Megan Butler - ID# 160

Hillcrest

Documentary

Entry Description

A documentary featuring the story of high school senior, Megan Butler. Megan was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma cancer, but through the support of family and a positive mindset, Megan was able to beat cancer and derive many valuable life lessons. Permission to use music from De Wolfe Music.

Copyright Info

Recent Teacher Comments

• 4/27 9:57 pm - Keepers: Well crafted story about a very difficult and humanizing subject. The interview background were beautiful. Loved the nature landscapes serving as backgrounds. The two camera interview set ups worked well and gave a change of visual look when broll was scarce. Broll and photos were compelling. Overall, a great story/keepsake for this family as they move through their lives. Improvements: The mother was placed to the short side of the frame and that's typically not a good choice. It can be served as a change of pace but in this case it felt out of place. I think your piece could have used a significant music change towards the end...especially when we learn that Megan's cancer went into remission. Let us feel that sense of relief/triumph through the music. Having the same cue throughout made the piece feel a bit stale after a while. One important thing to remember is that music is a tool to be used to enhance a mood. Music doesn't have to be present for the entire piece. No music in places can serve as a great way to transition from one emotional moment to another. Then you pick the music back up with a different song. Overall, well done!
• 4/15 1:39 pm - This was very well done all around. Story was impactful and well told through Megan and her parents. Multi camera angles of the interviews gave us shot variety without distracting from the compelling narrative. Visuals were well placed and almost wish there were more to show her experience and resilience. Overall tremendous story told in a very effective way, fantastic job!
• 3/10 3:28 pm - A powerful documentary that warmed my heart. Absolutely beautiful interview shots and the audio for the interviews was top-notch as well. I appreciate the two camera interview as well. I appreciate you as a high school student trying to tell the story and I know it had to be difficult asking for photos but you did what needed to be done to make this the best story you can tell. Thank you for sharing this and continue making films just like this

Judge 1

Positives: Good use of music to help carry the story. Captures the fear and family concern. Consistent pacing that is punctuated by a pause in the music and the pacing when her dad talks about Megan losing her hair. Compelling.

Improvements: The lighting on the dad outside is a bit dark with the light sky background.

Judge 2

Positives: I appreciated that there were multiple angles on 2 out of the three interviews. The music helped toward the end to aid the feeling of positivity.

Improvements: It would have been more effective to start the story with her seeking medical consultation for the swelling on her neck then the discovery of her having cancer. The rest of the film could have been about her journey and recovery. Also, a shift in tone in music would have helped to drive home the emotions in the story. The camera framing was odd from shot to shot in the interviews. They broke the 180 degree rule because of the direction the interview is looking and where they are located in frame.

Judge 3

Positives: Very powerful use of pictures and a music track that captured the right tone. Really liked your choices for interview setting!

Improvements: This is a difficult story to tell visually. Would have liked to have seen more pictures or footage. Even if it's just abstract footage from a hospital, hospital room, equipment. We always want to avoid long stretches of the "Talking Head" Be mindful of ways to clean up what a person says - Megan, while she is talking about raising money, trips over her words. She is under a graphic here - clean up what she says to help her sound her best.

Judge 4

Positives:

Improvements: