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