Media Examination Revision 2018 Pre Release Material issued Monday 7 th May 2018 Examination Date: Monday 4 th June (pm) 1 ½ hours (20 mins per question) 4 Questions each worth 15 marks You MUST be able to discuss two serial TV dramas in detail This booklet can also be accessed on Federation Student and GO4SCHOOLS Federation Student Media Studies KS4 Y11 serial TV drama Revision Booklet 1
Audience Profile: Fill in the following for your case study Serial TV Dramas; Target Audience Profile 1. Age 2. Gender 3. Ethnicity 4. Occupation 5. Social Status (ABC1) 6. Blumler and Katz Uses and Gratification theory 7. Hobbies/Interests 8. TV watching patterns 9. Other Media Cross Platforms they might use Even Better If Can you write a paragraph explaining how and why your chosen TV dramas appeal to their target audiences? (think about USP, lead actors, the genre ) Host Profile: 2
TV Drama Case Study: Fill in the following for your case study serial TV dramas; TV Drama features 1. Name of the show? Connotations? 2. Main actors (Who? What have they been in before? Suitability?) 3. Typical fans from own celebrity 4. Main characters (personality? Failings? Weaknesses? Strengths?) 5. USP? 6. When and where is this show set? 7. Plot lines and story arcs? 3
Scheduling: Fill in the following to find out which channel and when different serial TV dramas are broadcast; Time Name some serial TV dramas make sure you name both of your case study examples! What restrictions do they have because of timings (content? Plot? Language?...) Who watches? Day time Tea Time Evening Post watershed Even Better If Have a go at answering the following exam style question: Can you give us some advice for scheduling our serial TV drama and why/why not others? (15 marks) 4
Channels: Read the following information about the ethos and values of the main terrestrial TV channels. BBC Values of the Organisation: Our mission, vision, and values inform the work of the BBC and are how we promote our public purposes. Mission Statement: To enrich people's lives with programmes and services that inform, educate and entertain. Corporation Main Aims: Trust is the foundation of the BBC: we are independent, impartial and honest. Audiences are at the heart of everything we do. We take pride in delivering quality and value for money. Creativity is the lifeblood of our organisation. We respect each other and celebrate our diversity so that everyone can give their best. We are one BBC: great things happen when we work together. ITV What we do: We are an integrated producer broadcaster, creating, owning and distributing highquality content on multiple platforms. We operate the largest commercial family of channels in the UK and deliver our content through traditional television broadcasting as well as on demand via the ITV Hub. We broadcast a wide variety of content on our family of free-to-air channels. Our investment in programming is primarily funded by television advertising revenue. 5
ITV has the largest share of the UK television advertising market, and we estimate that this share of broadcast (SOB) is 47.4% in 2016. The family of channels attracted a total share of viewing (SOV) of 21.4% in 2016, the largest audience of any UK commercial broadcaster. Our main channel is the largest commercial channel in the UK, delivering 99% of all commercial audiences over five million. Our free-to-air digital channels provide more targeted demographics for advertisers such as 16-34 s, ABC1 Men and Housewives with Children, and consist of ITV2 and ITV3, the two largest digital channels in the UK, and ITV4, CITV and ITVBe. Channel 4 What we are about: We believe that we are at the forefront of everything that is new and experimental in television. Our programming encourages pluralism, provides a favoured place for the untried and encourages innovation in style, content, perspective and talent on and off screen. We use our reputation for risk and non-conformism to engage a younger generation in the values of public service broadcasting. We reflect the diversity of Britain; culturally and geographically. We reflect the energy of our multicultural society, by representing the voices of a new generation of programme makers from the ethnic minorities. Even Better If Can you find out the ethos or mission statement of a digital TV channel? How might it suit the needs of a younger audience demographic? 6
Now fill in this grid synthesising the information. BBC Funding Audiences Serial TV Dramas (Include YOUR gameshows) Type of genre (including subgenres) ITV C4 Answer the following exam style question: Can you recommend an appropriate channel for our serial TV drama and why/ why not others? 7
Lead Characters Fill in the following for your case study serial TV dramas: Lead Character Male or female? Link to gender representation? Gender stereotypes? Age? link to life experiences their past life? how are they represented? Looks and behaviour link to ethnicity and social class? how are they regarded by other characters? Status how are they regarded by others in the show? how do they dress? do they have an accent? Who is their arch enemy? How do they go about defeating them? 8
Cross Media Platforms: Fill in the following for your case study serial TV dramas; Cross Media Platforms Apps Games, merchandise, star interviews, plot lines, fan forums On Line On demand? Fan sites? Social Media Trailers? Hashtags? Magazines Star actor interviews? TV shows/ chat shows Star actor appearances? Radio Star actor interviews? Which shows specifically? 9
Narrative Structure of Serial TV Drama Remind yourself of the different narrative theories from Todorov, Levi Strauss and Propp: Summary of theory with categories Link to your Serial TV drama 1 Link to your Serial TV drama 2 Todorov narrative structure Levi Strauss theory of binary opposites Propp theory of character types Even Better If Can you write a paragraph where you apply one of the different narrative theories to ONE of your TV drama case studies? 10
Scripting: The opening sequence of the first episode will usually set the scene for what is to happen in the series. It will introduce the main characters and the location where it is set. As most serial TV dramas have a story arc, there may be a recap of what happened in the previous episode to remind the audience. In television there are different formats for scriptwriting, depending on whether there is a multi camera set up or just single camera. As a guide, one page of script usually equals one minute of time. Scriptwriting Key Terminology: SLUG LINE The slug line lets you know where the narrative is taking place basically, inside or outside. The location is also provided, as well as the time of day. ACTION The action describes the narrative and the characters, and should be written in present tense. CHARACTERS Characters names should always be in CAPITALS and centred with the dialogue. DIALOGUE These are the words that the character is speaking. They are centred underneath the character s name. PARENTHETICALS These help to describe any emotions that the character is expressing. 11
Annotate the script below with scriptwriting key terms: Even Better If Write the script for the title sequence of your new serial TV drama. 12
Pitching Ideas for a Serial TV Drama Keep it simple Get to the USP as soon as possible in the first 10 seconds Explain the whole idea in two to three minutes Who are you pitching to? Clear beginning, middle and end storyline Be prepared, not over rehearsed Passion for your idea What is a pitch? A pitch is a formal way of presenting your ideas, and this is relevant to any industry sector, e.g. entertainment, business, commercial. Formats of pitches may vary, e.g. 60 second pitch, 100 word pitch or a more formal pitch with scripts and storyboards. Pitches can be verbal, or may be visual. It is important to find out the format required for any particular industry sector. Things to include in a pitch: Subgenre Name of programme Length of programme Scheduling Audience Narrative overview: start, middle and end Characters Mise en scene 13
Planning your Pitch for a new TV Drama WHAT will it be called? WHY have you chosen this name? WHO will be the central characters? (maximum of THREE actors) WHY have you chosen these actors? WHERE will each episode be set? WHY have you chosen these locations? WHAT will each episode roughly be about? Will there be any STORY ARCS, THREE ACT STRUCTURES, DRAMATIC NARRATIVES? 14
Exam question: Pitch us your idea for a new serial TV drama. Can you make sure that you cover the following? What it will be called and why Which actors you want to play the lead roles and why Where you plan on setting the show and why What will be the USP of your show and how will this appeal to your target audience? (15 marks) 15
Title Sequence and Storyboarding: What is a title sequence? A title sequence, along with its recognisable music and graphics, alerts the audience to the fact that the serial TV drama is starting. The viewer may be busy doing other things; the music will inform them that the programme is about to start. What is a storyboard? A storyboard is the visual narrative of something to be filmed. Many members of the film or TV crew use it, so that they know what is to happen and what camera shot to film, together with angles. The editor can also use it when editing the piece, as instructions are given for length and transitions to be used. This is what the AQA template will look like in the exam. It will include 10 shots in total, 5 on each A4 page. You must complete all 10 shots in order to achieve a good mark for this question. Below is a list of what you need to include in each section of the storyboard template. Obviously you will need to choose specific shots and lighting, e.g. you can t include both low and high key lighting. Choose one or the other. 16
Where should each of these ingredients go on the template? Even Better If Use the storyboard sheet at the back of this booklet to have a go at storyboarding your own title sequence. Think About It Can you think of the different ways in which audiences use different media platforms to access TV dramas? List as many as you can think of! 17
Promotion and Marketing How do you think audiences find out about new TV dramas? Institutions often use a press release to get their information out to different organisations so they can promote their new TV dramas. What is a press release? By sending a press release to media outlets, TV broadcasters are enabling a wider audience to be reached. The press release may be released shortly before the scheduled launch date. OR If there is a returning series, a press release may be released before the programme goes into production. 18
There is a standard format for a press release, which consists of the following: Headline A brief summary of the media product, which is used to grab attention. Dateline This will include the date of the launch, together with scheduling information. Introduction This provides the who, what, when, where and why of the media product. Body This section provides further information, with quotes and background information relating to the media product. Contact information Details such as a contact name, phone number and email address. Example press release: Broadcasters also put out media packs which contain more detailed information about the programme, which consist of biographies and interviews with the cast, together with other information. 19
There are three platforms that institutions can use to promote and market their serial television drama. Specific promotional texts fall into each platform: 20
Advertising and Marketing Even Better If You can use this information to create a webpage to market and promote your new serial TV drama. 21
Website Codes and Conventions The website can provide information about the programme and its episodes, clips and trailers. There are also extras, such as interviews with the cast and the director. The website for each scene is linked to the broadcaster, rather than each scene having its own independent website. They do not seem to feature social networking either, other than a share feature. Example website layout: There are some basic conventions (typical things) of website design and layout, so we all recognise that it is a website and know how to interact with it. Websites are usually laid out in a grid format. Your web page layout should be annotated with media terminology. You should also indicate any colour scheme you would use. 22
Website Key Terminology Even Better If Can you annotate your webpage with these key terms? If there are any missing, how can you change your webpage to include them? 23
Serial TV Drama Practice Pre Release Material Please be clear that this is a practice task. You will be issued with a different brief for your actual exam. You have received this press release, which has been emailed to national and local media, colleges and schools inviting entries to help develop a new serial television drama. Serial Productions info@serialproductions.co.uk PRESS RELEASE: NEW SERIAL TELEVISION DRAMA DEVELOPMENT COMPETITION DATE: 4 th JUNE 2018 Here at Serial Productions we are excited about our competition, which invites you to suggest a new serial television drama idea. What we have noticed about this type of television broadcast is that many of them are scheduled post watershed as they may have adult themes within them. We are looking for something completely different, aimed at a prime time audience. Themes you could explore are: medical, crime and costume/period drama. What we need from you is help developing the serial television drama. We would like to see your specific ideas for the following areas, among other things: an appropriate title for the programme the setting and time period a brief synopsis a representation of the main characters details of the appropriate platform and scheduling time. We will, of course, need help with pre production paperwork, and we may require you to develop the title sequence by producing a storyboard and even an idea of what path the promotion and marketing campaign may follow. Other areas you may wish to explore are how serial television dramas are entering the online market, using platforms such as Netflix and the online only BBC Three, which are, of course, accessible on mobile devices, meaning they can reach a much wider audience. Backing up your ideas with existing examples will be invaluable. The closing date for entries is 4 th June 2018. So you need to remember that you only have four weeks to produce and develop your ideas. Final tips are to keep responses short and focused and, of course, you can use diagrams or illustrations to help make the responses more focused. 24
Tasks: Study the practice pre release. What are the key points? Can you identify some possible exam questions? What is the main thing you are being asked to do? Who has asked you to do it? Who is the target audience? What specific ideas have you been asked to look at? What other ideas may you have to consider? You should have detailed knowledge of at least two serial TV dramas as your case studies. As you will have noticed, some of the exam questions expect you to give examples from your case studies. 25
Some possible exam questions 26