From the Archives: This is Sheffield

This is Sheffield from Voidcomp on Vimeo.

This is a video produced in early 2010 entitled 'This is Sheffield'. Whilst working on my A Levels at High Storrs School I was asked to work on this project, presumably because of my interest in film and my developing talents in film production. Myself along with other students with film, art and business talents of the same age and younger than me were commissioned by Sheffield City Council to create a film promoting the city as a modern and prosperous centre of entertainment, education, sports, arts and environment.

Meeting during the free periods we had on Monday mornings from October through to January we brainstormed ideas for what kind of documentary we wanted to produce and watched several existing documentaries about Sheffield including 'Sheffield: City on the Move' and Creative Sheffield's showreel. We decided not to try and emulate either of the previously mentioned films as the former seemed to drone on and at twenty minutes long became rather tedious, the latter was incoherent in its layout and seemed more like an attempt to attract businesses rather than people to the city.
With the help of a filmmaker of VoidComp and a community worker the film was organised over Monday and Tuesday in February half term, during which time we were taught how to operate the filming and sound equipment and on Wednesday and Thursday was filmed on location all over Sheffield from Ringinglow to Don Valley.

The shoot itself introduced us to some interesting techniques in terms of cinematography and sound design and was some good practice for later work and our film projects for later in the year. But the shoot itself was rather grueling at times, we had to be at school for 9am during what was supposed to be half term, the weather was terrible with an onslaught of drizzle, temperatures at most 5 degrees Celsius, mist and occasionally some snow it was a chore at times. Sound equipment was sometimes faulty meaning interviews were sometimes recorded multiple times and occasionally working without tripods meant shaky cameras were sometimes seen. (I was even told to f**k off by someone because I told him to move out of the shot)
However with all these little foibles we were able to film some cohesive and decent footage as well as interviews with actors, artists, sports personalities (Jessica Ennis for example) and members of the public, which I think was the most important part of the film as anyone can say something promoting a city if they're hired to say it but these people were randomly picked off the streets and asked what they thought of Sheffield and generally the answers we received were positive.

Due to unavoidable circumstances (a weekend break to Liverpool) I wasn't present for the editing process that took place on the Friday although watching the film back it has a quirky and humorous feel that the audience is still able to take seriously as a documentary (with all the text effects and transitions etc). We were pleased with the film when we saw the final result and when the film was presented to the council it received a standing ovation.

Although I am pleased with the final film and think that it successfully portrays Sheffield as a desirable city to live in I found shooting it slightly hypocrytical. It was a promotional film for the council, who I think over the last few years have done more harm for the city than good. I don't particuarly like Sheffield as a city as it is a bit generic when it comes to cities and there is not much of great interest around town (when you've lived here all your life and seen everything it has to offer).