Half Term Message from sir
If you're opening this over the half term, well done! If you want to get ahead this is what you should do. Complete the tasks and put as much specific and relevant information on the production log as you can. Don't just cut and paste , be specific with brief and relevant points on conventions. The high achievers will have done some close analysis of specific scenes from relevant shows (with points on mise-en-scene, camerawork, sound and editing) in their subgenre and may have screen grabs etc.
If all that isn't enough you could also look at unit 1 and do some work on your posters. Mr Dean tells me you have started your research so you could be adding to that or drafting out dystopian s/f film posters.
Have a great holiday!
Mr O'Brien
If you're opening this over the half term, well done! If you want to get ahead this is what you should do. Complete the tasks and put as much specific and relevant information on the production log as you can. Don't just cut and paste , be specific with brief and relevant points on conventions. The high achievers will have done some close analysis of specific scenes from relevant shows (with points on mise-en-scene, camerawork, sound and editing) in their subgenre and may have screen grabs etc.
If all that isn't enough you could also look at unit 1 and do some work on your posters. Mr Dean tells me you have started your research so you could be adding to that or drafting out dystopian s/f film posters.
Have a great holiday!
Mr O'Brien
Research Task 1
Your first task is research based. You should begin by using resources from class (Clips of The Wonder Years/ Buffy The Vampire Slayer/ Dawson's Creek) to make notes on common conventions of teen drama. Make sure that you have notes on:
character types and stereotypes
common narratives
film making conventions
Research Task 2 h/w
Select three teen dramas of your choice and make spidergrams on common conventions that are found in them. Use the bullet points above.
Research Task 3 : You will now be given a new book to use as a production log in which you'll keep all of your work for this project.
Add your homework to a powerpoint titled 'Production Log'. The first section of your powerpoint should detail your early research. Add your homework research stating which television shows you have looked at in the genre and what conventions you have discovered. The better designed it is and the clearer the information the better.
The best research will be well expressed and clearly set out. It will demonstrate that you have carried out a good deal of relevant research on genre conventions that have helped you to develop your own film.Research Task 4 subgenres
Your group should now make a list of the subgenres of teen drama and decide which subgenre you wish to work in.
Example subgenres
High School based
Family based
Relationship based
Action
Science Fiction
Older teens
Younger Teens
comedy
social issues
Once you have done this you should then make a list of the top shows within that subgenre and gather notes and ideas to add to a powerpoint on codes and conventions within the genre. For those of you who hope to gain an A for this coursework it should indicate what you have found out about mise-en-scene, camerawork, sound and editing in programs that you have looked at.
E.G Science Fiction (Buffy/ Angel)
Research Task 5 pitches
Now you can get together some ideas for potential shows within your subgenre. Decide who your target audience is based on age and gender and interests. You will need to come up with a storyline or narrative as well as characters . Your pitch is an outline of your opening to your show. You should be able to present this to your target audience. Ideally, the pitch will demonstrate many of the conventions you have noticed in your research.
Prepare a questionnaire for your target audience which indicates which pitch they liked the best and why. Ideally you should be able to get an idea of whether they respond to the characters in the way you would like and whether they find the storylines relevant and stimulating. You may also offer them opportunities to consider things they might like to see changed.
Example : O'Brien High
My subgenre is a comedy horror parody. I have designed it for young teens that will respond to the representation of school, students and teachers. I have been influenced bu the number of hybrid parody teen dramas I have seen such as MI High and Buffy The Vampire Slayer which incorporate escapist elements of popular genre such as the spy film and horror movie.
Scene 1 : There is an exterior establishing shot a school underneath a full moon. Cut to an interior as the camera tracks down a school corridor. Lighting is low key to create a sense of suspense, there is an ominous low pitched soundtrack. We hear diegetic noise of a student's footsteps. We see a close up on the sign on a doorsaying , 'Mr O'Brien : Headteacher.' We then cut to a close up of a student's face as he waits outside, looking tense and agitated. He knocks nervously on the door. We hear a low pitched and sinister voice from inside, 'Enter'. Cut to the interior of the room as the student enters. 'Sit' . The Headteacher cannot be seen as he is facing the other way from the door while sat in his chair. The boy starts to speak, 'You told me to come for my detention here Sir.' The camera tracks slowly up from the floor from the Headmaster's feet. As it tilts up we slowly see his fingernails which are long and then it rests on his face in close up. We cut back to the boy. The head asks, 'Ddi you inform your parents you were coming for detention after school?' 'No sir, ' the boy responds. We cut back to a close up of the head. He smiles and when he does so we see his long canine fangs. He spins rapidly round in his chair. We see the boy's horrified close up. Cut back to the exterior of the door. We hear horrified screaming.
Scene 2
Tom's first day at a new school.
Questions:
1. Do you recognise the genre?
2. Would you be interested in watching the rest of the show?
3. Do you find the Head suitably threatening?
4. Did you find the opening suspenseful?
5. Does this remind you of any other shows?
6. What kind of actor would you imagine playing the head?
7. What kind of actor would you imagine playing the new boy at school?
8. Does the school seem realistic?
9. What would you change/keep?
Who is my target audience?
They are young teens. For this reason I have indicated some violence but haven't explicitly shown it. My protagonist will be the same age as my target audience. Also,
the situation and setting should both be appealing. As well as this my format fits the sense of parody that I has been successful with other shows targeted at young teens.
What conventions have I used?
I have used the school setting but subverted it as has been done in shows that have influenced me such as Buffy and MI High. I have also used the conventional narrative plotline of a new start at a new school. In terms of stereotypes I have used authoritarian adult figures and reinforced this for comic effect with a dangerous headteacher.
What stylistic conventions will I employ?
I will use a fast paced style of editing and create suspense through crosscutting. I have also used low key lighting which is appropriate to the horror genre.
Research Task 6
You should now have a clear understanding of the conventions of your subgenre. You should also have a pitch you're happy with and an idea of the target audience's initial reaction. You are ready to begin pre-production as soon as you have added all of this information to your powerpoint. Remember that you are being marked separately on this. You are now ready for your pre-production.
Task 7
You are going to hand in individual Powerpoints to be graded with evidence of the following :
- Research into genre conventions
- Film Pitches
- Audience research questionnaires completed
- Summary of audience response
- Revised pitch based on audience feedback
Your first task is research based. You should begin by using resources from class (Clips of The Wonder Years/ Buffy The Vampire Slayer/ Dawson's Creek) to make notes on common conventions of teen drama. Make sure that you have notes on:
character types and stereotypes
common narratives
film making conventions
Research Task 2 h/w
Select three teen dramas of your choice and make spidergrams on common conventions that are found in them. Use the bullet points above.
Research Task 3 : You will now be given a new book to use as a production log in which you'll keep all of your work for this project.
Add your homework to a powerpoint titled 'Production Log'. The first section of your powerpoint should detail your early research. Add your homework research stating which television shows you have looked at in the genre and what conventions you have discovered. The better designed it is and the clearer the information the better.
The best research will be well expressed and clearly set out. It will demonstrate that you have carried out a good deal of relevant research on genre conventions that have helped you to develop your own film.Research Task 4 subgenres
Your group should now make a list of the subgenres of teen drama and decide which subgenre you wish to work in.
Example subgenres
High School based
Family based
Relationship based
Action
Science Fiction
Older teens
Younger Teens
comedy
social issues
Once you have done this you should then make a list of the top shows within that subgenre and gather notes and ideas to add to a powerpoint on codes and conventions within the genre. For those of you who hope to gain an A for this coursework it should indicate what you have found out about mise-en-scene, camerawork, sound and editing in programs that you have looked at.
E.G Science Fiction (Buffy/ Angel)
Research Task 5 pitches
Now you can get together some ideas for potential shows within your subgenre. Decide who your target audience is based on age and gender and interests. You will need to come up with a storyline or narrative as well as characters . Your pitch is an outline of your opening to your show. You should be able to present this to your target audience. Ideally, the pitch will demonstrate many of the conventions you have noticed in your research.
Prepare a questionnaire for your target audience which indicates which pitch they liked the best and why. Ideally you should be able to get an idea of whether they respond to the characters in the way you would like and whether they find the storylines relevant and stimulating. You may also offer them opportunities to consider things they might like to see changed.
Example : O'Brien High
My subgenre is a comedy horror parody. I have designed it for young teens that will respond to the representation of school, students and teachers. I have been influenced bu the number of hybrid parody teen dramas I have seen such as MI High and Buffy The Vampire Slayer which incorporate escapist elements of popular genre such as the spy film and horror movie.
Scene 1 : There is an exterior establishing shot a school underneath a full moon. Cut to an interior as the camera tracks down a school corridor. Lighting is low key to create a sense of suspense, there is an ominous low pitched soundtrack. We hear diegetic noise of a student's footsteps. We see a close up on the sign on a doorsaying , 'Mr O'Brien : Headteacher.' We then cut to a close up of a student's face as he waits outside, looking tense and agitated. He knocks nervously on the door. We hear a low pitched and sinister voice from inside, 'Enter'. Cut to the interior of the room as the student enters. 'Sit' . The Headteacher cannot be seen as he is facing the other way from the door while sat in his chair. The boy starts to speak, 'You told me to come for my detention here Sir.' The camera tracks slowly up from the floor from the Headmaster's feet. As it tilts up we slowly see his fingernails which are long and then it rests on his face in close up. We cut back to the boy. The head asks, 'Ddi you inform your parents you were coming for detention after school?' 'No sir, ' the boy responds. We cut back to a close up of the head. He smiles and when he does so we see his long canine fangs. He spins rapidly round in his chair. We see the boy's horrified close up. Cut back to the exterior of the door. We hear horrified screaming.
Scene 2
Tom's first day at a new school.
Questions:
1. Do you recognise the genre?
2. Would you be interested in watching the rest of the show?
3. Do you find the Head suitably threatening?
4. Did you find the opening suspenseful?
5. Does this remind you of any other shows?
6. What kind of actor would you imagine playing the head?
7. What kind of actor would you imagine playing the new boy at school?
8. Does the school seem realistic?
9. What would you change/keep?
Who is my target audience?
They are young teens. For this reason I have indicated some violence but haven't explicitly shown it. My protagonist will be the same age as my target audience. Also,
the situation and setting should both be appealing. As well as this my format fits the sense of parody that I has been successful with other shows targeted at young teens.
What conventions have I used?
I have used the school setting but subverted it as has been done in shows that have influenced me such as Buffy and MI High. I have also used the conventional narrative plotline of a new start at a new school. In terms of stereotypes I have used authoritarian adult figures and reinforced this for comic effect with a dangerous headteacher.
What stylistic conventions will I employ?
I will use a fast paced style of editing and create suspense through crosscutting. I have also used low key lighting which is appropriate to the horror genre.
Research Task 6
You should now have a clear understanding of the conventions of your subgenre. You should also have a pitch you're happy with and an idea of the target audience's initial reaction. You are ready to begin pre-production as soon as you have added all of this information to your powerpoint. Remember that you are being marked separately on this. You are now ready for your pre-production.
Task 7
You are going to hand in individual Powerpoints to be graded with evidence of the following :
- Research into genre conventions
- Film Pitches
- Audience research questionnaires completed
- Summary of audience response
- Revised pitch based on audience feedback