Statement of intent

My TV crime drama will be called “Silent Vengeance”. The tagline will be "Revenge is sweet" It will appear on Netflix. My three-minute extract will appear at the beginning of Season 1, Episode 1. Shreyam, an ordinary schoolboy, finds out that his dad is dead.

For my three-minute extract, there will be two filming locations: a corridor and a living room.
 
For diegetic sound, Shreyam and his dad will be exchanging dialogue. Shreyam will also be exchanging dialogue with the 999 operator. For non-diegetic sound, there will be suspenseful music when Shreyam finds out that his dad is dead. Close-ups will be used to view Shreyam's desperation. This use of action codes (Barthes) shows the emotions that Shreyam is experiencing.
 
Mise-en-scene:
 
The living room is a typical setting: sofa, bookshelf, family photos. This emphasises the extraordinary murder happening in an ordinary environment.
 
Shreyam will be wearing a backpack, lanyard, and casual clothing, similar to a sixth-form student in the UK.
 
The dad will be wearing casual home clothing.
 
The lighting will be ordinary in order to symbolise the ordinary setting.
 
Camerawork:
 
Close-Ups: Shreyam's close-ups will depict his desperation when trying to save his dad's life.
 
I will use wide shots to show the ordinary living room.
 
I will use over-the-shoulder shots to showcase Shreyam's attempt at trying to save his dad's life.
 
The murderer will be shot from a low angle to depict his dominance and power as a killer.
 
Editing:
 
I will create dynamic montages that showcase Shreyam's desperation through a rapid succession of shots while he tries to work with the 999 operator.
 
Narrative theory:
 
Propp: Shreyam will be the protagonist and the hero. The killer will be the antagonist. His dad will be the damsel in distress.

 
Levi-Strauss: The actions of the villain will be contrasted by the consequences that unfold for the hero.
 
Todorov:

Equilibrium - Shreyam comes home from school and talks to his dad.
Disequilibrium - Shreyam's dad is killed
New equilibrium - A cliffhanger occurs at the end of the extract.
 
Genre theory:
 
Steve Neale: Repetition will be provided by the murder scene. Difference will be provided by the focus on the psychological impact on the boy.
 
Developing or Adapting the Crime Drama Genre: 
 
This crime drama episode tells a captivating story that sticks to the usual crime format but also brings in some new ideas. At first, it follows a common pattern where the main character, a boy, talks with his dad in a normal way, creating a sense of regular life before something bad happens. The murder takes place in the family's living room, which is typical for crime dramas. But the twist is that the story focuses not only on solving the murder but also on how it affects the boy, who becomes an accidental witness. This adds emotions and character feelings to the plot, making it more detailed. As the investigation goes on, the episode explores the father's life and reasons for the murder, mixing personal and criminal parts of the story. In the end, by combining traditional crime elements with a focus on how the characters deal with their emotions, the plot evolves and changes the genre, giving the audience a complex and gripping story.
 
Genre Hybridity: 
 
This crime show mixes different types of stories by combining regular crime with family drama and psychological thriller elements. While the main part is about solving a murder, the story also includes parts about family relationships and how they affect a young witness emotionally. The episode looks into the feelings after the event, exploring what the boy and the father are going through, creating a mix of crime and family drama. The focus on building the characters and figuring out why things happened adds a psychological thriller part to the story, making it more detailed and complex. This mix of genres not only keeps viewers interested in solving the crime but also attracts those who like stories centred around characters, making it a more lively and varied watching experience.
 
Narrative Codes: 
 
The concept employs several narrative codes:
 
Enigma Codes: The audience is introduced to the enigma of the killer's identity and his motivations as a murderer.
 
Action Codes: Shreyam's frantic 999 conversation drives the narrative forward.
 
Conflict Codes: The conflict arises from the clash between the murder and Shreyam's attempt at saving his dad's life, 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".

My TV crime drama will feature a male killer, which can be seen as reinforcing the stereotype that men are more likely to commit homicide

My TV crime drama will feature a young killer, which can be seen as reinforcing the stereotype that young people are more likely to commit crime