Children TV Programme & Audience Research

15 Marks

While you should be very confident in your ability to produce a very well produced opening 2 minutes of a children’s programme, you can start to pick up good marks straight away with a well completed research and planning project.

CinematographyShot size

WS, LS, MLS, MS, MCU, CU, ECUIsolation / chaos, emotion, costume,

Body language, POV – effect?Angle

Low / High – status, power, wealth. Dutch - POVCamera Movement

Pan, Track, Tilt, Crane, SteadycamWho / What are we following? Why?

From whose POV?Framing

Open/ Closed frame? Mirrors/ frames within framesObservational or POV? What’s central?

What’s back/ foreground?Focus

Shallow, Deep, PullPull – to switch attention. What’s in / out focus? Why?

Mise-en-sceneBody language & facial expressionCharacter status, emotion, stereotype, Where characters lookSetting, décor and propsnaturalism, time period, symbolism,Atmosphere, emotional response,dramatic irony/ tension, colour symbolismHair & Make Up and CostumeCharacterisation, status, symbolism, colours,Emotion, similarities/ differences, alliances/ enemiesBlocking & CompositionConflicts / alliances, statuses, centre of attention / outcast, spacing – positive. Negative spaceLightingShadows, spotlight on? High / low key –Emotion, colour symbolism

SoundSource of soundDiegetic / Non-diegeticRelationship to imageContrapuntal / Parallel, A/ SynchronousEffects / Musical termsReverb, Major /Minor keg, Piano / Forte, Allegro/ Adagio, Legato / Staccato, Leitmotif, Instrumentation/ Genre

EditingContinuity and realism

180 degree ruleHow time is stretched/condensed

Freeze frames, fast / slow motion, ellipses, flashbk/fwPace

Fast / slow/ MTV-styleOrder of images – realism / montage

Editing transitions / effects –dissolve, wipe, fade

Technical Codes & Conventions

1. Click on the image opposite to be redirected to a site that list the varying TC genres. Take the genre test

2. Using the BBC and any other relevant websites, research and produce a wordle that list 12 or more words commonly associated with your selected genre. Screen grab your completed wordle and add it to your research presentation. Opposite is a news genre wordle

3. Click on the image opposite to be redirected to BBC’s TV categories of Children’s TV programmes. Use this as a resources to select and study 3 programmes similar to your own ideas. Now go on to complete each of the following slides

Analyzing The Opening 2 minutes

• Study the first 2 minutes of programmes similar to your production idea(s). Consider the following:

• Use and timing of credits• How many much of the narrative, sketches, features etc. are

played out in the opening 2 minutes?• The pace of the opening 2 minutes• The type of editing that is used and use of framing

Task: Using the above headings – produce a short presentation, bullet pointing what you have found out.

Use of Music/Sound Having analysed a minimum of 3 programmes similar to yours in genre – what did you discover? Instrumental vs. sung track, genre of music pop, urban or electric and pace of music etc.

Title SequenceHow would you describe the use of titling? How it obvious is it that the programme is aimed at children/young people? Have watched 3 similar openings what specific forms and conventions have you noticed? -Duration, font style and colour, order of credits – over images or black

Mise en scene (setting, colours, lighting, props and costume etc.)How does the programme’s use of mise en scene match a programme aimed at children/young people? Having watched 3 similar openings what specific mise en scene forms and conventions have you noticed?

Programme content? i.e. Storyline/topic/interest/feature etc. How does the storyline /feature(s) reflect the interest/taste of children/young people?

Types of Language? What type of language is used? (Formal, informal, elaborated, restricted, colloquial/ slang, regional) If and why is it appropriate?

Camera workHave watched 3 similar openings what specific filming conventions have you noticed? - framing/camera movement and use of angles

Characters/PresentersWhat do you notice about the way the characters or presenters look/behave that makes it likely that children/young people will find them attractive/of interest?

Use Special Effects (SFX) / Animation What do you notice about the use of SFX that makes it likely that children/young people will find its use attractive/of interest?

How are children/ adults represented? Are there any differences in the way specific social groups are represented along the lines of gender, ethnicity or

region etc.

Audience Research

The examiner will expect you to have carried out research prior to scripting and filming. You will need to show and explain how you have used the results of your research to help make key production decisions.

Audience Questionnaire Task: Using the content of the next slide to draft a questionnaire.

Secondary Research A Look at The Nations' Changing Viewing Habits- Including ChildrenClick to visit online answer publication or visit Graveney GCSE Media Blog of the same title 1. Children now watch Children’s TV on a multitude of devices however, what is the

most popular way audiences choose to watch programmes? (Pg1) 2. According to Dr Barbie Clarke, Managing Director, Family Kids and Youth, a global

market research agency, what are children’s most preferred digital device and why? (Pg. 3)

3. What % of your target audience gave a TV in their bedroom? The State of The Nation Pg. 3)

4. Ofcom reported that Children expand their relationship with TV brands and characters in spin-off games, and soon we’ll see them playing along on apps which allow them to interact with their favourite TV shows. Greg Childs, Director, Children’s Media Foundation. What spin off game opportunity might your programme allow?

1. What times of the day do the majority of children watch TV?2. Hours of live children’s TV is available on free-to-air? (Children TV by Numbers)3. When asked adults across the UK named what themed/ type of programmes as their

most favourite when they were growing up? (A Trip Down Memory Lane)4. How would you describe the theme of your programme? (A Trip Down Memory Lane)5. Survey results showed what differences between what young children and older

children like to watch? (Made in The UK). Do the results match your own production decision?

Demographics1.Age range2.Gender3.Social Class [ABC1 C2DE]4.Ethnicity5.Sexual orientation/ disability/ religion

Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs

Audience Research Task

1.What was/is your targets audience favourite Children TV programme2.What time of the day and what does your audience find appealing about watch TV?3.Does your idea appeal to all audiences or a specific demographics?4.What do audience like about your genre(s) and programme type similar to your own? And which specific one’s do they regularly watch?5.Which of your programme’s UPS do audiences find appealing, unappealing and why?6.What type of presenters/characters do your audience find appealing or a turn off?7.What type of people/ characters would your audience expect to see in a programme similar to yours?8.What does the audience think of your programmes use of people/characters?9.Psychographics – Which classification of psychographics do your audience fall into and what are their needs?10.Any other questions

Audience Research – Screen grab a copy of finished questionnaire

Audience Research – Results

Who are is/your target audience?• Demographics – including age and gender etc.• Psychographics• Maslow Hierarchy of Needs

Audience Research – Impact on Planning

• How does your target audience most popular/favorite programme compare with the TV Licensing's ‘A Trip Down The Lane Results?

• List those decisions you have made as a result of your primary findings

Click on the image opposite Listen to four children writers sharing their tips about writing for Children

What four tips did you find most useful and why?

Extension Task

Group Members and Designated Roles

• Who in your group will take the lead for the following• Script writing• Storyboard• Presenting/Acting• Sound/Music• Locations/Settings/Props• Filming and editing• Any other

Planning

• To score a grade B or above overall, you must show clear evidence of planning. Your group will be awarded an overall score for planning however, depending on each group members individual contribution, each member will score the same or a lower score.

Pitching your idea

For your pitch you will need to remember to remain in role, using persuasive and exciting language. You need to show the examiner that YOUR TV show is the BEST THING EVER!It is likely you will need to include:1.Who is your target audience •An appealing and suitable title•A realistic setting and location •A brief synopsis - make use of sub genres or hybrids!•two brief character profiles•REMEMBER: a family audience

The above will test •your ability of recall, select and communicate knowledge and understanding (AO1)•It will test the ability to demonstrate research, planning and presentation skills (AO3)•It will also test the ability to construct and evaluate your own products (AO4)

Pitch

• Please provide a screen grab/copy of pitch

Pitch Feedback/ Results

Summary of your audiences likes and dislikes

If and what improvements will you make as a result

Script

Storyboard

• Please provide a screen grab of storyboard

Locations and Props

• List of key props and locations to be organised: