One of the main reason I chose TV compared to other specialism is because I'm given the freedom to get creative with the shots, the equipment I use, the way I edit in premier. There's no limit and you can be so experimental with it to see ways in which you can make it entertaining.
Secondly, video has a high retention rate. Viewers remember 95% of a message when they watch it on video. This type of format is proven to be very popular with young people so, since my documentary is aimed at a young demographic (18-38), I want them to think about what they’ve seen and leave with something constructive at the end.
Thirdly, it's fun. It's stressful and takes ages to make it like you want but, it's definitely worth it. I've done a documentary last year called Drinking To Belong which explores why young people feel the need to drink in order to have fun. I though I was going to have a mental breakdown with the editing process. Premier can be a pain in the bum sometimes and it was coming up to the deadline very fast. It's a bit of a blur now because of the amount of pressure I was under but, I came out strong in the end and I'm very proud of it. Lets hope it's going to be a more enjoyable experience this year!
Last but not least, I love it. I've contemplated many many times whether I should chose another specialism to make my life a little easier, especially with COVID-19 around. I've oscillated between TV, radio and magazine (which I also love). I wrote down what I like and don't like about each one individually, drew a line and TV still came out as the best choice.
Might sound cheesy, but I really had to take a moment to tune in to myself and see what my heart was telling me to pursue. I guess it took a bit longer because I was so scared of going through the same thing as with the last documentary I made, scared that I won't be able to make it to the best of my abilities during a national lockdown and scared that I won't make it entertaining enough for my viewers. My mind was a mess with a thousand thoughts running through it. Can't say they are 100% gone but, I came to the realization that I've proved myself wrong so many times when I thought I couldn't make it work.
Making a documentary during a pandemic is a challenge but a challenge I'm willing to take on! I am a journalist at the end of the day, adapting is part of my job.
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