Evaluation
Script
I have created a 10
page script on a new TV series which I have named “Liabilities” set around
adolescent, working class boys with the narrative describing them coming across
a meteor and gaining powers from it.
I conducted 5
different drafts of my script with it getting better after each draft. I
improved it from research I had done along the way. I used a variety of sources
in able to make my script as professional as it could be. The sources I used
were as follows: The Internet, a questionnaire, focus group and already present
TV scripts all of which had significant impacts on my final outcome.
When using the
internet I learnt key guidelines I had to stick by in order for it to have the
correct discourse markers like you’d expect a professional script to have. I
learnt that all scripts use the font: “Courier” and the standard size is “12pt”
which I applied within my 4th Draft to make the format of my script look
professional. The reason behind why scripts use “Courier” and in the size of
“12pt” is because it was the standard font used by all typewriters. I also
learnt that the script requires certain indents to indicate whether it’s a
change in scene, which protagonist is speaking, scene heading etc an example of
this is that for a character’s name the indent has to be “Left: 2.0 Right: 0.0" Width:
4.0" which I implemented within my 4th
draft in order to make my script replicate what a published script would look
like and increase its professionalism.
I learnt from the use of already present
scripts such as “Being Human – Episode 1, Series 1” that they contain a variety
of scene transitions in order to help the narrative flow as well as having
various different plot lines running simultaneously. I learnt this and I tried
to implement simultaneous plot lines discreetly via the use of stage directions
and minor dialogue such as “Josh:(Aggressively)Well
I’m going with or without you.” which has connotations that he is in it
for himself and doesn’t need the others, which I could later develop into a
huge plotline of betrayal.
I learnt from my internet research that
every scene should be wrote on the script as a scene heading with a brief
narrative description below it to set the scene which then has a transition
underneath to introduce the coming scene. I learnt from internet research that after
every new character there needs a description of what they come across as with
their name in capitals such as “SCOTT a slim, tall boy wearing a heavy coat”
which I implemented in my 4th draft in order to make it look like a
published script whilst also giving the reader more information regarding the
protagonists whether it is the character’s dress code.
When I conducted my focus group with around
5 of my peers, they helped me build my believability of my characters so that
if this show was to air it would fit with at least one of the 4 main
gratifications which would be to “relate” for the viewers due to how they dress.
I helped develop my script was via the use
of making my own questionnaire which I then gave out to several people in order
to get quick feedback. This helped develop the actual idea, it helped suggest
that my series would be best fitted being indexical with both a fantasy, action
and comedy genre and I came up with the idea for three teenage protagonists in
order to create a comedic effect. The questionnaire helped me specify my target
audience, it appeared that this series would appeal to both genders from a
working class background and that by having the comedy within the script
i.e. “If I didn’t know any better it seems like
you have got a keen interest with big, dark holes…” which is stereotypical of a
teenage male to make euphemisms about sexual oriented subjects which again helps
build the believability of my characters themselves. I learnt that due to it
being a male orientated TV drama I had to incorporate something in order to
attract a female audience, I did this via the use of brief character
description e.g. “SCOTT (a tall thin boy in his late teens)” which means
that he can appeal to the stereotype that some girls go for and can act as the
female gaze within the show if it was to air.
When I revisited my script after draft 4 I had noticed that it
did not have all the features a normal script would possess. Draft 4 contained
a lack of scenes (as well as stage directions) and stuck to 3 scenes at most
throughout which a normal TV Drama does not which I learnt from my internet
research as they instead have maybe a minute of dialogue and action before
switching to another scene or returning to another plotline.
DVD Cover
Firstly the dominant signifier of the text
is the image of the individual looking into the distance. With the individual
being in a hood it promotes the enigma of whether this person is a villain (Like
in Propp’s character scheme) and is stalking what is ahead or whether he is a
‘hero’ and watching over the city. I chose to have no anchorage supporting this
as there is no preferred reading and instead I want the viewer to have their
own unique connotations when they look at this text.
The title “LIABILITIES” has been done in a
long narrow, linear font in a grey, eroded font, which appeals to a more
masculine audience. I chose to aim it mainly towards a masculine audience (more
so than a female) as the 3 protagonists are male themselves and share what the
stereotype of young adolescent boys are which is: to have ‘banter’, swear a lot
and insult each other.
The use of the dress code of hoodies helps
put across the preferred reading that this text is aimed more around a working
class background who are seen to wear hoodies. By it being set in a working
class background via the dress code it helps the audience ‘relate’ to the text
which means the text will be more gripping and will entice a larger viewing
base.
When editing the cover’s contrast I chose
to do so it brings out the light in the top left corner which has connotations of
either a sun or even a meteor. However if the viewer has an oppositional
reading of the text it has an anchorage in the bottom right-hand corner which
looks very similar to what meteor ore veins would look like i.e. glowing and
red which indicates the bright light in the top left corner is actually a
meteor.
I chose to put the age certificate of my
text at a “15” as after doing some research I learnt that in a 15 there is:
strong violence, strong language, portrayals of sexual activity, discriminating
language, drug taking etc. All of which are within the narrative of my show
especially the use of strong language, violence and drug taking which help
reinforce the stereotypical representation of the youth within the media.
The use of the tag line “Our Last Hope”
helps reinforce that this text is within the genre of action which when put
alongside the use of the meteor ore on the ground and the bright light it
suggests that this can be classed as an action/fantasy text which I originally
aimed to do.
When creating my front cover of my DVD
cover I initially wanted to be simple but yet possess enigmas. I gained inspiration
from the TV show “Arrow” which has a protagonist on the front who has a hood up
covering a majority of his face which provokes questions from the audience such
as “Who is he?”, which I chose to replicate on my DVD Cover’s front cover
however I added my own style to it by instead of making the protagonist face
the viewer like on the “Arrow” poster I chose to make him look away meaning there
are more enigmas to be answered.
I took into account of the linear, narrow
and masculine text that “Arrow” has been written in. I replicated this within
my DVD cover with “Liabilities” which has been done in a long, linear, eroded
font in order to appeal to a masculine audience which is reinforced by how I
have an all-male cast with “Scott”, ”Josh” and “Liam”.
I looked at the lighting and how the light
is shining down on him giving connotations of a “Hero” which I chose to replicate
via a street lamp on my DVD cover so that it shows that my narrative is within
an urban environment. I replicated the binary opposites that this cover is
creating such as the dark lighting on the character and the bright light behind
him which I incorporated into my own cover by having my character mostly dark
with just a glimmer of light on the protagonist’s head which has connotations
of a “hero” and references back to my tagline of “Our Last Hope” which a hero
usually is.
Poster
The dominant signifier of the poster itself
is the image of the town’s skyline which has another reference towards a meteor
which helps determine that it is within the ‘fantasy’ genre. The placing of the
meteor itself is heading towards the “9:00pm” start time which has connotations
that it is “on its way to channel 4” due to it hurdling towards the channel 4
icon.
I put the Channel 4 Icon on the poster as
it promotes that this text will be displayed on Channel 4. I chose to put my
text on Channel 4 as it is very similar to other stimulus texts already on
Channel 4 such as “The Inbetweeners” which had 4 all male protagonists which is
very similar to my show itself. Shows such as “Shameless” which is on Channel 4
is a working background text very similar to my text as well.
I put it at a 9:00pm start time as it is
after the watershed which it needs to be due to it being an age 15 rated text.
By putting my show after the watershed it means that younger audiences such as
children will not be susceptible to the qualities that my text possesses which
is strong violence, strong language and drug use which are all at some point
within my show’s narrative.
By the font of the poster being eroded it
further reinforces that it is actually “Our Last Hope” and the effect of it
being eroded has connotations of many people have tried before them and failed
which helps foreshadow the narrative of my text.
By my poster being landscape I would
display it on billboards due to the mass audience it would reach. Due to the
simplicity of the poster itself such as just when it starts, the name of the
text and a reference to an outside source, further reinforces that it would be
best on a billboard due to drivers and passers-by only having a few seconds to
scan read my poster and gain the important information they need and avoiding
having to scan read through unnecessary text.
When creating my poster I had to have a
template in mind in order to create an effective poster whilst not revealing
and answering too many of the show’s enigmas. I did this by looking at examples
such as “The Walking Dead” poster which has a long shot of the protagonist
horseback with everywhere else deserted as well as a city skyline present which
has connotations of isolation, I chose to replicate by having just a long shot
of a scenic night shot of a town’s skyline with a meteor going across the sky
which keeps it simple whilst relating back to my show’s narrative.
I replicated the binary opposites that this
poster has on it by how on one side of the dual-carriageway it is heavy with
abandoned cars but on the other side is empty apart from the protagonist
horseback. I took this idea and put it in my cover by having an empty skyline
and then below it having a densely populated town with the number of lights.
