2018 TV Drama exam

I'll post more on here as we go.

On page 4 of a 'teen tv drama marketing' Google I found a link to a great 4-page guide produced for this specific exam (the moodle pdf link, right, if this hyperlink doesn't work).

I've tried to split the extensive resources below into key themes. Here's one so good you can start with it, as it exemplifies one of your key challenges. Further down the post, however, you'll find bar charts on which social media young people actually use, the decline of traditional TV watching, even with second screening, and the potentially A-grabbing point on using influencers to gain a wider teen audience for your marketing efforts. (The possible downsides of teen social media use could be a great narrative theme too!). There's an award for such efforts too! The overall role of second screening also needs to be addressed - below is a point on how this arguably validates some of the controversial modern teen shows like suicide-themed 13 Reasons Why - Netflix was widely condemned for releasing the new series in the exams window.

Guardian feature.

The Shorty Awards.

An interesting look at how teen TV has gotten much darker (more realistic?) over time

Some thoughts on the briefing paper - ie, issues for you to research:

THE BRIEF THEMES:

• 'new original serial dramas' [aim to create a franchise but not from a franchise]
• teen audience
• any sub-genre
• 'realistic + relevant representations of teens' ('The Serial Box is tired of the same old stereotypes of young people') [just like Class!!!]
• for a streaming platform NOT a digital channel [not tied to advertisers = more creative freedom like HBO]
• #serialtelevisiondrama
• they are moving from content provider/distributor to content creation [great article on the TV drama boom]
• why is serial TV drama so popular with audiences
• extensive pre-launch digital marketing campaign [teasers, blogs, vlogs, across all social media...]
• 'you should create characters, storylines + situations that a teen audience will engage in. ... creative, imaginative and, above all, entertaining' [so hybridise some comedy]

SCHOOL SETTING: GRANGE HILL: A long-running British teen drama (that also appealed to a wider children's audience, but was widely deemed unsuitable even for teens as it covered controversial issues like drug (heroin) addiction in a shocking way). The Wiki contents shows the type of things you're looking for: spin-offs, video game (and other 'old media' like books - pic above from here)

As Class, Buffy, The OC, Dawson's Creek, Grange Hill and endless other examples show, a school setting is a common, obvious one for teen drama, with exceptions necessitating either a context without schools (The 100) or older post-school teens (Misfits).

Once you focus on older (nearly 20) teens though, you move beyond what is intended for teen drama. Misfits would undoubtedly appeal to a teen audience, but 18-rated shows can't be marketed as teen drama.

A BBFC 15-rating is just about ok, but an 18 a definite no-no. However, you do need to show awareness of the growing 'edginess' of 'teen TV'; this article overviews many of the new shows reflecting this darkness of tone. This conservative, parental ratings, site can be useful too.

You could, though, like Dr Who, conceive of possible multiple linked series (just don't lose focus of the main one to pitch!!!) for multiple audiences linking younger, main teen, older teen + beyond:

• The Sarah Jane Adventures for tweens
• Dr Who main series - family audience from tween to adult
• Class for 15-24s (though will clearly appeal to younger as well) [BBFC 12 or 15]
• Torchwood for 15-34, with main characters all adults [BBFC 12 or 15]

RESEARCH THEMES
TEEN DRAMAS

ITV Player parental controls

Good examples? Class! Buffy. The OC. Dawson's Creek. Skins. Grange Hill. The 100. ... Its not hard to find lists. Here's some UPCOMING examples, with a clear focus on edginess + identity politics/diversity. Aussie examples. I suggest you pick 3 case studies to research, with 1 a little older (released years ago) and 2 modern with maybe a difference in their BBFC ratings.

Ideally stick to related sub-genre texts (sci-fi/fantasy/horror would seem a good bet!) for detailed case studies BUT reference any teen TV drama for wider examples, regardless of (sub-)genre.

Be clear, teen drama DOES NOT EQUAL FAMILY DRAMA. Teen dramas will be much edgier than a family drama.



PARENTAL CONTROLS, STREAMING PLATFORMS
Streaming or timeshifted viewing doesn't neatly fit the watershed concept, but age restrictions will still apply. You need to research what iPlayer (BBC), ITV Player and C4's All 4 player, (etc) do for parental restrictions.
You need more boradly to research these and the American (but increasingly global) names like HBO (Wiki), Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu - and be aware of Disney's plans to have an exclusive online subscription for ALL their content soon (so not more Marvel films/TV on Netflix), and niche examples like WWE.com. Sky also has an add-on streaming servuce, SkyGo. Here's a Guardian overview of some major players.

How have they impacted traditional TV channels?

DB Playlists

For now I'll add one linked to an exam board training course, but I'll add more here over time which are linked to some aspect of your GCSE work.

(Several gathered here)

AQA COURSEWORK TRAINING VIDS
A Dr Who vid on uStream, then a YT playlist:
Live Streaming

CSPs

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CSP list from DB3igs

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Class DVD;
Dr Who DVD;
I, Daniel Blake DVD;

TV DRAMA MEDIA LANGUAGE Class and Downton clips

Two short clips to look at, one 30-second trailer for Class (Season 4, BBC3) and ITV's Downton Abbey season 1 trailer (60 seconds).

CLASS, BBC3 SEASON 4 TRAILER

SOME WIDER CONTEXT:

• a BBC3 (online via iPlayer youth [15-34] channel) sci-fi spin-off from Dr Who, but for YA audience (slightly older than Dr Who)
• here's a BBC summary
• there is lots of content, including fan art and other UGC, on this BBC page
• ...and the Wiki.
• Skip to the bottom for more videos which help put Class in context

HOMEWORK FOR MONDAY 18TH: Storyboard this trailer. Drawings don't need to be complex - stick men/shapes are fine. Denote (write) the basic framing (ELS-ECU range; 2-shot, OTS etc) and angle (LA/HA/MA/DA; worm's eye; helicopter shot). Comment on the media language used.

NEW DRAMA STORYBOARDING TASK: BBC3 is a youth (15-34) channel. BBC4 goes for an older, upmarket audience, and is launching a new drama series called Home, about the goings on in a retirement ('old folks') home. Your job is to come up with a storyboard of at least 12 shots for a trailer that (1) sets the scene (2) introduces 3 key characters (3) one of which is a terrifying bully. EXTENSION: If you have time, you can also add notes on the non-diegetic music you would use; how costume or props would signify or connote [symbolize] character; and any transitions or SFX you might use.

YOUR BBC4 DRAMA - QUICK DECISIONS TO MAKE:
(A) TWIST Like Class, is there a twist or 'hybrid' element? It adds Dr Who sci-fi to the school drama, yours can be outrageous too. 
(B) CHARACTERS - decide on the age, gender and position (resident or worker, manager or owner) HERO - a resident or a worker/boss? VILLAIN/BULLY - a resident or a worker/boss? Male or female? Age? 3RD KEY CHARACTER -  a sidekick, love interest, perhaps the boss/owner? Male or female?
(C) SCENES TO INCLUDE IN TRAILER You might have one longer scene, but include some shots from multiple scenes just as you'd expect a trailer to. Think about shots that help establish the setting; the nature of characters (eg angles, two shot); create some mystery.


DOWNTON ABBEY, ITV SEASON 1 TRAILER


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Shoes like Class arguably exist because of the high school/horror hybrid Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which also blended comedy and romance into its hybrid genre approach. We call an early influential example, almost a template for further efforts, an archetype.


Here's a longer Class trailer (the 19 seconds trailer is a teaser trailer) which should give you a better idea of how the show works.

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