P1 - Explain different ideas for an original media product based on a client brief
What are the client requirements:
My client is BBC 3, and I have been asked to plan ideas for a pilot episode for a brand new television drama aimed at 12-21 year old. The budget is quite low (£50,000 per episode), and the show is meant to be aired at 21:00, which is just after the watershed. The show is to have a new episode every Thursday. This Teen Drama will need to apply to the BBC's remit - to Inform, Educate and Entertain.
My client is BBC 3, and I have been asked to plan ideas for a pilot episode for a brand new television drama aimed at 12-21 year old. The budget is quite low (£50,000 per episode), and the show is meant to be aired at 21:00, which is just after the watershed. The show is to have a new episode every Thursday. This Teen Drama will need to apply to the BBC's remit - to Inform, Educate and Entertain.
What are the audience considerations?
This graph shows the viewing figures for BBC 3 of the first month of being an Online Channel:
This graph shows the viewing figures for BBC 3 of the first month of being an Online Channel:
Who are the BBC?
The BBC is a Public Broadcasting company, which means they create content for the public. Their service is free of charge as it is payed for by the UK Tv licence. They run 9 different channels, all of which produce content which varies from entertainment, news, current affairs and arts coverage. The BBC has 5 main key purposes for their content and their slogan is to Inform, educate and entertain.
Key Purposes for the BBC:
The BBC is a Public Broadcasting company, which means they create content for the public. Their service is free of charge as it is payed for by the UK Tv licence. They run 9 different channels, all of which produce content which varies from entertainment, news, current affairs and arts coverage. The BBC has 5 main key purposes for their content and their slogan is to Inform, educate and entertain.
Key Purposes for the BBC:
"To provide impartial news and information to help people understand and engage with the world around them
The BBC will provide accurate and impartial news, current affairs and factual programming of the highest editorial standards so that all audiences can engage fully with issues across the UK and the world. To support learning for people of all ages Educational content will help support learning for children and teenagers across the UK, whilst audiences will be encouraged to explore inspiring and challenging new subjects and activities through a range of partnerships. To show the most creative, highest quality and distinctive output and services Innovative content covering many different genres will be provided across a range of services and platforms, setting the standard both in the UK and globally. To reflect, represent and serve the diverse communities of all of the United Kingdom’s nations and regions and, in doing so, support the creative economy across the United Kingdom The lives of the people in the United Kingdom today will be accurately and authentically portrayed in the BBC’s output and services to raise awareness of different cultures, contribute to social cohesion and invest in the development of each nation’s creative economy. To reflect the United Kingdom, its culture and values to the world High quality, accurate, impartial news coverage will be delivered to international audiences, aiding understanding of the UK as a whole." |
What is BBC3?
BBC 3 is a channel under the British Broadcasting Corporation which has recently become an online platform. The channel produces content for mixed genre's and styles which are aimed at an audience of ages 16 - 34. This channel is designed to reach young audiences and now its only an online platform which makes it easy for their target audience to view their shows. BBC 3 is a platform instead of a linear channel, this means that there are no limitations to their products and the platform itself. This means the content is going to be easily accessible for its audiences and the content can follow conventions of products that they would typically like to watch.
BBC 3 has a few main competitors in regards to actual channels airing content which their target audience could also watch. These channels are E4 and Channel 4. There is also competition with other online platforms which distribute similar media content aimed at this audience demographic, and this are Netflix, All 4 and Now TV. This is all because their content is very similar in aims of their target audience's.
What are the main conventions of a Television Drama?
Television drama is specific genre under the 'drama' genre. The content relies heavily on narrative storytelling and fiction. Most of the content for these drama's come sourced or biased on real life stories, which makes them more gripping and realistic. Depending on the actual drama type (Sub-Genre), some dramas have key elements which make them different, for example — period drama's, which are set in a specific time in history. Or, SCI-Fi drama's which are set in futuristic worlds which many different character types. I researched many different codes and convention which apply to almost all Television Drama's and here are some examples of what conventions you should typically see in these drama's.
Television Drama Conventions:
BBC 3 is a channel under the British Broadcasting Corporation which has recently become an online platform. The channel produces content for mixed genre's and styles which are aimed at an audience of ages 16 - 34. This channel is designed to reach young audiences and now its only an online platform which makes it easy for their target audience to view their shows. BBC 3 is a platform instead of a linear channel, this means that there are no limitations to their products and the platform itself. This means the content is going to be easily accessible for its audiences and the content can follow conventions of products that they would typically like to watch.
BBC 3 has a few main competitors in regards to actual channels airing content which their target audience could also watch. These channels are E4 and Channel 4. There is also competition with other online platforms which distribute similar media content aimed at this audience demographic, and this are Netflix, All 4 and Now TV. This is all because their content is very similar in aims of their target audience's.
What are the main conventions of a Television Drama?
Television drama is specific genre under the 'drama' genre. The content relies heavily on narrative storytelling and fiction. Most of the content for these drama's come sourced or biased on real life stories, which makes them more gripping and realistic. Depending on the actual drama type (Sub-Genre), some dramas have key elements which make them different, for example — period drama's, which are set in a specific time in history. Or, SCI-Fi drama's which are set in futuristic worlds which many different character types. I researched many different codes and convention which apply to almost all Television Drama's and here are some examples of what conventions you should typically see in these drama's.
Television Drama Conventions:
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Codes and Conventions for Teen Drama's:
The key features for all Dramas (every drama genre) are: Characters, Setting and Narrative.
All television dramas are created to tell fictional stories which are based on real life events. Conventions which are included in most Television dramas are Flashbacks, POV (Point of view) shots, Characters and Setting and Iconography.
Flashbacks:
These are used to bring back memories or events from the show or a character's past, which gives the audience more information and further details the plot of the drama.
Point of View shots:
These are used so the audience can get a further understanding of what a character is feeling or doing. These are used to show the characters point of view.
Characters:
Characters are used in dramas as they drive the narrative, each character in a drama has some significance to the plot, and each character shows their own point of view in matters discussed in the show, each is created to show a different outlook on topics/Issues discussed in the drama.
Settings and Iconography:
The settings are used to allow the audience to familiarise themselves with the locations, they can build up a location in their head and understand where people are going, and what places to expect in the scenes. Iconography is used to enhance and confirm locations and the genre, for example, a school book represents that the characters are at school/In education, but it also shows that you are watching a Teen Drama.
All television dramas are created to tell fictional stories which are based on real life events. Conventions which are included in most Television dramas are Flashbacks, POV (Point of view) shots, Characters and Setting and Iconography.
Flashbacks:
These are used to bring back memories or events from the show or a character's past, which gives the audience more information and further details the plot of the drama.
Point of View shots:
These are used so the audience can get a further understanding of what a character is feeling or doing. These are used to show the characters point of view.
Characters:
Characters are used in dramas as they drive the narrative, each character in a drama has some significance to the plot, and each character shows their own point of view in matters discussed in the show, each is created to show a different outlook on topics/Issues discussed in the drama.
Settings and Iconography:
The settings are used to allow the audience to familiarise themselves with the locations, they can build up a location in their head and understand where people are going, and what places to expect in the scenes. Iconography is used to enhance and confirm locations and the genre, for example, a school book represents that the characters are at school/In education, but it also shows that you are watching a Teen Drama.
Teen TV Drama conventions:
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This intro for Riverdale follows many codes and conventions of a teen TV drama. The opening shot shows the location where this story is set, there is a voice over which opens the story, by introducing locations and themes which will be covered throughout the series. The voice-over is from the main character in the series and introduces this 'voice-over style' which continues through all the episodes. This style of the voice-over on visuals adds to the drama in the opening scene as it will make the audience become more attached and involved to the character who is talking to them. Also, it lets the audience trust this character as they are supplying them with information form behind the scenes. But, as we can't actually see the character speaking, there is a sense of suspense created as the audience will want to know who is speaking and they will want to know why he knows everything. The actors in this scene help to represent the audience and the codes & conventions of a Teen drama. This is because they are all the same age as the target audience for the show, meaning that they audience will instantly have a connection with the characters in the show. Also, they apply to the codes and conventions as they are the age expected for a teen drama. Also, this beginning scene is set as a flashback from one of the main characters point of view, which are both key codes and conventions of teen dramas.
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This is a scene from a very popular teen drama called Skins. This scene is the introduction of a new character, and this introduction contains codes and conventions along side relatable content for the audience. This clip begins with the character waking up for school, which is something all teenagers (the target audience) have to go through so they can almost instantly relate to this scene. This will allow them to gain a connection with the character and create feelings for them. The character then goes downstairs to see that she has two fathers instead of the conventional mother and father, this juxtaposes the codes and conventions as this is something which wouldn't relate the mass audience. From here onwards, she makes her way to school for her first day at her new school. Along the way she gets into trouble with other children, which again is something which applies to the codes and conventions of a teen drama. Eventually she makes it to school where she embarrasses herself upon entrance. The scene she makes causes people to be mean and harsh to her which again is another convention of a teen drama.
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This is a short segment from the teen drama 'Teen Wolf', which is an American teen drama. This scene contains many different codes and conventions, the key codes and conventions used in this sequence are Dramatic Narrative, Relatable Characters, Cliffhangers and Recognisble (relatable) settings. The narrative set in this scene is very dramatic, this is because it includes violence and threat, which is a convention which is very attractive to the teen target audience. The characters are very relatable for a teenage audience, this is because they are of a similar age and they costumes, speech and role's in the plot are aspirational and relatable. Cliffhangers are used throughout this scene, firstly when they get talked to at the bar by the gangster, you are left with a black screen without knowing what happens between them. Another example would be at the end of this scene, when the mafia boss finds out that there are wolves there, we get a glimpse of the wolves eyes, but we don't know what happens next. The setting is very recognisable for the target audience, which is a convention of a teen drama, this means that the audience can relate to the scene. This scene is set at a club which people of ages 18 and above are able to go to, this means that this location is something the audience will be able to identify with and have a connection with the show.
Idea Generation:
Idea 1:
For my first teen drama, I will create something which heavily follows the codes and conventions of teen dramas but with a little twist. Most teen dramas are set in America and yet they appeal to an audience which is bigger than just America which includes England. So to make the English population feel more represented I will create a show very similar to Riverdale but with an English twist.
I will have a very similar story line where it will consist of school life, music and a murder mystery. I will ensure to keep theme similar so it sticks to the codes and conventions of the America versions. I will have a main character who is male, he will be the athletic type and the key focus of the show. He will be in sixth form at the age of 18 and there will be a few other main characters who are his friends. They will help him solve the crimes as well as think of their school life and also their normal teenage activities. |
Idea Moodboard:
Moodboard 2 by Oscar JH Carter on Scribd |
Idea 2:
The key element for this show will be the gang culture and life of teenagers being brought up in rough areas of England. This will include different sub-topics such as drugs, violence and territorial areas. Other ideas for the show include deep character development via relationships to other characters, these can be in forms of friendship, family or romantic relations. As the characters change through the program, so will the different relations and how they lay out, this will allow us to play with the audiences’ own emotions, be dramatic changes, having the audience to empathic for the characters on the screen. In end creating the want for the audience to discuss these issues with others and promote the show. Another key idea would be to represent the harsh realities of the teenage life as of right now, this means that the target audience will have an instant attachment to the show as some of the audience could relate to what is being shown. Ideas such as education, parties, work, family life and general teenage behaviours will all be demonstrated in this show.
The show starts of following one characters life, who is battling between the choice of joining his friends in the ‘gang culture’, or focus on his education and go to a good university. Sub characters try to influence his decisions, teachers who do/don’t believe he can make it, friends who tell him to join them in the ‘Gang Culture’, and others who try to help him focus on getting a professional career. The program will eventually develop over the series each characters life, focusing on different characters in different series. Each series will start from the same point in time, and will feature a new main character every new series. But all the episodes/series are set in the same timeline and the stories all develop throughout. |
Idea Moodboard:
Unit 21 - Moodboard - Catch Me by Oscar JH Carter on Scribd |
Idea 3:
For my third teen drama idea, I need to create something new and interesting which still contains the codes and conventions of a teen drama. After researching pre-existing teen dramas, I have come up with the idea of a superhero style teen drama. This can be done in the style of a marvel film but with a younger set of characters and themes. This idea will consist of a simple narrative where the characters battle between then choice of focusing on their school life and getting a proper career or thinking of their special abilities which they now have and the duties which come along with them.
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Idea Moodboard:
Moodboard 3 by Oscar JH Carter on Scribd |
Conclusion:
I have decided to do idea 2, as I believe this will be the most attractive to the target audience as well as applying to the codes and conventions of a teen drama. The content will be original so there will be a big attraction to it, there will also be a new form of show developed which will attract different audiences as well.
M1 - Discuss strengths and weaknesses of the different ideas
Idea 1 - Conventional teen drama:
Strengths:
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Weaknesses:
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The strengths of this idea are stated above. Firstly, this show will follow the BBC remit (Inform, Educate and Entertain) as my show will cover all of these requests. The show will inform the audeicne on issues which could arise in their lives, as I will be covering topics which are relevent to them such as drug abuse. This will inform and educate them on the issues which come with this. The show will also be a form of entertainment as there will be storylines and character development which will entice the audience to watch the show over and over again. The audience will be represented throughout this show, this is because the characters, locations, themes and storyline will all intemperate the real life versions from the perspective of an audience age range similar to the target audience. As this show won't require any Special effects, or remote locations, this show should be quick, easy and most importantly cheep to create. As the show is set in the present day, finding things such as locations, props, costumes etc will be very easy and cheap in comparison to a period drama or a SCI-FI drama. As the storyline is very simple and it relates around relationships, things such as spin-off's and new series will be easy to make. Also, things such as locations, props, and characters can be 'recycled' back into the show and used again to save money and ensure the show stays interesting to the audience.
The weakness are also stated above. Firstly, this 'Conventional teen drama' could be considered cliche as this programme idea has been done many times before and this idea is very similar to other programmes which are being aired / created at the moment. This could mean that there will be less attraction to this show as there are already shows with their audience established so it will be hard to bring them over to this new show which is created in a similar format. Another weakness would be that the show will have less of a male audience attraction, this is because the shows focus is on relationships and friendships, these are topics which are typically more appealing to the female audience. The final weakness is that this show won't have a Unique Selling Point (USP), this means that the show won't be able to attract people who would want to watch the show for a niche reason (such as SCI-FI or period drama would).
The weakness are also stated above. Firstly, this 'Conventional teen drama' could be considered cliche as this programme idea has been done many times before and this idea is very similar to other programmes which are being aired / created at the moment. This could mean that there will be less attraction to this show as there are already shows with their audience established so it will be hard to bring them over to this new show which is created in a similar format. Another weakness would be that the show will have less of a male audience attraction, this is because the shows focus is on relationships and friendships, these are topics which are typically more appealing to the female audience. The final weakness is that this show won't have a Unique Selling Point (USP), this means that the show won't be able to attract people who would want to watch the show for a niche reason (such as SCI-FI or period drama would).
Idea 2 - Gang themed Teen drama:
Strengths:
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Weaknesses:
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The strengths of this idea are stated above. Firstly, this show will follow the BBC remit (Inform, Educate and Entertain) as my show will cover all of these requeirements. The show will inform the audeicne on issues which could arise in their lives, as I will be covering topics which are relevent to them such as drug abuse, crime, gangs and violence. This will inform and educate them on the issues which come with these. The show will also be a form of entertainment as there will be storylines and character development which will entice the audience to watch the show over and over again. The audience will be represented throughout this show, this is because the characters, locations, themes and storyline will all intemperate the real life versions from the perspective of an audience age range similar to the target audience. The budget for this show will medium range, which means we will need to include some special effects, however these will be kept at a minimum to save money where possible. The locations will be semi expensive, this is because the show will require locations which are relating to the unique idea (crime), so we will have to find more locations than other dramas and also have a bigger budget for studio locations. The plot line for this theme will be very engaging as the ideas will include gripping action / thriller style content. This means the audience will be on the edge of their seats when watching the show as the plot will be unpredictable and exiting.
The weaknesses for this idea are also stated above. Firstly, I key issue / weakness of creating this idea would be the influence that this idea creates, as the show is based around crime, violence and gangs. So, we will need to consider the influence that this has, and ensure that the show's topics and idea's aren't re-created by the audience. Another issue is that the show could be too violent or inappropriate for the target audience. So to ensure that this programme is allowed to be aired for the target audience, I will need to consider rules and regulations set by the relevant regulatory bodies which will determine which age is appropriate to watch the show. The final weakness is that there will be less of a female attraction to the show, this is because the content is more catered to the male audience (typical themes which are more attractive to the male audience (violence, drugs and gang violence).
The weaknesses for this idea are also stated above. Firstly, I key issue / weakness of creating this idea would be the influence that this idea creates, as the show is based around crime, violence and gangs. So, we will need to consider the influence that this has, and ensure that the show's topics and idea's aren't re-created by the audience. Another issue is that the show could be too violent or inappropriate for the target audience. So to ensure that this programme is allowed to be aired for the target audience, I will need to consider rules and regulations set by the relevant regulatory bodies which will determine which age is appropriate to watch the show. The final weakness is that there will be less of a female attraction to the show, this is because the content is more catered to the male audience (typical themes which are more attractive to the male audience (violence, drugs and gang violence).
Idea 3 - Superhero themed Drama:
Strengths:
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Weaknesses:
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The strengths of this idea are stated above. Firstly, the superhero genre is something which is very popular for an audience of a young age. As my target audience for this show is for teens, this means that the show will be very interesting for my target audience so there would be a larger attraction to this show. he audience will be represented throughout this show, this is because the characters, locations, themes and storyline will all replicate the real life versions from the perspective of an audience age range similar to the target audience. As the show is set in the present day, finding things such as locations, props, costumes etc will be very easy and quick, however some things may be harder to find which relate to the Superhero genre. Also, the plot line for this genre will be very engaging as the themes will involve action and saving the day, which will engage the audience in the show. Things such as cliff hangers could be use to entice the audience to continue to watch the show, this means that the show will be more attractive to the audience. The last strength is that this is a new idea which hasn't been done before, so there could be a large attraction to this show as the audience would be interested in what this show would be like to watch.
The weaknesses of this idea is also stated above. Firstly, the production process for this show will be very long, this is because all of the content will take longer to make. Pre-production will take longer than it typically would because we need to plan all the extra effects and content for the show which relates to this genre. The post - production will also take longer as we will need to edit all the special effects to create the superhero elements required for this genre of show. The next weakness is that the show will have to be very high budget, this is because the team will need to be bigger, and we will have to pay more to get the special effects required to conform with this genre of show. As the show is themed for superhero's, we will have to find and create locations, costumes and props for the show, this can take longer than other shows and also be more expensive to do.
The weaknesses of this idea is also stated above. Firstly, the production process for this show will be very long, this is because all of the content will take longer to make. Pre-production will take longer than it typically would because we need to plan all the extra effects and content for the show which relates to this genre. The post - production will also take longer as we will need to edit all the special effects to create the superhero elements required for this genre of show. The next weakness is that the show will have to be very high budget, this is because the team will need to be bigger, and we will have to pay more to get the special effects required to conform with this genre of show. As the show is themed for superhero's, we will have to find and create locations, costumes and props for the show, this can take longer than other shows and also be more expensive to do.