Thursday, 6 February 2014

BLOG ENTRY 6


I created two products, a fashion magazine article and an advertisement poster for the television drama 'Destiny' i have created for BBC Three.

In the fashion magazine, I have used the dominant colours of yellow and black, these signify that the article is in or about crime. This is also shown by the signifiers of the yellow and black 'crime scene' tape which goes throughout the poster behind the text. This conveys that idea of the crime theme to the audience which makes them become increasingly interested in the drama. This shows clearly the genre of the article and gives away some facts about the drama which is why I chose them. The colours black and yellow in the way i have used them signify crime. Black can also be used to signify death or danger.

In my poster, the dominant colours and red and black, red is a signifier of danger. Black can also have connotations with death. This colour palette is also effective and is emphasised even more so when the red used looks like it is blood. This conveys the idea of murder and death to the audience, and will intrigue the target audience to make them want to read more about it. I chose this colour palette to add emphasis and clearly show that the body language of the character in my image on my poster signifies that he has negative connotations; he has clenched fists and is looking slightly down with a blank, almost evil expression. This also links in with the use of props in my poster; the use of the knife signifies danger. He is holding the knife with clenched fists, which has connotations that he is the antagonist in the television drama. It also signifies the genre of horror in the drama.

In my article, there are signifiers which prove it to be a fashion magazine because of the attention to detail shown in the images. The cork board with the title on and all of the images underlying the text all signify that it is a fashion magazine. My choice of font also shows that it is a fashion magazine, it looks quite cute and girly, despite the 'crime scene' tape which has been clipped underneath it which signifies the fact that it is to do with crime/horror. It shows that it is definitely not in a magazine such as 'Empire' because of the images placed. The polaroid looking pictures signify that it is to do with a magazine aimed at females. If it was aimed at men it would be more professional looking and straight cut and have no 'crime scene' tape through the page. The use of the icon of 'Glamour TV' in pink is a typical fashion magazine convention. It is directly associated with fashion magazines, and the pink colour signifies this even more.

The use of language signifies first, the genre that it is a fashion magazine article because the article speaks about what is going on on the set, what people are wearing and how fashionable they are before the actual interview itself. Which are conventions of a typical fashion magazine article.

In my poster, I have used a long shot image, which shows the body language of the character in the image. I have used this to make an impact, so you are able to see the knife in his hand and see how his body language affects the overall view of the poster to give some clues about what the television drama is about.

To create my article, i looked at different fashion magazines articles to be able to add some typical fashion magazine conventions to make my article have the general conventions of that kind of magazine. I looked at 'Glamour' magazine and saw the logo in the corner of the page which says 'Glamour'. I decided to use this idea to make my magazine article look more like a fashion magazine

 
 
I then looked into the general conventions of photos, which i found out usually have a border around them. I looked into many different magazine articles and then i found this one. Which had the borders around it. I chose to use this idea and make it my own by using photoshop to edit my photos to look like a polaroid picture. This is a general convention to have quirky looking photos in a fashion magazine article. I chose to use a polaroid picture because it is very on trend for fashion at the moment and also i can then add a caption to the photos in a handwriting style font which is also a convention and signifier for a fashion article. I used my use of language to add a caption on each photo.  


Tuesday, 28 January 2014

BLOG ENTRY 5

 

BLOG ENTRY 5


The targeted audience for my television drama is from about 16+ it is suitable for both genders, and doesn't lend itself to one gender more than the other. It targets both genders because it isn't a romantic story which the female audience would watch more and it isn't constant violence which would lend itself to the male audience. It is more psychological and what goes on in a criminals mind, which is interesting from a male and a female perspective.

My intended audience for the television drama would enjoy different media products such as:
  • Games which have violence in them, or a complicated storyline you can seek escapism with (e.g Red Dead Redemption, Call of Duty)
  • Other TV documentaries similar to 'Destiny' such as crime/murder mysteries like 'The Fall' and 'Broadchurch, which are short television dramas. They may also watch 'Doctor Who' which is like a murder mystery, which has very long complicated storylines you can get lost in.
  • Books in the genre of violence, or with complicated storylines that you can easily seek escapism with, such as The Hunger Games trilogy, which has a very in depth storyline and a lot of violence and bloodshed.
  • Crime/Murder mystery films such as 'Sherlock Holmes' and 'American Hustle'.
My television drama is not for people under the age of 16 because of the violence shown in the drama. I have made it suitable for people of all lifestages, because it is a 4 part drama. Which everyone can find the time to watch. If you stay at home or work full time, or even have a baby. It is easy for anyone to watch at any time because you can watch it on BBC iPlayer if you can't watch it when it is on because it is on BBC Three so iPlayer is available.

I think my television drama would appeal to the psychographic profile of the strugglers, because they seek escapism in what they watch. My drama contains violent, physical escapism which would appeal to them.

Wednesday, 11 December 2013

BLOG ENTRY 4 - HOW HAS YOUR RESEARCH INFORMED YOUR PRE-PRODUCTION?

HOW HAS YOUR RESEARCH  INFORMED YOUR PRE-PRODUCTION?



•WHAT COMMON FEATURES OF A PRESS RELEASE DID YOU IDENTIFY IN YOUR RESEARCH AND INCLUDE IN YOUR OWN?


·MODE OF ADDRESS

 i found out that the general theme for press releases was relatively informal and casual, i tried to do this for my press release because it engages the reader more and makes them feel involved because of the mode of address.


·STRUCTURE

I identified the structure of press releases, and how most of them are set out. And there is one over ruling way that is used quite frequently in press releases that i have come across.

·CONTENT

 I found that the general content of press releases tended to inform the reader of some of the plot details of the television drama but not of others, this is so that the reader is interested enough to want to actually watch the television drama. I chose to do this in my press release, as it seems to be very successful instead of being a very restricted press release i did give some general details away. If i did keep it very restricted, readers might not want to watch it because they don't actually know exactly what it is about.



·OTHER FEATURES – CAST LIST, PRODUCTION CREDITS, CHANNEL IDENT, IMAGES

I noticed that in a lot of press releases that i had seen, the broadchurch one featured below for example, feature an image at the top of the page. This is so that the reader of the press release, the potential viewer, can really picture what the drama might be like before even reading the press release or watching the trailer. I have decided to do this, i haven't got a photo yet but i will put a photo there when i can. I think this is a good idea to use in your press release.

Broadchurch Press Release

I also noticed that most press releases use a cast list at the bottom, so i did the same with mine. I think a cast list is used because if people are interested in certain actors, it is good to know who is going to be in the drama because it could attract a wider audience and fans of that particular actor.So i thought i would include a cast list in my press release that i created.

•WHAT COMMON FEATURES OF A TRAILER DID YOU IDENTIFY IN YOUR RESEARCH AND INCLUDE IN YOUR OWN?





·CAMERA SHOTS

In trailers, they use a lot of varied camera shots to keep the audience interested in the trailer as a whole. Lots of medium shots tend to be used as well as close ups of the characters. I decided to use this in my storyboard, by using a good variation of camera shots. I have used more medium shots and close ups compared to the other camera shots that i could use because it seems to be more common amongst trailers, like the one below for 'The Fall' on BBC Two.  



Trailer for 'The Fall' on BBC 2
·EDITING

I identified that in trailers, they use short quick shots that only really go up to a few seconds long, and they use quick, snappy shots to keep the audience interested in the trailer and make them keep watching.

 This usually happens towards the middle of the trailer where it starts to become quicker paced and with more action going on. I have seen this in the trailer for Catching Fire 
It starts off with slow paced scenes, which set the scene and mood of the trailer. Then as the music quickens, the shots quicken.

I have decided to use this in my own trailer, by using short scenes of between about 0.5 and 2 seconds long each to keep the audience interested and alert.

·USE OF SOUND – DIEGETIC, MUSIC, VOICEOVER

i noticed that in trailers they used a lot of different sound techniques, they used lots of diegetic and non diegetic sound. Diegetic sound includes spoken dialogue and general background noise. Non diegetic sound is music which is just heard by the audience, it wouldn't be heard by the characters. The non diegetic sound usually goes in time with the shots, as the music quickens, the shots quicken. 

I have used this in my own. I have included different sounds, and as my shots get shorter the non diegetic background music quickens. I have not used a voice over for my trailer, as i want all of the information given to the audience to be given by the characters personality and what they say. I also haven't used much diegetic dialogue because i didn't want to give to much away, this keeps the audience interested. 



·GENRE ICONOGRAPHY
My use of the anger and the quick shots which show the emotion of the character signify that this could potentially be a horror drama, along with the girl running away and screaming. 
·CHARACTERS
In a lot of trailers, the specifiC types of characters are shown obviously on what their personality is like. I have also done this by showing the personalities and character types in my trailer, to determine whether to audience would be interested in watching it or not. It gives an insight into what the drama is about. I have made 'Derek' the main character, obviously seem like the 'villian' type character, and i have made 'Holly' seem like a vulnerable character, which she is.
·TEXT

I have noticed that in trailers, they use text to give some things away about the plot.In the trailer for Endless Love (2014) 

This is a prime example of using text to put across a point to the audience, i have decided to do this in my trailer and put the text 'Love. Life. Death' these short words, which aren't classed as sentences show the key themes in my trailer but don't give too much away about the plot, they just intrigue the audience into wanting to see what happens in the drama. I also used text at the end, which has the title of the drama 'Destiny' and 'Coming Soon' and also has the BBC Three logo on it. Which is a key feature in all trailers, letting you know a rough release date and the title of the drama so that the audience could find out more about it if they wanted to.
·NARRATIVE REVEAL
I have noticed that trailers give away the genre of the television drama, but not too much about the plot. It gives away basic storylines so the audience can decide whether the
·APPEAL TO AUDIENCE


Trailers appeal to the audience by looking interesting, and this takes in a lot of factors. 


I identified that in trailers, they use short quick shots that only really go up to a few seconds long, and they use quick, snappy shots to keep the audience interested in the trailer and make them keep watching.

 This usually happens towards the middle of the trailer where it starts to become quicker paced and with more action going on. I have decided to use this in my own trailer, by using short scenes of between about 0.5 and 2 seconds long each to keep the audience interested and alert.
I  have also identified the use of text as a shot. Sometimes with text on it to show something about the drama, it might have a quick tagline about it
 


Tuesday, 19 November 2013

BLOG POST 3 Coursework Questions Blog Discussion


1.    TRAILERS

Trailers usually start off with some slow scenes and then more action happens so the pace of the scenes quickens and shorter scenes are used. The whole of the trailer is just a montage of different scenes of the drama to give you an idea of what the drama is about and what genre it is in and make it appeal to you. They usually contain enough information to get you hooked on the drama and make you want to watch it. But not enough to make you know exactly what happens so there’s no point in watching it. They use a lot of fade in and fade out scenes which indicate the genre of the drama. This can determine if you will watch it or not depending on the genre of it. They use sound (diegetic and non diegetic) and technical features like high and low key lighting to signify the genre and voice overs. They also edit the clips to be really short and snappy to signify maybe an action or horror genre.



2.    PRESS RELEASES

Press releases contain a brief synopsis of the drama and tell you a bit about the characters and what happens without giving too much away. It is like a trailer but in written form. They have a sentence or two at the beginning to tell you what genre, channel and what it is to draw you in. Then they have a brief synopsis of the drama, which tells you a bit about the characters and the plot but doesn’t give away anything major. The synopsis is the part which sells the drama to the reader. Then they give brief information about the cast of the drama, a bit about their background and how they came to be involved in the production. Then a list of the actors and the characters they will play will come at the end of the press release. This could attract people to watch the drama because an actor they like is a role in the drama.



3.    TELEVISION CHANNELS

I have learnt that BBC Three play a lot of programmes for young people. The target audience for BBC Three is younger people, male and female. About 16-25. They make a lot of documentaries, dramas and comedies. The documentaries appeal to young people who are interested about the world, they might fit into the explorers category. They broadcast a wide variety of different dramas and comedies that appeal to all of them.

Press Release

Channel: BBC THREE
Title: Destiny
Category: Horror, TV Drama, BBC Three
Date of release: 21st March 2014

 Destiny is a new four-part horror drama on BBC Three written by Sam Pears, a new and upcoming writer of dramas.

Destiny is set in London, England in the present day. The story follows the main character; Holly is a young beautiful woman, leading a normal life. She is sat in a café and is approached by a young, normal looking man, Derek (played by award-winning actor Emmett Scanlan), who asks her for her number. She rejects him because she is in a relationship. It may not seem like a horror drama at this point, but this is not your average ‘guy meets girl and they fall in love’ drama. This is a murder story. The story escalates greatly from this point where Derek’s obsession greatens and his plans start to form. The point of view of the drama changes and keeps changing from Derek’s to Holly’s. To show how Holly is still leading a normal life and has even forgotten about Derek, it was just another guy asking her for her number. But he gets obsessed and determined to get her, but he isn’t totally romantic about it. With some gruesome and disturbing scenes; this drama is for the older end of the BBC Three audience and is played at 10pm on Tuesday nights for four weeks. The final episode concludes everything that has gone on, is it a tragic or happy ending for anybody?

The main characters, Derek and Holly are played by award winning actor’s Emmett Scanlan and Karen Gillan. Emmett is most known for his role in ‘Hollyoaks’ as Brendan Brady and also for his role in ‘The Fall’ and in ‘Charlie Casanova’. He is known for playing the antagonist, but in ‘Hollyoaks’ he was known for the most loveable antagonist. Emmett states that he is ‘very excited to play this role, as it is sort of a mash-up of all the major roles I have played with a different stalker twist, I’m really looking forward to seeing how it turns out’.  Jeremy, who plays Holly’s boyfriend, also stars in ‘Hollyoaks’ on Channel 4 as Darren Osbourne. But is also known for currently being on ‘Strictly come dancing’. He became involved in this production because of his excellent role as Darren in ‘Hollyoaks’, and he told us he wanted to try something different and new and exciting, which is exactly the criteria ‘Destiny’ fits in to.  Holly, played by Karen Gillan is most known for her role as Amelia Pond, in the very successful BBC one show ‘Doctor Who’. In this drama, it is a very different character she is playing. She got involved because she is good friends with Emmett Scanlan and he told her to audition for it.
Derek – Emmett Scanlan

Holly – Karen Gillan

Jeremy - Ashley Taylor Dawson

Amy – Lucy Watson

Tasha - Jennifer Metcalfe
John - David Tennant
 

Thursday, 14 November 2013

BLOG ENTRY 2 TV Dramas Research




Broadchurch:

TRAILER:



SYNOPSIS:

Broadchurch is a television drama on ITV about the murder of a young boy in a small coastal town brings a media frenzy, which threatens to tear the community apart. I have chosen this drama because i want to create a television drama based on crime and murder . IMDB



The Fall:

'The Fall' Promotional Poster





File:The Fall (TV Series).png




The Fall: Synopsis

The Fall is an Irish-British crime drama series created by Allan Cubitt and directed by Jakob Verbruggen. The series stars Gillian Anderson as Stella Gibson, a senior police officer investigating a string of murders in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Fall is being produced by Artists Studio and premiered in Ireland on RTÉ One at 9.30pm on 12 May 2013, and in the UK on BBC Two at 9pm on 13 May 2013.[3] BBC Two renewed the series for a second season on 27 May 2013

TRAILER:


Ripper Street:

 A new drama set in the East End of London in 1889 during the aftermath of Jack The Ripper murders. The infamous H Division - the police precinct charged with keeping order in the district of Whitechapel- is in a chaotic state trying to keep order after a tumultuous time for London and reported infamously worldwide.           
Ripper Street Promotional Poster

 

TRAILER:

BLOG POST 1 Media Research PowerPoint