Social

Action
Research
booklet
Contents
Task 1: Brainstorm on social issues
Task 2: Research on other action videos
Task 3: Research on own video
Task 4: contact details and angle for own production
Task 1:
(this should have been done in the idea process you now need to write it down for
example you looked into an issue and didnt like it, or your realized it was too
difficult these ideas need to be noted now)

Your brainstorms should cover:

The issue
The effect the issue has on community
How easy it would be to cover the social issue
What has been done to cover this issue before
Rough idea on who you can interview

Idea 1:
The issue:
Train delays and cancellations in small towns

Effect: It causes people to be late, angers people and is becoming more of a

problem.

How easy?
It would not be very easy; these problems happen all over the country and many
people complain which makes contacting them easier.

How has it been covered?

People have marched over it and written to the government about the issue but not
much has changed

Interview:
I would probably interview workers at the nearest station, I would get their opinions on
their job and how people look to them when things are delayed. I would also ask the
public getting the train what they think of everything.

Idea 2:
The issue:
Teens getting into drug related work and how drug laws are failing small towns.

Effect:
It cause general social trouble, dis-trust with communities and anti-social behavior.
Also laws are ruining lives of young teens who have no option than to turn to drug
dealing to make money.

How easy?
I know quite a lot of people who this problem effects, so it would be quite easy to
research it and gather information on the subject. Also I live in an area this effects so
it will be easy to cover.
Task 2:
Compare 2 social action video similar to yours
(look at LO2 Brief on website for guidance on what should be covered)

VICELAND- How weed laws are failing the UK.

Interviews- Interviews are done normally while the person

being interviewed is demonstrating something. For example
they go to a house of a woman growing weed and interview
her as she shows them around.

Cut-a-ways
The documentary uses b-roll footage over some interviews to
show the action, for example they used footage of people in
the UK smoking when talking about the laws and how many
people do it.

Found footage
In the documentary they dont use found footage,
everything they used has been filmed by them.

Style of production
Its a very informative video, it highlights people in the drug
underworld and gives detailed facts on the laws and weed
has progressed in the weed.

Presenting
There is a main presenter, he is one going around asking
questions and informing throughout the whole video. It has
quite a good impact, because he is so different to the
people he is talking to that you see the contrast of
characters.
Social Action Video 2

Channel 5- Gangland

Interviews
These are done out on the streets with gang members (ex as
well) and they interview a variety of people about the world
of gangs in London. Some of the people are masked and un-
named while others are open. They use cut-a-ways
sometimes throughout to show an example of what the
person is talking about, or to update a situation after filming.
The footage they use belongs to channel 5, but they also use
CCTV footage and other videos from the gang members
themselves. The style is quite serious and informative its
meant to show a little bit into the world of gangs so there
isnt many jokes. There isnt a main presenter but there is a
voiceover, they gave gangs cameras and relied on them to
film for them which actually worked.

Task 3:
Your research should focus on:

Background on the Social issue itself: This issue has been addressed by a few people
before, however it hasnt had much coverage recently. People are ruining their lives
with the current laws because they dont have many options. Weed has been
becoming a more casual thing in the UK too with stereotypes being broken down
and accepted more.

Is there already a social action group to try and prevent the issue?

Yes, there is a group called CISTA (Cannabis Is Safer than Alcohol) party. They have
been lobbying for weed and drug laws to be changed. People view them as just
hippies but their idea is to change it for the better. Decriminalize instead of it lead to
crime.

Are there any famous people involved in trying to prevent the situation?

Many celebrities have backed this type of movement, but the most well-known man
is Lee Harris. A member of the CISTA who also ran for London mayor in a bid to get
laws changed.
Is there government backing to prevent the situation? Should there be? What could
they do?

So far, the government has been stubborn on the subject, they refuse to change the
law. It has been lobbied for but it was shut down quite quickly. The government has
also run campaigns to try push young teens into getting jobs, however these have
been relatively unsuccessful as they were run on TV which isnt the best way to reach
young teens.

How does the issue effect the community / nation / world?

I feel like this issue effects the whole nation, teens everywhere feel the only way to
make money is by selling drugs, this dangerously risks their future and a lot of teens
cant find a way out.

In addition, it causes dis-trust in communities, people view drug dealers as the worst
of the worst and this leads to anti-social behavior between people and neighbors.

Look at statistics on the social issue

What can be done to prevent the issue from happening?

I think if laws were changed then it would solve it, teens feel like its too hard to get a
job in todays society it then pushs them towards easier income such as drug
dealing. I feel if weed was legalized for use of over 18s and medically it would help
end this. This helps people get out of the dealing business and there needs to be
more help with getting teens jobs. If the government sees that instead of preventing
crime, they are creating it then the issue can be solved.

Task 4
Contact details and angle

Informative, educational or change of attitude?

Discuss why and how you will achieve this.

My social action will be both informative and change attitudes; I want people to see
why teens get into crime like this. Granted there is some who do it because they want
but others do not see many options. I also want to talk to some dealers and ask them
how and why they got into it, to try giving some more perspective on the subject.

List of found footage you can use and reference where it has come from

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkAvexxFhIs
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_wJ86quRH4
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKyrCI2Gtxw
4.
5.
6.
7.

What ethical issues will you have to overcome or be careful documenting?

I am going to have to try stick to the law, since the subject is very much against the
law I am going to have to be careful with what is said and done during the video.
The video may also be too mature for younger audiences, so there is a few things I
have to be careful of.

LAWS THAT COULD BE BROKEN:

Intent to supply
Admitting to a crime
Class B possession

The content also may be offensive to some people because some could say we are
showing drugs in a good light. This however is not the intention and to make this clear
we are going to make sure we state how bad it is to get into crime we are going to
make out views clear and show we do not side with drugs.
List of social action groups you could interview. Can you follow a volunteer or
member of the project?
It may be possible to contact the CISTA (Cannabis Is Safer than Alcohol) party
because they have very similar intentions as me. I could possible ask them what they
think of it all and how they want to change it. I know some teens in Britwell that will be
fine with us interviewing them about their lifestyle. This is an important part of the
video so speaking to the teen is more likely what we will go with.

The crime rate in Britwell changes every month, but the general overlook is that it
gets worse these are only crimes that have been committed and sentenced.

http://www.ukcrimestats.com/Neighbourhood/Thames_Valley_Police/Britwell_%5E_
Haymill

Before we go and interview people I need to know the uun-employment rate in

Slough and compare that to a few years ago when people claim getting jobs was
easier.

The current issue is that especially for the younger generation it is much harder to
get a job; the government has acknowledge this but isnt doing much to combat
it. The un-employment rate is only growing and without a proper plan of action it
doesnt seem like its going to change.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/personal-finance/2012-vs-1984-
young-adults-really-do-have-it-harder-today/article4105604/

http://www.slough.gov.uk/council/joint-strategic-needs-assessment/employment-
and-income.aspx

What shots / cut a ways / footage will you need to film in order for the social action
video to have impact?
 I feel like I will need some shots of people in the street doing what they do, they
need to look natural to show people what they have to do on the daily to just
make ends meet. I would also have interviews with people I know who are in this
world to get a more personal look at it.

Interviews
Contact details
Name: Jerry Smith

Position: Businessman

Involvement in action: One of the people pushed into the world of drugs.

What can they discuss in the video: How and why the law has failed them.

Where can they be interviewed? At a location of my choice, probably somewhere in

Britwell, Slough.

Phone number: N/A

Email address: N/A

Name: Angela Wilks

Position: Parent in the Britwell community

Involvement in action: A parent who has her own take on the problem with teens
and jobs.

What can they discuss in the video: How they have reached the position they are in
and to offer an opposing view to our argument.

Where can they be interviewed: At their home in Britwell.

Phone number: N/A

Email address: N/A