1. SKOOL DAYZ Children’s TV Drama Opening

2. Within my main media product, I have both developed and challenged forms and conventions of real media products. An example of this would be the way in which bright coloring is used within my titles (see ‘Skool Dayz’ opening 0:01 and 0:33) throughout my research and planning I found that bright colors are used to engage a younger audience with what they are viewing on screen and making sure that they remained interested throughout the sequence. In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? An example of a title within my Children’s TV Drama Opening.

3. Furthermore, I have challenged forms and conventions of children’s TV Drama by focusing more on the group of friends, rather than the individual (see 0:17 and 0:29). I did this to show the audience the group of friends, and help them relate my TV drama opening to their real life situations-friendship groups. In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? Screen Grab from ‘The Demon Headmaster’- focus on individual character. Screen Grab from ‘Skool Days’- focus on group.

4. However, I have also included individual shots to connect the audience with the characters as an individual (see 0:18) this conforms to most of the children’s TV drama openings I studied within my planning stages. Also, I have used the conventions within the form of my opening- television drama by using fast paced editing and including a ‘created by’ title at the end of my sequence (see 0:33). On the other hand, I challenged the form of my coursework by including a mainly female cast- usually within TV drama gender is balanced to create equality and appeal to the largest spectrum of audience possible. In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

5. Also, within my ancillary tasks I have used the codes and conventions more frequently. This is because of the layout of my magazine and DVD covers are very alike to those I have studied within my research (see ancillary tasks and DVD/Magazine cover analysis). Furthermore, I have also followed conventions by matching my color scheme to my target audience (which is both male and female) I did this by using neutral colors e.g. blue. In addition to this, my DVD cover featured an episode list and screen grabs from my opening, this is typical of the DVD covers I studied within my research- to give the target audience an idea of what to expect and draw them in. On the other hand, my magazine cover is much less ‘busy’ than the covers I analyzed within my research and planning. I have conformed to codes and conventions by including competitions and freebies to interest a younger audience and make them want to purchase my product. Moreover, I feel that my combination of main and ancillary tasks was fairly effective. In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

6. Example: In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? I Have used the codes and conventions of existing media products by including a bright, eye catching title, freebies and a mid-shot of one of the main protagonists. Existing Magazine ‘Girl Power’ Coursework

7. My combination of main and ancillary tasks, in my opinion is fairly effective but could be improved on. Firstly, my ancillary tasks support my main within my presentation of character, color and setting. How effective is your combination of main and ancillary tasks?

8. Both of my ancillary tasks contain factors that would attract my target audience of male and female 7-12 year olds (see ancillary tasks). However, my actors/actresses could have been of a younger age, so that my main and ancillary tasks would have appealed to and connected with my target audience more effectively. How effective is your combination of main and ancillary tasks? Within already existing TV Drama’s like ‘The Demon Headmaster’ younger actors and actresses are used to connect more efficiently with the target audience.

9. Furthermore, my release plan for my texts would be- to be advertised on an existing children’s television channel e.g. CITV or CBBC, so that the target audience would be directly targeted. As I am aware that the individuals who currently view CITV/CBBC are likely to be interested in the themes present within ‘Skool Dayz’. How effective is your combination of main and ancillary tasks?

10. Additionally, my children’s TV drama in itself would be aired on a children’s television channel so that I reach my target audience in an efficient manner, as seen within my earlier research of children’s television drama e.g. Tracy Beaker. Moreover, the ancillary tasks would help my audience connect further with my characters and their school life- whilst relating it to their own experiences (see ancillary tasks magazine cover ‘interview with Helen’). Moreover, my Magazine and DVD could be advertised on these television channels, so that they work together as a package- that my target audience can enjoy. How effective is your combination of main and ancillary tasks?

11. Showing my children’s TV drama opening to my target audience proved fairly difficult as I had to use my target audience (males and females aged between 7 and 12). However I overcame this program by contacting various family members and their friends so that I could get a substantial sample of individuals to ask opinions about my TV drama opening- I gained the data by using a questionnaire (see questionnaire post on blog). What have you learned from audience feedback?

12. The results I gained from my questionnaire were that although my TV drama opening was fairly enjoyable, younger individuals found it, at times difficult to understand. On the other hand, the feedback I received from my ancillary tasks was a lot more positive, 80% of my target audience would purchase my DVD or magazine. I gathered the feedback by playing my Children’s TV Drama opening on screen, letting my target audience watch it and then get them to fill out my questionnaires. E.G. What did you think of my ‘Skool Dayz’ opening? ‘Good- I enjoyed it.’ What have you learned from audience feedback?

13. Moreover the ‘message’ of my text was generally understood- school life with its ups and downs that my audience can relate to. My audience feedback was more positive than my own opinion of my work- I feel that my work could have been improved on, I struggled with the more technical side of the coursework and it shows within what I produced. Additionally, from creating my main and ancillary texts I have learned that I need to be a lot more organized within my production of coursework, and furthermore use more online tutorials within ‘Photoshop’, ‘After Effects’ and ‘Premier Pro’. What have you learned from audience feedback?

14. Firstly, within the planning stages of my coursework I had to regularly use ‘You Tube’ and ‘Google’ so that I could gain and analyze a large number of already existing media texts, to help me with the production of my own coursework (findings the codes and conventions of TV drama) - opposed to AS where I only analyzed a few thriller openings (see AS media blog ‘Psycho’ analysis and ‘Sarah Jane Adventures’). New media technology- how did you use it? An example of analysis- and the level of detail I went to within my A2 Coursework.

15. Additionally, within the storyboarding stages I used ‘Premier Pro’ to edit the images and put backing music on to give myself a real idea of what my coursework could be like. From my group- based coursework at AS I had to use a lot more of my won creativity as I chose what sort of area I wanted to focus on e.g. TV drama or music video (see A2 media coursework ‘Animatic (better)’ and ‘Update- animation evaluation’. New media technology- how did you use it Screen Grab from animatic.

16. Also, throughout both my AS and A2 coursework I regularly used ‘Blogspot.com’ to record my ideas, videos and planning, this also allowed me to easily look back over my past ideas and see how they have changed and developed. Additionally, by using ‘Blogspot.com’ I was enabled to record my thoughts about how my coursework was developing and what my strengths and weaknesses are. New media technology- how did you use it

17. Lastly, within my final pieces and post production the main technologies I used were ‘Premier Pro’, ‘Photoshop’ and ‘Aftereffects’. Within A2 I had to learn how to use all of these programs in an effective manner, whereas in AS I was within a group so I did not have as much pressure on me to do it all by myself. Finally, although I struggled to use it at times, new media technology aided me to represent my creativity within my AS and A2 coursework. New media technology- how did you use it