The Brief (scroll down for initial ideas)
This is our brief for UNIT 22 which asks us to create a script based on our UNIT 21 TV drama idea. We have been asked to script 10-15 minutes of the script, which if formatted correctly should equate to 10-15 A4 pages (1 min per page) including probably around 4 scenes - unless I decide to take a different approach. This means I will be looking at my episode breakdown which I created from my drama in order to find an episode I find most interesting where I could create a captivating 15 min extract.
Target audience
To fit BBC3’s brief, this programme will be aimed a 16-21 year olds because the BBC would like to encourage a younger audience’s interest in the channel when it is released back on TV in 2022. The target audience will be unisex and the program will feature problems and characters relevant to both genders and although sexuality is not a key theme it will be outlined briefly through character relationships. The programme will be targeted at UK viewers primarily in the North as it will mainly be shot in Yorkshire but feature some scenes in London and around the UK. To emphasise this UK target audience the characters will be British and possible British traditions will be outlined. These characters will be very diverse in ethnicity as this will better represent the UK’s multiculturalism and broaden the audience.
Purpose of product
This project would satisfy two of Bulmer and Katz’s reasons that people consume media. The first being escapism/diversion – audiences seeking pure entertainment and thrill. This is a key purpose of TV dramas typically and my programme would satisfy this by having fast paced action scenes, engaging character arcs (to slightly satisfy the identification purpose,) interesting mis–en–scene and soundtrack. The other main purpose of this programme would be surveillance – it would serve to educate viewers about racial conflict, sexism, manipulation and climate change. It would also educate the viewer about the pros and cons of drug use as well as highlighting the conflict between young and old regarding drug use and race. Similar to extremely successful tv dramas in recent years such as Killing Eve and Line of Duty, this programme would also approach the topics of police and government corruption in order to build public understanding and encourage further thinking from the older generations about these organisations – possibly reflecting on the major protests in the past couple years.
Script type
This script will be a shooting script as opposed to a spec script because we have already been given the green light to create this drama. This means including shot types, SFX, everything.
What is most important? / set -up or cliffhanger?
This small extract would be intended to get further backing for the programme meaning it has to captivate the viewer and build interest which means choosing an episode or part of the episode packed with action and relatability. This might mean avoiding slow paced set up episodes however they do feature important plot lines.
Extract ideas
In this mind-map and following table I briefly look at 6 different ideas for 15 minute extracts of my TV drama which I could write a script for.
Extract 1- Ep1, 00:00-15:00. This is the very first extract of the entire show and is very slow paced whilst introducing each of the characters and their relationships to each other. It is set in an apartment in Leeds featuring all of the student characters.
Extract 2- Ep2, 45:00-60:00. This is the end 15 minutes of the first episodes and gives us more insight into the drug that Ini is creating and ends with him successfully creating and testing it as they all celebrate.
Extract 3- Ep3, 25:00-40:00. At this point in the plot the distribution and popularity of the drug is increasing which means that there is lots more action. In addition, this is when the narrative splits and we see the police perspective.
Extract 4- Ep4, 45:00-60:00. At this point in the plot the drug is gaining international attention and this is when the main characters goes into hiding in the countryside whilst the police are building more evidence and catching more people.
Extract 5- Ep5, 20:00-35:00. In this extract the main character is really deteriorating mentally whilst still in hiding as one of his former closest friends is caught and the police move closer to catching him.
Extract 6- Ep6, 45:00-60:00. This is the very last 15 minutes of the season and ends with the main character being arrested by the police in an airport returning from a trip to Spain to talk with suppliers. Ends on that as a cliffhanger.
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