Coursework: Summer Project 2023

 1) Research: TV crime drama extract analysis 

You need to write a close-textual analysis of six TV crime drama extracts. For each extract, focus on a different aspect of media language, and embed each one on your blog:

 
Chicago PD: Narrative and genre
How is the narrative and the crime drama genre communicated to the audience?

-The use of props such as police cars, weapons, costumes and the frequent use of radio which always keeps the readers on high alert thus revealling that crime may be happening within Chicago.  

-The pinboard is often shown in which images and strings are attatched which create a sense of narrative or possible mission for the crew to tackle. Multi strand narrative.

Breaking Bad: Mise-en-scene
What do you notice about the use of mise-en-scene to create meanings for the audience? Think CLAMPS.

-The use of a deserted field where only a caravan can be seen with the two cast memebers which suggests that they are on their own/no one is able to help them while they are broken down in the desert.

-"Junkie"/drug dealer styled clothing for Jessie and a more professional suit and tie/shirt for Walter which both illustrates their differences but that deep down they are alike.

-Bright orange and white colours illustrating a sense of desert and no escae.

Chicago MED: Camerawork
Here you are looking for particular camera shots and movement. E.g. Are close-ups used to show the reaction of key characters to the audience? How are establishing shots used?

-Use of fast paced camera movement along from various angles in the point of nurses and doctors to place the audience in the scene along with the patient.

-Close ups of the patients facial emotions/reactions so that the audience can pull meanings as to what they might be going through.

-Shots from the other side of the ED department which show how chaotic it is which helps to establish setting but also establishes the stressful environment.

Deutshland 83: Editing
Analyse pace, transitions, number of shots and juxtaposition e.g. eyeline matches. How is editing used to create meanings for the audience? 

-Use of montage scene to illustrate how big and complex/unique the west is in comparison to the east and how they are different in what they have.

-A lot of mirror/glass shots which create a sense of character in the audience as it makes them feel like spies/it puts them in the scene.

The Flash: Sound
Analyse both diegetic and non-diegetic sound in the extract - music, dialogue, voiceover, SFX, background or foley sound.

-Infamous soundtrack which is played once the Flash is taking down his enemy throughout the series (Multi-strand narrative)

-Tense music playing whilst someone he cares for or loves is in danger.

 

 

A Level Media NEA – Brief 1: TV drama extract and TV listings magazine

TV crime drama concept

Our coursework brief requires us to create our own TV drama extract and TV listings magazine for an original crime drama. Plan the following for your video production:

Your new TV drama

Crime drama title: Crime District

Tagline: With crime on the rise, How strong is your will to survive?

Streaming platform (note brief – streaming service, 12+ audience): Prime video

Logline: One hidden investigator aiming to solve crime goes up against the whole of London but can he prevail?

Other successful TV dramas that are similar to yours: Chicago PD, Breaking Bad, Peaky Blinders

Narrative arc – what happens in the overall series: Marks mother was killed when he was a young boy and to this day the crime has not been solved, this gave him a thirst to undo all the wrong others have been through but it takes a toll on his mental health drastically.

Main protagonist – their motivation, conflicts etc.: Mark, His mothers death drives him to the edge of insanity all in the hope that he can help others and eventually solve the crime of his mother. He encounters a serious crime lord which has information about his mother.

Other characters, their narrative role and their audience appeal: Jason the crime lord, John Marks best friend.

Target audience for your TV crime drama (note brief – 12+, older youth and adult viewers): age, gender, social class, psychographic groups etc.

- 15-40 years old as older people may prefer more mature content.

-Male and Female audience

-Aspirers, Explorers, Strugglers 

 

Your extract

When would your extract appear in the drama (e.g. season 1 opening scene, cliffhanger scene at end of season finale etc.): Season 1 towards the end cliff hanger scene as the crime lord is revealled.

Setting (note brief – at least two locations): An office, An empty street, A tunnel, Under a highway, A canal.

What will happen in your extract (note brief – identifiable narrative features, crime genre codes and conventions etc.): Mark will go about his normal day discussing with his team members about crimes in the local area and a crime lord name comes up, He goes to discover what its about and then discovers that this crime lord has information about the man who murdered his mother and he goes crazy.

3) Statement of Intent

I intend on using methods such as cliffhangers, various camera shots and a tense music backtrack in order to

achieve and sustain suspense throughout the extract. I plan on meeting the brief by ensuring many places are

used and to ensure that a narrative can easily be found. Equilibrium will be created when the character Mark

discovers the crime boss is withholding information about his mothers crime. My extract will challenge

traditional crime dramas as the camera work will mostly be filmed from Marks perspective so the viewers

can gauge a sense of his current feelings/emotions. This ticks off Gauntletts idea about identity.

For my magazine covers I will aim to create a dark and ominous background with the main member

mark in the fore front whilst the crime Lord will be overstepping him at a sharp angle to show authority

and mind games.

4) Ignite presentation