Proposal

How celebrity fathers are represented in the media.

I am going to investigate how celebrity fathers are represented in the media using a range of sources. My investigation will mainly be about David Beckham and Peter Andre because these celebrities are represented quite positively in the media but I will also discuss some celebrity fathers who are represented negatively in the media.  I think the sources I am going to choose are; a reality TV shows an autobiography, a magazine interview, a media book and maybe Peter Andre’s online channel. The reasons I have chosen to discuss this is question are I think this is quite an interesting topic to discuss and recently there has been a lot in the media about celebrity fathers. I would like to look into whether a celebrity father who is a lone parent such as Peter Andre is just as effective as a celebrity father who is still part of the ‘perfect’ nuclear family; David Beckham in the eyes of media.

First Evaluation draft

Evaluation – Pre Production

For my first piece of coursework I had to design a script for a new TV series which I would create.  This meant I had to write 10-15 minutes worth of the script from any of my TV series.

The first task I decided to do was to write down some initial ideas for the storyline of my TV drama and my best idea was put onto my blog. When I was thinking of my ideas, I tried to use a range of genres, characters and storylines to give me more of a choice when deciding my final one.

The next step was to make a questionnaire which would help me decide some of the important decisions for example the name of my TV drama and the type of audience I should be aiming it for. I then asked different ages and genders to fill in my questionnaire, this was so I got a range of answers. Once all my questionnaires had been filled in, I decided to produce some graphs so I could compare my answers. This helped me decide which channel my TV show will be on and what time it should be showed on to attract the widest audience possible.

My first draft of my 10 minute script was then written; this only included a basic storyline, a few characters and a simple layout because I hadn’t finished by research in which I would find out how to make my script look professional and effective. I would continue which my script as I continued with my research to make it as professional as possible.

Then I looked for some pervious TV show scripts to analyse, and I posted my findings on my blog. I analysed a total of three scripts to make the research more affective. I found that some of the main structures and the layout kept recurring so I decided to include these into my second draft of my script. To make the second draft I decided to make amendments to my first script to save time, I changed the layout and I added more storylines.

Next I decided to watch a current TV drama which would have a similar storyline to mine so I watched part of “waterloo road” this would include some of the generic connotations what mine would need to include. This was also useful because I learnt about location changes, the number of characters in each scene and different storylines; this helped me improve my script to be more professional and life like.

A focus group activity was then carried out, which meant I asked a range of people who would watch my TV drama to answer some questions relating to my script. These where open questions so I could get more of a personal response which could be helpful to me when writing my next draft of the script. From this task I found out that I needed to make my script clearer by adding more stage directions so my actors would understand the scene better.  I asked a range of people so I go better results and wrote up my results which I would use when producing my next draft of my script.

I then completed some internet research on what generic conventions my script should include, I found out about the layout, the font and font size my text should be and where my stage directions should be. From this I found out what was missing from my script, taking all this research on board I produced my third script draft which finally started to look like a professional screenplay and included most of the generic conventions which a script should include.

Next I decided to get a few friends to act my script out so I would know if any other improvements where needed to the dialog, I found out that in several places I needed to shorten down sentences to make them more lifelike for example instead of ‘I am going to’ I have changed it to ‘I’m gonna go to’. I also found out if my actors could understand the layout of my script which I decided to make a bit clearer. After I had finished my final focus group I improved my script so it became my fourth draft which was almost complete. I then asked around college to see if anyone else could find anything on my script that needed improving before I finally finished my fifth script.

Identity

Ever wondered about your past?

When making my 10 minute script I used many different research methods so I could get my script up to the highest possible standard and I used a range of sources with includes the internet, friends and family and my target audience for my TV drama.

Evaluation – production

The task we were asked to complete was to create a DVD cover and a promotional poster for a TV drama. It would be from the first series of this TV drama and the poster was meant to advertise the drama and try to attract people to watch it.

My target audience for my TV drama was young people aged between 12 and16 the reason I choose this was I wanted to do a “waterloo road” type drama but then I thought I might to something similar but for a younger audience.

The background of my DVD cover was a pastel blue; this would be appealing to both genders because it is quite a neutral colour. The blue would also appeal to a young audience because it’s quite a fun, happy colour of blue. There are also many different fonts and font colours on my DVD cover which make it seem like a happy, comedy style programme which would appeal to my target audience. This is similar to the Scrubs DVD I analysed which has a green background which shows it was a comedy programme; I think this made it more appealing to the target audience.

This is unlike the Inbetweeners DVD I analysed which had a plain white background, this didn’t really tell you much about the TV drama or what kind of genre it would be. I thought this was a bit too plain and would have been more appealing if it was brighter.

The blurb has many enigmas which create a sense of mystery which would make the audience wonder what will happen in my drama, and therefore will watch it to find out more. My main image of the main character Chloe might also create some sort of enigma because of the effects for example the jigsaw effect which makes it look like she is lost and confused.

Chloe the main protagonist might attract the male gaze to the TV drama because they are close ups of her on my DVD cover and lighting to make her look innocent, Ben the other main protagonist might attract the female gaze because of his pose in the image. This is like the Big Bang poster I analysed where Penny would attract the male gaze because of the lighting on her face which makes her look sweet.

The tag line “Ever wondered about your past?” would involve the audience because it is a direct question so they would be thinking about the answer while wondering what this has to do with the TV drama. I think the audience would be able to relate to Chloe in the image on my poster because the target audience would be at school, they would use their cultural knowledge and the generic convents for example the uniform to work out Chloe and her friends are also at school. Just like on the Inbetweeners DVD I analysed my characters are all stood close to each other which shows they have known each other for a long time and they trust each other.

From the uses and gratification theory I think the audience would use escapism when watching my TV drama, if they were having a rough time at school or at home they would be able to engage into my characters or storyline and forget about their own problems. Chloe is also a very strong, powerful character who doesn’t need or rely on anyone else which would come across in my TV drama, this would inspire other young girls to do the same or they might be able to relate to Chloe, this could also mean they could use my TV drama to further their person identity if they were having similar problems at home.

The images on the back of the DVD cover show they will some sort of comedy in my TV drama, you can tell this from the facial expressions and the gestures the characters have. For example Chloe is spitting her tongue out. It will be shown on BBC three which also shows it will appeal to a young audience and it will include some comedy elements.

At the bottom of the DVD cover there is a quote from Hello magazine which would also appeal to young people because they read Hello magazine therefore which believe the quote “must watch drama”.

Word count: 1,526

Poster designs

DVD cover designs

Final Poster

Final DVD cover

Group Focus test

From my group focus test I found out that my first poster was too busy therefore the message of someone who is lost and trying to find their identity didn’t come across correctly. My second poster was a lot simpler and more effective but the audience still didn’t understand the message because the image didn’t look like someone who is confused.

The people I asked like the jigsaw effect I had on my first poster because it gave off the correct message but the boarder made it look too busy and the black and white effect just looked to plain.

On my second poster I tried to make it look like the photo was taken in the past but I don’t think this worked as well as the jigsaw effect. I think on my final poster I will have the layout of the second poster but the effect of the first poster.

I found that the different fonts on my second poster looked more professioanl and it stood out more than Arial which i used on my first poster. I also found out that the white font colour looked better again the dark background than the pink.

Poster idea 2

Poster idea 1

Poster Analyis- Big Bang

From the Big Bang poster I think the genre is sit-com, because the characters all seem to be having a laugh apart from Sheldon on the left who is reading seriously, this could be a comedy scene.  Penny seems to be the only one normal person who isn’t a science geek so this could be funny because she wouldn’t understand half the things they talk about.

I can tell this programme is going to be based on science because of the title “The Big Bang” and in the background of the title is has an image of the universe.  This is in the centre of the poster because it is the centre of the show and the storylines. It is very brightly coloured and CGI has been used so it stands out from the rest of the poster and it draws your attention to the title before anything else.

The characters have been edited with a carton effect to make them fit in with the comedy theme, along with their facial expressions. Penny is being very over the top and Sheldon is very serious which in reality would be hard. If everyone else was being silly and messing around it would be hard to keep your face straight.

I think the target audience would be between 15-30 and mainly boys.  Penny would attract the male gaze to the show because she is wearing quite long cut top and she is blonde.  I don’t think the female gaze would be attracted to any of the male characters because they all look geeky and weird for example the way Raj is dressed.

The background it quite dull and boring because they is no colour, this makes the characters stand out because they are all wearing bright colours. They draws our attention to them not the apartment in the background. 

All the characters seem to be sat round TV but Penny is in the middle and she is has the main role on the game because she is the singer this could be because she is the main characters or she isn’t clever enough to have another role for example the drums. She is also the only female protagonist which could be why she would be in the centre and she has a lot of lighting on her face which makes her look innocent so we feel sorry for his because she is the only female is she isn’t as clever as the boys.

Poster Analyis - Lost

From the lost poster I think the genre could be Sci-Fi because it looks like they are in a forest but the reflection shows a city. I think the target audience would be both male and females aged between 15- 30 because of the time it is shown. There are many female and male characters that would attract the male and female gaze to the show.

The title lost is in white bold font which stands out from the rest of the poster, it has a stoplight shining down on it, this tells me that the group could be the “lost” and the stoplight could be something looking for them.  The title has several scratches on which could me they are trying to escape from something on the island.

At the top of the poster it says “the Wait is over” I think this could mean we have being waiting to see how they escape and what they have been hiding from and it this series I think everything will become clear. 

The colours used are all very dark and dull which tells me that the island is dangerous or that it is unknown to everyone else. The characters all seem to be wearing either black or green so they would also blend in with the island and its secret, this makes me wonder what the island is hiding and why?

Even though I can see the island and it looks just a forest the reflection on the sea shows a city, this could be because the characters are looking down into the water thinking about their past and where they used to live.

The characters seem to be posing at the edge of the island; this could be because they are ready to escape or ready to fight whatever is keeping them on the island. 

The sky looks a lot brighter than the rest of the poster which is reflecting onto the sea, so we can see the waves and the roughness of the sea which looks like there is going to be a storm. This is making me think that something big is going to happen in this series, or it could be the final series and it could be a shocking ending.

All the palm tree's seem to be blowing quite strongly so they is obviously going to be a storm, but none of the characters seem to be effect, they are only wearing vests and none of them look even moved by the wind. Normally they would be struggling to keep still and the girl’s hair would be blowing unlike this image. This could mean they are standing their ground and not letting the island affect them.

Poster Analyis- Waterloo road

From the Waterloo Road poster i think the genre is a drama because the lighting used to make the poster look busy. The location of the image on the poster is in a staff room, i can tell this because the generic conventions used for example tables, chairs, books. I think the target audince would be teenagers or young adults because it is on BBC1 and it is about life in a school therefore teenagers would be able to relate to the situations.

 The title is in a smart font like Arial which would be normally used in a school but the some of the letters have be turned and chipped which makes me think not everything would go to plan at this school.  It would of started off professional but then the students might have defaced it which makes me think the school might be having problems keeping the school in control.

I think the students would be badly behaved because the teachers all look apprehensive about the day, i can tell this by their facial expressions and the way they are posing. Some of the teachers look like typical teachers with their smart suits and others look more like models. For example the women on the left in the green dress, looks too dressed up. She would attract the male gaze to the TV show and the lighting on her face makes her look innocent.

The two characters who are stood in the middle of the staff room look like the head teachers because they are dressed professionally and they are the only ones who don't look apprehensive about the day. They are both stood back to back which makes me think they have some sort of competition between them, this could add some comedy to the show if they are both trying to outsmart each other.

Analysis of DVD cover- Scrubs

On the front cover of Scrubs there is a group picture of the main cast, the main protagonist is in the middle and the other members have been out behind him. This is because he is in charge and the story will be based around him. He is also the first thing you see when you look at the DVD cover because of the lighting on him. The lighting makes half his face in a shadow and half not, this could be because he has too sides to his personality or because he has some sort of mystery to his character.

We can tell it is based in a hospital because the main protagonist is wearing a green doctor’s uniform and he has a name tag. The background is also green which associated which a hospital because green is a calming colour.  The front of the DVD cover is brightly coloured which would make it appealing to look at and it would stand out from other DVD’s.

Then title is in a white, curly font which makes me think this programme will be a comedy which is unusual because usually hospitals are a serious place. I can also tell it is a comedy because the main protagonist is putting his rubber gloves on and it looks like he is being really over the top with it. He also has a comical facial expression which makes me think won’t be a serious character even though he is an important doctor. This creates an enigma of will he be a good doctor or not because usually a good doctor would be serious.

Above the title there is a black banner which has yellow text in; this tells us which season it is. The yellow really stands out against the black background which makes it eye catching.

I think the target audience for this TV series would be men because most of the characters are male and there are two females who are both attractive so this will attract the male gaze. There is also lighting on both females which make them look innocent and attract to the audience.

The spine is a brighter colour of green which would stand out against other DVD covers and the title is wrote in the same front but I think it is hard read. Above the title there are 3 close ups of the main protagonists which have the hospital in the background this lets us establish the location of the series. 

On the back of the DVD cover there are no images which makes us focus on the episodes which are also in the original green colour along with the title. The episodes are all numbered which makes it easier to find the one you’re on. Nearly all the episode start with ‘my’ which tells me that it is based around the main protagonist and his view on the hospital. The background is white which is different to the rest of the DVD cover, this makes the text stand out and it still has that hospital feel because green and white are associated with hospitals.

Analysis of DVD cover- The Inbetweeners

The Inbetweeners DVD cover has a white background and the front image of all the main characters which is black and white, this makes the image stand out and it is the first thing you see when you look at the DVD cover. The DVD cover is quite simple and doesn’t tell you much about the series but the text is also white and going across the characters which makes it look more detailed than it really is. The only colour on the front is the E4 logo which is quite big compared to other DVD covers. At the bottom it says “basically, they just want to get laid” which is in grey and it faded out into the background so it is hard to read and not as clear as it should be, this gives me the impression that it is some sort of mystery. 

The characters are all stood next to each other; they look like they are all in a group and like they have known each other for a long time. They all seem to be wearing quite casual clothing for example jeans and a jumper which tells me they don’t really like fashion and they are not too bothered how they look. The main protagonist Will is the most dressed up because he is wearing a blazer and glasses which  tells me that he is the main focus and he is the father of the group who looks out for everyone else.

On the spine the title is wrote in capital letters and it is in black, old fashioned font which makes it stand out, this is simple but takes up the whole spine because of the large font size so looks effective. The rating is also on the spine which stands out because it is bright red and the only colour on the spine.

On the back the episodes are wrote in the middle in black and purple font and they are numbered so it is easy to find the episode you were on. The way the titles are laid out makes the series seem fun and different than other TV programmes. The titles all have simple names like ‘first day’ which make me think the episode will be the opposite and really abnormal.

Down the side of the titles there are five pictures of the scenes from the TV show which would give you some clues to what the series is about. They have a small purple boarder and a shadow which makes they look 3D and it covers up some of the white background so it doesn’t look too plain. Above the titles there are four images of the main characters which have been edited to make the characters look fun, relaxed and a bit stupid which would be funny to watch.

Analysis of DVD cover 2 broke girls

2 Broke Girls

On the front of this DVD cover there is an image of the two main characters Max and Caroline in the diner where they work. I can tell they work in a diner because of the connotations in the images for example the uniforms, bottles of sauce and the oven. We use our cultural knowledge to understand that a café or diner would have all of those things. The lighting makes the diner look rough and like more of a masculine place rather than somewhere they would normally work which makes us feel sorry for them. It also creates the enigma why are they working there?

Caroline’s facial expression makes her look innocent and scared while Max looks in charge and like she is used to it. Max is nearer the camera because she is in charge and Caroline relies on her help. They both look like they are pushing people to buy the food because they need the money and they are both wearing the same uniform. This could be because they are both just waitresses, they don’t have an identity or a personality; they are just they to sell food. Max and Caroline are binary opposites because Max has dark hair, has the power, knows how to look after herself and Caroline has blonde hair and relies on Max to help her.

The title tells us they are 2 girls who need money because they have changed the s to a dollar sign and that is why they would be working in a diner. The lighting on their faces makes them like innocent and this makes us feel sorry for the characters. The title is wrote in black, white and pink which stands out from the rest of the DVD cover and this would usually fit into a girly programme unlike this one.

  They both look too done up to be working in a diner because they have both got their hair done and their make up on like they would be working in an office.  This would attract the male gaze to buy the DVD cover.

The image on the front of the DVD cover makes us feel sorry for Caroline and Max because they look poor and like they need help unlike the other images on the back of the DVD cover.  The image on the left is of them posing, it looks like they are in change and they have power which they didn’t have on the front image. The other images are of the girls working and doing normal girly things which makes us think about the story and if we would like the DVD.

Focus group test

I found out that the image on the front of idea 2 was the most effective because my drama is about a girl trying to find her identity and getting lost in her emotions while doing it. This image is of a girl face in like a jigsaw effect so it looks like she is lost and trying to piece it all together so it fits into my drama.

The title on the first idea was the favourite because they said it makes the DVD cover look more professional and it makes it more appealing to look at. They also like the colours used because they match my image and they are not to bond.

On idea 2 I have wrote which season it would be from on the spine which I think was a good idea because if it was on a DVD shelf you wouldn’t be able to see the front so it would be easy to find without having to take them all out.

I found out that they liked seeing what the characters looked like on the back near the blurb because it helped them imagine the storyline. I am undecided which layout would be best because I don’t want to many images on my DVD cover because I don’t want it to look too busy.  

Final idea's

Idea 1

Idea 2

Idea 3

DVD cover pictures