Work Based Learning- More of my duties

Here is some more of the duties I did for my Work Based Learning unit-

Kit packer- this duty included being given a list of equipment that would be needed on a specific shoot and sorting it all out and putting it all together ready to be sent to the location. I would then get it checked by a producer or camera operator, tag it all with the Dreamtek labels, address it to the location and arrange for it to be collected by a courier.

Runner- this was what I was for most of the shoots that I joined the Dreamtek crew on. This included many duties including, tea and coffee runs, putting together equipment, cleaning sets, keeping documents such as scripts and schedules organised, together and making sure everyone who needs them has them. 

Final Major Project- Meal Ideas

I have been doing some research into exactly what meals I should be cooking on my show that will not only fit the short time frame and also a student friendly budget but also taste, look and are nutritious too.
I have done some research into certain foods and their prices also... looking at what kind of meats are cheaper, which shops to buy from and if it is cheaper to buy some foods in bulk such as vegetables.

I have found out some very useful things from my research including the following:

It is cheaper to buy turkey and pork instead of chicken and beef.

Its is cheaper to buy things such as onions, potatoes and other vegetables in bulk bags or in a selection pack that some supermarkets sell now. 

Certain supermarkets have 'price wars' or 'lowest price guaranteed' promotions, which means places such as ASDA will guarantee your food bill to be cheaper then anywhere else, and if its not you get money back on your next bill. 

Buying larger bags of foods which keep for a long time, such as pasta and rice is much cheaper then buying ready made packs and much healthier too.

Buying spices and things alike is a much better way to save money and keep healthier, rather then going to the ready meal section! 

Final Major Project- Structure of shows

So my show will have a basic structure of 3, 5 minute episodes. In each of these episodes the audience will be shown how to make a quick, simple, cheap, nutritious, easy and filling meal. I am aiming to cook these meals on a budget, of which I need to do some research on. Because these programmes will be on such a tight time frame, I will have the prep for the meal done before filming starts and then take the audience through this and show them what i have done at the beginning of the show. Before going onto cooking the main meals.
The basic idea will be to get all ingredients that are a staple in everyones kitchen cupboards or fridge. Giving Students tips on where to buy food along the way.

Final Major Project- shots

I have been thinking about ways in which I would like to shoot my cookery show. I have been watching many cookery shows including ones broadcast on TV and on YouTube also. I have come to the decision that many cookery shows have basic shots which they use including the following:

Up close shots of food.

This shot is a basic shot to show the audience either how something should be done or how something should look. It is very useful to give detail to the audience and help them in making a meal or a particular part of a dish. Also when food is being cooked, the camera is often positioned close up to give a nice shot of this.

This shot is used to show the audience what the finished dish should look like, with all the finishing touches. 

Medium shot of chef/presenter and kitchen.

This shot is used the most in cookery shows. It gives the audience a sense of the surroundings and also a view from further back of what is happening in the kitchen. 

Finished dinner shots.

These shots are done to show the audience people enjoying the finished meal. These shots can also be used in the run up to the meal being finished to give the audience more detail into what the food should look like.  These shots can also be used to fill in during the ending titles of a programme.

Work Based Learning- Duties

For my Work Based Learning I have been given many duties to perform including the following:

Keeping track of online media based activities- things including Twitter followers, Facebook 'likes' and the Facebook page, updating YouTube meta data and finding appropriate links for the Dreamtek website.

Being sound assistant for shoots- this was for a shoot Dreamtek were doing for an interview with the band The Killers. During this shoot I helped to sort out the set and cameras, fit lighting together and positioning in the correct places and holding the boom pole and making sure sound was good during the actual recording. I also helped de-rig the equipment at the end of the shoot.

Scouting locations- I have done lots of scouting for locations during my time at Dreamtek. This has involved doing lots of research, keeping in contact with companies about prices and dates and visiting locations to do recce's. 

Researching V/O artists and make- up artists- I have been given the job of finding a selection of make up artists and V/O artists for various shoots Dreamtek are working on. This involves going on to websites such as http://www.meetthejoneses.co.uk/ and http://www.mandy.com/

to find suitable talent in suitable locations who have a good level of experience. 

Final Major Project- Title

Decisions, decisions, decisions! Deciding on a name for my shows has been one of the hardest things for my mind to think about for a long long time!
I need something that will do the following:

• GRAB peoples attention!
• Give them a UNDERSTANDING as to what the programmes will be about
• WANT them to watch it!

Making all these things happen when a person sees a simple, snappy and short title to a programme is extremely hard.

I want something which is quick off the tongue, gets to the point and will make students think they could learn something whilst enjoying themselves.

Some titles I have come up with so far include:

• A Scoop of Student Cooking
• Cooking up a Student Storm
• Student Sizzlers 
• Sizzling up a Storm

I think these titles give a good understanding as too what my programmes will be about, but at the same time I do not want to just appeal to students. I would ideally like people of all ages to watch, but if this cannot be achieved then an age range of around 14- 28 years old. So having the word 'student' in the title could possibly segregate the viewing audience and put people who aren't students off just by seeing the name.

I have also been doing some research into cookery names. You do not get a cookery show (that has been extremely successful) that is anymore then 4 words long. 

                                     For example:

Come Dine With Me

Ready Steady Cook

British Bake Off

River Cottage Bites

MasterChef 

Final Major Project- Setting

So for my Final Major Project I have been looking at a series of locations for my cookery show to be filmed and doing some recce's.
When I was first trying to decide where I wanted to film and what kind of space I wanted to film in I had to take some important things into consideration. Not only did I have to make sure there was basic things on the set such as:

• Good lighting 
• Minimal noise from outside
• Enough space for a crew and cast and possibly a small audience
• A presentable area.

But I also had to look at things such as if the set fits in with the overall look I was going for, for my programme. 

A friend of mine works in a local pub called The Downs. I approached him and asked if it would be possible to do some filming in there after pub hours. But when I went and looked at the kitchen it was very much too professional for the kind of set I am going for. This is because I am aiming my shows at students and people of around this age... It is not likely that these kind of people will have flash, posh kitchens, with multiple ovens, dish washers, grills and things like this. This is why I have made the decision that I am going to film in a home kitchen. 

My aunty has a good sized kitchen with good lighting and a decent amount of room that I know will be able to fit a cast and crew in easily. It is also bright and airy with windows. The noise levels will not be a problem either as it is a detached house and not on a main road. 

I will post pictures of this kitchen ASAP.