Week one of the self initiated project: as I have made my mind up on the project that I`m about to do which is working with the Hull Goodwin centre, some interviews were taken the first was going to the centre after an arranged interview through Nabaa Zedan who works there as a health advisor, the interview was with a person called Sharon ………who works at the Goodwin centre as well. Through the meeting I had to tell her what were my aims of project and the skills that I have to make the project success, then I asked what I needed from them and who is the right person to speak to. In general, she was very interested in the idea and she was very helpful person. At the same week Sharon advised me to meet a person called JJ Tatton, he is a former journalist and current media involved person, JJ has worked for with students and wrote for the Goodwin centre news paper, few days later within the first week, meeting with JJ Tatton has been done the meeting in general was for ten minutes, as results of the meeting with JJ and Sharon they then sent me referred me to Adriana who also was present in the meeting.
Week two of the self initiated project: in this week many things has been delayed in the project, which is always not a good thing to do, but it could be beneficial the people involved in the project will be unlighted to more creative ideas and have the chance to think of how make the project appears in a better final look. In this week not many contact were established apart two the first; as JJ in the previous week promised me to send Adriana`s contact details but then I found out that he was absent for sickness, I found out this from Sharon in the middle of the week, then from her I took Adriana`s details who then promised me two days, but this has pushed my project to its third week.
Week three of the self initiated project: in this week Adriana has sent me two persons contact details the first was Younas who does English language courses for those who are new in the society, I contacted Younas but there was no response so I had to go to the place where he worked, I found out that he was on holiday I only found this from the person who works at the language centre reception. The other contact details I received from Adriana, it was for a person called Eileen Styles I contacted her through Email asking if she could see me for an interview regarding my self initiated project and she said ‘Hello Ahmad,
I am really willing to help you but I am on holiday until Wednesday 30th March. Would you like to come along to Spring Bank (Naba will explain where we are) anytime on Thursday 31st March to discuss what you need to do for you project? For example, if you want to do any filming of students you will need their written permission.
Regards
Eileen
As the above e mail says that the 31st March is the starting point I realised that date wouldn’t be very helpful as I am ruled by plans that says by the 30th of March I must have at least started the filming, so I went back to Goodwin Centre met with JJ Tatton who gave me an invitation for a conference is taken by the same organisation but it has to do with introducing the elderly people to modern technology and make them feel independent in their own homes just by relying on technology. I took the invitation and booked my filming equipments for the following day, which was Thursday the 24th March 2011.
On the Thursday afternoon I was in the conference with my equipments, I asked for permission to film and interview and told each interviewee about the purpose of the film and where to find their interviews. In general there was a great responds from the people who are running the conference, as they were very welcoming and didn’t cause any kind of struggles whilst I was filming and interviewing. In addition to the staff support the participants (elderly people) they were also very much happy to be filmed and interviewed, not only some were giving me their contact details such as Emails to contact them at any time just in case I needed more information regarding my project.
Week five of the self initiated project: in this week I have started the technical work on the film that I have captured in the previous week, I realised whilst I was in the middle of the process of editing the film, there was a need for more information and this could be done through contacting one the people that I have interviewed previously.
General views
In general I have learnt how to arrange an interviews with interviewee from very busy organisations, isn’t an easy thing to do but if you keep asking and never give up, also attending on time or few minutes before it always gives the interviewee that the interviewer has serious topic.
The other important point that I have learnt through my experience with the Goodwin centre, is that building bridges with people who are inside the organisation which is always count as step in the right direction, it helps a lot to finish the project, I noticed this when I felt I was left out, in the period between the second and third week, even by giving you some of their time (couple minutes) to update the project with them, that helps a lot.
On the technical side I have learnt so many beneficial points for the future, but most importantly to mention always have an idea of what is it going to be like the that I am about to do and be well prepared before its too late. In other word the conference that I covered was big event and needed more than camera and more microphone to cover everything at once and to produce rich video news video story.
Before I have started everything I knew in my mind, what my target audience were, and what was the main purpose of this work. The target audience for this work a group of people at the age of fifty nine and extra and people who are in the field of care.
Bellow is the final version of the project:
