Interview: Lauren Sharp

Yesterday we interviewed a friend of Lauren's, who is also called Lauren just to confuse matters. Although she is not a 'chav' anymore, she was throughout the noughties and is still a part of 'chav' culture. 

We interviewed her at her house. The interview lasted about an hour or so. There was a nice relaxed atmosphere and even though there was a set structure and scripted questions, Lauren's answers were really natural. We hooked her up with a radio mic and also used the directional mic, just to cover all our bases when it came to sound.

After the interview, we filmed some sequences in and around Lauren's house. The first one we filmed was of her smoking in the back garden. The sky was starting to turn a rather unpleasant shade of grey and we were worried that it might start raining, but there was still enough light to get some decent shots. We then visited her bedroom where we filmed some GVs of her boyband posters and personal photos.

We then filmed a sequence in Lauren's car. We conducted an actuality interview whilst she drove. Obviously this had to be shot handheld rather than using a tripod! 

She drove us to Vinters Park where we interviewed her in front of the shops where she and her friends used to hang out. It was definitely starting to rain by this point, but luckily our shoot was coming to an end anyway. Shortly after this, we drove to her boyfriend's house to get some shots of his car. Then it was a wrap!

Overall, it was a really good day. We're both feeling confident now about conducting interviews and filming actuality sequences. It turns out we got so much footage, we could probably make a documentary just about Lauren herself, but we're looking forward to the shoots to come over the next week.

(x-posted to jo coulson's uca blog)

Risk Assessments

I've spent this morning sorting out the risk assessments for each of our shooting days. Luckily, there shouldn't be many risks involved with our planned shoots. The main concern is the weather; if conditions are wet, then we shall have to be wary of slippery floors and paths.

The links below will take you to PDFs of the risk assessments.

8/11/11 - Interview with Lauren Sharp

9/11/11 - Public Information Film Spoof

14/11/11 - Interview with Dr Johnny Ilan at University of Kent

18/11/11 - Woodies Youth Group Class Discussion

(x-posted to jo coulson's uca blog)

Sequences, GV's and Rough Shot lists

Professor Ilan
GV:
Shot of University


Sequences:
 Researching on a computer screen
Walking into/through the campus
Looking at Chav Scum Website?


Lauren Sharp:
GVs: 
Her smoking
Boy Band Posters
Car
Wardrobe


Sequences:
Smoking a cigarette
Taking us on tour of bedroom
Rummaging through wardrobe
Going for a drive, music
Going to work
Going Shopping
Showing us old photos
Taking us to the shop where she used to "hang out"


Chatham Highstreet
GV:
Chavs
Shops
Crowds
Primark
Job Centre
Park
Bus Station
Council Houses
Council Flats


Sequences
Shops - Interviews


Becci's class discussion:
GVs:
Outside Youth Centre
Close ups of youths listening
Close ups of Becci talking


Actuality:
Footage of introduction and Becci talking to the class


Sequences:
Interviews with the youths

Draft Script

We unfortunately haven't been able to pay much attention to our documentary over the past week due to the immense pressure from the direction unit, but we've finally got together a draft script.

Pictures	Words
Archive footage of ‘chav’ culture Including: Vicky Pollard, Jordan and Kerry Katona Goldie Looking Chain music video Youtube clip: girl applying 'chav makeup'	(V/O) - Introduction
Public Information Broadcast spoof. Black and white/old film effect. One actor describing a 'chav' in an upper class accent. Other actor dresses as a 'specimen' of a 'chav'.	(V/O) - What is a chav?
Shot of University of Kent exterior	(V/O) - Explaining who Prof. Ilan is and his work
Talking heads shot of Prof. Ilan interspersed with archive footage of ‘chav’ culture, including footage of people drinking in town centres, aggressive behaviour etc.	Interview with Prof. Ilan: Could you explain the origins of the word ‘chav’? Why do you think it became so prominent in the noughties? Do you think the word 'chav', and the idea behind it, will be around for years to come? What do you think of when you hear the word ‘chav’? In your opinion, is it hurtful?
Talking heads shot of Lauren S interspersed with footage of her day-to-day life	Interview with Lauren S: What does the word 'chav' mean to you? Where do you think it comes from? Have you/has anyone you know been labelled a 'chav'? How does it make you/them feel? How have you been victimised? What sort of clothes do you like to wear? Have you ever been in trouble with the law?
Newspaper articles	(V/O) - The word ‘hoodie’ was thrown into the media world in 2005 when a large shopping centre called Bluewater banned this particular item of clothing.
Still shots of Bluewater	(V/O) - Outcry. Quote from Ms Smith in 2006: “We are very concerned that some of our guests don’t feel at all comfortable in what really is a family environment.”
'No Hoodies’ signs in windows of smaller shops	(V/O) - Smaller shops in Kent also adopted this policy.
Shop in Chatham (TBC)	Interview with Chatham vendor regarding experiences with ‘chav’ culture: How would you describe the youth in your area? What do they dress like? Are they threatening? How so? What do you call them? Do you have any guidelines regarding youths entering your store? Have you or your shop ever been verbally/physically attacked? What do you associate with the word 'chav'? Would you ever ban them or the use of hoodies from your store?
Gamestation exterior (and any other shops that welcome hoodies)	(V/O) - Gamestation, the computers games retailer opportunistically announced on 13th May 2005 they would welcome them.
Shot of Woodies exterior	(V/O) - Explaining the background of Woodies Youth Centre
Becci’s class discussion on chav culture	Becci’s class discussion on chav culture
Talking heads shots of students	Interview with individual students: What do you think of when you hear the word ‘chav’? Have you ever felt discriminated against because of the way you dress? If so, how? Is 'chav' culture something you would want to be a part of? How would you define a 'chav'? Why do you think people are judged because of the clothes they wear? Where do 'chavs' come from? Can anyone be a 'chav'? What social tribe would you say you are a part of? i.e. 'skater', 'indie', 'emo', 'chav'
Talking heads shot of Lauren S interspersed with footage of her day-to-day life	Interview with Lauren S: How would you describe your boyfriend? What reactions do people give him? Why do you think he is labelled a 'chav'? What car does he drive? Do you think it is a gang influenced culture? Has he been in trouble with the law? Why doesn’t he wish to be on film? Where do you all hang out? What sort of things do you do for entertainment? What background do you and your boyfriend have? Do you both work? How do you wish to be known as? Is it cool to be a 'chav'?
Closing shots: Chatham High Street; youth group doing positive things	Finish with closing prominent statements from each of our interviewees, voice over to sum up 'chavs' and what impact they have on our society.

(x-posted to jo coulson's uca blog)

5/10/11 - Chav The Origin

Where did the word Chav originate?


I am trying to uncover the true origin of the word Chav, it's place in the English language and the Oxford Dictionary. It would seem Jo has excitingly found someone form The University of Kent, that has written a lot on the word, and are looking forward to talking to them in the future. 


I have found a language expert Professor David Crystal. His email is davidcrystal1@googlemail.com, and he seems like  nice man, so I will be emailing him to see whether he would like to appear in our documentary, depending on his schedule and where he is in the country. In the mean time, here is what he has said on the word Chav :
"Chav. It came to the fore as a word in 2005 really, I didn't remember hearing it much before that. It refers to a type of youth, supposedly uncultured, maybe a bit anti-social, perhaps even violent, but certainly marked out, at least from the point of view of the critic, by very bad taste. Chavs are supposed to wear a lot of flashy jewellery, white trainers, baseball caps, sham designer clothes. Girls expose a lot of midriff. Nothing racial about it all, I should say. 

Now, whether it's cool or not to be a chav, I couldn't say - at least, not at my age! I find the linguistics much more interesting. It's a problem though, the linguistics. Where does the word come from? It's been around since the 19th century. Lexicographer Eric Partridge mentions it in his huge dictionary of slang and unconventional English. He talks about it coming from Romany (the language of the gypsies), 'chavy' - a child, or 'chaval' - a boy. And then later it was used for 'men' as well. 

But nobody knows who's reactivated it in recent times. It's a noun, 'a chav', 'chavs', and also an adjective - people talk about 'chav behaviour' or 'chav insults' and that sort of thing. Oh, don't believe the popular etymologies that you read sometimes in the press and on websites. I saw one the other day, people said, 'It's an acronym, 'chav', from council house and violent' - well, no, it isn't, that was made up in recent times. Appealing as these etymologies are, they're nothing to do with the real Romany history of this very interesting word."


He also talked about hoodies a few years ago:
"There was a newspaper headline in the middle of last year, 'Hoodie Hoodlums' it said. It referred to people who were going around looking like gangs wearing hooded tops, baseball caps, clothing which deliberately obscured the face, suggesting that the wearer might be a danger to the public, so much so that baseball caps and hooded tops were actually banned in 2005 at one shopping mall in Britain. Well, as you might expect, it caused a huge reaction. I mean, youngsters complaining of being stereotyped just because of a few nasty people.

The linguistics isn't so controversial. The spelling first of all, 'hoody', or 'hoodie', and more often with the 'ie' than not. And that's because it's the usual familiarity marker that you get on lots of words in English, words like, sweetie, auntie, goalie (goal keeper), daddie and mummie, and of course in names too, Susie (Susan).

Well, will it catch on? I think so, judging by the huge sales of hoodies now. And also, it's achieved a kind of presence in popular music. There was a single released towards the end of 2005 by Lady Sovereign, it was actually called 'Hoodie'. And then on the web the other day, I was looking at iPods, and the latest accessory to keep your iPod clothed - what do you think it's called? An iPod hoodie! "

I have now sent Bluewater four emails, and have still not had a reply, I sent one to the manager today, so hopefully I will get an answer one way or another soon!


I have also managed to gather all the archive footage I think we will like to use, and have started to edit bits and pieces together in Final Cut Pro, so I think our documentary is now off the ground and on it's way!!! 


Now onto ASDA!

3.10 Meeting Minutes

We both have a list of tasks to complete as soon as possible.

Lauren:

• Get in touch with Bluewater. Get permission to film there and hopefully set up an interview regarding their ‘no hoodies’ policy.
• The origins of the word ‘chav’
• Research chavs in Maidstone
• Research ASDA’s ‘Whatever’ sweets
• Find archive footage

Jo:

• Get in contact with my friend who was turned away from Harrods in London
• Research the Harrods dress code policy
• Contact a local youth group to see if they’d like to contribute
• Research chavs in Chatham
• Get in contact with an expert about chav culture
• Research into Burberry and their relationship with chavs

We discussed a filming schedule, which is in the post below. As previously stated, this will no doubt be added to over time as we plan more sequences and GVs to film.

Concerns

Initially we were concerned about the structure of our documentary. We were worried that without a character to follow all the way through, the film wouldn’t be following a consistent thread. However, Helen explained to us how we could use a certain image, or music, as our thread.

Initial Structure Ideas

1. History of chav culture
2. A look into our interviewee’s past as part of the culture
3. Other people behind the word ‘chav’
4. Chatham regeneration project
5. Our interviewee’s life now in 2011

After the meeting, Lauren started seeking out clips for inspiration (which she has posted below) whilst I made contact with a local youth group and a ‘chav’ expert.

(x-posted to jo coulson's uca blog)

Scripting/Shooting Schedule

These are our current plans for the next few weeks, hopefully. Fingers crossed all our contributors confirm their input soon! Obviously we will be adding more meetings/filming days to this as time goes on.

Date	Plan
Thurs 6.10	Work on draft script
Thurs 13.10	Complete draft script
Thurs 20.10	Make detailed plans for sequences
Thurs 27.10	Make detailed plans for interviews
Tues 1.11	Finalise script
Wed 2.11	Finalise script
Tues 8.11	Contributor interview
Thurs 10.11	Filming in London
Mon 14.11	Contributor interview
Tues 15.11	Filming in Maidstone/Chatham
Thurs 17.11	Contributor interview
Fri 18.11	Filming in Bluewater

(x-posted to jo coulson's uca blog)