Media Studies A Level Coursework

Millennials Millennials, the term used to describe those born roughly between 1985 and 2000, are the first generation to live as young people in the digital age. Consequently, their viewing patterns with regards to TV take the shape that the digital era has moulded for them. According to Nielsen's Q4 Total Audience Report in 2015, the viewing activity of millennials is in "rapid transition". This of course is to do with the rise of streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu, which offer viewers access to a wide variety of shows, but leaves the option of what to watch and when to watch it to the individual viewer. There is no scheduled timetable, which means there are fewer limitations. This system is one that's hard to beat, and equally as hard to compete with for existing, "old-school" TV networks. However, while it's true that millennials are spending more time watching online services, this doesn't mean that television is being neglected. ...

ITV is the UK's largest terrestrial commercial network. It is made up of ITV, digital channels ITV2, ITV3, ITV4. CITV, and ITVBe. ITV - Wide variety of the highest quality shows that have cross-generational appeal. Suitable for families. ITV2 - Aimed at millennials 16-34; targeted at a "fun-loving" audience. Shows comedies and reality shows. ITV3 - Targets an upmarket, 35+ audience; shows dramas, tells "great" stories ITV4 - Made for men 25-44; shows sports and action shows, as well as US cult classics CITV - Aimed at children, with cross-gender appeal; shows a variety of kid's shows ITVBe - Aimed towards women 16-34, particularly millennial mothers; dedicated to reality TV ITV invests ~£1bn annually in its programming and itv.com. From their website: "ITV is the home of high quality, popular television from the biggest entertainment events, to original drama, soaps, sport, factual series and independent news, both national, and regional....

I have been looking into other TV shows that air on the networks set out by the brief. The following contains my findings.  I looked at 5 fictional and 5 factual programmes from each station, taking into account their timings, genres and role in fulfilling the station's respective remits. Show synopses: ITV: Coronation Street - Soap Opera - The UK's longest-running television soap, Coronation Street focuses on the everyday lives of working class people in Manchester, England. Lethal Weapon - Action Crime Drama - A slightly unhinged cop is partnered with a veteran detective trying to maintain a low stress level in his life. Emmerdale - Soap Opera - A soap opera set in a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Innocent - Crime Drama - David Collins fights to rebuild his shattered life, when, after spending seven years in a high-security prison, his conviction for the murder of his wife is overturned. Endeavour - Crime Drama - Set in the 1960s, the show follows...

The following is the action plan for my project. Firstly, I need to decide what type of show I am going to be making for my project. I already know that it's going to be fictional, but I still need to decide on a specific genre (and sub-genre) for my production. Next, I need to do lots of research into multiple aspects of my production. These include researching the channels (ITV or Channel 5) and their scheduling, researching the audience demographic (18-35 millennials) and researching other texts pertinent to my choice of genre. I then need to begin drafting narrative ideas/concepts, introducing characters, locations, tones, colour schemes, and more elements to my production regarding narrative, genre and mise-en-scene.These ideas I will conjure up by producing mind maps or lists of ideas until I find ones that I like. From there, I plan to start collating my conceptual ideas into more solid stories/characters/themes/etc. that will be used in my show. This will involve, i...

I will say that something I decided on instantly after being given the brief was that I wanted to pursue a fictional production, and would only really consider the alternative if my brain simply could not concoct a story that when transferred to paper wouldn't immediately take a one-way trip to the nearest bin. As of now, I am unsure which fictional world I wish to dive into; the brief does not specify a genre, although the channels (neither ITV or Channel 5 are particularly famous for their dramatic achievements) and their remits arguably do somewhat limit my options. Initial contemplations have steered me in the direction a crime drama - for I find it difficult to thin k of ITV drama without the word "Broadchurch" springing to mind - but I am yet to sit down and engage with a blank sheet of paper, known enemy of creativity though it is. Upon initially reading the brief set, most of my attention went to the fact that the programme we're tasked with producing ...

01001000 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101111 00101100 00100000 01110111 01101111 01110010 01101100 01100100 00101110. Hello, world. My name is Mike Quigley-Smith, and I am a 17 year-old media studies student. I have created this blog for the purpose of tracking my progress in my media coursework, and will be updating it regularly whenever I add to my project. The coursework in question is a cross-media production, the brief of which pertains to the creation of a three minute audio-visual production and an accompanying print product aimed at 18-35 year-old millennials and made for either ITV or Channel 5.  Our choice of scene to produce for the audio-visual element of the coursework must contain a significant moment in the narrative, notably a disruption or conflict, a turning point and/or a resolution. The print product must contain a front page design and a double-page spread.  I am excited to challenge myself with the production of creative media texts, and thou...