Summer Project: coursework planning:

1) Research: TV drama trailer analysis

GENRE: CRIME DRAMA

Narrative and genre:

Research: TV drama trailer analysis
TV drama trailer 1: Narrative and genre-Broadchurch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngsFOWAPTDI
Narrative is communicated by using many techniques in Broadchurch’s trailer. One way is by the dialogue. We can see that the narrative in this crime drama is based around the discovery of an 11 year old boy’s body on a beach in a town called ‘Broadchurch’ and the plot is finding out who killed him, in an 8 part series drama. This is communicated through the dialogue from a news reporter at the beginning of the trailer stating “the body of an 11 year old child was found…”.Also, the various bits if dialogue such as “we will find who did this”, emphasises the crime aspect, as it shows that they will be searching for the killer. It also implies how the narrative will be driven forward in each episode as the text on screen says “A town wrapped in secrets” so these ‘secrets’ will be “unravelled in a major 8 part drama”. By using text on screen lures the audience in as it suggests enigma (Barthes). Moreover, a genre is communicated in various forms, one way is through the mise-en-scene. We are able to identify Broadchurch as Crime Drama because of its plot/storyline. The opening shot of the trailer consists of the detective going into the crime scene and walking under police tape which already establishes the crime genre, along with this the dialogue is said “the body…”. Forensics walk around the house wearing the white overall, the press conference etc. Moreover, we can see that the genre is crime as they are showing various people’s faces to create suspense and enigma- who is the killer?-the ensemble cast. This drives the narrative. So they work together in conjunction.     

TV drama trailer 2: Mise-en-scene-Thirteen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oYf2n-acIA

Costume- The protagonist is a 26 year old women who was kidnapped at the age of 13. She is seen wearing a white gown which is old and creased, showing how she has been missing and has escaped. This creates meanings for the audience as it suggests that she has been isolated and hurt and has escaped a house. She is wearing old clothes and night suits throughout the whole trailer to show her isolation and how the kidnapping affected her. Also, the costumes of the people around her are casual, everyday wear to show how their lives have moved on. We can see how this is a crime drama because of her interview at the station and the forensics clip.
Lighting- The lighting throughout the trailer is desaturated and monochrome to highlight the slightly mysterious part of the drama, people are contemplating to whether Ivy’s story is true and how she escaped and also questioning who is her kidnapper.
Actor- The protagonist in this drama is a female aged 26. We can see how her character seems unstable and unsettled as she has just escaped. Her voice is shaky and we can gear the desperation in her voice as she is talking to the police from the phone booth. In general throughout the trailer her face is in shock and looks under pressure.
Make-up- The makeup on the protagonist is subverts the general stereotype of women, she isn’t wearing glamourous make up, instead her face is shown as weak and she has dark eyes to suggests the trauma she has been through. It’s all done to show her weakness etc.
Props- They haven’t used many props in this trailer. One of them that could be seen as one is the phone booth she rings from, it’s quite old and unused.
Setting- They have a used a few settings in this trailer: outdoors, the house and the police station. The settings have a monochrome colour.



TV drama trailer 3: Camerawork-Line of Duty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ98VaOoz94
The initial shot of the trailer is of the BBC 2 logo and the type of drama. The first shot shown of the drama itself is a mid-shot and zoom in to the protagonist of the drama- “Detective Chief Inspector, Anthony Gates”, he is awarded ‘Officer of the year’ so this already creates an impression for the audience, the protagonist is a high achiever so it will be interesting to watch over the episodes. Then the ensemble cast begins to be introduced, we can see how they have mainly used medium close ups to close ups along with the zoom in to highlight the ensemble cast. Moreover, the camera is always moving, this is done to show how the pace picks up and action increases- this tends to happen more in the second half of the trailer when the plot suddenly becomes a whole lot interesting. By doing this the audiences are lured into to watching the drama as they are left to find out what is going on. The various settings don’t use the traditional establishing shot, they tend to be of a character and we can see the change of surrounding, so settings aren’t really introduced.

TV drama trailer 4: Editing- The Killing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkbfvPeH3G0

Analyse pace, transitions, number of shots and juxtaposition e.g. eyeline matches. Does the pace speed up towards the end of the trailer? 
The trailers pace is split into two halves. The first half of the trailer has a slower pace to add up to the intense scenes and suspense. The second half of the trailer the pace picks up and so does the action. The first transition is a fade cut from the setting to introducing the title of the TV drama. It then fade cuts again into the action. Throughout the trailer fade cuts are used to jump from dialogue/action to text on screen. As for the number of shots, these increases as the trailer goes on, along with the pace of the trailer. They have used a few eyeline matches to go with the dialogue, for example the part when they are interviewing the mother, they say her name and Linda looks towards her photographs n the wall- they wanted to audiences to notice something about her. Additionally, at 0.45 seconds the trailer creates a notion of looking, Linda is holding a photograph of trees and in the background we can see similar looking trees, so she has held it against it too see if the locations are the same. At 55 seconds the pace speeds up, so does the action and suspense, the plot starts going complicated as there is a new breakthrough that they weren’t aware about before. There aren’t many juxtapositions in this trailer.

TV drama trailer 5: Sound-Dark

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESEUoa-mz2c

Analyse both diegetic and non-diegetic sound - music, dialogue, voiceover, SFX, background or foley sound etc.
This drama is a foreign TV crime drama- they use many conventions of sound. As soon as the trailer starts music is already playing- sounds almost sinister type, matches with the mystery plot of the drama so drives the narrative and excites the audiences. At 0.08 seconds the dialogue/voiceover (because they are showing a scene) kicks in, this is in foreign language but they have used subtitles- this informs the audiences about the event that has recently occurred in the town, but also leaves the audiences questioning the incident as they wrote “another boy”, meaning that this is a persisting issue of the town. At 0.12 seconds the dialogue is in and the pace and tone of the music changes, suddenly becomes louder and much more powerful. From 0.25 seconds till 0.37 the music becomes faster and louder and the pace of the cation in the trailer picks up. After this the music is erratic and powerful to increase the tension and enigma of the crime in the TV drama. This trailer uses a lot of non-diegetic sound to build up pace and tension for the audience, a technique to excite and lure the audience’s in.  To enhance the sounds they have used FX to make it seem much more exciting and eventful.

TV drama trailer 6: Trailer conventions, graphics, text-on-screen etc.-Bodyguard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZj4M_Qz-mI

The Bodyguard trailer is a conventional TV drama trailer as it includes many conventions- text on screen, sound (diegetic and non-diegetic), dialogue etc. The opening shot of the drama is of a police chase, this establishes the crime genre of the drama. Most of the trailers I have analysed have that initial/opening shot of the police or a crime suspect/scene to establish the crime genre. Moreover, the opening shot also shows the BBC 1 logo, which is similar to how Broadchurch showed ITV at the end of their trailer. Also, every trailer I have analysed shows the name of their drama at the end as well, this one ends with saying ‘Bodyguard’-it’s done deliberately to remind the audience of what the drama is called etc. Moreover, the typography in his trailer matches the scenario, for example bodyguard is a crime drama that contains a lot of violence and action, so its font is quite rugged and monochrome in its colour.  This trailer doesn’t necessarily use text on screen apart from the last shot showing the title, but it uses more dialogue and sounds. This trailer doesn’t have any social media links, however, other trailers I have analysed do have some synergy.


TV drama film pitch: 

A Level Media NEA – Brief 5: TV drama trailer and culture magazine

TV drama concept

Our coursework brief requires us to create our own TV drama trailer and culture magazine for an original TV drama in the crime or family drama genres. Plan the following:

Title: ????? crook, rogue, criminal, suspects, accused, prime suspects, twisted, deceive, deception

Tagline: 2 suspects, 2 versions, 1 truth… OR… 2 murders, 2 suspects, 2 versions.

????

Genre (and sub-genre/hybrid genre if applicable): CRIME DRAMA

Setting (note brief – at least two locations):

·         Forest/park- exterior

·         Police station/office-interior

·         House-interior

·         City 

Number of episodes: 5???

Channel and time/day of broadcast (note brief – prime-time, pre-watershed, family audience):
 Pre-watershed

·         Prime time tv so suitable for a family audience

·         ITV

Logline – one sentence that sums up the whole TV drama series and hooks people in (25 words or fewer):
A renowned writer and a young housewife become the prime suspects in a double murder. A police detective (NAME) must discover who's telling the truth when both suspects offer conflicting stories about the events of that night.

Other successful TV dramas that are similar to yours:

·         Broadchurch- ITV

·         The Killing- Netflix

Narrative arc – what happens in the overall series and in what order (includes episode narratives) :

·          EPISODE 1: (MALE 1) is a renowned writer of an Indian background. On the launch of his new book, he leaves and when he returns he finds his wife (FEMALE 2) dead in their room. The police suspect him so he goes on the run by taking the car. As the cops give chase, his car is turned over and he escapes with injuries and takes shelter in a nearby apartment. (FEMALE) a young housewife who lives there, spots a police car outside and rushes there for help….The police find (MALE 1) next to the body of her lawyer husband, (MALE 3), who has been murdered. They also find burnt photographs in the trash. (MALE 2) a new officer investigating the double murder, interrogates both suspects. NEXT EPISODE.

·          EPISODE 2: According to (MALE 1) account, he fled from the police because he was scared that he would be blamed for his wife's murder. ALIBI: He found (FEMALE) at her door and asked for help. He added that his wife did not attend the book launch, as she was unwell and took medicines for her heart condition. (MALE 1) entered her flat. (FEMALE) introduced (MALE 4), who entered her house saying he was her husband. When (MALE 1) saw a photo on her wall and realized he was not her husband, (MALE 4) attacked him and he lost consciousness. When he was up, he found a body lying next to him. While in custody he was shown removing his shoe as if his foot

is sore or shoe is pinching him. CLIFFHANGER- NEXT EPISODE

·          EPISODE 3: According to (FEMALE) account, she found an injured (MALE 1) at her door, asking for help and that he pushed his way in. When she let him in to make a phonecall she found out (by reading the news on her phone) that he is wanted for his wife’s murder. He then threatened her with a knife and blackmailed her saying if she tells anyone he will kill her aswell and tied her down, he began searching for documents at (MALE 3) desk when she turned a visiting (MALE 4) away, with whom she confessed of having an affair with. Around midnight, her husband returned and struggled to free her from him, a fight broke out. (FEMALE) rushed outside to a police vehicle for help. By the time she returned, he had killed her husband with a knife. NEXT EPISODE.

·          EPISODE 4: Meanwhile, the police find out new information that a gang rape victim (FEMALE 3) committed suicide recently because (MALE 1) had written his book about that incident and, hoping to prevent his book from being a failure, he had leaked her identity to generate buzz. Also, the police get a report back from autopsy saying that (FEMALE 2) body reveals that she had died of a heart attack, which matches MALES 1’S alibi (his wife had a heart condition).The forensic team informs (MALE 2) that (MALE 3) was attacked on the head by someone who was at least 6 feet tall. The police initially suspect (MALE 1) as his height is around that. However, it is found that the burnt photographs were those of (FEMALE) and (MALE 4), who is also about 6 feet tall. The photographs had been taken by a detective hired by (MALE 3). The police eventually conclude that (MALE 1) account is true and (FEMALE AND MALE 4) had killed husband when he confronted them with the photos. Moreover, there was no mud on (MALE 3) shoes at the time of his death. It had rained at 11 pm and there was mud on the streets. (MALE 1) had stated that (MALE 3) had come home at 7:30, hence his account was believed to be true whereas (FEMALE) account of her husband returning home at 12 am was labelled false as a result. (MALE 1) is deemed innocent and released from custody. He cremates his wife's body, and the two are arrested and charged with (MALE 3) murder. The officer returns home and sees (MALE 1) book on his shelf and picks it up…NEXT EPISODE

·          EPISODE 5: At home, (MALE 2) is reading (MALE 1) second book when his sister arrives home ruins the ending saying that the protagonist dies of drug overdose. FLASHBACK- male 1’s wife had a heart attack… (MALE 2) rushes to the forensic doctor to check if (MALE 1) wife could have died from an overdose of the medicine she had been taking for her heart. They discover that the capsules had been tampered with and the dosage was extremely high, which caused her to have a fatal heart attack. (MALE 2) calls (MALE 1) while the he is about to catch a flight. On the phone, (MALE 1) confesses to having killed both people. He killed his wife because she was threatening to charge him for the suicide of (FEMALE 3). (MALE 3) was the lawyer working with her to file a case THE END

Episodic narratives – what will happen in each episode?

·         SPECIFIED IN SECTION ABOVE

Main protagonist – their motivation, conflicts etc.:

·         NAME (MALE 1) BOOKWRITER-suspected for killing his wife and murdering another man. He goes on the run. Claims that he is framed for murder, so may gain audience sympathy, but he may have a doubtful audience.

·         NAME (FEMALE) - YOUNG, NEWLY MARRIED- suspected for killing her husband, blames (MALE 1) for killing him. Claims she is framed for murder so may gain audience sympathy, as well as a doubtful audience.

·         NAME (MALE 2) - POLICE OFFICER- chief head of police, investigating the murder, detective. Will gain respect from audience as he is resolving the issue, but may gain hatred as he is keeping them both arrested, he is new so is criticized. Some audiences will favour one or the other alibi.

Other characters, their narrative role and their audience appeal:

·         (MALE 3)- LAWYER, DEAD HUSBAND- finding out who killed him. Brief appearance.

·         (FEMALE 2)- (MALE 1) DEAD WIFE- finding out who killed her. Brief appearance.

·         (FEMALE 3)- No appearance but mentioned.

·         (MALE 4)- Brief appearance.

·         POLICE OFFICER- DONOR?

·         POLICE OFFICER- DONOR?

Target audience for your TV drama (note brief – family audience, pre-watershed broadcast etc.): age, gender, social class, interests, psychographic groups etc.

·         The target audience for this tv drama will be people prefebley aged 12 and over, this is due to the content in the film being more a understandable to an adult/mature audience, e.g. crime drama. However, is suitable for family audience as it doesn’t contain any violent scenes or swearing.

·         I have chosen to subvert the usual stereotypes of tv dramas by using a more younger ensemble cast. This is because the detective in most crime dra,as are already well established and are seen as having a higher position in society, whereas this police officer is someone trying to make his name.

·         The TA doesn’t need to be targeted to a specific gender as the two main roles are taken by both males- (Gill, Female Gaze) and a female-(Mulvey, Male Gaze).

·         Due to the tv drama being a mainstream genre (crime) it can attract most people to watch, which will be predominantly middle class.

·         People interested in crime and mystery will watch this tv drama. Also, maybe people interested in police/detective work, solving problems may watch this drama as it’s crime genre.

Culture magazine:

·         Cover page- contain a masthead and a main flash, smaller cover lines.

·         Contents page- page numbers etc

 Q&A page- exclusive interview with cast members.

Statement of intent:

I plan to make a tv drama trailer on the genre of crime. The narrative is about a renowned writer and a young housewife become the prime suspects in a double murder. A police detective must discover who's telling the truth when both suspects offer conflicting stories about the events of that night. Therefore, both interior and exterior locations will be used.

The trailer will be made up of different scenes of the crime drama, parts from different episodes. At the very start of the trailer I will show my channels logo (ITV), as this is what every trailer tends to have. By doing this it will show that my company is well established and already targets an audience, middle class ABC1 category, and a family audience. Crime dramas tend to show scenes at different points in each episode throughout the trailer so this is one of the conventions I will be using. Other conventions I will be using are interrupting the action (Enigma and Action codes- Barthes) by using text on screen, it will appear to lure the audiences because of the slight cliff-hanger. Another technique I will be using to gain audience’s attention will be by writing ‘from the makers of…’ this way a wider range of audiences are captured.  Also, like many other successful crime drama trailers, I will pick out the best scenes to put into my trailer in order to attract my target audience. The title of the movie will also be shown at the end, this is because the audiences are left to the edge while watching trailers, and also this way the title becomes more memorable.  The typography used in my trailer will be san serif, this drama is for families so being less formal is better. The music used in my trailer will be both non-diegetic and diegetic, the music will indicate that a frightful moment is about to happen, so the audience is left in suspense but don’t get to see what really happens. I will also be using dialogue in my trailer. The people in my trailer will be wearing relatively normal clothing in order to be more relatable with a family audience. I will be using both light and dark scenes in my trailer, the dark scenes will create dark shadows to communicate the mysterious crime genre. In order to communicate my crime narrative to the audience, I will be showing shots of interviewing, the alibi and it will also be communicated through the mise-en-scene and type of editing (at the end of my trailer I will change the pace to faster to build up tension and suspense.)

My target audience for this tv drama would be aimed at a family audience, in particular aged 12 and older. The reason I have selected age 12 is because the content may be difficult to understand for a younger audience. Therefore, the audiences will find my drama more relatable as they will be able to identify with the characters of all ages- links to Uses and Gratifications-1974. Additionally, people of this age range are able to understand crime activity. The drama is aimed at a mainstream audience, therefore the demographics which will fit in with this will be ABC1 category, middle class. The target audience doesn’t need to be targeted to a specific gender as the two main roles are taken by both males and females. However, due to the protagonists being both male and female it might attract more males- (Mulvey- The Male Gaze 1975) and more females – (Gill- The Female Gaze). However, nowadays due to the feminist movement it may attract more women to watch as it may make them feel empowered that a lady is in the lead role.

I intend to create a cast that reflects an ethnic minority- Asian. This will help me attract a wider audience, not only in terms of age, but of ethnic groups. Therefore, I will be subverting the traditional stereotypes seen in conventional tv dramas films. I will also be reflecting a positive representation of young people in this film scene- this is because many crime dramas nowadays represent young people as menacing, however, these young people are seen as guilty without proof, and the police officer is new so trying to make his name. This allows the audience to easily emphasise and identify with each of the characters. However, I will be keeping some conventional ideas, such as the killer being found guilty in the end so comes to an end.

My tv drama trailer will be a aimed at a mainstream audience. My culture magazine will contain 4 pages; a front cover, a contents page and 2 internal pages of Q&A related to my crime drama.