Summer project

 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?

In terms of narrative genre, almost any TV crime genre can be used since i think that's the foundation for any piece of video graphic genre. In the Jeffery Dharmer documentary they have used a nonfiction narrative genre since the show in general is an adaptation of the real life events that Jeffery Dharmer had caused however it is arguably a hybrid of fiction and non fiction since they have added some details in the show that hasn't happened realistically. This comes to my point that to create an immersive show, there has to be some sort of fiction to make the show subversive for the viewers to fill in the audience's pleasures.

TV crime drama extract 2: Mise-en-scene
What do you notice about the use of mise-en-scene to create meanings for the audience? Think CLAMPS.

In the show “mindhunter” the costumes used by the characters reflect on the time period that the show is set in as well as what role they carry like how the federal services are seen walking around with formal wear often being suits whereas the opposite role the serial killers are dressed more casually. Also, the lighting  seems to be presented to emphasise  the psychological state of the cast switching from darker lighting representing the dark/gloomy scenes to brighter light for when there aren't any suspenseful moments and the atmosphere is more relaxed. Lighting can contribute heavily to the atmosphere of the show as each type of lightning has its own connotations and can infer different things like for example: obscurity infers that there is something lurking in the darkness and that something is about to happen whereas smoother and brighter lighting has connotations of warmth and joy

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?

Often in the series Sherlock, they have scenes where the audience are taken out of the third person viewing and instead are put into the main character’s pov. This allows the audience to see how the Sherlock thought process works and how he does the things he does. In the series, they also have a fast paced editing habit which also reflects on Sherlock's fast pace thinking once again making it so that the audience have a sense of relation with the character so that we can feel submerged in the scene. Also when the audience is introduced to a new location there is often a n establishing shot which is used to show us the location of which the scene is going to be shot.

TV crime drama extract 4: Editing
Analyse pace, transitions, number of shots and juxtaposition e.g. eyeline matches. How is editing used to create meanings for the audience? 

Money heist is a show composed by Manel Santisteban and Iván Martínez Caracalla. The music plays a significant role in setting the tone for each scene, whether it's adding tension to a heist sequence or enhancing emotional moments. The show's iconic theme song, "Bella Ciao," is particularly memorable and becomes a rallying cry for the characters. This is pretty good for the audience pleasures as all fans have something that they can chant to and get along doing it. Being a thriller hybrid genre, they also use a various amount of sound effects ranging from shattering glass to bullets being fired.

TV crime drama extract 5: Sound
Analyse both diegetic and non-diegetic sound in the extract - music, dialogue, voiceover, SFX, background or foley sound.

Money heist is a show composed by Manel Santisteban and Iván Martínez Caracalla. The music plays a significant role in setting the tone for each scene, whether it's adding tension to a heist sequence or enhancing emotional moments. The show's iconic theme song, "Bella Ciao," is particularly memorable and becomes a rallying cry for the characters. This is pretty good for the audience pleasures as all fans have something that they can chant to and get along doing it.

You can find a range of TV drama extract examples in this blogpost.

In total, your research notes on your blog will be approximately 1,000 words - bullet points are fine.

2) Planning: TV crime drama concept

Crime drama title: Hip-Hop Heist

Tagline: Loyalty to Carti, Betrayal to the law

Streaming platform: Netflix original

Logline: Three teenagers all united by what they love the most, Playboi carti. Little do they know that their passion for his music will drag them into a world of crime they wish they knew sooner.

Other successful TV dramas that are similar to yours: 8 mile, power, empire

Narrative arc – what happens in the overall series: A trio of 17 year olds- Reggie,Sel and Ray are all brought together by their love of the elegant 'Playboi Carti'. One day when Sel the graffiti artist of the group discovered a mysterious hidden message in one of her graphite pieces on a mural. She brings back her friends who decipher it to be a hidden invitation to a secret carti concert. The troublesome trio embark on a journey to decode the invitation and the further they search, the more they see of the underground world.

Main protagonist – their motivation, conflicts etc: The protagonists are an ensemble cast consisting of Sel whos an aspirering graffiti artist, Reggie the diehard Carti fan, and Ray an upcoming soundcloud rapper inspired by Playboi carti, They are determined to decypher the secrets of the hidden carti concert

Other characters, their narrative role and their audience appeal: On their Journey to decipher the invitation, they fall upon a network of Cartis most dedicated fans who are involved with high stakes black market operations dealing in unreleased music and rare merchandise.

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

 Age:15-25

Gender: mixed audience

social class: working/working middle class

3) Statement of Intent

The Netflix original series ‘Hip-Hop Heist’ is a Dynamic fusion of teenage rebellion, the deeper world of music and the world of crime behind music. This unique crime genre draws inspiration from the real life events that happen behind the main star ‘Playboi Carti’s’ music career and the problems that are caused in the deeper side of his fanbase. It has been made in order to create a visually immersive and emotionally engaging narrative that explores these real problems.

The three minute clip that I will use for this project will be the first 3 minutes of season 1 episode one. It will start with a flash forward of the trio protagonists in a dire situation for the first minute of the clip, then for the next two minutes of the clip we will be brought back to their school where we will get introductions to the main characters Sel,Reggie and Ray. As stated, the setting used for this extract will be a school environment for the present day section of the clip and for the flash forward will be in a dark room where the trio are accessing the dark side of the internet and will be more digitally immersed for the flash forward. The sound will switch between diegetic and non diegetic and the soundtrack of the music played throughout this movie is entirely composed with music including Playboi Carti or Playboi Carti instrumentals, I have also found some special sound effects that make the scenes more immersive.

With the given age rating of 12, i have decided to take a less traditional approach to a crime genre as i felt as though many of the audience pleasures from traditional crime dramas go against the BBFC film regulations and so instead i focused on a plot where it is more enjoyable to a younger-adult audience and that is through music. I liked this idea since with music, there are no age limits and so you can expand your target audience. Also, I feel as though most teenagers will be able to relate with the show as it is about teenage life and composed by a teenager. Although, if the genre of music isn't for certain people, then the crime genre aspect will be sure to hook them in.

In terms of theories that can be linked with my drama, there are a few. Mainly, id focus on the cultivation theory which suggests that media consumers especially in television will depict the real world the same way as if it was in the media they consumed. This will be able to link with my show as these are real things that the targeted audience do in real life and with the message the show provides it can hopefully steer the viewers away from doing what is done in the series.

A key part of this film will focus on lighting making sure that when we are looking at their school life the camera shots are calm and the editing is normal paced but when we switch to where they are exploring the deeper side of the mystery, the light becomes dimmer and the grayscale increases and so on in order to explain the mood. Another thing is the costumes of the characters, they will also change from in school to out of school to once again be able to relate with a younger audience and even older audiences who have to be monitored on the clothes they wear to work/ school. The clothes and colours of the scenes will often depict the type of characters that they are and how they currently feel.

4) Ignite presentation

LINK TO MY PRESENTATION