Research and Initial Plans

1. Research & Initial Plans
Bertie Stasiulevicuis

2. Task 1 – Research into existing
products

3. Age
• (how common, how extreme?)
• Possible Discussion Points:
• What age do people start getting piercings?
• First Piercing?
• How Extreme do people go to start with?
• Do people want more after their first piercing or are they satisfied?

4. Workplace
• (do piercings and tattoos affect getting a job? And customer
opinions?)
• Possible Discussion Points:
• Do obvious piercings and tattoos deter employers from hiring
someone?
• What do customers think when they see employees with body
modifications?

5. College / School Environments
• (do people cover their piercings or show them off more)
• Possible Discussion Points:
• Do people with many body piercings and tattoos embrace and show
them off or do they stay more hidden?
• Are there many people with extreme body piercings?
• Do people get judged for having piercings or is it the norm?

6. Opinions
• (who judges piercings & tattoos? Older = more judgemental? If so –
why? (upbringing, less of a trend when the older generation were
kids))
• Possible Discussion Points:
• Which group of people are the most judgemental towards piercings
and tattoos?
• Why do people judge other peoples choices?
• Are older people more likely to judge piercings and tattoos because it
wasn’t as common for them growing up?

7. Extreme Modifications
• (man jailed, legality, stretch piercings, tattooed eyes, under skin
modifications)
• Possible Discussion Points:
• Can body modification go too far?
• Should people be able to get tattooed in uncommon places such as your
eyes?
• Should dermal piercings be more common?
• Is there much difference to dermal piercings than tattoos?
• Man who got arrested and put in jail for performing ear removals and
several other extreme body modifications

8. Web – Documentary
• Interview style video – multiple people discussing tattoos and piercings.
• Characteristics:
• Subjects – What the documentary is about, human actions and opinions on
the topic.
• Purpose – the reasoning of making the Web – Doc, informs the viewers of
the ideas behind the video.
• Production Method – how the images are shot, how the sounds are
recorded, and then how the two are put together.
• Audience experience – the aesthetic of the film, in a way which affects
attitude to the subject.

9. Web – Documentary
Both of these YouTube videos follow similar formats, they are filmed in an interview style which discusses
tattoos and piercings in the workplace and how they affect day to day life.
Throughout the video on the right, they use a subtitle screen to show the questions being asked, I will use this
in my video too, because it gives the viewer a clear idea of what is happening, and it can also be used to
transition into other video clips easier.

10. Audience
• My Web-Documentary is aimed towards teenagers aged 16-19 and
also an older generation.
• The reason behind this target market is because a teenage audience
would be able to relate to what they are watching and understand the
ideas and opinions the other teenagers shown on the video have.
• I would also want an older generation to be able to watch the video
and maybe have a better idea of why piercings and tattoos are more
common with younger people, and to see if the stigma around old
people being more judgemental is even true.

11. Production Method
• I will use a camera mounted on a tripod to record my interviews, I will use
an over the shoulder shot, this shot is most commonly used to present
conversation back and forth between two people.
• For the sound I will use the cameras microphone, as it means I don’t have
to have separate files for my video and audio, this would be a benefit to my
work because it means I would take less time editing and be able to focus
on the aesthetic more.
• I am going to use premiere pro to edit my video, I can also add subtitles to
the video, to use for peoples names when their interview is playing.
• On premiere, I will follow a four stage process of; assembly, refinement,
post-production and export to do so.

12. Tone and style
• I think the video will have a relatively serious feel to it, I will capture
this with the video, when people are speaking they are not going to
be completely serious and straight faced. as the questions are not
based on important topics, but the ideas that they have may be told
in a serious manner.
• I will record the video in an interview style manner, meaning that the
focus of the camera will be on the interviewee.
• The video will be under an interview style genre.

13. Analysis of similar videos
• There is a video on the Vice website titled ‘Confronting Favela
Violence Through Tattoos’ this video shows a tattoo artist in Rio De
Janeiro, her artwork shows rebellion from the war against the
government, who are very discriminative towards those who live in
the favelas.
• This is a good inspiration towards my work as it shares similar
themes, for example showing peoples reasons behind getting their
tattoos.

14. Confronting Favela Violence Through Tattoos
• I think that this video is aimed towards an older audience, as it interviews people who have gone
through a life living somewhere dangerous, and the consequences it can bring. For example one
of the tattoo artists explained how she had to cover up a scar on someone's back who had been
punished for snitching to the police.
• Furthermore, I think that the video could also be directed towards people who live in nicer areas
in this country, to give them a feel of what is really happening. In the video the tattoo artist was
speaking on how people look down on tattoos and think that they’re ugly, but she makes a point
to exclaim her and others reasonings for getting them, and why to some people it is so important.
Audience

15. Confronting Favela Violence Through Tattoos
• This video also uses over the shoulder camera shots when interviewing people, this is an example of how
common it is to use this type of angle, it is an easy way of knowing what is happening on screen.
• The video included a lot of close up shots showing what the focus is at the time, this includes peoples
tattoos, and the tattoo artist doing the tattoos.
• Most of the shots that are seen are filmed outside, this gives the video a true atmosphere of where they are
researching about the tattoos, it gives the viewer a clear idea of this type of place, and how dangerous it can
be.
• The outside shots are either of the scenery around them, or an interview. The outside shots show us how
run down the buildings are because the government takes no action on these parts of the city.
• In the interview that is shot outside, the camera is placed on a tripod whilst the questions are being asked,
we can see the lack of care taken, and this alone captures the perfect ambience of the film.
Production Method

16. Confronting Favela Violence Through Tattoos
• The video is filmed in quite a serious way, the people who are being interviewed are talking about
something that is very important to them, meaning that they hold the subject very close to their
heart and want to properly make their point on tattoos and life in the favelas.
• The video ends on a lighter note than the rest. The tattoo artist is explaining why she enjoys what
she does, and that she is proud to live in a favela.
• This video is mainly filmed with a serious, informative tone, but it also included moments of
happiness, and shows people reminiscing about the past.
Tone and style

17. Analysis of similar videos
• Also on the vice channel, there is a video titled “Las Vegas’ Tattoo
Economy”. The video gives us a clear insight into the popularity of
tattoos in las vegas, and the recent boom that they’ve had. The
interviewer visits multiple tattoo shops and interviews multiple tattoo
artists and asks them about their experiences with working in Vegas.
• This includes similar themes to my work because it strongly focuses
on how important body modification can be to some people, a point I
would like to make in my own work.

18. Las Vegas’ Tattoo Economy
• I think that this video could be made for a wider audience, this is because it includes
information on the struggle of becoming a tattoo artist in Las Vegas, and the stories
that are told throughout are about people getting to a point where they’ve created
successful businesses. But still mentioning why people are so excited and passionate
about getting tattoos, especially somewhere like Vegas.
• In my opinion, this video appeals more to an younger audience as they are more
likely to be interested in the tattoos themselves and how extreme some of them are,
but it could also be interesting for an older group because It shows another side to it,
which is a business and education perspective, seeing how so many people have
taken the initiative to take action on the big boom of the tattoo industry could be
very influential to an older generation.
Audience

19. Las Vegas’ Tattoo Economy
• As this video includes a lot of interview style conversation, the cameraman uses many over the
shoulder shots to show the viewer what is happening and focus their attention.
• This web-doc includes a lot of close up shots as well as landscape scenery shots. The close up
shots are used for tattoos, as the tattoos themselves hold a lot of information on life in that area
of life, and this shows how unique it is.
• All of the landscape shots are filmed outside and the camera is handheld, this is the best way of
showing the viewer the type of area that they are in, and possibly how the tattoos correlate.
• The interviews on the other hand are always inside tattoo shops, the interviewer goes into their
tattoo shops and mostly asks questions about their location, and why they are popular enough to
make a difference in the Vegas tattoo scene.
• In post – production, the editors have added in subtitles to show the names of places shown
throughout.
Production Methods

20. Las Vegas’ Tattoo Economy
• This video is not so serious, it includes a wide variation of people and different
stories, most of which are quite very unique, all the different types of people
makes the video have a feel that would be hard to seem serious.
• The video does include a serious section, talking about the darker side of tattoos,
and how they get to a point where they are no longer peoples choices and they
are forced to have them. Which I think is an important aspect as it is very
overlooked.
Tone and style

21. Analysis of similar videos
New York Style Tattoos with Bert Krak
‘New York Style Tattoos With Bert Krak is a documentary based on the rise of tattoos in
New York, it shows us how the history of traditional tattoos has changed over time, the
documentary follows Bert Krak, one of the most famous traditional tattoo artists in the
world. He is being interviewed on how he has made a difference.
This video speaks on the history of tattoos and how people view them due to their
culture.

22. New York Style Tattoos with Bert Krak
• This video is made for an audience who has an interest in tattoos, and want to
know more about certain people in the industry and what they have done to
become a popular tattoo artist.
• This type of video would be important for someone who has these interests, this
is because it can give them an opportunity to see another culture If they do not
live in the New York area.
• I think that in terms of an age group, this is based at an older generation, there is
a lot of talk about growing up and how little was heard about tattoos, this gives
people something to relate to when watching the video.
Audience

23. New York Style Tattoos with Bert Krak
• This video contains a lot of interviews, but instead of using an over
the shoulder shot the camera man has his camera placed on a tripod
and films whoever is getting interviewed and shows their current
surroundings, which is always inside of a tattoo shop.
• There are also a lot of close up shots to capture the atmosphere,
these are usually of the artwork which is shown throughout, these
include original pieces and peoples tattoos they are getting at the
time of recording.
Production methods

24. New York Style Tattoos with Bert Krak
• Bert Krak shares a lot of stories about his life and how he has reached his fame and
popularity. I think these stories reflect the mood of the documentary quite a lot, if the
story is about something important to Bert, the video will have a much more serious
mood and this is shown by the music played in the background which was added during
the editing of the video.
• This video is the first out of the three where I have noticed the backing music reflect the
mood of the video, and I will attempt to do this in my own work.
• I was very interested in the stories that were told in this video, and I started to
understand the hype around traditional style tattoos, and would be interested to see
what people with less of an understanding thinks of them.
Tone And Style

25. Video Style
• After researching similar videos, I have decided to make my video in the style of ‘Las Vegas’ Tattoo Economy’.
• This video manages to capture a fun and entertaining style, but at the same time it is also informative. This is
the same format of how I would like my video to be.
• Below are three different styles of video I have found when researching.
Serious / informative
This type of video
includes a lot of
serious themes and
the interviews are
lead by the
interviewee, they tell
stories of what
they’ve experienced.
Example:
‘Confronting Favela
Violence Through
Tattoos’
Entertaining /educational
Videos made in this style
usually follow serious
themes, but deal with
them in a less serious
manner – an example of
this is in the Las Vegas
tattoo video, the
interviewer is finding out
about the surge of tattoo
popularity, she goes to a
tattoo shop and interviews
a man named ‘slut’, which
instantly gives the video a
more relaxed feel.
Example:
‘Las Vegas Tattoo
Economy’
Professional / entertaining
These videos deal with
serious matters in an
informative yet laid back way,
and more often than not the
interviews are with people
who have first hand
experience in the subject.
The laid back feel mixed with
the professional level of video
goes well, the videographer
has shots related to
everything mentioned.
Example:
‘New York Style Tattoos With
Bert Krak’

26. Confronting Favela
Violence Through Tattoos
Las Vegas’ Tattoo
Economy
New York Style Tattoos
with Bert Krak
Overall Feel: Serious / informative Entertaining / educational Professional / entertaining
Visuals: The videos shown in this film are of the
surrounding areas, this is shown when the
interviewee’s are speaking about their
experiences, in this instance I think it helps the
viewer to understand how difficult life can be.
In my opinion this is the most explicit video in
terms of violence, but this gives the tattoos a
more meaningful feel and really shows you
why the favelas mean a lot to those who live
there.
The shots in this video show the drastic
lengths people go to for tattoos, we are
shown different types of tattoo parlours
and are also shown the tattoo artist
themselves.
The outdoor shots we see show how
commercialised tattoos are in Vegas, we
see big signs and flashing lights, which is a
drastic difference from the other videos.
This video is very informative, and
shows the rise of traditional style
tattoos. The visuals are great
throughout this whole video because
the interviewee is showing real
original drawings of these tattoos, we
are seeing first hand proof from
someone who has had a huge impact
on this scene.
Music: The music in this video does not vary much, as the
video is fairly serious there is no music that is going
to make a huge impact to what we are watching
and most of the time there isn’t any at all.
The lack of music gives the video more of a serious
feel as the viewer is focused more on what is being
said than what is happening in the area.
People who watch this video are most likely going
to be much more interested in the reasoning
behind the tattoos and the culture in the past, as
opposed to the current matters at hand in the
favelas.
The music played throughout this video
definitely reflects the mood, and is
changed when the themes differentiate.
There is a wide variety of emotions which
are displayed throughout this short film,
and each one is backed up with related
music, for example when the scenes are
laid back uplifting music will be played,
yet when the interviewer is tackling a
sensitive theme, there will be no music, or
if there is, it is very slow and quiet.
This video sticks to a similar theme the
whole time throughout, therefore the
music is consistent, and even with this
in mind it manages to back up the feel
of the video the whole time.
The music played is a modern style
with an upbringing feel, which backs
the video up.
Interviews: The interviews in this video are mostly
filmed inside, and the camera is on a
tripod facing the interviewee, there
are also close up shots used for a
voiceover with the interviewees
speech over them.
There is a range of interviews in this video, and
usually multiple styles with the same person, there
is always a shot of when the interviewer and the
interviewee meet, and during this a few questions
are asked and we get to know them slightly better
and understand what their role in the video is, then
later on when getting into the more important
questions, they will sit down and use a tripod to
record the person in their studio.
At this time, close up shots are also recorded for
voiceovers.
the interviewer and interviewee are
walking around, the interviewee (In
this case, Bert Krak) is showing the
interviewer around his house, and
showing off the small pieces of
important history that is held within,
this gives the video a more
professional feel as we are seeing real
history.