Manitou Incline Documentary
Programs Used:
Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Photoshop
Project Origin:
Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design Project
Purpose:
Create a documentary of a topic of interest.
The goal of this project was to choose a subject to explore cinematically and create a documentary.
I gave viewers an idea of what to expect on the trail and interviewed hikers (my sister and myself) to give first-hand experience of what the hike was like. We gave interested hikers a realistic understanding of what to expect on the way down when hiking the Barr Trail. I included a b-roll of our recent trek up the incline and then added voiceover to give more detailed information about the trail.
Process Work
Research
To begin, I conducted research to get a better idea of the background behind the incline. This helped guide my documentary into a cohesive narrative.
Most popular hiking trail in Colorado
Located in Manitou Springs
2,768 steps to the top
The hike back is 3.5 miles
Pitch
I crafted a pitch to organize my story and delved deeper into the history of the incline. I also prepared interview questions for my interviewees to understand their experiences. After completing filming, I reviewed the footage and selected the clips that best told the story of the incline. I had about 182 clips to go through and choose from. I selected shots that were stable and transitioned smoothly into each other.
Shot List
I created a comprehensive shot list which included the speaker for each scene, the action taking place, and the specific location of each shot along the trail. Additionally, I detailed the characters or subjects being filmed, which helped me plan for the use of tripods or microphones as needed. I also made notes of any props required for filming, as well as the specific lighting and effects I intended to use in post-production. Overall I had 56 shots that I planned out.
Final Touches
After
Before
After reviewing the video, this piece needed improved transitions, more precise narration, and more dynamic-looking interview shots that were less frontal facing. I edited a picture of my Grandma riding the incline railway in 1950, which I then included in the footage after touching it up. Additionally, I redid my interviews to give the speakers a more natural and engaging on-screen presence by incorporating a more angled-facing approach.
Final Video
Environmental Contact
