Summer Project: coursework planning

 1) Research: Science Fiction / Fantasy TV drama endings

Narrative: How is drama created? How is the story communicated to the audience? How is the storyline resolved? 

Character: How do the characters appeal to the audience? Can you apply Propp's character theory to any of the characters in this extract? Do the characters reinforce or subvert stereotypes?

Iconography: Study the mise-en-scene (CLAMPS). How does the mise-en-scene communicate the narrative and Science Fiction/Fantasy genres?

Setting: How does the setting fit the Science Fiction/Fantasy genre? What audience pleasures might the setting provide for the audience? Think about Blumler and Katz Uses and Gratifications theory e.g. personal identity.

Clip 1 :Class

Narrative: as we watch the clip the audience can instantly see the chaos presented due the argument between April and her father which slowly build up to April nearly murdering her father but is stopped by Ram.

Character: Characters appeal to the audience as they are differently projected as to how society would normally show them as. This can be seen as April who is the main character subverting typical stereotypes showing she's a strong independent women.

Iconography: The swords which are used as props can connotate to the genre of science-fiction showing a more alien concept. The audience are portrayed a fantasy scene where April heals her mother showing her power and magic.

Setting: This scene is shot in Aprils garden where it gives the audience personal identity as they can recognise this setting making them relate and feel at home.

Clip 2:The 100

Narrative: The clip opens up with a women who is presumed to be lost in the forest with her dog. The audience understand that she got separated from a bunch of friends as in the last second the audience witness them reuniting.

Character: This clip also includes a powerful women who is capable of surviving by herself showing main character vibes. After a while, the audience are introduced to another women who is assumed to be the villain due to her dark outfit however, she helps out the main character to find her friend becoming the side-kick.

Iconography: The second women introduced to the audience is presented in s dark costume projecting how she is assumed to be a type of alien showing the science-fiction and fantasy genre.

Setting: The setting changes from a forest to a beach making the audience instantly imagine of a island. This gives more of  frightening view as this is a setting most audience would not normally see or get to experience such a situation.

Clip 3:Stranger Things

Narrative: The audience are instantly thrown a unknown creators that presumably is trying to eat the four children. However, as most of them are trying to save themselves, the young girl is presented with superpowers and is able to hold back the beast.

Character: This clip shows four main characters and including the other clips this one also have a independent women who is not only saving herself but is protecting her friends who are seen as useless in this dangerous situation.

Iconography: The lighting continuously switches from on and off getting the audience exited and for them to sense the upcoming horror. This also shows the conflict and connotates the dangerous situation that was currently occurring. In addition, the unknown created is seen as a alien which shows science fiction genre. 

Setting: The setting projects how it would be known to many people who work in malls as they are well known with the staff room where a strange creator is presented as coming from another world.

2) TV drama planning 

Title: Purple Hyacinth

Logline – one sentence that sums up the plot of your TV drama and hooks people in (25 words or

fewer): species called sackniks, not all survive after encountering one yet Kaina caught the eye of the queen, ending up with conflict and one-sided love.

Other successful TV dramas are similar to yours: Doom at your service

Narrative – what is the main storyline in your TV drama: Kaina is running away from a sackik army after trying to fight them, she runs into the Queen who ends up saving her leaving Kaina to get furious as see believes she could have dealt with them single headedly. Switches to next scene where Kaina is sitting and having lunch where the queen suddenly appears and signs to Kaina her apologies as she is mute, this ends in the Queen offering her a flower. Kaina is unimpressed and walks off as the queen trails her and disappears eventually.

Narrative resolution – what will happen in your ending scene? What will the audience learn about

the characters or narrative?: Audience would understand the romantic character development and realise the sackiks were always innocent and never meant harm to the humans civilisation.

Information about the two locations that you are using and why you have chosen them: scene one is a long path way surrounded by trees for the dramatic chase scene and the second scene is a park where the character development occurs.

Information about the main character e.g character type (hero/heroine) their desires, the conflicts

they encounter etc.: The main character, Kaina desires to kill all sackniks as a hero would to save their plant as well as people due to her hatred towards their control.

Other characters (at least one) and their audience appeal: The sackik Queen is their from the conflict and entertainment but mostly for the romantic development that slowly happens.

Costume/props that you require for filming: Black cloak, crown and specially designed mask for the Queen while the main character would have more casual clothes.

How you are aiming your product at the specified target audience of teenagers and young adults: by using the hybrid genre of Romance/science-fiction in order to attract many teens or young people who have an interest in mixed tasted.

3) Statement of Intent

I plan to create the last two minutes for a season finally, this TV drama will be called Purple Hyacinth as the flower symbolises peace and sorrow. This is a science fiction show about an alien on Earth named Queen Sackik who ends up befriending the protagonist Kaina, however Kaina has sworn to kill all sackik soldiers leaving their friendship to be a long and rough journey.

I intend to meet the brief by having two locations for the 2 minute show that includes two characters who are Queen Sackik and Kaina. Diegetic shown will be in the background making the scenes more realistic and non-diegetic sound will also be heard to make the setting intense. There will be a range of camera shots this includes: wide shot which shows the background and actions of the character, extreme close up to show the emotions of a character or details of an object and over the shoulder to present both character without revelling one characters face making it mysterious. Finally the narrative resolution will be shown at the end of the 2 minuets where Kaina finally accepts Queen Sackik as a friend. Propps character theory will be used to identify the protagonist Kaina and the antagonist Queen Sackik, audience will be able to tell the genre of science fiction from the magic and aliens presented through out  the scenes. My character will be able to challenge typical stereotypes of women being seen as weak as i have two powerful women who are are capable of enduring hard labour and defending themselves.

My target audience will be both older teenagers and young adult that enjoy TV drama genres of fantasy and science fiction who come from a middle class family. They will be easily attracted to action and drama genres as well as enjoy a lot of suspense scenes.