Responses to feedback on pitch

What went well:

- Firstly my group really liked my idea, they told me they thought my synopsis was well thought out, I had made an effort into making it as original as I could but still making it based on popular TV programmes out that the moment. They liked the fact I had gone into detailed description when explaining not only what my two minute clip would be but also what I would do for a whole episode and even giving a brief series synopsis.
- They praised me on my visual mood board, they told me that it reflected my ideas well and that I had a clear vision of where I wanted to go with my production.
- My group liked the fact I had taken our research on board with creating an appealing synopsis for the programme, I had also bared in mind an easy location  to film at when deciding the location that my programme was set in.

What I could have improved on:

- In my pitch I had a lot to get through, in such little time. Unfortunately I didn't manage to explain my script or show my script to any other member of my group. The area that I need to improve on for this is my time management.
- I think what I could have done better was explaining more about how I intend to make my production more beneficially and targeted toward our target audience. I think I went into too much detail into the synopsis of the series and where I intend to go with the programme, information that wasn't relevant. This time could have being used for explained something far more beneficial to how I intend to target my audience and/or my script.  
 

My Treatment - Including Pitch

The Pitch including my Treatment, Script and Visual Mood Board has being uploaded to Slideshare:
http://www.slideshare.net/ZacBowen

Summary of Research

Me:

In my research I found out the while a lot of people in the demographic that is our target audience enjoy dramas and a lot of them enjoy dramas on e4 they enjoy seeing comedy within these dramas as they feel it makes the show more entertaining. I think this is defiantly something we will have to consider incorporating into are drama. I asked a question in a focus group saying, “do you prefer a storyline that runs though out an entire series or a few episode or a narrative structure were the storyline is different every episode” and the answers I got back were mixed. However, one answer I got back was both. This is defiantly a sensible option when considering how the narrative structure will go. In my secondary research I studied books to see if I could apply any knowledge of people who have being in the media business a long time. Some of the aspects for production seem helpful which we can apply when making our program however the information I gathered for audience doesn’t seem relevant and it seems as though my primary research would be more helpful for that. Although, the media book I read did say I was going about the right way for information.

Hannah: http://mediahannahw.blogspot.co.uk/

In Hannah’s research a lot of people in her online questionnaire said they preferred characters that they can relate too and a lot people in the same questionnaire said they enjoyed paranormal dramas, this could be something to consider when thinking about storylines. Also a popular answer was that a lot of people would watch real life drama, this makes me think about my storyline for my drama and how I should write it so it is as ‘real life’ as possible.

Jake: http://mediajakehashdi.blogspot.co.uk/

For Jake’s research, he analysed a popular show on E4, with the same target audience as what our show is aiming for. This can be helpful as the show is very popular and we take the techniques used in this show and apply them to our own show to make it as popular as possible. He also looked into reviews for similar programs which can be helpful as this gives us an insight into what audiences like and what they dislike. He also researched into production companies and how they function and the tactics they use when creating a show, this can be helpful as it will make the production of our show more efficient. For his primary research he phoned up production companies such as Clerkenwell Productions and got them to answer question regarding our research. The answers he got back were very useful and gave us a wider insight into how these top production companies go about making their shows and appealing to their target audience. This will be most useful as we can defiantly apply this knowledge into our own show.     

Nathan: http://sullymedia.blogspot.co.uk/

For Nathan’s research he firstly looked into the type of camera (Nikon D3100) we will be using to film our show. This can be very helpful as Nathan should now hopefully be able to operate the camera which should speed up production. Nathan also analysed the webpage for Misfit (a popular show on e4) which will be helpful, as another part of our task is to create a 3 page webpage for our show, using techniques off Nathan’s analysis we should be able to create a successful website that attracts more viewers. He also conducted audience reviews of shows similar to the ones we are going to make, this is helpful as it narrows down are target audience (as the research suggests that more male are interested in drama on e4 such as Skins, Misfits and Deadest) into a more specific target audience and even though we will not solely base are show towards this audience we can still take in this demographic to increase the popularity of the show.

Primary Audience Research - Survey Results

What is your gender?

Male: 17

Female: 21

What is your age?

1-13:

14-24: 37

25-35:1

35+: 0

What is your favourite genre of TV show?

Action: 3

Comedy: 22

Sci - Fi: 3

Reality: 1

Horror: 1

Drama: 10

How many hours of television would you say you watch per week?

none :0

0 to 3: 10

3 to 6: 8

6 to 9: 11

9+: 9

Do you watch E4:

Yes: 29

No: 12

If the answer to question 5 is yes, what is your favourite E4 show and why?

-"The big bang theory because it’s awesome"

-"Misfits because it’s funny and interesting."

-"The Big Bang Theory, because it's clever, funny and well written"

-"The big bang theory"

-"How I met your mother or The big bang theory because Barney and Sheldon are just SOOOO good."

-"The Big Bang theory, just genially funny with humorous actors"

-"Fresh meat"

-"Don't really have one. if i had to pick then probably big bang theory but to be honest E4 is just something i put on when your flicking through and there's f*** all else on."

-"How I met your mother because it's funny"

-"Mad Fat Diary (used to be Skins)"

-"Rules of engagement and bang theory"

-"Big Bang theory because its my type of humour, awkward guys trying to get girls"

-"Skins good mix of humor and drama"

-"Big Bang Theory - it's funny."

-"Revenge, just think it's amazing"

-"My mad fat diary because it shows the aspects of life today"

-"The Big Bang Theory, specific characters that are somehow relatable"

-"My mad fat diary funny"

-"90210 and because I love the cast"

-"Big bang theory, it's really funny!

-"They always have good programs and series that are as good and better than more popular channels."

-"I don't have a favourite show on E4 I tend to just watch whatever's on and looks interesting. :)"

-"Fonejacker, the Inbetweeners, scrubs, misfits"

-"Big Bang theory - it's funny."

-"The Ricky Gervais show because it’s very funny."

Survey carried out and completed by Jake Hashdi

Primary Audience Research - Focus Group Responses

http://soundcloud.com/dashboard

These are the responses I got in a focus group I conducted, I have had permission of all participants to release the recordings on this website. Some of the responses are very useful conserning what they want to see and don't want to see and what they would like to see conserning narrative structures and character types. It seems that a lot of our target audience enjoy dramas with comedic elements to them. This is something we will definitely consider when writing our script.

One of the appearance release forms for the focus group

  

E4 Misfits Website Analysis

Reverse Storyboard - Misfits

This is a reverse storyboard for my programme. I have analysed in detail the convention that are stuck to within creating your production. I found out that when shooting a new location (such as in a scene change) you need an establishing shot of that area. This gives the audience time to view the location the scene will take place in. The establishing shot may show the characters in the scene it may not, in this case, it does. I also learnt that within conversation in a scene you may show the conversation in a shot-reverse-shot editing action, which shows a close-up on one character and then a close-up on the other, cutting in between the two. It seems as though the average shot length is anything between 1-4 seconds so its not long as all.  I found out that throughout every scene, there is some sort of ambient sound going on in the scene, this is something we will definitely have to consider when creating out own product.  

UK Tribes Styled Primary Research - Audience

For my primary research I logged onto UK Tribes, a website full of information regarding what different sub-cultures of young adults are into. However, the website maybe great for finding out what their favorite clothe brands and shops are but not as great for finding out what television programmes they’re into, therefore I conducted my own research into what television programmes different youths like to create my own UK Tribes styled page but for television programmes.

To find candidates for my questions I headed to Facebook, the home of youths, and asked around for people willing to answer my questions. The questions I asked were:

1. If you watch programmes on E4 which of them are your favourites and why?
2. If you don’t watch programmes on E4, what are your favourite programmes in general?
3. What draws you to these programmes?
4. If you were to make a drama yourself, what sort of things would you include?
5. And the final question, do you prefer a story line that runs though out an entire series or a story line that is different for each episode?

Skaters

The two answers I got were:

"1. How I met your mother because it is funny

2. Walking dead
3. It is tense and entertaining
4.Tense drama with small outbursts of humour
5. Main story line running throughout but with side storyline in some episodes” – Joe , 16

“I really enjoy scrubs/misfits on e4 because I enjoy comedy drama, so you get both elements of humour and a story line. If I were to make a drama i'd make a programme similar to Smallville but instead of Clark Kent, I would use Peter Parker. And I prefer a different story line each episode, so if I were to miss and episode, I would still understand what is going on.” Joe, 16

The two skaters prefer different things in the way of series structure but you can easily mix these two together, having a sub-story line running though out the series yet having a the main story line individual for each episode, like how CSI: Miami do it. Both of them seem to enjoy dramas with a comedic value to them.

Rockers

The two answers I got were:

 “Um I like big bang theory

That’s on e4

I like it because it’s very witty

If I were to make my own drama I think would evolve war or something

It would be a running plot line” – Tim, 16

“1 - skins, inbetweeners, misfits, the midnight beast, big band theory and friends, I like them because they're mostly comedy based, and I think are pretty good entertainment
2 - what draws me to the programs are good hyping done by the channel beforehand and the overall impressiveness of the comedy of the show 
3 - It would have to be a comedy, and it would have to be set in a world different to ours, maybe it be a sci-fi or just a planet like ours where something is different, so it becomes something to learn about the programs. I often find programs that are based in somewhere new attract the most attention 
4 - A mixture of both, where there is a story line running throughout the series, but each episode is something different that has relevance to the original story line” – John, 16

With the rockers, they both like the idea of a running plot line, however one of them did like the idea of a mix of both which defiantly seems like something to consider when making our own programme. John’s answer to question 3 is really interesting, the idea that when a programme is located in a new or made up place makes the show a lot more interesting.

Townies

The two answers I got were:

“Made in Chelsea, cause there's lots of drama!

Storyline that changes each episode so there's something new” – Lizzie, 17

“I watch TOWIE, Geordie shore, keeping up with the Kardashians reality TV and stuff like that and soaps like Eastenders and coronation street I don't no what draws me into these programmes I suppose the drama of it some of them are funny and the people are all young and stuff it relates to our age, and the soaps you just get into them even though you no its fake its exciting seeing what happens next if I had a drama id just include all my friends and family entertaining stuff gossip and I prefer a storyline that runs through a whole series more interesting to watch exciting to see what happens next you get more into it" – Lauren, 17

Both ‘townies’ seemed to interested in the reality TV programmes, as our programme is a scripted drama this would mean we would have to make our drama as real life as possible so that our audience can relate to it. Lauren’s idea of a story that runs though out the whole series keeps you interested in the program and makes you come back for more is true, rather like ‘Heroes’. However, Lizzie’s idea of a story line that changes though out each episode so there is something new every time is also a good way to look at it. A problem like this is something we will have to discuss as a group.

Sports Enthusiasts

The answers I got were:

 “I don't watch programmes on E4, my favourite programmes on TV are comedies like the inbetweeners, two and a half men, Gavin and Stacey! Thy draw me because they have good story lines and have been designed well! I prefer a story line that runs through an entire series! If I were to make a drama I would make it entertaining and something that every audience would enjoy!” – Jack, 16

“Big Bang theory, because i find it humorous!

I like two and a half men, and friend

It would include, murder and comedy

Series because its more interesting” – Rob, 17

“I don’t watch E4 (not sure whether south park/family guy are on E4 though haha).
I like shows like family guy, south park, breaking bad and prison break, also all sports programmes like Match of The Day and Super Sunday.
I like comedy along with action and programmes with puzzles.
I would create an action comedy similar to breaking bad have a family which is split in certain ways with drug dealing action and a constant problem to solve keeping watchers interested. 
I prefer a storyline which runs throughout and entire series personally.” - Chris, 16

The 3 sports enthusiasts seem to all enjoy comedy, so did the two skaters. This seems like an accruing thing for male audiences. The way we can promote our program to male audiences and to get them interested is to have a comedic value in our drama, but not too much comedy for it to be seen as a sitcom.

   

Casuals

The answers I got were:

 “My favourites are new girl, suburgatory

Because they're funny and I like the characters

The adverts draw me to watch them cause I think, "that looks good"

If I were to make a drama myself I would include characters that the audience can relate to

I prefer a story line that is different each episode because I don't always have time to watch all the episodes

But then again if the storyline carries on to the next episode it makes me want to keep watching the program to find out what's going to happen” – Lucy, 16

“erm big bang theory is pretty much the only e4 thingy I watch because its funny. I don’t know what I would put in a drama too be honest people would be a good start :) and different every episode” – Beth, 17

The casuals are people who don’t really fir into a category, they’re just people who go about their daily business. The idea has popped up again that the audience want characters that they can relate to, this defiantly seems like something we need to include into our program. 

Summary:
To conclude, I think that I have found out a lot of what different youths of different sub-cultures are into which could lead us to creating a very successful program. The dilemma about carrying on a story line though out an entire series or just having a single story line for each episode needs to be discussed but can be solved by mixing the two, which will appeal to all. I think from this research I can gather that a lot of youths like a comedic value when watch programs as its more entertaining for them, this is something we defiantly have to take on when creating our program. For the girls it seemed as though they enjoyed the reality TV programmes rather than the scripted dramas, as we want to appeal to all our audiences I think we have to make our programmes as realist as possible with relatable characters so we get a wider spread audience.

The Media Students Book - Secondary Audience Research

Summary
These scans are taken out of The Media Student Book and basically explains the effects the media has on audiences and the representations of audiences though the media. In this book it doesn't really help much into conducting any primary research into audience for TV programmes so for my primary research i'm going to make a post similar to the UK Tribes website but solely base it around TV programmes.

The Media Students Book - Secondary Production Research

Summary:
These images are taken out of Gill Branston and Roy Staffords 'The Media Student's Book' and explains how the organisation of production works. The two paragraphs for research state that in part of research finding contestants for a game show so that the show is compelling towards the target audience, I could apply this theory in my research for my drama in finding actors to star in my drama, I obviously want actors at an age that appeals to the audience that I am aiming for. Other parts of the book indicate production techniques that could make our work more a efficient making our final product overall better and advise from professionals can really be helpful as there understanding of production is a lot greater that ours.    

Primary Production Research - E-mailing Production Companies

In conducting my primary reseach for production companies I e-mailed 5 production companies.
The e-mail I sent them said :
"Hello,
My name is Zac Bowen and I am an A-Level Student at Stratford-Upon-Avon College. My coursework scenario explains that I work for a production company (Silver Lining Productions), a multimedia company that has had recent television success.  We have being given the opportunity to prepare a pitch for and up and coming program. This program will be targeted at audiences similar to E4’s demographic (15-35) and will be suitable for pre-watershed broadcasting. Before achieving this we need to execute primary research into similar products, for this we would be extremely grateful if you could spare us a few moments of your time to answer a few questions regarding our research ?
How do you present your content to an audience?
When producing new or existing programs, what kind of things do you consider? Typical conventions for example
When conducting research into your target audience, what key aspects do you look for? How can you tell you are appealing to the right audience correctly?
And finally, how do you communicate with your target audience ?

It would be most appreciated if you could get in touch at the earliest of your convenience. Any information you can give will be a great help. Finally, if you are aware of any external sources you could point me towards, don't hesitate in doing so, as any information from your professional experience is valued greatly.

Regards,
Zac Bowen
Student
Stratford-Upon-Avon College
 Reply Forward"

I have recieved one e-mail back which unfortunatly contained no information helpful towards our research, this e-mail stated:
"Dear Zac,

Unfortunately we're very busy at present and as such are unable to assist with any academic research projects.
 All the best,

Jen"

I have yet to receive any other e-mails back from the other 4 production companies. This is very unfortunate as it would have being great to receive advise at a high professional standard and would have being very useful when conducting our own programme.