friend of mine has also recently done something similar with an 85 year old member who has been part of the Northern section perhaps longer than anyone else - over 45 years, and has memory recall to equal Einstein!

Alastair's other comment about using a prepared list of questions and putting them to owners of the various models to compare and contrast answers could help fill the content.

Having said that, you will appreciate how broad you can make it, so you'll have to become a 'Baldrick' and make "a cunning plan", a timetable which is achievable within the timescale allotted, and stick to it like glue.

Aim to have it all finished for at least 3 weeks before it's due in just in case of unforseen obstacles.

There is to date an extraordinary number of 'views' (3,277!!) of your 'Start Up' post from earlier in the year. I hope this latest post also stimulates such an interest.

Best wishes to you and mum for Christmas and the New Year.

Tony.

P.S. I think there may be a Jowett presence in Shepton Mallet in February.

[Alastair Gregg]

Alan, what format do you work in Video wise, so those in the know can use it and make the final compilation easy and relitively painless.

As Tony says, be sure A) it is what you want to do and B) Ticks all the boxes for your project. I did a History of Jowett Cars for my History CSE. I got somwhere around 85% for it and bearing in mind no computers, no digital cameras and I'm about as fleet of fiist as a breeze block, I think the content must have been brilliant I got a CSE grade 1 (equivelant to an O Level).

I'll volunteer as your first correspondent provided you are convinced on A) and B)

[AlanBartlett]

A) For the our final project we have free rain of what we basically do, the originial brief was to make a four docs, documentary, but as our lecturer has some what opened up the criteria to do what we wish so long as you can convince him, I think I should be able to do this. And Id really like to improve my past documentary now that im a lil older and have more ideas and experience to carry out such ideas.... the original one wasnt good it wasnt bad it was just kind of there. So I'd really like to take this opportunity to improve it

B) As long as we write down most things and plan, the lecturuer can take this all down as evidence and split it between the criteria needed to pass this project.

So hopefully I should get the go ahead.....

As for what medium I work with, well most digital video formats, throw a few formats at me and im sure I can figure out how to convert it to the video format required If it isnt already in the right type.

[Drummond Black]

Alan I do not know your final timescale for your college " Swan Song " however, as suggested, if you need do carry out interviews during the Scotland 08 Rally at Crieff then please let us know and will ensure that facilities are available to assist you. GOOD LUCK.. Drummond

[AlanBartlett]

Thanks Drummond, will keep everyone update on plans and let you know my time limits for this project, I may even contine it out of college and do to edits, submit one for college, and a one for the club/genral public.

[AlanBartlett]

My first research question to you is

What would you as a member of the jowett club like to see in a video?

[ian Howell]

Alan -

I know NOTHING about creating videos. but I think you need first to create a 'storyboard' that outlines the eventual format, then fill in the 'boxes' with suitable material.

IF this is correct, then surely you should start with a bit about the Brothers, possibly the factory - with wartime interludes (let's not forget there have been two) - then work through the various ages, with suitable examples of each major model/type group - with achievements (Le Mans, Monte Carlo, Spa, etc) and owner commentary if possible.

It would be nice to finish up with a bit about the club - what with it being the oldest one-make club, etc. and not forgetting the very important overseas contingents.

[AlanBartlett]

Yeah, what im planning to at the moment is to get aload of ideas together then structure them in a video starting with a beginning a middle and an end... My ideas are just random scribblings at the moment, then I hope to put them in a structure with a story board, from then on work out a script, interview questions, and other pieces to the puzzle.

Here are some of my ideas coupled with some of what Alistair gregg chipped in, feel free to poke and prod and add. After all you are the audience and you know what you would like to see in the video....


Content Video Ideas

Laid back, friendly feel to the video, mixed with modern style of shots

Intro

Dark garage, headlights turn on, car drives towards camera, past camera
Cut to a mid shot of the front seats from the back seats of the driver turning round and introducing the video, this can also be the presenter

Cut to outside shot of presenter getting out of drivers door, then standing outside next to/leaning on the bonnet, introducing what's in the video. (Visual videos onscreen cropped to fit the windows of the car)

Presenter leans in the car still talking, few close ups of key in ignition and choke, walks to the front of the car and turns the starter handle, car starts, presenter gets in the car, and drives past the camera, cut to long shot of car driving away.


History of how it all started

Middle

Chronological order of cars coupled with interviews


End




Various Jowett members and juniors, their opinions and views, some technical talk, demonstrations of technical talk. differences between Jowetts and cars made modern times. Maybe some moving footage, or a run or a ride in a jowett

The History, Racing History, The Firsts like across Africa from East to West, the first curved windscreen. Modern day motorists and Jowetts.

greater variation in interviews and people. We as a car club have 600 members, to get attention it has to be snappy and clever

witty

Pick the cars and owners going through in say chronological order spraying our History round with different people. Pretty girls help as well to make it ,more appealing!!!!

As far as the club is concerned a video of the History of Jowett Cars would be fantastic to hand out at non Jowett does like the recent one at the NEC. CD's are cheap and it puts our history in the hands of the public.





Research Questions

What would you as a member of the jowett club like to see in a video?

Alistair Gregg:

The cars acknowledged for good solid engineering. The results they achieved in doing the things they did and The club shown as a strong vibrant community where the young are encouraged and the seeds sown for a future club when we old crumblies are dead and gone . It needs to show a vibrant community and lots of good things going on.

Rachel Young

Racing Jowetts

Now they are still in the ideas stage so feel free to add, nothing is concrete yet

Ps lecturer is convinced, hes actually really liking the idea I showed him my old documentary saying i would like to hugely improve it and he was like go for it. He wants me to make 2 edits of it 1 for 10mins, and one for 4mins as a channel four four docs programme, but i also said that on behalf of the club Im sure they would like me to go into as much depth as possible so he said go for it, so create the longer version first then edit it down for the other two critereas. So the the green light is go... Ill keep you posted, and put a jowetteer article in asap

[ian Howell]

Alan: -

You are taking on a MASSIVE task! I am sure you will have to 'prune' your ideas to fit the time available, BUT . .

Even if you do, don't forget that the sort of concept you are setting out could be an important historical document - and not just for Jowetteers, so it could well be commercially worthwhile to continue after the initial 'project' and produce a really valuable reference document.

(Don't forget the quirky advertisements) There is so much material out there for you to work with, and then there is research!

Very best of luck!!

[AlanBartlett]

Is there a Historian in club or someone who knows the ins and out of the companys history, this person would be a good starting point for interviewing on historical matters. Also a club historian who knows alot about how the club. Ive done alot of research which I could also include but it would be nice to have some "experts" in some fields...