TV Drama

 L/O: To research the history, companies & regulators in the TV Industry.

Publicly owned TV Channel: funded by the government

Commercial TV Channel: funded through advertisement's

Convergence: Joining different technologies into one

Watershed: when adult content (15+) can be shown at certain times

Segmented market: audience divided into to groups based on their interests and tastes

Mainstream: the ideas, attitudes, or activities that are regarded as normal or conventional

Self-Regulating: not regulated by outsiders

Franchise: a product to use format/show/ideas

Channel-surfing: frequently changing from one program to another, watching one for a short time

PSB: Public Service Broadcasts, regulators demand channels fulfil certain requirements

TV License: any household or business watching, required to pay license fee

Scheduling: deciding what shows to show at certain times

Conglomerate: a company that owns several smaller businesses whose products or services are different

When was TV introduced to the UK? September 22nd 1955

In 1965, how many channels were there and what were they? 3 CBS NBC ABC

When did ITV start? September 22nd 1955

Which UK channels have to follow PSB remits? BBC

Who regulates TV now? Ofcom

Who regulated TV channels in the 1960s? OCR

List the differences between TV now and the 60s. Colour, bigger audience, TVs pretty much in every household

 L/O: To explore how audiences consume TV dramas and the appeals

Despite being able to watch time-shifted programmes or stream TV, the majority of audiences still watch live TV on a TV set, The PSB channels are still the most popular - 85% of people in the UK with a TV watch PSB channels.

So, if technology means we can watch what we want, whenever we want, why do we still watch live TV? To see what's going on in the world right now rather than finding out at a later date.

One of the reasons for watching TV is Second Screening: screenings that encourage audiences to join discussion on various social media during a live TV show.

Another reason is Audience Interactivity: viewers are encouraged to vote to determine the outcome. This continued engagement increases their commitment to the programme and loyalty to the channel.

A Passive audience accepts and believes everything a media text tells them. They are easily influenced and don't question any messages conveyed.

An Active audience interacts with a media text and makes its own decisions about whether to accept and believe everything. They question messages and may interpret meanings differently.

 L/O: To research the TV show the avengers

Which institution channel produced the show? ITV

Who was the primary and secondary audience? Mainstream adult audience

When did the first episode air? 7th January 1961

How many seasons were made? 6

What date/year was the last episode aired?1969

What was the budget for season 4? £56,000 per episode

The 4th series was different to the third due to a $2million deal with ABC. It was shot on film. What did this mean in term of: locations, production values, editing, camerawork & sound?

Who were the stars of S4 EP1? Patrick Macnee, Diana Rigg and Alan MacNaughton

How did the Avengers compare, in terms of the representation of rising youth culture, compared to the BBC's flagship drama: The Forstyle Saga 

How many channels were there in 1965? 3

What did that mean about audiences and channel loyalty?

Which channel was ITV's main rival? BBC

 What made ITV financially secure?

What happened that meant S4 had a larger budget than usual? A deal with ABC

L/O: Research the social, historical and political context of The Avengers

What do you know about the 1960s? Music 

Where do your impressions come from? The Beatles, Elvis Presley etc.

What had happened in the UK during the 1940s/50s? WW2 damages everywhere, military bases prepped at the country side

 1961-1965

Political events

Sports/music/art events

Box office hit films

Science/Technology developments

Who were the most famous bands in the 60s? The, Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Beach Boys, Bee Gees, Pink Floyd

Which political party was in power in 1965? Wilson Ministries

Were illegal drugs a big culture? Yes

What scientific development changed women's lives?

What significant historic events happened?

What were being fought around the world?

What were people protesting about in the UK?

How would life have been different in the 60s for women, men and different races compared to now in the UK?

In 1965, the Cold War was at its height ,Britain was a part of NATO - a group of 12 western countries who agreed to support each other in the face of a Soviet attack. In relation, The Soviet Union formed a pact with 7 other communist countries. Europe was divided into two armed sides.

Anxieties about nuclear war were common as both the Soviet Union and the Us were building up their armies and weapons. In 1962, The Cuban Missile Crisis took place over a terrifying week when the two countries took the world to the brink of a nuclear war.

Both sides in the Cold War used Espionage - as a way of finding out what the other side was doing and as a way to plant false information. A number of double agents were found guilty of spying in the early 60s and either defected or imprisoned.

 L/O: Research the 2010s (UK) in terms of social, cultural and political climate of the decade; research TV in 2015.

What were the key events, in the UK and globally, that happened in 2015 that might influence a Tv series set in present day UK?

Which political party was in power in 2015? Conservative

Who was PM in 2015? David Cameron 

What was the relevance of UKIP being so popular?

 What were some major fears and issues of the post 9/11 era? Heightened suspicion of non-Americans, increased government efforts to address terrorism and more aggressive American foreign policy    

What wars were being fought around the world in 2015? Turkey and Tunisia

What were people protesting about in the UK in 2015? Anti-Austerity

Conventions of Police Drama

Prison Break- 

Narrative: An engineer put himself in a prison he helped to design to save his falsely accused brother from a death sentence.

Set: Joliet Prison, Fox River State Penitentiary 

Money Heist-

Narrative: A criminal mastermind who goes by 'The Professor' has a plan to pull off the biggest heist in history, his plan is to print billions of euros in the Royal Mint of Spain. To help him with this he recruits 8 criminal with specific abilities and who have nothing to lose. They take hostages to negotiate with the authorities, who try to take the professor down. As time passes they prepare for a showdown with the police.

Set: Royal Mint of Spain

Grimm-

Narrative: Nick Burkhardt, a detective, begins to see things no one else can, creatures that hide as humans. He soon realises that like his ancestors he too is a huntsman 

Set: Portland Oregon.

The Outsider- 

Narrative: Following an investigation which as first seems like it will be simple and straight forward but things change as it leads to a gruesome murder of a young boy by a seasoned cop. When an insidious supernatural force edges it way into the case, it makes the investigators question everything they believe in.

Set: Georgia 

Stranger Things-

Narrative: When Joyce's 12 yr old son Will goes missing she launches an investigation into his disappearance with the local authorities. As they search for answers they discover a series of extraordinary mysteries

Set: Hawkins 

The Valhalla Murders 

Slasher

The Sinner

Supernatural

Brooklyn 99

The Boys

17/03/2021

Cuffs: S1 Ep1

Character names-

PC Ryan Draper: Strong, Passionate, Gets the job done

PC Jake Vickers: New Cop, got the job because of his dad (son of chief), eager, naive

DS Jo Moffat: Desperate, Successful 

Chief Super Robert Vickers: Careless, Distant, Cold hearted, doesn't show emotions 

PC Lino Moretti: Funny, Joker

PC Donna Prager: Funny, Confident, Committed 

DI Felix Kane: Preserved, Humble

DC Carl Hawkins: Strong, Hot Headed, Stubborn, Funny

Storyline:  

Setting: Brighton Urban seaside

Appeal:

U&G

Have a wide range of characters to identify with.

May see characters such as Ryan Draper & Donna Prager as role models.

May empathise with the difficulties police face.

May enjoy seeing characters who are not defined by their sexuality.

Social realism offers the sense of informing the audience about police work and the criminal world.

Social Realism: A style of TV Drama that is grounded in the contemporary world in terms of setting, characters and social issues, often portraying in social injustice.

May feel part of the team. 

May build a personal relationship with a character.

May enjoy discussing episodes.

Can escape into the fictional world.

Can take pleasure in seeing the characters in danger, solving conflict, facing challenges.

Can feel reassured by the hard work & dedication of the police team.

May enjoy seeing the police teams way of living/life.

May enjoy the humour/action & suspense.

Entertainment

Raid scene- dangerous situation, dangerous characters, don't listen to instructions, add tension as they break the rules, slow motion, emphasis danger. Close up on the weapons, lots of action, fight scene, threats made. 

Social Interaction

Felix goes to a brothel rather than going home, is it to investigate or not?

How does the affair go for Jo and Robert?

Does Jake get to meet the solicitor?

24/03/2021

L/O: To analyse representation and influence of social and cultural context in Cuffs.

Cuffs & Social Contexts

Representation- How something is presented. 

Characters: PC Ran Draper, Chief Super Robert Vickers

Props: Costumes/ Nudist beach sign

Character Interaction: Fight on beach

Dialogue: Chief Super Robert Vickers, Police radio

Stereotypes: Drunk people harassing people on the nudist beach

Stronger roles for women reflect gender quality, How can this be seen in this episode? Jo and Donna, strong characters.

A change in attitude towards masculinity. Different roles present in a positive light. How can this be seen in the episode? Felix, calm, quiet, preserved.

Traditional 'masculine' and 'feminine' qualities no longer reserved for particular genders. How can this be seen in the episode? Gets physically involved in the raid scene.

DS Jo Moffat- Important detective, although it could be argued because of her affair with her boss, Chief Super Robert Vickers. She is represented as weak at the press conference when she hesitates, but strong in a police raid. Her status and power reflect the number of women in positions of authority in 2015.

PC Donna Prager- Strong, Experienced, equal to male partner, confident, respected

PC Jake Vickers- Naive, inexperienced, over confident, dedicated

Chief Superintendent Vickers- Traditional, dominant, controlling. authoritative, patriarchal 

PC Lino Moretti- Comical character, eating is a focus joke, dedicated, experienced, respected

PC Ryan Draper- Respected, determined, focused, trusted, caring single parent, gentle, emotional when angry with jake, bravely confronts racist criminal.

Type of Masculinity- Robert Vickers, Authoritative and Patriarchal. Jake Vickers, strong confident and emotional. Lino Moretti, comical confrontational. Carl Hawkins, aggressive confrontational, Felix Kane, calm and sensitive. Ryan Draper, Determined focused emotional and caring.

Stereotypical or Anti Stereotypical- Robert Vickers, stereotypical. Jake Vickers, anti stereotypical . Lino Moretti, stereotypical. Carl Hawkins, stereotypical. Felix Kane, anti stereotypical. Ryan Draper, anti stereotypical.

Visibility of LGBT characters increased and accepted representations. How can this be seen in the episode? Jake, solicitor. Responsible and successful, secondary to their jobs is their sexuality.

Jake Vickers character challenges the stereotype of homosexuality being an issue or problem. How can this be seen in the episode?

Positive view of multiculturalism reflects 2015 attitudes- family, boy who is at university in the UK. Differences in ethnicity are accepted, yes by the police and the main characters as from varied ethnic backgrounds. Racism still exists in Britain, racist group attacks boy in shop. Racist group represented negatively- uneducated, white WC, drink and drugs. The powerful anti-racist message reflects society attitudes in 2015- racism is outdated.  

31/03/2021

The Avengers : The town of no return(1965)

 L/O: To explore the narrative, characters and appeal of series 4, episode 1.

The Narrative (storyline)

The Characters (stereotypes) Mrs Peel, Steed

How the episode shows the social and cultural context (mid 60s, issues)

Audience Appeal (what makes the audience want to watch)

Why might this programme have appealed to the audiences at this time?

Personal Identity

Steed- traditional James bond figure, reliable, strong, dependent. Remind those who fought in WW2 as steed fought. Those who know someone who fought in the WW2.

Mrs Peel- married, has a career, strong independent, powerful, aspiration to the audience. New generation.

Could identify and empathise with the upper-class role models.

Could explore and/or reinforce their own values & views.

Could gain info about the world of espionage/spies.

Could feel reassured that there were highly capable agents protecting Britain.

Escape from the world, enjoy the danger and repetitive each week.

Family event, watched together, discussed. 

19/04/2021

Analysing an extract

Camerawork

establishing shots- shot at the start of the scene

low angle, high angle, canted angle or aerial shots- different camera angles

camera movement: tracking, steadicam or crane shots- change in frame or perspective 

hand held camera- supported by the operators hand and shoulder

point of view shots- shows what the character is looking at in the first person

shallow focus and focus pulls- changing distance between a stationary object and moving camera

Editing

shot/ reverse shot- one character is looking at the other and the other one looks back

juxtaposition- two things being or placed together with a contrasting effect

non continuity editing- disrupt the expression of space and time

crosscutting- switching back and forth between scenes

fast paced editing- several consecutive shots in a brief duration

transition, dissolve, wipe, fade- 

post production effects 

How has sound been used to create meaning? 

Sound has been used in the extract to create meaning. The first example of this is that it creates a sense of mystery. Theme music in the title credit is upbeat and modern but has a serious mysterious tone. This use of sound suggests that the episode will be aimed at a younger dynamic audience. In the 1960s there would only be one TV in the household so we would expect the younger and older generation to be watching. That means the theme music is used to help attract a younger audience. 

By attracting the younger audience it might peak interest to the older audience to why they enjoy watching whatever they are watching on TV so much. This may get the older generation to watch it and if they liked it they could tell other people and more generations will watch it. Starting with the catchy theme sound that will probably be stuck in your head for days, if you started singing/humming it people would ask whats its from and that would peak even more interest to others. Therefore the sound is a key part. It creates an atmosphere of mystery and adventure creating an image can tell you what kind of show its going to be. However the ambient sounds radiates from the theme tune can make it feel more real and intense, which makes it more entertaining. The sound gives off an exciting anticipation that makes you want to know more and builds up tension for the next episode.  

Explain how social contexts influence TV programs.

In the Avengers one example of a social context is threat of foreign invasion. This is shown by a town with only a couple people in it pretending to be someone they are not to cover there plans of invading it. This is shown by the scene takes place in an underground bunker where the are fighting the army of imposters. In the bunker you can see the foreigners that want to take over Britain have explosives and weapons and they are training to get ready. 

28/04/2021

Context: The Avengers The Town Of No Return

L/O: To analyse representation and influence of social & cultural context in Season1, Episode1.

How was gender represented in Ep1?

Characters- Mrs Peel, Steed

Setting- 

Props- Steel hat, guns

Character Interaction-

Dialogue-

Stereotypes-

How was gender used to show the attitudes and values of the 1960s?

Media Language- camera, sound, mise en scene

Representation- how is it presented?

Audience- how does it attract?, who are they?

Industries- who makes it?, when is it on?

Contexts- what is it like at the time?

What could you be looking for?

Female roles 

Class structure

Changing views on sexuality

British manners/ traditions

Attitudes to outsiders/ foreigners 

Patriarchal society

Stereotypical ideas of rural life

A new breed of tough, intelligent women

How can this be seen in the episode? Women as sex objects, ideological tension about gender roles in 1965.

Anti-stereotype- She overpowers Steed in a fencing match.

Reactionary stereotype- She is ordered by Steed to leave immediately for a mission without warning.

Why do you think the producers chose to call Emma Peel Mrs Peel?

What does this suggest about attitudes towards relationships in the 1960s?

What assumption is made about everyones sexuality in this episode?

How was Media Languages used to how the attitudes and values towards gender in the 1960s?

Camerawork- Mid shots

Mise-en-scene- tight clothes (leather cat suit), fashionable clothes, steed pouring drinks, Mrs Peel apartment shows she is successful.

Editing-

Sound- Romantic 

How was gender represented in The Avengers to reflect the attitudes and values of the 1960s?

Media Language- Female roles and inequality, Mrs Peel dresses in catsuit, overpowered steed in the fencing match. Shows that women have increasing power in society and respect.

Industries- Changing views on sexuality, post watershed undercurrents of sexual references, high budget.

Audiences- humour surrounding British matters/traditions and rural stereotypes , class and strong woman attracts audience.

Contexts- Attitudes to outsiders/foreigners relevant for the time.

Representations- Patriarchal society, Steed plays male hero, Peel in her catsuit is objectified as a woman.

The actor who played Mrs Peel left the show because the camera man was getting paid more than her.