Ideas for a documentary on pool?
Asked by
Haroot (
2123
)
October 14th, 2009
So I need to shoot a 5 minute (roughly) documentary film for a video production class. I was planning on doing it on pool. Issue being, I don’t know what exactly I should do. Like if I had a topic for an essay, but no thesis.
In terms of interviews, I have some good friends, one planning on going pro (ha,) probably can interview the owner of the local pool hall and the owner of a local pool shop.
For sound, we have boom mikes, shotgun mikes, and those little one you can clip onto you. The places I need to film are relatively loud though. So I was hoping I could avoid any recorded sound if possible. I have a horrible habit of not asking for help, but I can get a friend to hold the boom for me if I use it.
I really wanted to do something poetic-ish but I don’t see how it would work.
Any ideas?
Observing members:
0
Composing members:
0
8 Answers
Maybe you can do something on pool tricks. They are fun to view and would provide enough information for a paper.
You could also do something about ‘pool culture’. That would be fun to view and provide a lot of info. as well.
…. do an extended slow-mo video of many of the habits and preparations of one or two pool players…...... the way we balance the stick on the edge of the table… holding the cue stick and ‘chalking ’ the tip…... the way we line up shots with stretched out arms to avoid using the ‘stick’........ B&W, all soft focus…... slo-mo…... all the cliches of pool accoutrement and habits…..
Nice answers. Question though: How exactly would you define ‘pool cuture’?
And playing off virtualist’s idea, would a sort of, “How-to” video be a little weird?
@Haroot I don’t think a ‘how-to’ video would be weird at all. In fact i think many people would enjoy it.
‘pool culture’ – Well I would do short interviews with people to see how they define it. I know I have a stereotypical image in mind of the type of people who play pool and the type of places people play pool at. Of course the pool experts I know don’t fit those stereotypes but I do know there is an entire culture of pool lovers. They need certain sticks, they place certain places, they compete or not, etc… It would be interesting to see what pool lovers say about the ‘pool culture’. Culture itself is broadly defined as people who share certain characteristics such as clothing, music, values, interests etc…
Maybr use a shot of something like this, it is a famous painting and would reference pool culture.
The difference between billiards and snooker.
@saraaaaaa My prof. is rather strict on copyright issues. I’d need to get a release signed by the author.
@aprilsimnel I live in Hawaii, I don’t think half the people here know what snooker is. Including me until I looked it up a minute ago.
I like the hybrid of idea of RedPowerLady and Virtualist. Maybe just film a game of pool, make it look sexy, call it a documentary.
@virtualist Could you kind of explain what you mean behind, “B&W, all soft focus…... slo-mo…... all the cliches of pool accoutrement and habits…..” or live, give an example. What I picture in my mind is one of those old black and white instructional videos but I don’t think that’s what you’re getting at.
Maybe adapt it or just reference it?
Answer this question 
Composing members:
0
