With a large part of the filming completed and for a change everything has gone smoothly. Although the most important section to film is still to be completed. It was never meant to be this close to the deadline but unforeseen circumstances has pushed the filming dates back. A gambler who turned out to have a drink problem and very aggressive so after numerous interviews and organising filming dates around him I had to cut him loose. After a hunt to find a replacement with little success my friend luckily came to the rescue although he had to be made redundant to be able to take part.
All the filming is organised and ready to go. I have the location secured, the crew is organised and the equipment is ready to go. The editing of the film is well underway with just these final parts to be added. The sound designer is producing some excellent tracks to accompany the footage. Once edited over to a visual effects artist to add the effects and produce the DVD.
I am hoping to use this documentary as a blueprint to make another documentary about poker players but longer in duration even as a feature length documentary. tracking potential poker players over a number of months or years as they succeed or fail at the game.
This documentary has been a good experience and has taught me that being in front of the camera and behind is not practical even if you have help, as the filmmaker you need to be focused on the subject and keep the documentary on track. Being the subject makes it difficult as vanity and your image on screen becomes important as you can watch your footage back and delete and re -shoot anything you want. I would not class myself as a vain person and am quite happy to reflect my real personality but I did find it difficult to see and hear myself on the screen. The lesson here is I'm no Michael Moore or Louis Theroux but this was still a worthwhile project especially for my personal improvement into documentary filmmaking.
Tuesday, 8 May 2012
The filming Process
For the past few weeks I have been filming myself playing poker. This may sound straight forward but this requires setting up the camera, sound, lighting and then filming for 30 seconds before checking everything is in focus and the sound is not peaking and the lights are not too bright . Once this is set up I have to sit in front of the camera and talk to an imaginary interviewer. The best part of being a filmmaker is the fact that you are behind the camera and I wish that is where I had stayed. I did become more comfortable as time went on but I'll be staying behind camera in the future.
No one likes to see a friend hit bad luck but my gambler/poker player friend who is one of the reasons I got interested in the game. He originally declined to take part as he worked for a high street bank as a financial advisor and felt it would not reflect his job role in a good light if he is gambling and playing poker. He has unfortunately been made redundant which means he can now take part.
No one likes to see a friend hit bad luck but my gambler/poker player friend who is one of the reasons I got interested in the game. He originally declined to take part as he worked for a high street bank as a financial advisor and felt it would not reflect his job role in a good light if he is gambling and playing poker. He has unfortunately been made redundant which means he can now take part.
I've managed one full day of filming with my professional gambler/poker player Adrian. Which is a relief as he's been hard to book him in for filming. He has agreed to play me in a live heads up match which will be the finale of the documentary. Myself and Adrian have been friends for many years and I've always been envious of his success at playing poker, although he does ok in the gambling department I have never had an interest in that area. Adrian only plays live poker and feels more comfortable in that environment opposed to online.
In terms of his success the money he makes pays for his holidays and other gifts. Such as a Mercedes Car and luxury holidays in the Caribbean and Mexico.
In terms of his success the money he makes pays for his holidays and other gifts. Such as a Mercedes Car and luxury holidays in the Caribbean and Mexico.
I'm hoping I can persuade him to tackle the online poker world for this documentary. My progress is up and down I nearly doubled my starting bankroll at one point but am now sitting at around $180 so up about $60. It's strange I thought filming would change the way I played but once I'm in a game I forget its there.
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
Visual Effects
The issue I'm having with the documentary is making it interesting to everyone. I watch all the poker programmes on TV and really enjoy them. I did however notice that my girlfriend and friends do not have the same enthusiasm as me, they did like the really exciting big pots where hundreds of thousands of dollars are won and lost but when they start explaining pot odds and the value of raising or three betting in certain spots or using position to their advantage this is all totally lost on them and frankly bores them because they don't play poker. I want to have these aspects in the documentary but make them more interesting and maybe explain it differently.
The plan is to try and incorporate this aspects of the game in a visual representation. I will try and put some examples up of what I intend to do but the best way to describe it is how on screen maths problems are sometimes shown as a visual representation maybe in text form in front of the person which meant to be a representation of what they see. An example of this the television programme 'Lie To Me' which when someone is lying is often highlighted by a line and text explaining its meaning.
Documentary Drama Part 2
To unforeseen circumstances this project is becoming more and more of a docu-drama, where by interviews will be accompanied by the scenes being acted out. For example Kevin MacDonald's 'Touching the Void' (2003) about two climbers who get into difficulty is visually shown as the two climbers are interviewed about the event. The gambler who was meant to be in the documentary now refuses to be on camera but will allow me to use his stories and although I probably could persuade him he is very difficult and the last few times we met he was totally intoxicated which can sometimes be good for extracted information he was the total opposite and quite aggressive. I quickly running out of time so I'm using an actor to play the gambler and he will do the interviews and re-enacted the scenes.
The big finale to the documentary was a live heads up match with me playing a successful poker player. It was to be filmed so that cameras saw our cards a bit like a televised poker event. However the player has now decided he does not want to be filmed because it might give away aspects of his game and how he plays. The compromise is that we will play the game which is a £50 freezeout with a minimum of 5 games meaning a £250 starting bankroll is required. I will then re-enact the scenes with an actor, the poker player is allowing me to use real hands from the game and he will talk to me about why he played a certain way but the audience will never know who he really is.
The positive of this I can control how the footage looks as I'm using an actor it will be kept honest so if I lose in the real match then I'll lose in the re-enacted game. This does not mean that I can't add a bit of suspense and make it more appealing to the audience. I'm thinking of filming this in the old hall at High Melton using one of the grand looking rooms upstairs, I'm going to give the illusion of a kind of television set up, so the players getting microphones put on them and cameras checking their position. I going to imitate poker programmes on television giving a familiarity to the documentary.
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
Documentary Drama
After a relentless battle to get hold of the gambler who was to take part in the documentary and get a more detailed interview from him I have had to admit defeat. I managed to track him down last week as he stopped in Doncaster on his way to London. Only to find him totally inebriated and I mean so drunk he did not recognise me and forgot about the meeting. I had to put him on his train in which he got back of to find out where I was going and then became aggressive and verbally abusive, I left and there has been no further contact. I have left him message saying I'm going to use an actor in his place. He has signed a contract allowing me to use events from his life. I'll change the name and maybe mould the character around the actor. I would have preferred to use the gambler in interviews and then use and actor to play his life.
The documentary may go more in the direction of a docu-drama, the reason is if the gambler becomes a set up then why not all of it. As long as the elements it will give me more scope to make the documentary interesting.
I may add a live heads up game at the end of the documentary as a build up and I think a live game will be more exciting to watch. I would prefer to set up the situations as I have the choice of the hands that are played. I will be playing a live game over Skype and depending the outcome will be my outcome in the live game. I no this is kind of cheating but I want to really give the exciting parts of poker, if there is such a thing anyone can get a string of good hands and win a heads up game so by setting up and having control of camera shots, the hands played I can build the tension to make it more interesting.
Friday, 30 March 2012
The importance of sound
Sound in any production is vital it can add real depth and help communicate the emotions that are taking place on the screen. I have to say that I was thinking of just using free stock music or throwing something together on soundtrack pro. Thankfully one of my lecturers pointed out how detrimental this could be to my final production and introduced me to a sound student called Steve Dean. After having a conversation about the documentary and listening to some of his work which was excellent. I've sent him an email and will be sending him all the pre-production documents and hopefully he will be interested in creating some music for the documentary.
Just to clarify I will be doing the sound on location and for the interviews. Steve will be adding the non-diegetic sound and creating relevant soundtracks and sound effects. He will also be helping with any voice overs that are required.
This is actually a real weight of my mind, I have been helping out on some of my fellow student productions and having a dedicated sound operator who knows what their doing is so important. In previous years we did it ourselves and added some terrible stock songs of cars and birds chirping and usually a rush job at the end of the edit before handing it in.
I'm looking forward to hearing what Steve comes up with and I'm sure will add real depth to the documentary.
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
Documentary Angle
One area I may have overlooked in my quest to document the enthralling world of online poker is
the overall angle of the documentary or what I'm trying to say about poker. After an interesting and somewhat heated debate with one of my lecturers and my peers over whether poker is really gambling or more of a skill game. At the end of the debate and although I don't think either side really backed down I have to except that I may be somewhat biased in the direction that poker is not gambling and the better players will always come out on top eventually, but my lecturer and peers all appear to have the view that poker is gambling in the same respect as playing the lottery, betting on horse racing, playing roulette or blackjack are all as bad as each other.
I will be as unbiased as I possible can within this documentary but my hopes are to highlight how poker players earn a living and the strict rules many successful players follow to allow for the downswings and how they differ from gamblers. I except that many people out their play poker for fun and play for the thrill which makes them a gambler. I also understand many successful poker players can lose all their money but this often because of they stray away from the rules which made them successful in the first place.
The outcome could show that poker is gambling like any other form such as the lottery or roulette or it could show how poker may have luck elements to it but is not a typical form of gambling and if played optimally can mean you beating the game.
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Personalties for a documentary
The key to any documentary is the people participating and if there personality does not draw an audience to them then the documentary will not work. For this documentary I wanted different styles of poker players with a maths based player and a more feel player (a player who observes emotions and betting tells to make decisions). The other key element was a gambler who has lost everything and still cannot resist betting. The general idea is to have a good guy and a bad guy character, even if that meant slightly orchestrating scenes to fit the story.
A good example of this is Pumping Iron (1976) which may seem a strange choice but the focus of the documentary is the body building world championship and specifically Arnold Schwarzenegger attempting to win the prize for the sixth time and Lou Ferreno trying to take the crown away from him. In the documentart Arnold could be perceived as the bad guy but charismatic we see him attempting to annoy competitors and is quite arrogant about how he will win. In an interview years later with Arnold he reveals that originally Lou Ferrigno was originally meant to be perceived as the bad guy as the new york tough guy muscling in on Arnold but unfortunately he didn't have the personality to pull it off so Arnold became the bad guy always trying to annoy competitors and evening pretending to give his best friend bad advice when in the final against Arnold so he could win, which arnold later in an interview reveals was all for the camera.
One significant point of Pumping Iron is after a competitor loses and is backstage he can't find his shirt and is slightly annoyed which is probably because he has just lost, he finds the shirt shortly after the camera stops rolling. In the final edit, the competitor is looking for his shirt before going on stage not after and is getting agitated, there is a cut scene to his rival playing football and saying he might hide his shirt to aggravate him. This football scene was filmed months after the competition and added to make it look like some elaborate plan to win the competition.
The point is that even though this may seem like a manipulation of the truth what it really does is stick to the truth regarding the important points as in the competition it is not manipulated or faked Arnold really won on his own merit. A documentary of men lifting weights and then the expected winner winning is not going to make for great viewing.
The reason for this in depth look at Pumping Iron is that my documentary may focus on the worst events of the gamblers life as this makes for interesting viewing and also provides a loser image to oppose the skilled poker player. There is a happy ending with the knowledge that the gambler turned his life around (maybe).
A good example of this is Pumping Iron (1976) which may seem a strange choice but the focus of the documentary is the body building world championship and specifically Arnold Schwarzenegger attempting to win the prize for the sixth time and Lou Ferreno trying to take the crown away from him. In the documentart Arnold could be perceived as the bad guy but charismatic we see him attempting to annoy competitors and is quite arrogant about how he will win. In an interview years later with Arnold he reveals that originally Lou Ferrigno was originally meant to be perceived as the bad guy as the new york tough guy muscling in on Arnold but unfortunately he didn't have the personality to pull it off so Arnold became the bad guy always trying to annoy competitors and evening pretending to give his best friend bad advice when in the final against Arnold so he could win, which arnold later in an interview reveals was all for the camera.
One significant point of Pumping Iron is after a competitor loses and is backstage he can't find his shirt and is slightly annoyed which is probably because he has just lost, he finds the shirt shortly after the camera stops rolling. In the final edit, the competitor is looking for his shirt before going on stage not after and is getting agitated, there is a cut scene to his rival playing football and saying he might hide his shirt to aggravate him. This football scene was filmed months after the competition and added to make it look like some elaborate plan to win the competition.
The point is that even though this may seem like a manipulation of the truth what it really does is stick to the truth regarding the important points as in the competition it is not manipulated or faked Arnold really won on his own merit. A documentary of men lifting weights and then the expected winner winning is not going to make for great viewing.
The reason for this in depth look at Pumping Iron is that my documentary may focus on the worst events of the gamblers life as this makes for interesting viewing and also provides a loser image to oppose the skilled poker player. There is a happy ending with the knowledge that the gambler turned his life around (maybe).
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Monday, 30 January 2012
Equiment for Shoot
Equipment for Shoot
Camera
Canon 550d
Battery Grip
Canon 60d
Canon 50mm 1.8 Lens
Tamron 17-50mm 2.8Lens
Tamron 70-300mm 3.5 Lens
Velbon Tripod
L Hot Shoe Bracket
Flycam Nano
Shoulder Mount
Skater Dolly
32GB Memory Card x2
Sound
Zoom H1 Recorder
Condenser Microphone
Hama Tripod
2GB Memory Card
Lighting
160 Led light x2
Hama tripod x2
reflector set
Miscellaneous
Green Screen
Hot shoe mount replacements
Lens cleaning kit
Invalometer
Different Concepts
I thought I would post some of the concepts for the documentary project. It gives an insight into my thought process and how I get down to to a few ideas and how often elements from different ideas end up together. Some of the ideas are rough and only half completed and others have a 1st draft proposal.
The idea originally was a mockumentary.
Poker Mockumentary
A mockumentary into the lives of poker players and the effect the lifestyle has on their own life.
Taking in the ups ands down. Looking at different types of players e.g. Maths based players against the feel players who use their ability to sense weakness in an opponent.
The mockumentary will revolve around a local tournament which is held every year its an invitation only event and is held by a feared and respected player by the name of Ronnie.
The buy in for the tournament is £15,000 there are 27 players in a freezeout tournament.
Scene 1
Camera looking through a bookies window fixed on a man around 30 biting his nails and praying his horse comes in. He tears up the betting slip. The man is wired up so we can hear him
Man: Come on, come on, don’t you do it, bastard, bastard, fuck.fuck.fuck fuckity fuck.
Man walks out of the bookies and up to the crew and camera.
Man: you can’t win them all.
Director: So Dave how much did you lose. My last £50 quid, Ive got a game tonight I’ll be ok.
Interview
My name is Sidney Peterson I’m 29 years old and by day i work on the stock market by day and I play poker at night. I’m improving all the time. You see poker to me is a maths game which gives me an edge on the players who go by instinct and are in it for the thrill.
CUT TO: Dave eating some chips from a bag a women walks past with large breasts.
Dave: Alright luv’.. Phroaa did you see the top bollocks on that!
Int. Richard’s apartment.
Richard sat online playing poker. Is phone rings
Richard: Hello.. Yeah....Nah not tonight ….you meeting up tomorrow before.Yeah about 10...Ok see you in the morning.
Carries on playing poker....
Phone rings again..
Richard: Hello. Alright mate.. Yeah Ive just spoke to him, yeah I said about 10. Nah I’m not bothering tonight. See you in the morning.
Dave in his bedroom explaining he has had a bad run of cards recently and was currently living with his grandparents.
Next Morning
Breakfast scene
Richard, Dave and Sidney have breakfast. Discuss the tournament and whether they’ll get an invitation.
Richard and Sidney arrive first and talk about Dave and the way he is constantly up and down with money. Dave walks in. He’s been up all night playing at the local casino.
Dave: Breakfast is on me lads. £400 squid last night not bad for a Friday night.
Richard: That’ll be gone by lunchtime.
Sidney: So come on then how are we going to raise the cash for the tournament.
Dave: We also need an invitation.
Richard: Well Liam who works for Ronnie said:
CUT TO Liam and Richard
Liam: If you can prove you have the cash I’ll get you in. But if you say you have it then don’t show or don’t have it I’ll break your fucking legs.
CUT BACK:
Sidney: I think I can just about scrape it together but it would be every penny I have... So I’m not sure maybe next year.
Introduction
A contest over three months following six poker players as they compete for a prize at a poker tournament and free coaching worth over £1000. As a side story we also see the student who his making the film about the poker players try and raise the $10,000 buy in to the WSOP (World Series of Poker) main event.
Objectives
Informational
Six budding poker players get given a £50 starting stake, the objective is to increase that stake by playing online poker. Every month the players compete against each other in a live tournament. First month a six man sit n go. The second live tournament is a Heads up knock out tournament.The final tournament is a multi table tournament where more players a brought in to see how the players compete in a larger field.
There is a points system so for the player who has won the most over the month gets 10 points and down to 1 point split between the six players. Same again for the live tournament. So there is a possible 20 points for two first place finishes.
There is also another element to the documentary/contest looking at the organisers and their quest to get to WSOP looks at the other side of playing poker. As a 50/50 staked poker player. This is where a poker player is staked by someone but gives them 50% of their winnings but they don’t take the losses the backer does.
Behavioural
Audiences love a trier and there is six people all trying to follow their dream and make money playing poker. The audience also gets to see the event organisers desperately try and raise the $10,000 buy in for the WSOP main event.
Motivational
I have a keen interest in poker and am currently trying to get backed myself hopefully this will happen and be part of the focus of the documentary and my personal quest to get to the WSOP main event.
Structure
Fly on the wall style documentary following their progressive from week to week. The monthly tournament will be more professional with hole cams for the cards and proper filming set with lights and a more studio set up.
Introduction to the six players and their motivation and skill level. A bit about their current lives and background. What they are all playing for.
Introduction to Steve and his coach Brokerstar who will coach the winner of the competition. Also a look a the company who provided the sponorship (Likely to be Red Tooth Poker).
The programme will be made up of following the progress of the six contestants as they try and turn a profit playing online poker.
At the end of the first month the points will be allocated as follows
1st - 10pts
2nd - 8pts
3rd - 6pts
4th - 4 pts
5th - 2pts
6th - 0pts
The first live tournament will be a six man sit n go in which all the players will compete against each other and the above points system applies. So a player can earn a maximum of 20 points each month.
The second month it is a Heads Up Knockout tournament again with the same points structure.
The third month is a multi table tournament where more players will be invited to play for a buy in. The points will go to where the players finish in the tournament.
At the end of each month the winner gets one session with the coach.
Style
A fly on the wall style for when following the players from week to week. The interviews will be professional and fluid with professional lights and sound.
The live tournaments will also be professional with hole cams for the cards and a multi camera set up.
Audience
The appeal should be quite broad although it appears to be aimed at poker fans it has a broader message, looking at people following their dreams and the ups and downs of their poker quest. Audiences love to see a winner and a loser and they will get both.
Introduction
A documentary following three friends as they try and make it in the world of poker. Focusing on their dream of one day playing in the WSOP (World Series of Poker).
Objectives
Informational
The documentary will look at the ups and downs of budding poker players. Looking at all aspects from online and live playing. Being staked by other people. The documentary will look at how generally poker is perceived whether all about luck or is skill involved. What makes the WSOP such a special event.
Look at the players trying to raise the money to enter bigger tournaments by selling pieces of their action. Look at how they grind online or play tournaments in the hope of a big win.
Behavioural
Audiences will go through the ups and downs with the players it really won’t matter whether you understand poker the emotions of losing and winning will be visible to the audience.
Motivational
I have a keen interest in poker and believe I can use my knowledge to make an interesting documentary on the subject.
Structure
Fly on the wall style documentary following their progressive from week to week. There may be some fun elements added such as scene set ups (think the only way is Essex but not as cheesy) or re-enactments of things that the players have gone through. For example the discussion about the players having a competition between themselves has already happened and so it will have to be re-enacted.
Style
A fly on the wall style for when following the players from week to week. The interviews will be professional and fluid with professional lights and sound.
If there is any tournaments between the friends then it will be set up properly with hole cams for the cards and lights and sound.
Audience
The appeal should be quite broad although it appears to be aimed at poker fans it has a broader message, looking at people following their dreams and the ups and downs of their poker quest. Audiences love to see a winner and a loser and they will get both.
Myself and Martin will be the poker players
Matt and Adrian will be the gamblers.
Proper interview environments mixed with on location of all the people.
Matt is the hard working husband with two kids who likes to have a bet on the football.
Martin is the stock broker who likes to think of himself as a bit of a poker player
Painy is the financial advisor who just loves to gamble quite the opposite from his job.
Steve is the student who is making the film but also taking part in it as he is a keen poker player and thought it would be fun to document a challenge between friends like this.
Elements of the programme
Matt
Matt’s home life very busy with the kids doesn’t go out much. Works hard in a next factory. His treat to himself is having a little bet on the football on a Saturday.
Adrian
Adrian is the financial advisor who is great with others peoples money just not his own. He lives alone in his apartment in Sheffield and gamblers as much as he can. He loves the thrill of it.
Martin
A very likeable character who works on the stock market and plays poker with friends in his spare time, and has decided to try his luck online.
Steve
Is a student filmmaker who is fascinated by the idea of gambling and how poker is different but many poker players can’t resist gambling even though they understand odds and probability wise its not a good bet. He is a keen poker player although he has not been playing lately and is wanting to get back into it and organising this challenge seemed like a good way to get back into playing.
Format Ideas
Maybe with Steve introducing what he is doing and why. As a project for his college course and decided to film a kind of documentary in an area he is interested in.
Following and looking at how his friends react with a competition about gambling.
If it effects their friendship as they may end up putting their own money to stay in the game.
Style
A guerrilla style appearance just following the participants as they go about their lives and gamble or play poker.
I think this will be accompanied with interviews but less formal, so like a fly on the wall documentary and a quick interview is done on the sofa or in the persons bedroom rather than a much more formal interview with full lights etc. I think this type of the interview would distract from the rough guerrilla style the film is perceiving to be.
Opening
Steve ringing rang the people and telling him his plan and whether their interested in taking part.
Steve interviewing the participants of the documentary.
Steve interviewing a grinder poker player who makes a living playing online poker. Maybe through skype to make it look more rough and in tome with the documentary.
The idea originally was a mockumentary.
Poker Mockumentary
A mockumentary into the lives of poker players and the effect the lifestyle has on their own life.
Taking in the ups ands down. Looking at different types of players e.g. Maths based players against the feel players who use their ability to sense weakness in an opponent.
The mockumentary will revolve around a local tournament which is held every year its an invitation only event and is held by a feared and respected player by the name of Ronnie.
The buy in for the tournament is £15,000 there are 27 players in a freezeout tournament.
Scene 1
Camera looking through a bookies window fixed on a man around 30 biting his nails and praying his horse comes in. He tears up the betting slip. The man is wired up so we can hear him
Man: Come on, come on, don’t you do it, bastard, bastard, fuck.fuck.fuck fuckity fuck.
Man walks out of the bookies and up to the crew and camera.
Man: you can’t win them all.
Director: So Dave how much did you lose. My last £50 quid, Ive got a game tonight I’ll be ok.
Interview
My name is Sidney Peterson I’m 29 years old and by day i work on the stock market by day and I play poker at night. I’m improving all the time. You see poker to me is a maths game which gives me an edge on the players who go by instinct and are in it for the thrill.
CUT TO: Dave eating some chips from a bag a women walks past with large breasts.
Dave: Alright luv’.. Phroaa did you see the top bollocks on that!
Int. Richard’s apartment.
Richard sat online playing poker. Is phone rings
Richard: Hello.. Yeah....Nah not tonight ….you meeting up tomorrow before.Yeah about 10...Ok see you in the morning.
Carries on playing poker....
Phone rings again..
Richard: Hello. Alright mate.. Yeah Ive just spoke to him, yeah I said about 10. Nah I’m not bothering tonight. See you in the morning.
Dave in his bedroom explaining he has had a bad run of cards recently and was currently living with his grandparents.
Next Morning
Breakfast scene
Richard, Dave and Sidney have breakfast. Discuss the tournament and whether they’ll get an invitation.
Richard and Sidney arrive first and talk about Dave and the way he is constantly up and down with money. Dave walks in. He’s been up all night playing at the local casino.
Dave: Breakfast is on me lads. £400 squid last night not bad for a Friday night.
Richard: That’ll be gone by lunchtime.
Sidney: So come on then how are we going to raise the cash for the tournament.
Dave: We also need an invitation.
Richard: Well Liam who works for Ronnie said:
CUT TO Liam and Richard
Liam: If you can prove you have the cash I’ll get you in. But if you say you have it then don’t show or don’t have it I’ll break your fucking legs.
CUT BACK:
Sidney: I think I can just about scrape it together but it would be every penny I have... So I’m not sure maybe next year.
Proposal
The Long Grind to Vegas
Introduction
A contest over three months following six poker players as they compete for a prize at a poker tournament and free coaching worth over £1000. As a side story we also see the student who his making the film about the poker players try and raise the $10,000 buy in to the WSOP (World Series of Poker) main event.
Objectives
Informational
Six budding poker players get given a £50 starting stake, the objective is to increase that stake by playing online poker. Every month the players compete against each other in a live tournament. First month a six man sit n go. The second live tournament is a Heads up knock out tournament.The final tournament is a multi table tournament where more players a brought in to see how the players compete in a larger field.
There is a points system so for the player who has won the most over the month gets 10 points and down to 1 point split between the six players. Same again for the live tournament. So there is a possible 20 points for two first place finishes.
There is also another element to the documentary/contest looking at the organisers and their quest to get to WSOP looks at the other side of playing poker. As a 50/50 staked poker player. This is where a poker player is staked by someone but gives them 50% of their winnings but they don’t take the losses the backer does.
Behavioural
Audiences love a trier and there is six people all trying to follow their dream and make money playing poker. The audience also gets to see the event organisers desperately try and raise the $10,000 buy in for the WSOP main event.
Motivational
I have a keen interest in poker and am currently trying to get backed myself hopefully this will happen and be part of the focus of the documentary and my personal quest to get to the WSOP main event.
Structure
Fly on the wall style documentary following their progressive from week to week. The monthly tournament will be more professional with hole cams for the cards and proper filming set with lights and a more studio set up.
Introduction to the six players and their motivation and skill level. A bit about their current lives and background. What they are all playing for.
Introduction to Steve and his coach Brokerstar who will coach the winner of the competition. Also a look a the company who provided the sponorship (Likely to be Red Tooth Poker).
The programme will be made up of following the progress of the six contestants as they try and turn a profit playing online poker.
At the end of the first month the points will be allocated as follows
1st - 10pts
2nd - 8pts
3rd - 6pts
4th - 4 pts
5th - 2pts
6th - 0pts
The first live tournament will be a six man sit n go in which all the players will compete against each other and the above points system applies. So a player can earn a maximum of 20 points each month.
The second month it is a Heads Up Knockout tournament again with the same points structure.
The third month is a multi table tournament where more players will be invited to play for a buy in. The points will go to where the players finish in the tournament.
At the end of each month the winner gets one session with the coach.
Style
A fly on the wall style for when following the players from week to week. The interviews will be professional and fluid with professional lights and sound.
The live tournaments will also be professional with hole cams for the cards and a multi camera set up.
Audience
The appeal should be quite broad although it appears to be aimed at poker fans it has a broader message, looking at people following their dreams and the ups and downs of their poker quest. Audiences love to see a winner and a loser and they will get both.
Proposal 2
The Long Grind to Vegas
Introduction
A documentary following three friends as they try and make it in the world of poker. Focusing on their dream of one day playing in the WSOP (World Series of Poker).
Objectives
Informational
The documentary will look at the ups and downs of budding poker players. Looking at all aspects from online and live playing. Being staked by other people. The documentary will look at how generally poker is perceived whether all about luck or is skill involved. What makes the WSOP such a special event.
Look at the players trying to raise the money to enter bigger tournaments by selling pieces of their action. Look at how they grind online or play tournaments in the hope of a big win.
Behavioural
Audiences will go through the ups and downs with the players it really won’t matter whether you understand poker the emotions of losing and winning will be visible to the audience.
Motivational
I have a keen interest in poker and believe I can use my knowledge to make an interesting documentary on the subject.
Structure
Fly on the wall style documentary following their progressive from week to week. There may be some fun elements added such as scene set ups (think the only way is Essex but not as cheesy) or re-enactments of things that the players have gone through. For example the discussion about the players having a competition between themselves has already happened and so it will have to be re-enacted.
Style
A fly on the wall style for when following the players from week to week. The interviews will be professional and fluid with professional lights and sound.
If there is any tournaments between the friends then it will be set up properly with hole cams for the cards and lights and sound.
Audience
The appeal should be quite broad although it appears to be aimed at poker fans it has a broader message, looking at people following their dreams and the ups and downs of their poker quest. Audiences love to see a winner and a loser and they will get both.
The 50 Pound Challenge
Two gamblers and two poker players are all staked £50 to see who can raise the most money in 3 months. The winner gets a dinner for two at a casino and £100 of free chips. Also the £50 Challenge trophy.
Myself and Martin will be the poker players
Matt and Adrian will be the gamblers.
Proper interview environments mixed with on location of all the people.
Matt is the hard working husband with two kids who likes to have a bet on the football.
Martin is the stock broker who likes to think of himself as a bit of a poker player
Painy is the financial advisor who just loves to gamble quite the opposite from his job.
Steve is the student who is making the film but also taking part in it as he is a keen poker player and thought it would be fun to document a challenge between friends like this.
Elements of the programme
Matt
Matt’s home life very busy with the kids doesn’t go out much. Works hard in a next factory. His treat to himself is having a little bet on the football on a Saturday.
Adrian
Adrian is the financial advisor who is great with others peoples money just not his own. He lives alone in his apartment in Sheffield and gamblers as much as he can. He loves the thrill of it.
Martin
A very likeable character who works on the stock market and plays poker with friends in his spare time, and has decided to try his luck online.
Steve
Is a student filmmaker who is fascinated by the idea of gambling and how poker is different but many poker players can’t resist gambling even though they understand odds and probability wise its not a good bet. He is a keen poker player although he has not been playing lately and is wanting to get back into it and organising this challenge seemed like a good way to get back into playing.
Format Ideas
Maybe with Steve introducing what he is doing and why. As a project for his college course and decided to film a kind of documentary in an area he is interested in.
Following and looking at how his friends react with a competition about gambling.
If it effects their friendship as they may end up putting their own money to stay in the game.
Style
A guerrilla style appearance just following the participants as they go about their lives and gamble or play poker.
I think this will be accompanied with interviews but less formal, so like a fly on the wall documentary and a quick interview is done on the sofa or in the persons bedroom rather than a much more formal interview with full lights etc. I think this type of the interview would distract from the rough guerrilla style the film is perceiving to be.
Opening
Steve ringing rang the people and telling him his plan and whether their interested in taking part.
Steve interviewing the participants of the documentary.
Steve interviewing a grinder poker player who makes a living playing online poker. Maybe through skype to make it look more rough and in tome with the documentary.
The focus will be to see who can make the most the money.
Bluff
A documentary that follows real poker players. Looking at the maths based player and the one I have found is 18 and has decided to take a year off to win enough money to pay for his university fees. The other is a feel player he only uses basic maths but likes to put pressure on his opponents, he also has a gambling problem and is constantly up and down with his finances.
The project would follow the two players for around three months to get a good sense of their lives and their goals. Additionally their would be interviews with the people who are close to them to get a better picture and understanding of how they are found their way to the world of poker.
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