A New Approach

We recently considered our documentary as it currently stands and realised that if we were to maintain our current approach towards the project, it would be significantly lacking in terms of narrative structure and emotional investment. We came to this conclusion upon realising that we hadn't really determined which direction we wanted to take the project, what do we want the project to say? What is it's style? What tone or atmosphere will it have?

Originally our plan for the documentary was to provide a more optimistic outlook towards Sheffield steel industry. We were intending to provide a brief history, followed by a larger section concerning the present state of the industry, concluding with its speculated future. This idea was built upon the basis that Sheffield's steel industry still thrives despite such intense competition from secondary industry overseas. After speaking to one of our clients Michael Holmes however, we learned more about the grim truth concerning the current state of Sheffield's steel, as well as it's even bleaker looking future. Maintaining an optimistic attitude would therefore seem rather inappropriate considering the true circumstances surrounding the issue.

We therefore attempted to draw inspiration from other documentaries in order to perhaps find a way that we could still undergo our ideas, while still presenting the necessary information accurately and respectfully. I mentioned to the group the previous analysis that I had done on "The Archive" (Sean Dunne, 2008). The opening sequence of The Archive adopts a rather cheerful and optimistic tone; the music providing the heart and the vibrancy of the piece; as is the theme of its subject matter. However, around half-way through the film when we learn that Paul, The Archive's owner, is being forced to sell his store, his passion for music along with it, the film takes on a massive change in tone. Instead, it now becomes much more sombre and depressing; acting as a metaphor for the death of Paul's passion for music. A magnificent collection acting as a time capsule for over a century of music somehow, over the course of the years, becomes practically valueless. Though the actual value of The Archive is incredibly high, Paul has been unable to find a buyer, effectively making his lifelong collection worthless.

This kind of tone is something that we could definite emulate in our documentary. Similarly to The Archive, the opening would be rather cheery; and optimistic recollection of the many centuries that Sheffield spent ruling the steel industry of Britain, and perhaps even the world. This would be showcased through the exhibits at the Millennium Gallery, chronicling almost 700 years of culture and heritage. However, at around the half-way mark, the film (like The Archive) will take a noticeable tonal shift when we learn that Sheffield's steel industry is in a severe state of decline; from which it may never recover. Similarly to The Archive, this section of the film will provide commentary on the power of time: many centuries of incredible manufacturing power, practically wiped away in just a few decades. The film will become much more sombre to act as a metaphor for what is likely to be the death of Sheffield's steel industry, similarly to the death of The Archive, along with many years of history in both cases. Hence, by adopting this approach to our film, we will be able to provide a much more emotionally gripping and narratively strong piece that would otherwise have been possible with our original intentions.