Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hi everyone!
This is a bit of shameless favour asking here, but I thought it was worth a try...
I recently uploaded the first draft of a short documentary film onto youtube as part of a uni project and I would really appreciate it if any of you could take a look and leave a comment or two.

I can then use your comments for the accmpanying essay. I know how busy you all are this time of year, so dont worry if you cant help out, but to those of you who do manage to take a look, I am extremely grateful. Please dont bother to tell me how crap the film is, i know already (apart from the narration, which is awesome!) and its still the first draft, so some of the framing is due to change I just wanted to get it online as soon as possible.

What I am interested in is your reaction to the narrative and the story itself as apposed to the crappy film quality. I know that the intro is a bit too loong, you can just skip the first minute if you get tired of seeing rockets explode.

The video is here on youtube;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuSyZ7tSLXI

What I need to do is to take peoples comments from the youtube page and put them into the essay as part of my thesis, so anything you feel like adding would be amazing, even if its just your immediate reaction to the story, I would be grateful for anything at all.

Thanks in advance.
p.s,
As soon as I get this stupid thesis finished, I can go back to swapping my orky conversion ideas with you guys.

Do you want comments about the documentary presentation (narration, editing, etc) or reflections on the content?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Well, as to the story that the documentary tells:

There is something very chilling about the idea that modern people can be lost to history. I would guess that this is because, in a secular age, the only immortality that many can imagine is some notation in the historical record of their better deeds or at least of their existence itself. Cosmonauts must have felt that keenly, given the severity of Soviet materialism and immense pressure to "scientifically" prove the superiority of Communism. Separated from oblivion by a thin skein of metal, the cosmonaut is hurled around the face of his home by ambivalent gravity and tethered to the earth only by the ephemeral umbilical cord of unreliable radio signal. The death of his body seems almost assured -- in fact, his survival is a miracle testament to the truth of Communism. And even if his body does expire, his spirit is the Spirit of Communism and will live on in the next flight and the one after, and so on. For cosmonaut-trainees, the chance to live and die a hero of the Space Race must have seemed to guarantee a spot in Soviet Heaven.

But if the enshrinement of one's memory in the national archives bestows a sort of life-beyond-death then surely erasing that memory is a kind of murder and, moreover, consignment to eternal death. The terror of space flight is as undeniable as its splendor. Looking down at the Earth from space, man is aware of his transcendence. And yet, man is nowhere so vulnerable as in space: as fragile as the heartbeat of a freezing puppy, taken in as a stray just to be shot into space, and there to die alone. The voice those Italians brothers picked up on their receivers is heartbreaking. The desperation in that voice, to me, seems not only borne of that animal-like fear of death. There is a plaintive note of loneliness and futility. It makes me wonder, did the cosmonaut-trainees see their failed comrades "disappear" from photographs in the newspapers? If so, did the owner of that voice know that he likewise would be silenced? If that voice belonged to a cosmonaut who died in space, did he know that more than his body was about to die as he plead into the useless radio?

Wow, Thanks Mr Manchu, I enjoyed reading that, It was really insightful!

I wish I had read something like that before i started the project. you thoughts on memory and death are especially interesting. I like the idea that erasing a person from history, especially in a secular society is tantamount to murder (or perhaps even damnation?)

I hate to be a completely ungrateful arse though, but do you think it would be at all possible for you to put that comment on the video itself? The thing is, I have to write a thesis to go with the film and with your permission, I would really love to quote you directly as a viewers contribution as i think what you said is particuarly poigniant. The trouble is, because it's a Masters thesis, I really have to link back to the Youtube page as the primary source apposed to a wargames forum. Im sorry to have to ask you do do that, and I understand if you dont have time, but I just think it would be great to quote you directly as its one of the more interesting bits of feedback i have recieved by far!
Thanks again and Happy New Year!

I'll respond when I finish watching.

/placeholder

dogma wrote:I'll respond when I finish watching.

/placeholder

Thank you!!

If at all possible, could you please consider responding on the video itself on the youtube page?
That way I can refer to your comment in my thesis!

Thanks again! I really appreciate any input.

I will, no worries.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
The British accent seems fake because it doesn't sound like fake British accents (its not thick, or seemingly forced), which might be a problem but really isn't a concern. It does, however sound like a riff off Laurence Olivier in The World at War, which is both good and bad. I understand the intention, or I think I do, but it seems like someone added a strange spice to a childhood dish. This isn't necessarily bad, as I watched a ton of The World at War as a kid, but something to consider.

As a documentary, though, it seems sound. I don't know enough to dispute what was presented on the grounds of evidence. Though it does inspire me to do my own research, which is really the ultimate sign of a good documentary.

dogma wrote:I will, no worries.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
The British accent seems fake because it doesn't sound like fake British accents (its not thick, or seemingly forced), which might be a problem but really isn't a concern. It does, however sound like a riff off Laurence Olivier in The World at War, which is both good and bad. I understand the intention, or I think I do, but it seems like someone added a strange spice to a childhood dish. This isn't necessarily bad, as I watched a ton of The World at War as a kid, but something to consider.

As a documentary, though, it seems sound. I don't know enough to dispute what was presented on the grounds of evidence. Though it does inspire me to do my own research, which is really the ultimate sign of a good documentary.

Awesome, thanks!
believe it or not, that is entirely matts real voice, It's why I asked him to narrate for me.

Wow, that cosmonauts voice was chilling, what a way to go. I thought the intro was indeed, way to long, but the video itself was pretty good if you ask me. Nice work

dogma wrote:The British accent seems fake because it doesn't sound like fake British accents (its not thick, or seemingly forced), which might be a problem but really isn't a concern.

Way to ruin a good joke Dogma. :(

Although I do appreciate the response from the narrator.

dogma wrote:As a documentary, though, it seems sound. I don't know enough to dispute what was presented on the grounds of evidence. Though it does inspire me to do my own research, which is really the ultimate sign of a good documentary.

Yup, ditto. Although it appears to be simply conspiracy theory nonsense.

In general, a good effort I'd say. I certainly believe that the Soviets were capable of covering up the deaths of cosmonauts, so it seems feasible that they may have.

I've commented on the video.

Thanks so much guys!