Evaluation

Evaluation

Word count - 1,628

To help develop my script, I did many different types of research. This enabled me to improve and re-construct aspects of my script which were incorrect. The different types of research methods used included those such as interviews and questionnaires. Using methods such as internet research and questionnaires allowed me to gain a lot of information in a short amount of time.

The first method of research I did was a questionnaire. This helped me gain ideas on what my TV drama should be about and it included questions based upon my characters, the events in the drama and the most popular genre type for example. The questionnaire was given to ten people, including ten questions. After reviewing the feedback, I believe it indicated which route to take when I came to finalise the main ideas and generate a script. I went with the majority vote on each question as if this questionnaire was done on a larger sample size; it would mean I would attract more people to this drama. Hopefully, by using the majority vote, it would create an interesting script. I developed more ideas by carrying out this questionnaire and got a clearer understanding on how the storyline would develop throughout the script. To follow up this research, I constructed a report on the results which then set a structured plan. I completed my first draft of the script.

The second method I used to help to construct my script was internet research. Firstly, I went onto BBC’s writers’ room and copied a page of two different scripts which were ‘Our girl’ and ‘Home front’. I compared each of these scripts against each other and looked at the similarities. The main things that were similar amongst them were features such as the text being centred, the characters names being in bold and also stage directions. I believe that if I did not compare these scripts, I would have probably included things in my script which didn’t need to be there and left out the generic conventions such as centred text. I found this really research really helpful as I was unsure on how to set out a script to begin with therefore it gave me a better understanding of how to include them into my script. This research also allowed me to then improve my script and generate a second draft.

I then reported on two TV dramas, noting on the personalities of characters and the locations on both the programmes. I also looked at how the storyline unfolded. This piece of research allowed me to gain an understanding on how much tension and enigma should be in the first episode for it then to carry on into a full series. I believe this research also made me think of the script as if it was acted out properly whilst writing it, which made me see how important the details in the location and stage directions are. I incorporated these findings into my script which allowed me to then, hopefully, make my own script better.

I then went on to do a focus group for the script. I handed out the second draft of my script to five people and asked them to read it. Once they had read it, I then asked them to give me feedback on the main characters. They did this when I asked them five questions. The questions included things about Francesca, PC Brookes and PC Rowe. The feedback was consistent; this indicates that the script comes across the same to most people meaning it must be understandable. However, some of the people said it wasn’t that clear what gender PC Brookes is and some didn’t notice the tension between Francesca and her family. This allowed me to change and improve my script, focusing in these areas. It also allowed me to produce the third draft of my script.

To make sure this draft included all of the main conventions of a script, I did more internet research. I searched, “how to write a TV drama script”. From this search, I read about the different features to writing a script and wrote about them, referencing the pages where I got this data from. The information I got from searching this made me aware of features such as the use of INT and EXT and the use of ‘continue’. This data allowed me to check the third draft of my script to see if I have included every feature into the script and also to see if I had missed anything out from when I had done previous research which could have then improved my script. I then did my fourth draft.

To be able to complete the final draft, I asked friends to act out the script which allowed me to see if the characters were being portrayed like I wanted them to and to see if the storyline made sense. I made final changes to my script from this, changing the wording etc. The final draft was then written based upon the results of this.

I then went on to make a DVD cover and a poster for my drama. Analysing three different DVD covers of television dramas with a genre similar to mine helped me to design my DVD cover as I looked for visual and technical codes, semiotics, mise en scene, representations and genres. By completing this analysis, it gave me an idea of the general layout and content of them which I then applied to my own DVD cover. After gaining knowledge of all the different layouts of DVD covers, I went on to design 8 thumbnail sketches using these ideas. From these sketches, I chose the best four designs and annotated them on the basis of font, font colour, background colour and the layout (where images and text were going). After comparing these four sketches and considering the genre of my drama, I narrowed them down to just two designs which were best suited towards my drama and annotated them in more detail. I showed the two designs in a focus group and briefly noted down what people thought of each one. This then allowed me to choose the best design and complete my DVD cover. The same process applied to designing my poster also. The images used on both my DVD cover and poster were taken for production and edited using Photoshop.

The DVD covers that I analysed (I.e., The Walking Dead, Friends, and Big Bang Theory) allowed me to see the main conventions such as barcodes, a spine title, a blurb and an age rating. These are all the things that I took into consideration when designing my own DVD cover. I incorporated this into my DVD cover because it meant that it then became professional looking and realistic in terms of the conventions. I looked at the technical codes they used, for example, camera shots and why they used these shots so that these could be incorporated into my DVD cover also.

I tried to make my font stand out by having juxtaposition between the colour of the background which were mainly black and the text throughout the DVD cover which were white and red. The white and red colour was chosen because they connote to pureness (white) and blood and horror (red) which represents characters in my drama. I also chose to have a consistent font throughout my DVD cover so that it looked professional. I saw that the DVD cover for ‘Big Bang Theory’ did this and it makes mine appear genuine.

On the front cover of my DVD cover, I chose not to include any of the main characters so that the images I used instead would create more of an enigma, therefore enticing the target audience to watch it and find out why the DVD cover is how it is. The background images on both the front and the back of the cover are black and white creating negative and positive connotation, which is portrayed through the characters in the drama.  The images on the back and front were both long shots. I intended to use these shots to place it in some relation to the surroundings in the drama and it’s a point of view show which makes the audience think they are a part of the drama. I took into account the lighting I used for both the front and back cover images and the positioning of the images and also the blurb, title and other pieces of text. All of these technical aspects gave my DVD cover a professional appearance. For my blurb, I tried to incorporate suspense within the main summary of the drama, avoiding giving too much away. I found this to be very conventional of DVD covers when doing my research. I also ended the text with a question which created another enigma on my DVD cover. This would therefore leave the audience eager to watch the drama.

I then looked at posters for television dramas and analysed the conventions of these so that I knew what to incorporate into my own design. I found that the main things featured in these posters were a bold title which would draw the audience in straight away as it would be very noticeable, a date and a consistent house style from this and my DVD cover. The only image featured on my poster is the main character in my television drama. They are shown through a mid-shot, and they have their face blacked out which creates an enigma as to what they look like. I also incorporated the conventions that I found in my analysis of posters to make it look realistic for a television drama poster (including the things mentioned before). 

I believe that all of the research I have done has allowed me to create a successful script, DVD cover and poster.