Tv drama

Television; industries and audiences 

•  Publicly owned tv Channel; funded by government and license fees for the public service 
• Commercial Tv channel: funded through advertisement. 
• Convergence: process of joining  different technologies into one device e.g. Mobile phone
• Watershed: times when adults content (15+) can be shown. between 9pm and 5:30 am 
• Segmented market: audience divide into different groups depending on taste and interests 
• Mainstream:: mass audience; the ideas, attitudes or activates that are shared by most people and regarded as normal or conventional 
• self regulating : not regulated by outside bodies  

Franchise: license from company of a product to use format/show/ideas ​

Channel-surfing: changing frequently from one program to another on a television, watching each one for only a short time​

PSB: Public Service Broadcasting; regulators demand channels fulfil certain requirements as part of their license to broadcast​

TV License: any household or business watching, recording live broadcasts require to pay a license fee. Funds the BBC​

Scheduling: deciding which shows to show at which times​

Conglomerate: a company that owns several smaller businesses whose products or services are usually very different

1) 1936

3) 1955

federal communications commission

    Tv in the 1960s

Television in mid-1960s Britain was scarce. Only three channels were available – BBC1, BBC2 and ITV – and one of those (BBC2) was not available on older television sets. Televisions were expensive, small, unreliable, and black and white. There was no broadcasting for large parts of the day and all television channels closed down at night (playing the national anthem). ​

Home computing and any technology to record television in the home was the stuff of science fiction. Channel surfing was impossible due to tuning issues.​

ITV started in 1955, designed to be competition for the BBC’s monopoly over television broadcasting and to allow advertising on television for the first time. ​

ITV was regulated by the Independent Television Authority (ITA). The BBC was self-regulating.​

All UK TERRESTRIAL channels have to follow the PSB remit, although it is stricter if a channel is publicly owned (BBC)​

Tv audience 

Both BBC1 and ITV1 need to be popular and appeal to mass audiences. Why? ​

BBC1 has to meet PSB remit and justify license fee​

ITV1 has to attract advertisers to fund channel​

However, technology has changed how we consume TV.​

Effects of Technology​

Despite being able to watch time-shifted programmes or stream TV, the majority of audiences still watch live TV on a TV set. The PSB channels are still the most popular – 85% of people in the UK with a TV watch PSB channels. ​

So, if technology means we can watch what we want, whenever we want, why do we still watch live TV?​

One of the reasons for watching live TV is SECOND SCREENING: screenings that encourage audiences to join discussions on various social media during a live TV show.​

Another reason is AUDIENCE INTERACTIVITY: viewers are encouraged to vote to determine the outcome. This continued engagement increases their commitment to the programme and loyalty to the channel.​

THEORY: The Active Audience

This focus on debates as to whether an audience is ACTIVE or PASSIVE​

A PASSIVE AUDIENCE accepts and believes everything a media text tells them. They are easily influenced and don’t question any messages conveyed.​

An ACTIVE AUDIENCE interacts with a media text and makes its own decisions about whether to accept and believe everything. They question messages and may interpret meanings differently

The 1960

Who were the most famous bands? How was this music different to previous decades? ​

Which political party was in power in 1965? Who was PM? ​

Were illegal drugs, according to the media, a big part of culture? ​

What scientific development changed women’s lives? ​

What significant historic events happened? ​

What wars were being fought around the world? ​

What were people protesting about in the UK? ​

How would life have been different in the 1960s for women, men and different races compared to now in the UK?

In 1965, the Cold War was at its height. Britain was a part of NATO – a group of 12 western countries who agreed to support each other in the face of a Soviet attack. In retaliation, The Soviet Union formed a pact with seven other communist countries. Europe was divided into two armed sides!​

Anxieties about nuclear war were common as both the Soviet Union and the US were building up their armies and weapons. ​

In 1965, the Cold War was at its height. Britain was a part of NATO – a group of 12 western countries who agreed to support each other in the face of a Soviet attack. In retaliation, The Soviet Union formed a pact with seven other communist countries. Europe was divided into two armed sides!​

Anxieties about nuclear war were common as both the Soviet Union and the US were building up their armies and weapons. ​

In 1962, The Cuban Missile Crisis took place over a terrifying week when the two countries took the world to the brink of a nuclear war

Avengers 

Which institution (Channel) produced the show? ITV​

Who was the primary and secondary audience Mainstream adult audience​

When did the first episode air?  7th Jan 1961​

How many seasons were made? 6​

What date/year was the last episode aired? 1969​

What was the budget for Series 4? £56,000 per episode​

British television did compete on the world market, with prestige productions such as The Avengers being sold to many countries overseas (90 countries by 1969). A lucrative deal with the American Broadcasting Company (reportedly $2 million) required the fourth series of The Avengers to be shot on film and allowed high production values for television of that era. Previous series were very studio bound, as was conventional for television of that era, and so appear to be very ‘stagey’ by contemporary standards. Videotape editing was a difficult​

and costly process so most television was mixed live, with mistakes and fluffed lines left uncorrected. Many programmes were lost as expensive videotape was re-used for new programmes. Shooting on film for a higher budget enabled more sophisticated camerawork, greater use of locations, more controlled editing and a more sophisticated soundtrack, with a through-composed score.​

The BBC was slowly weaned away from its stuffy ‘Auntie’ image by the rigours of competition with ITV. However, channel loyalty tended to split on class lines, with ITV seen as the more working class channel – at a time when, with the rise of youth culture, it was suddenly ‘cool’ to be working class – and the BBC seen as more middle class. Thus the BBC’s flagship drama of the mid 1960s, The Forsyte Saga, was a serialisation of a set of novels by Galsworthy, a Nobel prize-winning British author. In comparison, ITV series such as The Avengers appeared much more daring, youthful, irreverent and sexy

Because of the additional money from ABC, ​

The show could afford much higher production values: more location shooting, all shot on film etc.​

​

Each episode had a budget of around £56,000. Today, that would be the equivalent of…​

    £928,000!!!​

Television in the 2010s

L/O: research the 2010s (UK) in terms of social, cultural and political climate of the decade; research TV usage in 2015.

2015

research 

Cuffs was released in October 2015​

What were the key events, in the UK and globally, that happened in 2015 that might influence a TV series set in present day UK? ​

Conventions of police drama               08/03/2021 

   Using your knowledge of police dramas  

Brooklyn nine nine 

the boys 

- 9 1 1 

S.W.A.T.- Narrative- A action packed america police drama  about a police force in america 

Hidden

 

ManHunt 

True detective 

The dreuce 

The Valhallla Murders 

London kills- Narrative- Following the detectives of an elite murder investigation squad in London; the team is lead by the experienced Detective Inspector David Bradford, whose wife has been missing for the past three months: a case he has been unable to solve.

Money heist- A criminal mastermind who goes by The professor has a plan to pull off the biggest heist in recored history -- to print billions of euros 

17/03/21

Cuffs: series 1, episode 1

Lo: to analyse the narrative and characters constructed in an opening episode  

Character names:

PC ryan draper: 

Pc jake vickers: new  police officer. son of the chief. Gay 

Ds jo Moffat 

Chief super Robert vickers 

Pc donna Prager 

Pc lino moretti 

Felix Kane 

Dc Carl Hawkins 

Narrative- Man stole kid 

New police man training  

police in brighton doing police stuff 

appeal 

For people who like police crimes 0

setting:   Sea side 

brighton 

 U And G 

have a wide range of characters to identify with

Range of different races and sexualities 

Information

The social offers a sense of informing the audience about police work and the criminal world 

entertainment 

social interaction 

May feel that they are part of a team 

22/03/21

Cuffs episode 1

L/O to annotate the narratives and characters constructed in the opening episode                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Ryan Draper big strong, Very passionate about his job, Likes to take risks, worked hard for is job hard worker, high morels 

Jake vickers Scared, eager, naive, got his job because of his father, Not very skilled at his job  

Jo Moffat- desperate,successful, strong 

Chief Robert vickers- Cold hearted , does not show emotion careless,distance 

Dc Carl Hawkins, tough vigorous, stubborn, hot heady  

Felix Kane-very calm, very reserved, silent humble 

Pc Lino Moretti- joker, funny  

Pc donna Prager- Like the excitement, confidence 

Jake vickers 

Starting a new job felling nervous/anxious and out of your depth and working hard to prove your self 

which is shown in jake and Ryan 

information 

Where do we see examples of social realism 

Mental health 

Guys cuts him self, Not got much support show a lack of funding for mental health 

Entertainment

Raid scene, dangerous situation, dangerous characters, don't listen to instructions, add tension as they break the rules, slow motion, emphasise the danger. Close up on the weapons, lots if action fight scene threats made 

social interaction 

How does the affair go for Jo and Robert 

Does Jake go to meet the solicitor 

  shocking: Felix goes to a brothel rather then gong home 

24/03/21 

Cuffs and social Contexts 

L/o to analyse representation and influence of social and cultural context in Cuffs 

  

Representation- How something is presented 

• characters-  Pc Ryan Drapers, People  wearing viking hats, Naked couple, Robert vickers  

• Props- cars, blow-up dolls, toy swords, viking hats  The costumes, Nudist beach sign 

• Character interaction- Fights between two people on the beach and the police. Police officer out numbered, Not handling the situation. The stag do were mocking Dc Ryan Draper  
• Dialogue - police radio, Chief Robert vickers giving a speech  

• stereotypes -  Drunk people harassing people and getting involved with the police. Robert vickers being a very serious police officer. 

Remind me social values of 2015 

far more gender equalities 

Class structure supposedly disappeared 

Gender 

Stronger roles for women reflect gender equality 

Jo Moffat and donna 

A change in attitude towards towards masculinity. Different male roles presented in a positive light

Felix- clm quiet reserved 

Traditional masculine and feminine qualities no longer reserved for particular genders.

How can this be seen in the episode- Jo- Physically involve in the raid scene 

Jo moffat 

how they are represented 

• She has important status as a detective, although it coud be argued that this is 

undermined by her affair with her boss

•  She is represented as weak when she hesitates about leading the press conference on the racist attacks but as strong during the police raid. her status and power in the police reflect the number of women in potions of authority in 2015
• 
  
• 
  

  

Pc Donna Prager 

• Strong 
• experienced
• equal the male partner 
• confident 
• respected  

Mens roles and representation 

Pc jake vickers 

•  Naive 
• inexperienced 
• Weak- over confident 
• Dedicated 
• 
  

  Chief vickers 

• A more traditional representation of masculinity, as the dominant, controlling male whose jobs it is to keep his team of detectives and police officers in line. Represented as authoritative and patriarchal  in both his work and his personal life  

Pc Lino Moretti 

Comical character 

Eating-- is a focus- as a joke 

dedicated, experienced 

Respected 

Ryan Draper and Masculinity 

•  He has power: his is respected by his peers and trusted to mentor jake 
• He is gentle with members of the public
• He is determined and focused during the car chase 

Type of masculinity

 Robert vicker- Authoritative patriarchal- Stereotypical 

Jake Vickers- Strong confident, emotional- not stereotypical  

Lino Moretti- comical confrontational - stereotypical 

Carl Hawkins- Aggressive confrontational - stereotypical 

Felix- Calm sensitive- Not stereotypical 

Ryan Draper- Determined and focused emotional and caring- not stereotypical  

Sexuality 

Visibility of lgbt characters 

Jake and the solicitor.responsible and successful, secondary to their job is their sexuality  

Jake Vickers Characters challenges the stereotypes of homosexuality being issue or problem 

Multiculturalism 

Boy who comes came to the uk to go to university 

Different in ethnicity are accepted, yes by the police attitudes and the main characters as from varied ethnic backgrounds 

Racist group, attack in the shop 

Racist group represented very negatively- uneducated, whie Wc, drnk and drugs. 

The powerful anit- racist message    

31/03/21

The Avengers 

The Town of No Return 

 

The narrative (Storyline how does is create enigma codes? How does it follow Todorov's narrative theory- people go missing  

The characters( stereotypes)

 - Steed., mrs peel                                                       

How the episode shows social and cultural context ( The mid 60's issues)

 

Audience appeal (what makes the audience want to watch)

 Personal identity 

Could identify and empathise with the upper class role models 

could explore and or reinforce  

Steed- traditional james bond figure, reliable , strong, dependent.

Reminds those who fought in WW2 AS STEED FOUGHT 

Those who know someone who fought in WW2

Mrs peel, Married, has a career, strong,independent powerful, aspiration to the audience. New generation.

Information 

• world of upperclass 
• world of espionage/spies 
• Highly capable agents protecting Britain  

Entertainment  

 Escape from the world, enjoy the danger and repetitive each week 

Family event, at down to watch, discuss 

19/04/21

Analysing an extract 

Lo to analyse the use of media language in a tv drama extract 

Camerawork 

establishing shots-  An establishing shot is a long shot at the start of a scene (or sequence) that shows things from a distance. Often an aerial shot, it is intended to help identify and orient the location or time for the scene and action that follow

             

  low angle, high angle, canted angle or aerial shots- different camera angels

  

  camera movement: tracking, steadicam or crane shots- Camera movement is a film making technique that causes a change in frame or perspective

 

  hand-held camera-

 A handheld shot is a shot taken with the camera being supported only by the operator's hands and shoulder  

point-of-view shots- A point if view shot is a fim angle that shows what a characters is looking at in the first 

person it is usually established by being positioned between a shot of a character looking at something and a shot showing the characters reaction  

 

  shallow focus and focus pulls

1. 
   

•  shot/ reverse shot- Shot/reverse shot is a film technique where one character is shown looking at another character, and then the other character is shown looking back at the first character
• juxtaposition
• non -continuity editing 
• Crosscutting- switching between two characters 
• fast- paced editing- several shot in a short space of time 
• transitions: dissolve, wipe,fade
• production effects

How has sound been used to create meaning 

Theme music 

ambient sounds/ seagulls/birds 

dialoge/ between two characters  

How has sound been used to create meaning

Sound has been used to create meaning 

the first example of this is the Ambient sounds of the seagulls, the waves and the beach makes the location of the scene, and non diegetic sound that adds mystery

21/04/21

Sound has been used in the extract to create meaning, the first example of this is. 

  

Theme music in the title credit is upbeat and modern but has a serious mysterious tone. This use if sound suggest that the episode will be aimed at a younger dynamic audience,through the use if fast paced and tone i the theme music 

 Parallel sound- both the image and the music reflects the tone of the episode 

context- reflects the younger generation- their individuality and increase in choice 

in the 1960s we would expect younger and older generation to come together to watch 

21/04/21

Sound has been used to create meaning 

Sound has been used in the extract to create meaning, the first example of this is 

The ambient sounds of the seagulls, waves and beach which matches the scene of the extract and gives it emphasis. The sounds of the beach with the non diegetic sounds and mystery and and builds tension for the episode.  This creates meaning because it makes a suggest of the type of music of the tv show and it to give the scene more real and add a feel of realism to the episode. this show was made in the 1960s and the appeal of the show would appeal to a younger audience but all so appeals a older audience because the their was only tv in the house and children  and their parents wold come to together  to watch the show.the sound adds meaning to the show because of the  was in black and white and the ambient sounds and the theme tune makes feel more real and makes more entertaining to watch.          

  

Explain how social context influence television programmes 

In the avenger one example of social context is Threat of foreign invasion. This is shown because the extract takes place n a under ground bunker where they were fight people who wanted to invade Britain 

This represents WW2 and other countries wanting to invade britain and the cold war 

28/04/21

Context- Avengers The town of no return 

L/o: To analyse representation and influence of social and cultural context in series 4 episode 1 

How was gender represented in episode 

• Character-Mrs peel ,steed 
• Setting 
• Props
• characters interaction 
• Dialogue
• Stereotypes-
• Mrs Peel in a leading role  
• 
  

Media language- Camera, sound, Mise en scene editing 

Representation-  How is presented

Audience- How does it attract? who are they 

Industry- who makes this, when is it on 

Context- what is it like at the time 

Female roles, inequality 

Class structure 

changing views on sexuality 

A new bread of tough, intelligent women

mrs peel, fighting the bad guys, fights with steed, competes with steed in fencing 

Women as sex objects 

mrs peel can be seen as a sex object in this episode as well because steed taps her bum while they are sword fighting, and she wears a tight leather suit   

Anti- stereotype- Something goes against the typical stereotypes  

Reactionary stereotypes- Someone who acts like the stereotype

     

Anti-stereotype- She overpowers steed in the fencing match , 

Reactionary type- she is ordered by steed to leave immediately for a mission with no warning 

Camera- mid shots   

Mise en scene- Tight clothing, she is wearing a revealing clothes, wearing fashionable clothes

steed pouring the drinks instead of mrs peel, mrs peel apartment shows she is a successful and interdependent, beating steed in a fencing match       

Editing- 

sound- Romantic music when steed is entering the apartment 

How was gender was represented in the Avengers to reflect the attitudes and values of the 1960s

 

Gender is represented in the Avengers by in the episode there are stereotypes of gender but also anti-stereotypes of genders. the episode women are show as powerful and strong this s shown in mrs peel. Mrs peel overpowers steed in the fencing match which is a anti-stereotype of that men are more powerful the women,Who ever the is a scene where women are shown as sex objects and this is shown in mrs peel when she is wearing a tight leather cat suit and where steeds tap mrs peels bum with his  sword, this shows that in the 1960s it wads okay to sexualise women and it was normal and en weren't sexualised 

Men are represented as strong, by steed in the Avengers here he beats mrs peel in the fencing match, this is a stereotype that men are stronger than women in the 1960s but also in the train scene.