Exam Tips

The exam will be based on either a job or a competition.
Should have:

• Coloured Pencils
• Fineliners
• Rulers, rubber etc.
• Sketches/Diagrams to extend answers where appropriate

If it states 'globally', set in somewhere big and popular e.g. Tokyo, L.A. - NOT somewhere local

Last Question

• Storyboard something
• Designing DVD cover for your crime drama  - blurb/rating
• Front cover of a TV listing magazine promoting your crime drama
• Design website homepage - look at BBC Sherlock website
• Important ingredients - codes and conventions

3 shows - in depth - venn diagram

• Sherlock
• CSI
• Luther

AND independent shows to refer to - not in depth

• Prison Break
• Dexter etc.

Two examples of theory
- Embed into work

• Uses and gratifications

- Information, Entertainment, Identity, Personal Relationships
- Enigma
- Proliferation - means an increased amount, e.g. in the last 20 years there has ben a proliferation of crime drama on television - channels, shows, platforms, then reasons.

• Hyperdermic Needle Theory

- People believe everything they are shown on media
- Copycat crime
- Link to Sociology

Narrative Theory

• Propp

- Every story has hero, villain, princess, false hero, dispatcher, helper (sidekick), donor, father

• Todorov

- Equilibrium, Disruption, Resolution
- Crime is normality in crime drama
- Disruption includes lies, multiple suspects etc.
- Resolution does not always apply

• Levi-Straus

- Stories revolve around opposites - conflict
- Law vs. Criminals
- Good vs. Evil etc.
e.g. Luther is both - borderlines

• Barthes

- All stories have enigmas
- Puzzles to be solved

Pay attention to

• Characters

- Get to know them well
- What is their vice

• Settings

- Their importance

• Set pieces and iconography
• Jargon

- Alibi
- Motive
- Blunt force trauma - opposite of e.g. stabbing - applying force with no entering of body e.g. hit with baseball bat
- MO - mode in which you operate e.g. Dexter, serial killer murders with no blood

• Write in role
• Talk about characters in a wonderful way
• Make pitch believable, mention iplayer or why you plan to use a certain actress

- BBC three niche audience
- Successful - move to BBC
- Like E4 to channel 4

• Rationale - reasoning
• Interesting ways of marketing

- Apps
- Online e.g. play whilst you are watching
- Character blogs
- Live episode
- Rare 2-parter