Role: Sound Recordist

Original objectives

Our documentary aimed to show the importance of animal welfare and how zoos can support animals, conservation and ecosystems. We planned to film at a zoo or wildlife park and interview people with different levels of experience in animal welfare.

Development process

The project changed when we filmed at Sydney Zoo and later interviewed Dr Sebastian Holmes at Western Sydney University. This helped the documentary feel more expert-led and professional. I recorded sound during interviews and also helped with camera work and b-roll when needed.

Critique of final outcome

The final documentary successfully communicated the topic through clear interviews and peaceful b-roll. The main improvement would be adding more varied shots because some b-roll became repetitive. Some audio could also have been checked more carefully before recording.

What I learned

I learned that sound can strongly affect how professional a documentary feels. I also learned to stay flexible because interviews, locations and crew roles can change quickly during factual production.

Behind the Scenes