Detailed pitch explanation

·      Subject

Various terms can be used to describe our documentary as we have not only incorporated but also merged bags of ideas. The first term that springs to mind is anthropology, which illustrates the study of human behaviour.  To be more specific, to describe our documentary correctly, it is under the category of social and cultural anthropology. This is the investigation of norms and values of societies, past and present. This does indeed links directly in with our study of human aspects regarding sense of belonging, in terms of a common passion. The studies in which humans come together; in matters of the up most importance – this is what we could call tribes! The traditional tribal definition can now be applied to many different aspects of contemporary society, including football. We have bridged the gap - that so many have tried and failed - between football and culture.

The documentary could also potentially be considered as historical because in many ways it offers insight and an understanding of what tribal life was like many, many years ago. This has been achieved through the use of archive footage and brilliant narration that is the voice over (VO). In relation to the VO, it is fantastically scripted in such a respect that it sounds poetic connoting the art of engaging the demographic. This story-telling type of narration will incorporate the entertainment aspect of the documentary that will in doubtfully attract the modern target audience. This ties in with Blumler and Katz’s Uses & Gratification theory because audiences use the media for a particular purpose. They believe there are main functions, these consist of concepts such as: Entertainment, Education and information. These functions provided for the target audience are all pursued by our documentary. The reason behind incorporating so many elements is to attract a wide demographic and spark interests into the audience.

Not only that but our documentary is a sporting one as well due to the footage of football scenes, which would appeal to a certain target audience of football fans. Along with this, it is also factual based providing information for the demographic to be intrigued.

·       Participants

The Participants of our documentary have to be selected carefully in order to stick to the theme and maintain consistency. One participant that will be implemented in our documentary is a Police Officer who has received first hand experience of football violence. This will be denoted through the perception of an interview, in which specific questions will be asked to stay relevant with our theme. We will film with various angles, for instance: an over the shoulder shot, medium shot, close-up etc. Through out the documentary this main interview will act as a thread in terms of the structure in order to supply the documentary with stability and consistency. Cutting away from the interview and inter-linking throughout will achieve this. On the topic of interviews, we will conduct some short snappy interviews pre-match asking particular questions to football supporters staying relevant to the ‘sense of belonging’ e.g tribes.

The ‘sense of belonging’ element can link directly in with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in terms of the Belonging stage/level. Everyone feels the urge to belong and tribes bring people together, strength in numbers.

·       Ideas for visuals

The visuals will be mentioned in chronological order.

Starts on black screen and fades into an extreme close up of a persons eye in order to signify passion and determination immediately; this could give an idea to the demographic as of what the documentary is about.

There will be high close up shots of fingers dipping into a pot of face paint.

It then cuts to the mysterious figure applying the paint just below the eye (again extreme close up).

The use of archive cave paintings/drawings of early man to connote that raw tribal feeling, archive stills will enable a slow zoom to be added.

Matching the voice over a translucent image overlapping initial image of evolution of man.

Archive footage of tribesmen to help the audience gain an understanding of the foundation of tribes.

A montage of the most emotional, strong, passionate and greatest footballing moments.

Footage of football hooliganism.

Various interviews.

Filling relevant visuals.

In actual pitch include ideas for mis-en-scene and camera work

·       Structure

 The structure of our documentary will be connected all the way through the use of the character applying face paint to his face. This connotes the passion and dedication that supporters have for their tribes. The face paint will be a mix of tribal, war cry type paint (e.g Black) and Blue and White, which signifies the Chelsea strip. We will keep cutting away from this scene and disburse the footage throughout. This provides our documentary with stability that acts like a thread to maintain consistency. Also, the main interview will be done in a similar way. Cutaways and stills will be implemented.

·       Location choices

The choices of locations will include footage at Stamford Bridge (Chelsea) for football related filming. Also, the visuals for the applicant of face paint and the main interview will take place in a controlled environment, such as: Studio.

·       Editing style / techniques

The style of editing will be quite fast-paced in order to emphasise and match the dramatic visuals that will be presented. Allow the target audience to obtain a feel for the atmosphere related with tribal warfare. In addition, the editing techniques will consist of some use of fade to provide that dramatic effect but majority based on fast cuts to enable the fast-paced feel. The use of cross-dissolve may be incorporated depending on how it looks.

Produced entirely by me.