MEST 2: Notes

Task: Produce the opening few scenes of your TV programme establishing narrative themes, characters and location. You could include a title sequence and your finished product should be approximately two minutes long.

Media Language/Forms

As a group we need to include media language and be able to show how it influences the meaning of the film production we are creating. This would be done by using media language that will imitate our media form. This will come from us researching existing programmes and analysing the conventions. We have to continuously consider genre and keep analysing diverse series as it will develop and enhance our idea, also we would be able to have more knowledge into setting the 'appropriate media language'. 

Audience

Have to look at how to identify our target audience and how they would engage, and how it would appeal and address to them correctly. We can again look at diverse range of teen-drama's to and research more about the socio-demographics to understand fully what type of audience it addresses to, and if ours fits in too. We have identified the connection between the audience and the production as in serials there are various use of slang, this is so audiences can engage as they use this term of language which therefore builds some sort of connection. But if for example, Eastenders E20 had formal language the audience wouldn't be able to stay connected so this is another vital element. Understanding this has helped us into our ideas, as we are aiming more at teen females then men as they like drama, suspense and that type of love story. Because we feel as it's Pre watershed we cannot use 'drugs, swearing, violence' and this would attain young teenage men attention as this is what the society is depicted of today. But having a 'confused love story, with suspense' would attain the females attention, as if you look at twilight mostly the target audience is females. We need to undertake research in number of areas that allow us to approach our production in a knowledgeable way. Were going to demonstrate the outcomes of our research in the planning of our productions.

We need to consider all these as this would influence the way we make our media language choices;

• Genre codes
• Audience appeal/engagement
• Common representational conventions 
• Institutional issues
• Narrative devices used
• Ideological positioning 

We need to acknowledge codes and conventions of the forms. Like for example, 'Conventional opening sequences for dramas tend to contain vital narrative information having where, when, what and who.' This is something in which we have considered as where being the location, the setting in which the character is in. When being what time during the day it could be night time or day time depending on the scene. What could be what is happening or taking place and who is the person. Something of this sort, which we need to take on board. We also need to think about how we convey a message to the audience, will they learn something from this? Or is it something which will be left for them to decide?

Planning

Broadcast consists of having:

• Storyboards, scripts and shooting scripts
• Details of location, costume, mise-en-scene etc.
• Plan for post production effects, inter-titles-which is a printed narration or a portion of dialogue flashed on the screen between the scenes of a silent film.

Evidence of Research and Planning in Productions
At the end of this our form and genre codes should be recognisable. We need to offer something that has been an encouragement by our product that we have produced. Our target audience needs to be very clear. We need to meet the needs and requirements of our target audience. 

The knowledge in which we have attained from our research should be the starting point for our evaluations. I have to acknowledge the consider of my own work against the knowledge of the way the product is constructed.

These questions can help me in my evaluation:

 Have I replicated form (reproduced) and genre codes successfully?

 Have I used appropriate layout and design codes?

 Did we use house-style appropriately?

 How successful were we in creating products that would be appealing to the 

target audience?

 How well have we fulfilled the functions of the productions?

Examples of Research and Planning Materials

• A ‘statement of intent’ summarising pre-production research and its impact on 

the planning of the productions

• Written evaluations of existing products – focussed on media concepts

• Annotated existing products – focussed on media concepts

• Summaries of findings showing institutional research

• Summaries of findings showing ‘academic’ research

• Justification of the selection of target audience 

• Identification of audience needs/expectations with evidence

• Storyboards that are annotated to show changes and/or reasons for choices

• Scripts that are annotated to show reasons for choices

• Flat plans that identify genre/form codes considering layout and design codes 

and house style conventions

• ‘Before and After’ photographs showing post production manipulation of 

images

• ‘Before and After’ screenshots showing post production work for moving 

image

Productions

We need to use the knowledge and understanding gained from the 

research  to inform the media language choices made in our production. We should use this knowledge but  the higher level marks are rewarded where conventions are not simply replicated but where students also show creativity and flair in the approach. This means having originality and being influenced.  In broadcast work, including and having locations/costume and lighting, or in post production choices can show originality and creativity. Audio work too can use existing codes.

The Evaluation

A good evaluation supports a good production but a weak one impact's on the grade achieved by the student when the marks from both parts of the assessment are combined.  

The evaluation needs to consider my completed work in light of the chosen brief. The production need's be analysed to consider its strengths and weaknesses in terms of fulfilling the stated function of the products, the effectiveness of the media language choices in copying codes and conventions and a consideration of the audience appeal. 

The errors in evaluations are:

 Using the evaluation to describe the process of research. I  should show 

how I am able to use the findings from the research

 Using the evaluation to describe the production process. I should analyse the productions not the act of producing. There is no benefit for me in retelling tales from the production process nor identifying software/technical issues

 Using the evaluation to describe the products myself. Description of the 

products is redundant. I need to identify key media language choices 

made in production and explain why these choices were made and/or what effect 

they have. Analysis of the products need's to link to media concepts and/or 

Broadcasting Task
This broadcasting task use a documentary, interview or montage style to present 
information to the audience. Bands/artists use promotional videos on their 
websites or on YouTube and so research into the many approaches to this form 
should be undertaken first. Certain musical genres tend to have a visual style. This can be replicated in the video and the genre may dictate whether live music needs to feature or whether a serious or humorous approach is appropriate. We can use pre-recorded music if we want to if copyright free material is not available.

Research could investigate how themes, characters and locations are identified early 
in a broadcast. Showtime dramas use a range of methods. For example, Game 
of Thrones travels across a map of the fantasy world the audience will find 
themselves immersed in whilst Dexter uses a montage of familiar domestic images 
(cooking breakfast, getting dressed etc.) in extreme close-up, destabilising the 
familiar and tying it into the violence of the story-lines to follow.   

Our production needs to  consider mise-en-scene, lighting, costume and location as part of the planning process. If we use a variety of camera shots in the work tend to make more interesting moving image work. Post production effects may be appropriate and the use of the camera and editing software allows marks to be awarded for technical ability. In the evaluation we should be prepared to talk about the reasoning behind their media language choices. And consider the choices in light of the requirements of the brief/task.

 Mark Scheme:

The candidate demonstrates creativity and clear technical proficiency in the use of the chosen technologies (AO3). The candidate also demonstrates sophisticated understanding of the necessities and details of the production process (AO3). Codes and conventions have been used appropriately and with some flair throughout (AO3). The productions are clearly fit for purpose in the light of the candidate’s research (AO4).

At the top of this level work will demonstrate considerable attention to detail and a genuine sense of engagement with both the chosen media and the subject matter.