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.