Summer Project: coursework planning

1) Research: TV crime drama extract analysis 

You need to write a close-textual analysis of six TV crime drama extracts. For each extract, focus on a different aspect of media language, and embed each one on your blog:

TV crime drama extract 1: Narrative and genre

How is the narrative and the crime drama genre communicated to the audience?

1 - Complex Characters: "Killing Eve" features complex and morally ambiguous characters. The protagonist, Eve Polastri, is a former intelligence officer who becomes obsessed with tracking down an assassin named Villanelle. Villanelle herself is a psychopathic killer with a charming and enigmatic personality as shown by her constantly changing demeanour during this scene and her violent ebullition. The show explores the psychological interplay between these two characters, blurring the lines between hero and villain.

2 - Cat-and-Mouse Game: The primary plot centres around Eve and Villanelle playing cat-and-mouse. Villanelle's obsession with Eve grows as Eve is determined to catch her. A tense and suspenseful environment is produced by this tension, which is typical of the crime drama subgenre.

3 - Dark Humor: "Killing Eve" incorporates dark humour into its storytelling. The characters often find themselves in absurd and darkly comedic situations such as this, adding a unique and sometimes unsettling tone to the show.

4 - The title of the episode, "You Should Never Tell A Psychopath They Are A Psychopath," suggests that the show delves into the topic of psychopathy and the ambiguous boundaries of right and wrong. The characters' intricate psychological makeup and depicting Villanelle's psychopathic characteristics are crucial to the story.

TV crime drama extract 2: Mise-en-scene

What do you notice about using mise-en-scene to create meaning for the audience? Think CLAMPS.

1 - Setting: The setting plays a significant role in conveying meaning in mise-en-scène. In this particular scene, the setting is chosen to establish a sense of confinement and entrapment, as implied by the title. The use of a limited space, such as a room with few exits or an area filled with obstacles, can intensify the tension and the sensation of being trapped.

2 - LightingIn suspenseful scenes like Luther outsmarting Lucien Burgess, low-key lighting and shadows can create a sense of danger and intrigue.

3 - Costumes and Props: The costumes and props chosen can reveal character traits and motivations. Luther's attire may reflect his professionalism and determination, while Lucien Burgess's clothing may reflect his personality and status.

4 - Placement and Movement: The arrangement of characters in a scene and their movements can express power dynamics and relationships between them. For example, Luther's placement in relation to Lucien Burgess can represent his strategic advantage or the change in power dynamics as he outwits his opponent.

TV crime drama extract 3: Camerawork

Here you are looking for particular camera shots and movement. E.g. Are close-ups used to show the reaction of key characters to the audience? How are establishing shots used?

1 - Close-Ups: Close-up shots are commonly used to capture the facial expressions and reactions of the characters. They allow the audience to see the emotional turmoil, fear, anger, or sadness on the character's face. In a dramatic or pivotal scene such as this where one character has a gun drawn to another, close-ups can be particularly effective in conveying the intensity of the moment and how one character is desperately attempting to convince the other of something.

2 - Establishing Shots: In this scene, establishing shots may be used to show the gritty streets of Los Angeles or the specific location where this critical event is unfolding.

TV crime drama extract 4: Editing

Analyse pace, transitions, number of shots and juxtaposition e.g. eyeline matches. How is editing used to create meaning for the audience? 

1 - Pace: The pace of editing in this clip is dynamic and responsive to the narrative's demands. Fast-paced editing is used during the action sequence, to heighten tension and excitement.

2 - Cuts: Quick cuts between scenes or characters are used to create a sense of urgency or chaos, especially during intense situations like this where there is a gang conflict/confrontation. moreover, the large number of shots and close-ups may have been used to convey the intensity of confrontations or emotional turmoil within the characters as the scene played out.

3 - Contrasting Shots: Contrasting scenes, such as the juxtaposing scene of the kid in the window eating cereal and the ordeal happening outside. Therefore depicting the characters' personal lives highlights the duality of their existence, illustrating the moral dilemmas they face

Eyeline Matches: Eyeline matches are used to show what characters are looking at or reacting to off-screen. In this scene, the technique can be crucial for conveying characters' perspectives, especially during moments of surprise, danger, or critical decision-making.

TV crime drama extract 5: Sound

Analyse both diegetic and non-diegetic sound in the extract - music, dialogue, voiceover, SFX, background or foley sound.

1 - Dialogue: Conversations between characters are a primary form of diegetic sound. They provide crucial information, in which the way Thomas Shelby speaks, clearly displays the tense atmosphere and sense of hostility towards the nun.

2 - Foley Sound: Foley sound is used such as when the glasses are broken

3 - (Sound Effects): SFX sound is also used such as the church bell towards the end

2) Planning: TV crime drama concept

TV crime drama

In order to produce a successful crime drama extract, you will need to plan out an overall narrative arc for the whole episode or season of your drama. This may include the main characters in your drama and the narrative conflict driving the main protagonist for example. This overall picture of your crime drama will inform both your TV extract and the TV listings magazine feature.

Your three-minute extract

What will your three-minute extract involve? A chase scene? Dialogue? Disequilibrium? It needs to feature the typical codes and conventions of TV crime drama. Look at the minimum requirements of the brief in order to ensure you plan for everything you need.

Complete this TV crime drama extract pitch template to plan these elements (you can copy the questions into your blog or complete on your own Google Doc and link from your blog) to demonstrate you have planned your video production. 

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: Urban Shadows

Tagline: "This life wasn't a choice but it was our decision to step up before we ended 6ft under"

Streaming platform (note brief – streaming service, 12+ audience): Prime Video

Logline – one sentence that sums up the whole TV drama series and hooks people in (25 words or fewer): In the concealed streets of London, a former New York gangster Vincent "Vinnie" Marino now attempts to find his place among the London gang/street lifestyle finding ways to incorporate his previous experiences into the challenges he now faces such as conflict.

Other successful TV dramas that are similar to yours: Top Boy, power

Narrative arc – what happens in the overall series: The main character starts off being new to London and being mocked by his British counterparts, through hard work, he ends up being the leader of his own gang and taking down other powerful and influential groups that wish to take him down. Moreover, Vinnie's reason for moving to London is unknown and small glips of why are revealed throughout the show.

Main protagonist – their motivation, conflicts etc.:

motivations: Identity and Belonging, Survival, Power and Influence, Financial Gain

conflicts: police, rival gangs, former associates

Other characters, their narrative role and their audience appeal:

Detective Eleanor Hayes: A dedicated and sharp-witted detective determined to bring down the criminal organizations in London, including Vinnie's new associates.

Mickey "The Blade" Sullivan: A charismatic and ruthless gang leader who sees potential in Vinnie's skills and recruits him, setting up a complex mentor-protege relationship.

Rico "Rat" Rodriguez: Vinnie's loyal childhood friend from New York who followed him to London, struggling with his own inner demons and temptations.

Marcus "Mad Dog" Mitchell: A volatile and unpredictable member of a rival gang, whose unpredictable actions pose a constant threat to Vinnie and his allies.

Maxwell "Max" Bennett: A corrupt businessman with ties to criminal organizations, who becomes both an ally and a source of moral conflict for Vinnie.

Isabella "Izzy" Rossi: A street-smart and resourceful local who becomes Vinnie's love interest, offering a connection to the London underworld and a source of moral support.

Target audience for your TV crime drama (note brief – 12+, older youth and adult viewers): age, gender, social class, psychographic groups etc.

The target audience for the crime drama: ages 15 - 25, both genders, diverse social backgrounds, interested in character-driven crime narratives, global appeal, emphasis on moral dilemmas and personal growth.

Your extract

When would your extract appear in the drama (e.g. season 1 opening scene, cliffhanger scene at end of season finale etc.): It will be an opening and will have a cliffhanger.

Setting (note brief – at least two locations): counsel estate, underground subway

What will happen in your extract (note brief – identifiable narrative features, crime genre codes and conventions etc.):

It could begin with a dramatic and atmospheric shot of the gritty streets of London at night. The camera pans across dimly lit alleys, capturing the hustle and bustle of the city's underworld.

Amidst the shadows, we see Vinnie Marino, a mysterious figure, standing alone on a street corner, his face partially obscured by a hood. He takes a deep breath, exhaling a plume of smoke from the cigarette he holds. The distant sounds of sirens and the faint hum of the city create an eerie backdrop.

As Vinnie starts to walk, the camera follows him, revealing snippets of his surroundings—sleek black cars parked in the shadows, neon signs of shops, and enigmatic figures lurking in the darkness. Vinnie's voiceover narrates his internal struggle, hinting at his past in New York and his quest for redemption as he navigates the dangerous world of London's criminal underbelly. after which there will be a time skip to daytime in which it will depict him meeting his childhood friend Rico and the introduction of other new characters.

After this, we will see the main character get into an altercation with Marcus and then the fight will be left on a cliffhanger.

The opening scene sets the tone for the gripping story that unfolds, emphasizing the contrast between Vinnie's desire for a fresh start and the unforgiving urban landscape he now calls home (the reason why the show is called Urban Shadows).

3) Statement of Intent

Write the first draft for your genuine 500-word Statement of Intent. This will be submitted to the exam board alongside your media products and is worth 10 marks of the overall 60 marks available.

The original AQA brief is here: NEA Student Booklet 2024 submission - brief 1. 

We also strongly recommend you look at our Statement of Intent 2024 questions to consider document too (you'll need to log in with your Greenford Google account to read this).

"Urban Shadows." This gripping series will be available for streaming on the leading online platform Amazon Prime Video, providing viewers with access to an immersive and suspenseful narrative experience. The three-minute extract from our series will be strategically placed as an opening, setting the tone for the entire series. Moreover, a cliffhanger will be left at the end to aid in generating intrigue for the audience. The overarching narrative of "Urban Shadows" revolves around a former New York gangster, Vinnie Marino, who must navigate the treacherous streets of London, confronting his past while seeking a chance at redemption in a world filled with moral ambiguity and personal transformation.

"Urban Shadows" is an ambitious TV crime drama that seeks to both challenge and reinforce media stereotypes while adhering to contemporary media contexts. This will be achieved through the narrative as the main protagonist would almost embody the stereotypical gangster figure however the stereotype would also be challenged as the weakness and vulnerabilities of the character will also be displayed. Through the lens of Stuart Hall's Reception theory, we aim to construct a narrative that invites critical audience engagement, emphasising complex character development and nuanced portrayals. Additionally, Todorov's narrative theory would also be portrayed within the story as an equilibrium is established at the beginning with a disequilibrium emerging due to the introduction of rival gangs.  Our target audience, aged 15 - 25/older youth and adults, represents a diverse demographic with interests in character-driven crime narratives and moral complexities, akin to "Top Boy" or "Power." We plan to stream our series on a major platform like Prime Video to align with digital convergence trends, embracing the dominance of conglomerates in the streaming market

I plan to meet the brief by incorporating 2-3 locations that relate to my overall story, utilizing narrative features like flashbacks and montages, and including genre codes such as conflict, tension, and moral ambiguity. Through this crime drama, audience pleasures will be incorporated such as escapism, information, Identification and Relatability and Entertainment. For example, identification and reliability will be presented within the 3-minute clip through the use of locations as audiences within London would be able to associate with those locations. Furthermore, I plan to use both non-diegetic and diegetic sounds to help immerse and draw in the audience, one way I will incorporate non-diegetic sound is through background music that relates to the scene as well as sfx.

My TV listings magazine's front cover will prominently feature "Urban Shadows", with the main image being comprised of multiple key characters with the protagonist in the centre. moreover, lokey lighting will be used to help relay the dark and gritty atmosphere of the show.

lastly, in the ever-evolving world of digital convergence, as 'Urban Shadows' would be available exclusively on Amazon Prime, it would capitalise on the platform's global reach and innovative features. This gripping series dives deep into the heart of the criminal underworld, delivering compelling storytelling and intricate characters that resonate with viewers worldwide. The choice of Amazon Prime as the streaming home for 'Urban Shadows' reflects the platform's commitment to diverse and thought-provoking content, catering to a broad audience spectrum

4) Ignite presentation

link