My Final Proposal

The documentary I will be making will be about Euthanasia. It will be roughly 6 minutes long and will include both facts and opinions.

Aims

The aims of my documentary will be to give a knowledge of what Euthanasia is, why people do it and the current UK laws about it. I will give my full knowledge of the information I have and will aim to change peoples views on the matter. However, whilst doing this, I will not put anyone starring in my video through any type of distress or uncomfort during the pre, post and production of my video.

Content

The content of my documentary will involve factual information form reliable sources, a lot of opinions, based on both sides of the argument, images and quotes from the information I am giving and interviews from a different range of people; Some people from Dignity in dying (an organisation which fights for the right to die), a person a who is terminally ill and has considered euthanasia, hopefully an MP to talk about the current laws and some vox pops from people from different sides of the debate. There will also be a warning at the start of my documentary telling people that this is an emotional subject that some people may find distressing.

Target  Audience

The targeted audience for my documentary is British males and females aged 16 to 24 years of age, of no particular ethnicity. As the subject of my documentary is quite niche as an interest I will aim to make my documentary educational, giving people the chance to learn more about euthanasia. I will try to make it as 'neutral' as possible, not offending anyone as it is a cautious subject, however, there will be warnings and notices so my target audience know exactly what they are watching. I will be adding case studies to appeal more to my audience

Format

The format of my documentary will be participatory. I will have a presenter in my documentary the whole way through, however I wanted to bring in forms of reflexive modes into it, by explaining to the audience where I am going, who I am going to talk to, what I am going to do next, but more toned down. I will make sure I (as the presenter) am involved fully and show a large interest keeping the audience involved.

Genre

The genre will be a documentary. As there are lots of different types of factual television, I will make sure that mine is structured like a documentary. This means it will not be involving competition or games. It will be straight forward telling of facts, with interviews, images and opinions.

Style

There will be different styles of my documentary. For example, I will be filming in different locations, not too many but enough to keep it interesting. I will be putting in vox pops and interviews at different times to keep the opinions going. I will have screen shots and graphics as ways to give my facts across, so it isnt just me on a screen talking. Along with some of the images will be voice overs, however I did not want to involve a lo of voice overs in my piece. There will be some music to fit the tone of my piece, but not to much as it will look like a dramatic piece of work and I would like to keep it serious.

There will be a range of different shot types, for example;

• Establishing Shots - Preferably an image of the Dignitas centre in Switzerland, so people can get a feel of the type of place it is.
• Long shots - I would use these for example when I am explaining something, I wouldn't use these for long, but just to make it not so 'in-your-face-' and create a calm atmosphere.
• Mid shots - I would be using these most in my work, mainly because it shows facial expressions which is important during my interviews as well as the above point of it staying 'neutral' and calm.

I will not be using shots such as;

• Close Ups - I feel for this type of subject, close ups during interviews would be too overwhelming. As well as it is a serious and emotional subject, I would not want the audience to feel uncomfortable being 'too close' to the interviewees.
• High or Low shots - I will not be using these at I feel it would make my documentary look too comical. As I am attemtping to keep it serious I will only be using strauight angled shots.

I will be using graphics in my work as another way to get the information and facts across to the audience. There will not be too many but just enough to keep the audience involved in hat is happening. There will be introduction graophics to warn the viewers of the emotional nature of my documentary. There will also be graphics to introduce the person I am interviewing.

Analysing the competiton

Embarrassing Bodies;

This programme shows at 9pm on Channel 4 on a Thursday.

There are no current viewing figures on the BARB website for this week, however i found rating from March 2012; there were 2.44 million people who tuned in to watch Embarrassing Bodies that week. I feel that the viewing figures for his show were quite respectable for the channel as well as the day it aired on.

This show is similar to mine as it focuses around peoples lives. However, not the same type of issue but making the lives of people better. I would attempt to make my documentary better than this in terms of vewing figures by aiming it at all of my targeted audience. I would make it interesting although keeping it on a serious level.

Video link for embarrasing bodies - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL1tp1O55-8&oref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fresults%3Fsearch_query%3Dembarrassing%2Bbodies%26oq%3Dembarrassing%2Bbodies%26gs_l%3Dyoutube.3..0l10.1226.4539.0.4615.6.1.0.5.5.0.75.75.1.1.0...0.0...1ac.1.Mg7I9IT58i0&has_verified=1

Terry Pratchett ; Choosing To Die;

This documentary was on BBC2 in June 2011. It aired at 9pm on a Tuesday. 1.64 million people tuned in to watch this documentary and 6.7% of all people watching television at this time watched this documentary. I feel thaqt the viewing figures are this low because the documentary only viewed good,

This documentary is similar to mine as it talks about euthanasia and reveals a specific story. Although i wil lnot being do this, i will still be mentioning Dignitas and my whole documentary is based on euthanasia. 

I would structure my documentary similar to how this one was made. I would attempt to create a certain feel to it, for example, not making it to emotional on one side, but hopefully change the opinions on euthanasia.

10 Years Younger;

This programme is another based around changing the lives of others for the better. The viewing frigures are from February 2011 and aired on Channel 4 at 8pm. 2.6 million people watched this programme the day that it aired. This programme hasnt got many similarities other than attempting to make people happier.

I would make my documentary more watchable than this by kepping the seriousness of it. Unlike 10 years younger which is almost like a rollercoaster of emotions, I would aim to stay focused on the 'task' at hand. Prooving my point and showing what needs to be shown.

Video link for 10 years younger ; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6af1smi7bw

Based on my research above; I would broadcast my magazine show on either a Tuesday or a Thursday at 9pm. This is because of the content of my work. There would be emotional scenes andf wouldnt be suitable on television at times before the watershed. I would choose to put my show on television on a Tuesday or a Thursday because most serious documentaries air on these days. For example the Terry Pratchett documentary aired on a Tuesday, and the other two that I researched aired on a Thursday. Other serious emotional documentaries such as Extrordinary People airs on a Thursday and repeats on a Tuesday.

Constraints Grid

Contact List

Email Evidence

We laer had a phone conversation where Jo had told me to email her at a later date giving her the names of some family members i would like to interview and she would attempt to get them to to agree in being in my documentary.

Secondary Research For My Final Idea

"They say that our bodies are our own, and we should be allowed to do what we want with them. So it's wrong to make anyone live longer than they want. In fact making people go on living when they don't want to violates their personal freedom and human rights.It's immoral, they say, to force people to continue living in suffering and pain.

Therefore; if suicide is not a crime, euthanasia should not be a crime."

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What is euthanasia?

Euthanasia (also kown by some as mercy killing) basically means to take a deliberate action with the express intention of ending a life to relieve intractable suffereing.

There are three differect types of euthanasia;

1. Voluntary:- This is where the patient gives 100% consent for their death. They get a full say in the matter.

2. Non-Voluntary:- This is where the patient cannot have an input; for example, if brain dead or in a vegetated state; th next of kin will make th decision based on the patients best interest.

3. Involuntary:- This is the type which is otherwise known as murder. This is where the patient has no thought in dying, the act goes against their will, for exampl child euthanasia.

There are two procedural types of euthanasia;

1. Passive:- This is where the life sustaining treatment is withheld; for example, people who have DNR cards (this means do not resuscitate).

2. Active:- This is where lethal substances are used to end the patients life.

Information from : http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/182951.php

What are the methods?

There are four main methods used for euthanasia;

1. Drugs:- The main method used in Switzerland, this is when an oral dose of an aniemic drug is given, follwed approximately 30 seconds after by a lethal ovrdose of powdered pentobarbital dissolved in either water or fruit juice. This overdose depresss the cental nervous system causing respitory arrest.

2. Injcetions:- The main method in the Netherlands, there are two injections, one which send the patient into a coma, then the second is given to stop the heart beating. Sometimes an intavnous potassium chloride is given to hasten cardiac arrest.

3. Starvation and dehydration:- Terminal sedation is mixed with the complete withdrawl of all foods and fluids.

4. Gases, plastic bags and "peaceful pill":- These ar the most used methods in Australia and Nw Zealand. Helium is taken to cause a death by lung failure. The peaceful pill is a barbiturate-based pill.

"If we can get people to except the removal of all treatment especially the removal of food and fluids, they will see what a painful way to die is, and then in the patients best interst, accept the lethal injection" - Dr Helga Kuhse

Information from : http://www.life.org.nz/euthanasia/abouteuthanasia/methods-of-euthanasia

 

Why is it illegal in the UK?

Euthanasia is currently illegal in Britain. To kill another person deliberately is murder or manslaughter, even if they have asked you to do so. Anyone doing so could fac 14 years in prison. Under the 1961 Suicide Act, it is also a criminal offence to assist, aid or counsel sombody in relation to taking their own life. Nevertheless, the authorities may decid not to prosecute in cases of euthanasia after taking into account the circumstances of death.

The Times (2007) reported by a survey that 80% of the public said they wanted the law changd to giv terminally ill patients the right to die with doctors help. I feel that if people deserve the right to live, they should deserve the right to die.

information from : http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/euthanasia/overview/problems.shtml

Who would be inetersted in euthanaisa?

The word "euthanasia" litterally means "good death" but now in modern usuag it has come to mean intentional killing.

Terminally ill and incurably disabled people are those most at risk of having their lives deemed "not worth living" whether or not they have asked to be killed. Thes are the people viewed by the pro-ethanasia lobby as being the benficiaries of any law to allow euthanasia. People of vegetated states or are brain dead, as wll as the terminally ill are all people who ar most likely to ask for assisted suicide. However, 20% of the people asking for assistd suice are not ill at all, more just "tired of living"

Information from : http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/512/689

How far back does it date?
Euthanasia has ben going on for a long time. However the contemory debate on euthanasia started in 1870. Euthanasia was practisd in Ancit Greek as well as strongly opposed in the Judeo-Christian Tradition back in 1565. Religion has always been a factor for this. In th early 1800's Euthanasia techniques such as the morphine overdose was claimed as wrong and therefore starting the debate.

"That in all cases of hopeless and painful illness, it should be the recognised duty of the medical attendant, whenever so desired by th patient, to administer chloroform or such other anaesthetic to destroy the consciousness at once and put the sufferer to a quick and painless death" - Samuel Williams 1872

Information from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthanasia#History

 The pages below are more research I have done on Euthanasia;