Coursework: Summer Project 2023
Plan:
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: Digital Massacre
Tagline: "One man has nothing to lose"
Streaming platform (note brief – streaming service, 12+ audience): Netflix
Logline – one sentence that sums up the whole TV drama series and hooks people in (25 words or fewer):
Jeffery, a secluded guy living in his parent’s basement, is a ruthless solo hacker, crippling organisations for nothing else but money
Other successful TV dramas that are similar to yours:
The Undeclared War
Mr Robot
De Kraak
Narrative arc – what happens in the overall series:
Jeffery, a secluded guy living in his parent’s basement, commits cybercrime by hacking into financial institutions, the government, and anything else.
Main protagonist – their motivation, conflicts etc:
Jeffrey’s journey begins as an introverted and tech-savvy individual who lives a secluded life in his parent's basement. He gets rejected by companies all the time due to his criminal record. So in order to obtain money, he hacks companies that rejected him by infecting their systems with ransomware
Other characters, their narrative role and their audience appeal:
Adonis, a worker at Mazer, is the first to find out about the cyber attack
Target audience for your TV crime drama (note brief – 12+, older youth and adult viewers): age, gender, social class, psychographic groups etc.
Age - Young adults (18-25), but suitable for anyone 12+
Gender - Male, but suitable for people of any other gender
Social class - Any social class
Psychographic group - Anyone interested in technology and/or cybercrime
Your extract
When would your extract appear in the drama (e.g. season 1 opening scene, cliffhanger scene at end of season finale etc.):
Cliffhanger at the end of season 1 episode 2
Setting (note brief – at least two locations):
Basement
Headquarters
What will happen in your extract (note brief – identifiable narrative features, crime genre codes and conventions etc.):
There will be cross-cutting between Jeffery hacking Mazer and Adonis trying to deal with the situation
Statement of intent (draft):
For my three-minute extract, there will be 2 filming locations - a bedroom and an HQ
For diegetic sound, both characters will be typing on their keyboards, creating noise. There will also be computer fan noise. Adonis will speak to himself and will also speak on the phone to alert his manager about the attack. There will also be alarm signals when the cyberattack is detected. For non-diegetic sound, there will be suspenseful music when Jeffery begins to initiate cyberattack, and then intense music when it actually gets through. Jeffery will also voice over the thoughts in his head. Close-ups will be used to view the character’s faces
Mise-en-scene:
Jeffery’s room will be dimly lit, cluttered, and slightly run-down, reflecting Jeffery's secluded lifestyle. I will also use props like computers, screens, cables, and electronic equipment to emphasize his hacker identity.
Jeffery's apartment will be contrasted with the bank's office. I will use bright, sterile lighting, sleek furniture, and clean lines to represent the corporate environment. I will depict Adonis' desk as meticulously organized, highlighting his contrast with the chaotic Jeffery.
Jeffery will be dressed in dark, casual clothing to symbolize his clandestine nature.
As an employee of Mazer Adonis will be dressed in a suit.
I will utilize low-key lighting with contrasting light and shadow to enhance the secrecy and isolation of Jeffery’s character.
Adonis will be in a well-lit office at his bank. I will use high-key lighting for his setting
Camerawork:
Close-Ups: Employ close-up shots of Jeffery's intense facial expressions while hacking to convey his ruthlessness and determination.
Adonis' facial expressions of horror and fear will be shown through close-up shots
I will use wide shots to show the disarray of Jeffery’s apartment, highlighting his seclusion and detachment from the outside world.
Wide shots will be used to show Adonis' organised bank
I will use over-the-shoulder shots to showcase Jeffery’s computer screen as he navigates through complex code, demonstrating his hacking skills.
Over-the-shoulder shots will be used to showcase John’s computer being infected with ransomware
I will shoot Jeffery from a low angle to depict his dominance and power as a hacker.
Adonis will be shot from a high angle to showcase his powerlessness against the cyberattack
Editing:
I will create dynamic montages that showcase Jeffery's hacking process through a rapid succession of shots: close-ups of his hands typing, code scrolling on screens, and his focused expressions.
Dynamic montages will be used and vice versa for Adonis' situation: calling his manager, trying to get the computer working again, fearful facial expression, and the close-ups of the infected computer’s screens
I will employ cross-cutting between scenes of Jeffery hacking and the consequences of his actions, such as the hacked computers at LNB and Adonis' frantic attempt at calling his manager to explain the situation
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Narrative theory:
Propp: Jeffery will be the villain and Adonis will be the hero. In this extract, the hero will be powerless against the villain.
Levi-Strauss: Jeffery's dirty apartment room will be contrasted by Adonis' clean office. The actions of the villain will be contrasted by the consequences that unfold on the hero.
Todorov: Equilibrium - Adonis is at a regular day at work
Disequilibrium - Adonis gets hacked
New equilibrium - A cliff-hanger occurs at the end of the episode*
Genre theory:
Steve Neale
Developing or Adapting the Crime Drama Genre:
The concept can be seen as adapting the crime drama genre. While traditional crime dramas often centre around physical crimes and law enforcement, this concept brings cybercrime and hacking into the spotlight. This adaptation reflects the contemporary relevance of cyber threats and the digital landscape, offering a fresh take on the crime drama genre by incorporating modern technology and its implications.
Genre Hybridity:
There is an element of genre hybridity in this concept. It combines the crime drama genre with elements of techno-thriller or cyberpunk genres. The focus on hacking and the digital world introduces futuristic and technological aspects not typically found in traditional crime dramas. This hybridity enriches the narrative by exploring themes related to technology's impact on crime and society.
Narrative Codes:
The concept employs several narrative codes:
Enigma Code: The audience is introduced to the enigma of Jeffery's identity and motivations as a hacker.
Action Code: Jeffery's hacking actions and Adonis' investigative actions drive the narrative forward.
Conflict Code: The conflict arises from the clash between Jeffery's hacking activities and Adonis' discovery, leading to escalating tension.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reinforcing/Challenging Stereotypes:
My TV crime drama will feature a BAME villain, which can be seen as reinforcing the stereotype that BAME people are “dangerous” and “other”
Ignite presentation
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vTUKQVP2pgn24uhC7CIpnMDLFOl20YyKapJTp2b-FhYBl6n3gfZgbuFdc6YDLHnRU9nZrgorp82grQc/pub?start=true&loop=false&delayms=15000
Comments
Post a Comment