Evaluation

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 4^th 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 “Indent: Left: 2.0" Right: 0.0" Width: 4.0" which I implemented within my 4^th draft.

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 also 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 also 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, strolls across the room” which I implemented in my 4^th draft.

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 for example.

 

Another way in which 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 and easy feedback. By doing this it helped develop the actual idea I had, it helped suggest that my series would be best fitted being indexical with both a fantasy, action and comedy genre and this is how I came up with the idea for three teenage protagonists in order to create a comedic effect.

The questionnaire also helped me specify who my target audience would be, it came out that this series would appeal to both genders from a working class background (like the protagonists themselves) 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. 

Another thing I learnt is 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 clearly shown by his jumper)” 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.

DVD Cover

When I decided to put together both my DVD cover and Poster I did so with most things in mind with actual reasoning on why they were placed where they were.

Firstly with the DVD cover, 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 meaning 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 mainly hoodies helps put across the preferred meaning that this text is aimed more around a working class background who are seen to wear hoodies the most. 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 (like my narrative possessive). 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 thorough internet research I learnt that in a 15 there is: strong violence, frequent strong language, portrayals of sexual activity, references to sexual violence, discriminator language or behaviour and drug taking. All of which are within my script and the narrative of my show especially the use of frequent strong language, strong 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.

Poster

When creating my poster I had most things in mind in order to provoke specific responses from the viewer.

Firstly the dominant signifier of the poster itself is the image of the town’s skyline which has another reference towards a meteor (which was also on my DVD cover) 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 and people may view it as “its nearly there” in reference to it being on people’s TV screens.

I chose to put the Channel 4 Icon on the poster as it further 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. Other shows such as “Shameless” which is on Channel 4 is a working background text very similar to my text as well.

I chose to 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, excessive use of strong language and occasional 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 where there is more information, 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.

Final DVD Cover - With "Extras"

Promotional Poster

DVD Cover

Misfits DVD Cover Analysis

Here we can see we have a media text for the show MisFits. From first glance we can see that both the title text and the image below it both act as dominant signifiers due to them being the main thing on the text. We can see that the protagonists of the show are being represented in a very stereotypical way which is shown by how there is a muscular black male who happens to be wearing a chain, all of which are a general stereotype for black people as they are usually associated with crime. We can see that the lightening has connotations of the phrase “a storm is coming” which means something bad is coming and is reinforced by the anchorage of the masked individual in the background of the image. We can see that in terms of the genre conventions this particular media text is being broadcasted on channel 4 which is renowned for having programs aimed at teenagers as shown by programs sharing the same network such as “The Inbetweeners”, “Big Brother” etc. We can see that slug-line is “In a class of its own” which gives connotations that the characters have something unique whilst it not telling too much information that there is no point watching it which makes the viewer want to watch it.

Heroes DVD Cover Analysis

Here we can see that the Heroes title is the first thing we see on the page, the text itself is very stretched and linear which gives a very older and more mature look and feel to the text which gives hints that the text is for a more mature audience such as young adults. We can see that the title itself is the dominant signifier on the page as it is the first thing we see due to the blur effect covering a large portion of the cover image. Carrying on from that we can see the blur effect on the title itself gives a hint towards the narrative of the story with it looking very eerie and misty which is reinforced by the anchorage of the solar eclipse within the title itself. We can see that in terms of the genre conventions that this program airs on NBC which is an American network which broadcasts a lot of programs aimed at Teenagers and younger adults which is also reinforced by the age rating of 12 in the bottom corner and on the spine of the text. 

Being Human DVD Cover Analysis

Here we can see that the “Being Human” text is the first thing we see on this media text. The text itself is very thin and long which gives connotations that it is for a mature audience and not for younger viewers. We can see that the 3 characters are the dominant signifiers on the scene and it is safe to assume that they are the main characters within the media text. Looking closely at the characters themselves we can see that the female character has connotations of being a ghost which is reinforced by the anchorage of the unnatural glow around her as well as her legs being fairly transparent. As well as that we can see that the central male has connotations of being a shady character due to his dark clothes and is again reinforced by the anchorage of the blood-stained bag that he is carrying. We can see that the other male present has connotations of being a werewolf and is reinforced by the anchorage of the animalistic scratch marks on the male’s shoulder. We can see that the slug-line at the bottom of the cover says “Time to face their demons” which also acts as an anchorage in putting across that what these characters are unnatural and also  gives an insight into the narrative of the story almost like a preview. We can see that the text itself is on a dark alley way which gives connotations that these characters have had a ‘dark’ past which can be reinforced by how there is a distant light at the back of the image which gives connotations that there is ‘a light at the end of the tunnel’ which means there is hope and can give connotations that the characters are in trouble as shown by the dark lighting on the characters. In terms of the genre conventions on the text we can see that it has placed a review from a well-known source (in this case, IGN) in the top left so it doesn’t act as a dominant signifier but is noticeable to the viewer and helps sell the media text due to the positivity of the review from a well-known source and these are normally found on DVD covers. We can also see that they have placed the “BBC” logo on the spine of the media text which has connotations that the show is made of a high quality due to the budget that a company spends on certain media texts such as Doctor Who for example, by having a renowned company logo on the text it helps make the viewer to do something i.e. buy the DVD. Carrying on from that, the BBC logo being there shows that the target audience will be of a mature age due to other shows being broadcasted on the channel such as Doctor Who, Holby City etc which all are aimed at older audiences such as adults.