10 Website

https://13gerlacks.wixsite.com/unilife1 - Home Page

https://13gerlacks.wixsite.com/unilife1/bonus-content - Linked Page

There is audio-visual content on both the home page and the linked page.

09 Production

08 Planning Website

I went through several stages of my websites. I knew I wanted a predominantly blue theme to the website folllowing the house style of the majority of BBC Radio websites. Front pages of radio websites normally have the audio clip prominently shown within the page. I incorporated this by creating a video with a slideshow of pictures I had taken from the main photoshoot.

I wanted to create a logo which was bold and simple for the audience to connect with. The final logo choice saw me using a navy blue colour which has connotations of importance, power and self-worth, which are themes that do get explored in the 3 minute opening sequence of the radio show. The informality of the phrase 'Uni Life' is an intertextual idea that is familiar with my niche audience. The font is very bold which reinforces power. I wanted to have a phrase below the logo to summarise the show quickly to audiences viewing this as a secondary medium. I had a choice of three phrases.

-BBC Radio 4's brand-spanking new comedy show
-The best and worst three years of our lives
- BBC Radio 4's Brand New Comedy Sketch Show

I decided to go with the third decision as it summed up the show perfectly and made it distinctive as a product whilst being factual and informative and not bias or humorous.


The majority of the BBC Radio websites include the cast's names, I decided to incorporate brief biographies about the actors playing them. I took pictures on the photoshoot which I planned to use to show the character off as best as possible. For example, for the picture of the protagonist Michelle, I used a medium close up shot whilst making the actor playing Michelle have an angry facial expressions with high key lighting with a contrast between pink and yellow to signify the battle within her life with wanting to be a free independent adult but also struggling to make ends meet. The photo also uses direct mode of address which reinforces the relationship between the audience and the product once again.

07 Planning Production

In the pre-production stage of producing my media text, I had to write a pilot script for a comedy show. I went through various stages of script writing but here is my final edit

https://www.celtx.com/a/ux/scripteditor?id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.celtx.com%2Ffeeds%2Fdefault%2Fprivate%2Ffull%2F12a94dd24919c0cccc6451a926ea58ff9fae56eh#noreload

I then thought about the representations I wanted to construct within the radio comedy programme. I then wrote fact files for all the characters.

Michelle - presenting the stereotype about young adults particularly of a working/lower class. This is presented through the type of language she uses and the accent of the voice. She seems to be a character who has a complex life and struggles to look after herself. I wanted to then challenge the stereotype by making the character intellectual and knowledgeable of a wide range of topics. For example, she finds out very quickly that her Uncle had lied about her going to University.

Sebastian - I wanted to create conflict to enhance the comedy in the programme by creating a binary opposite of class, poor:rich. Sebastian is a very snobby character which is again a stereotypical characteristic within the middle class. I wanted to present this character to seem superior to Michelle, the protagonist of the text, by the mode of address he uses within the show. Sebastian is a representation of the hatred that Michelle has through the harsh jokes he uses to her.

David - I wanted Michelle's uncle to come across as manipulative by ensuring she would start a job. I wanted to make sure that again David had a higher status as it gives the character of Michelle a chance to use comedy to challenge the status.


Narrative Equilibrium - Michelle is getting ready to move to University

Narrative Disruption - Michelle receives an application for a job at the University.

Recognition - Michelle rings David to state that she had an application for a job rather than being a student.

Although, this doesn't follow the five steps of the Narratology cycle, I intended for the attempt to repair the disequilibrium to not follow so it was engaging for the listener.

06 Audience Website

As I was bearing in mind my 'fun-loving' audience of 16-25 year olds, I decided to gather a focus group to see what they would like on a radio website. The majority were attracted to Q&As and short videos that established the characters well. I then decided to shoot small videos which had both of my actors in characters delivering some actions on camera such as reading a book or magazine or calling someone on their phone as well as performing direct lines from the show to create a clear convergence between the product and the website. I also filmed a 30 second Q&A, which is a viral trend on social media sites such as Instagram and Snapchat, which sees the actors being themselves as the audience got to know them better through personal questions which creates a immediate connection between the audience and the product. This style of video is also reminiscent of many social influencers on YouTube which was something my focus group had an interest in. This created the idea that the actors acted as aspirational figures for the 16-26 year old fun loving audience should aspire to be like and simply 'have fun'.This was the use of my audio-visual aspect of my website.

I also created fact files for each character which had deliberate humour to gain a comedic relief from my audience. The use of hyperbolic, informal language was utilised for the audience to receive as humorous.

05 Audience Production

Audience Production

- Language was essential to appeal to a young audience of fun-loving 16-25 years old. In a focus group I organised, I found that swearing would enhance the comedy but is not essential to cause a reaction from them. This meant I ensured that I had a balanced and suitable ratio between dialogue: swearing.

- I wanted to make sure the main idea for the radio show was something that was relatable for the audience so that they could feel a connection with the characters. In the focus group, the concept of University would be interesting as around 80% of the group said it was their 'best time of their adult time yet'.

- Due to the restrictions of an audio-only media product, I ensured that I used music to appeal to the audience. In the focus group, I asked about several artists they would like to hear throughout the pilot episode. I had a huge variety but decided that the genre of recent pop music was popular, thus I used Lizzo's Juice in the background for the dialogue between the character's Michelle and Sebastian. Furthermore, I wanted the audience to feel a sense of nostalgia to enhance the fun loving nature of the audience. I chose Earth, Wind and Fire's 'September', a popular 70's song which around 90% of my focus group had heard before, when I asked.

04 C&C Website

Codes and Conventions of Radio Websites 

 Logo Placement - Logo is often placed in the upper left corner

Masthead- The logo and/or name of the product that the website is advertising

Main Navigation - There is a navigation bar where it takes you to the other linked pages

Home Page - The main page of the website

Text - Used to inform, educate or entertain the audience about the product

Main Image - Used on the home page and the choice of image tells the immediately about the tone of the website.

Multimedia elements - Using other forms of media to shape the audience's meaning/purpose

Social media links - Links that take you to a different social media links that promote the website/product

Fonts - Using unique fonts can appeal to a suitable audience

Colour - Used to make the website appealing and engaging. Could perhaps reflect a mood/atmosphere.

I looked at a range of BBC Radio 4 websites to get a sense of the house style of the channel. Through my research, I discovered the backgrounds are predominately navy blue with a white gradient which matches the colour scheme of the logo, which is placed within the top left hand corner. Image was also vitally important which took up about 1/3 of the page. The picture usually uses direct mode of address to engage the reader.
                                                                           

01 Coursework Brief

Brief 2 - Radio and Online 

You work for an independent media production company. You have been given the task of producing a three minute opening sequence of a pilot comedy programme to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in an attempt to attract a broader audience to the channel and the working website for the pilot show. The opening sequence must introduce the concept of the show and provide an audience hook. The web pages must promote the new comedy programme to its target audience and enable fans to interact with the show.
 Summary of brief requirements:
• Statement of Intent (approx. 500 words)
 • Opening sequence for pilot of a radio comedy: One three minute opening sequence.
• Broadcast channel and time: Content must be suitable for Radio 4 in the late evening comedy slot (weekdays 11pm–11.30pm).
• Number of web pages: One homepage and one linked page.
 • Cross-media production target audience: a funloving 16–25 year old mass market demographic.

There must be a clear sense of branding across the two elements of the cross-media production.

12 Practice Tasks

Camera Investigation

We have 5 different styles of camera in school.

Panasonic Lumix LX7
Pansonic Lumix GH3 and GH4
Canon 550D and 600D
Mobile Phone 


Over the next few weeks, you will need to undertake the following tasks and answer the following questions.

TASKS
1: Change the camera from JPEG to RAW mode and back again.
2: Take a portrait in medium close up using natural light.
3: Take a Long Shot portrait using studio lighting.
4: Find three images online that you really like and try to take a photograph that is similar to each one. NB: You can use Photoshop afterwards.
5: Make a short video in which you ask one of your portrait models three questions.


QUESTIONS
1: Which camera has the smallest focal length (i.e. allows the closest shot)?
2: Which camera allows the best shallow depth of field? IYO
3: Which camera has the easiest user interface.
4: Rank the cameras in order of how useful you think they will be to take stills for:
a) A website
b) A magazine
5: Rank the cameras in order of how useful you felt they were for taking short videos.


Answers

1. Lumix LX7
2. Panasonic Lumix GH4
4). a) A website
Lumix GH4 & GH3
Canon 550D & 600D
Lumix LX7
      b) A magazine
  Lumix GH4 & GH3
  Lumix LX7
  Canon 550D & 600D
5) Lumix GH4 & GH3
    Canon 550D & 600D





Panasonic Lumix LX7

Medium close up ( with natural light) shot

Long shot with studio lighting

Short video

Panasonic Lumix GH3

Medium close up with natural light

Long shot with studio light

Short video                                                              

Canon  550D

Medium close up with natural light

Long shot with studio light

Mobile Phone Photoshoot



Codes and Conventions - Production

Generic conventions of a radio comedy programme

Speech - This is the way the words are spoken, which involves pitch,tone,pace and emphasis used within the voice of the voice actors. Speech can also be used to recognize class, age, gender and perhaps race from the audience's viewing.

Music - Music is used in many ways in Radio. It can create a mood,tone and/or set a scene within the sketch/programme. With radio, without the visual element to this form of media, music is very important to engage with its audience.

Direct speech - Used to tell the audience an opinion on a subject/matter or to gather a better understanding of the other presenters/characters. Normally used by the main presenter/protagonist of the programme.

Sound - Sound is again used, like music, to set the scene or show the setting within the programme.

Ambience - Uses music to describe how a character is feeling.

Silence - Used as an "awkward silence" to create a comic effect.

Aural Signposting - The way of establishing the location at the opening of a scene. This is created by effects, spots or FX.

Narration - a presenter/character will explain what is happening in a sketch whilst the scene is actually being performed.

Use of fades - used when changing a scene or to show distance within the speech in the setting.

Characterisation - used to develop the characters in the sketch to connect with the audience so they are amused and engaged with the narrative and characters.

Chronological development - development of story happening in order of when they occurred.

Intertextuality - to shape a texts meaning by using another text.

Flashback - to recreate a humorous memory of a presenter/character.

 Titles & Credits - to introduce the programme. The credits normally include:
- Character/Presenters
- Voice over artists
- Name of show
- Name and number of episode & series

Laugh Track - used to encourage the listener to respond personally to the comedy within the programme. A laugh track also adds to the intimacy of a radio programme.

Narrative Structure - the story that is being told has a clear structure so it is clear and the listener can clarify what is going on in the plot.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06bhk9h - programme

https://youtu.be/l7weowW8oUA - sketch

https://youtu.be/Nq8RFUAIC68?list=PLpJKfw5T0Zt8AlqQIFFtwz3Jjp7Y-sJEj - programme

https://youtu.be/2HcWsU26lX8?list=PLdUGA0NFIvcDhpKGVjfFS2_4qRGSFTRtR - sketch

https://youtu.be/kHFOmRwU2CE?list=PLlEjGntW09h9qvRYBDi4f5BO5nFiyxcuV - programme

https://youtu.be/fZX_UlEx5Hw?list=PLbtBdqD6DNvn5Efh8ft31DBB00NO52tOo - programme

https://youtu.be/8cS40aNDxqw - sketch

https://youtu.be/5yFVX6ANrfo - programme

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p01zfsfb/comedy-shorts-channel-m - short sketch

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p01zftk8/comedy-shorts-meera-syals-playback - short sketch

02 Statement of Intent

How do you intend to use the four areas of the media theoretical framework to communicate meaning and meet the requirements of your chosen brief? (approx. 400 words)

Product 1 (Radio Show)

I intend to produce a pilot comedy radio programme that will be targeting an audience of fun-loving 16-25 year olds. To appeal to this audience, my narrative and representations are present will be humorous and engaging. In my audience research, I had many responses for concepts that they would classify as being ‘fun-loving’. University was a popular choice from much of the older range of my audience with some younger audience agreeing, which acted as a stimulus for my product. My radio show will represent at least 2 social groups which will provide humorous characters and for the my audience to relate to. I will use the generic codes and conventions of the set brief such as humour within my dialogue to construct representations of gender and class. I will also use fast paced editing with a range of SFX to keep my audience engaged throughout. I will include uplifting music at the beginning of the radio show to establish a clear fun mood, which will appeal to my audience. I will shape the narrative of the show to hold pluralistic views of having a strong, lower class woman as the protagonist, appealing to the female proportion of my audience. 

Product 2 (Website)

I will be designing my website to promote my radio show. For my website research, I held a focus group meeting to ask about certain items they would like to see on a radio website. This allowed me to think carefully about what will appeal to my target audience to be equally engaging and entertaining. I want the website layout to be intriguing, clear and conventional to other products I have researched which will be evident in my positioning of typography, colour and choice of fonts. I will also use numerous original pictures to help the audience give a sense of what the characters would look like to relate to the representations.

For the audio-visual element of my website, I will include a blooper reel which will heighten the comedy aspect of the show. It will also give a behind the scenes look at the production of the show which will be engaging. I will also have a Q&A discussion with the voice artists of the programme so the audience can engage informally and almost relate to the performances.

How do you intend to link your media products to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the digitally convergent nature of your media production? (approx. 100 words)

I intend to create a convergence between my product and radio show by recording short videos which introduce the characters whilst performing direct lines from the pilot. I will also apply this idea similary to the 'Meet The Cast' section of the website'. I also want to have a secret piece of dialogue within the radio show where the listener could be directed to the website. 

00 Comments

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