Adobe Encore

This week I have been studying online software tutorials, provided by the university on Adobe Encore. The tutorials cover some of the basic controls of the program, giving me enough knowledge to experiment with the program. I hope to have animated backgrounds within the menus, where appropriate to enhance the DVD's aesthetic qualities.

Research Into Intended Format

I have contacted Timm Baldwin of Real Time, a Digital Communications Production Company based in Reading. They have produced CD's and DVD's for numorous clients and have an excellent track record. I discovered Real Time last summer when I co-founded the Kino Eye Filmmaking Club in the same area as Real Time operate.

I hope to meet with Timm prior to the Christmas period to discuss DVD layout and structure.

Results of Dr. Heaton Interview

on 17/11 I met with Dr. Pamela Heaton, a Psychologist at Goldsmith's College, University of London.

The interviews I have been conducting are beneficial not only as a resource to the prototype and product, but also as a valuable learning excercise: I am constructing a documentary for my Client Project, where much emphasis will be placed on the interview process. Therefore this type of primary research is a very productive way to spend time on my projects. I have also interviewed Stephen Wiltshire, which I discussed on a previous journal entry.

One of the most important aspects to cover in the Dr. Heaton interview was to obtain a definition of a savant; this will be included in the DVD, and interview segments such as this one will be used to break up parts of the DVD where aethetics play a less significant role.

Dr. Heaton has also agreed to assess the quality and accuracy of the product, so that changes can be made prior to the final stages. The Stephen Wiltshire Gallery have also agreed to evaluate my work.

A point was raised with Dr. Heaton which I discussed with my tutor, which was the possibility of a savant having direct contribution to the creation of the DVD. Dr. Heaton acknowledged it as a possibility, but suggested it could pose difficulties. Upon further consideration, I would rather keep the roles played in the product as they are - so if the product is of a high enough standard it can be used by parents, carers, or the public in general as an educational tool.

Dr. Heaton also mentioned a documentary made by the BBC, which I may be able to use segments of for my project. Dr. Heaton is going to try and contact the producer of the Documentary to find out if it will be possible or not.

Meeting with Tutor

On 16/11 I met with my tutor to discuss the progress of my project. I mentioned my interview Dr. Heaton that I would be conducting the following day.

I recieved positive feedback for my proposal document, and my tutor showed interest in the novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. in a later entry, I shall cover the book in more detail as a result of the meeting.

The following points were raised in regards to the product and prototype:

• What will be the visual style of the product?
• Can I obtain archival footage to juxtapose with the interviews, to be edited together to be used as cutaways at relevant points. Perhaps use a still sky image of nottingham through the observer?
• Would it be possible for a savant to have editorial control upon the product in any way, shape or form?

The discussed points will be raised and answered in journal entries to follow.

Dr. Heaton's Research

Following arranging a meeting, Dr. Heaton has passed on to me one of her papers - Annotation: The Savant Syndrome. The Paper discusses the nature and origin of savant syndrome, as well as looking for symptoms in people who are not necessarily within the typical IQ category as a savant.

Meeting with a Savant Expert

Following my contact with Goldsmith's College, I have arranged to meet Dr. Pamela Heaton, an expert in the field. Dr. Heaton has agreed to be interviewed, as well as providing a definition of a Savant. I will be meeting with Dr. Heaton next friday.

Autism Data

I contacted the National Autism Society regarding relevant articles on Savantism, they in turn told me of Autism Data - An online archive with vast resources.

There are some articles listed, many of which I had not seen previously. Autism Data also contains resources on Stephen Wiltshire which I had not seen before.

Autism data can be found here.

An Unexpected Response

After posing questions at the AWARES online conference as detailed in previous entries, I recieved a Reply from Dr. Darold Treffert. I had been using Dr. Trefferts publication Extraordinary People: Understanding Savant Syndrome as one of my primary literature resources.
Dr. Treffert pointed me in the direction of a more local source of primary research: Professor Beate Hermelin at the University of London. I have contacted the University and hope to recieve a positive reply!

The Great Eastern

Because of the nature of my research project, much time was spent familiarising myself with the subject matter. While I was researching the history of savantism, I discovered an early example of a piece of work.

James Henry Pullen was born in 1835, and spent 66 years of his life at the Earlswood Asylum, where he was known as the Genius of the Earlswood Asylum. He was skilled in carving ships and reproducing them in penciled drawings. He was eventually given 2 of his own workshops.

Pullen built his masterpiece The Great Eastern at the age of 35; it was a model ship for which he fashioned every screw, pulley, anchor and paddle from drawings he made beforehand. The model is 10 feet long and contains over 5000 rivets. It was exhibited at the Fisheries Exhibition in 1883 where is won the first prize medal.

The Royal Earlswood Museum in Surrey hold much of Pullens work, including The Great Eastern, I would like to visit the Museum as part of my primary research.

The technical side

Upon meeting with my tutor, we discussed the technical aspect of my work - I am creating a DVD, and I will need to have an idea of how much time to allocate to this side of the project. I have started experimenting with Adobe Encore - A DVD authoring package for the PC platform.

Directing the Documentary

The interview is often defined as the heart of the documentary, and there are many aspects of it that need to be taken into consideration. Interviewing will be an even more fundamental role in my client project, so it is essential that I refine this skill as much as possible during the course of my Research Project.

I have been consulting the book Directing the Documentary by Michael Rabiger, which covers interviews in a great deal of depth and has already proven beneficial when interviewing subjects.

awares.org

Using the AWARES online conference, I have asked for an individual in a related field to be available for interview. I hope to obtain a definition of a Savant from an academic for the DVD.

Derek Paravicini

Today I emailed the website of Derek Paravicini to enquire into the possibility of me showcasing some of his work on the DVD. Derek has perfect pitch and is able to play a piece of music when he has heard it once.

Update: Received reply from Derek's agent, allowing me to use clips of Derek's music on the DVD.

Music for the DVD.

When I visited this years VideoForum, one of the exhibiters was AKM Music. AKM supply copyright free music and sound effects for a set price, CD's were available to buy at the stall but I took a leaflet away as it stated MP3's could be downloaded from their website.

I plan to use some of their products to supply backing music to my DVD.

Tuning into genius

I discovered an interesting article on the BBC website about an Australian scientist who wants to try and switch off the part of his brain that analyses information in order to recover mathematical and artistic skills associated with the savant.

The article can be found here.

The Wisconsin Medical Society

Upon meeting Stephen Wiltshire at his gallery, I was pointed in the direction of the Wisconsin Medical Society. They are the leading researchers on Savants, Dr. Darold A. Treffert who wrote the book Extraordinary People: Understanding Savant Syndrome was the past president of the society. The site contains a number of features including short videos of areas which will prove useful study guides.