Screenwriting
After a series of very useful sessions on screenwriting I began to think about what form of screenwriting would work for my film. I had never really considered screenwriting as a part of documentary before, but viewing screenwriting as not just words and directions for actors, but instead as a chance to consider different ways the film could play out and as a tool for communication for others involved in the production I have started to rethink this. While I was trying to decide how this documentary screenplay might look, I also came across a series of maps from JHQ, and after the 2nd screenwriting class where we looked at how other material such as images could work as a screenplay I thought that these maps could play a part in my screenwriting process.
I plotted onto this map the different locations I intend to visit, in blue, and the best points of entry to the camp, in red. Using this map I worked out a schedule for when and where I will film during my first trip to JHQ in the Christmas break. I also began to list memories I had from each of these locations which would inform what I film and focus on in each location.
I sent this list to my younger brother and sister to see if any of these were shared memories, some were and some weren’t, but just reading the list seemed to start a process of recollection in both of them. This reassured me that even if what I say in the voice-over is incredibly specific and not open ended enough to be universally relatable, the process of recounting the past in itself is enough to have some impact of a viewer, and they will hopefully get something from it.
Conor McBride 