Pre-Production
Chosen Brief:
6. A selection of materials related to an original children's TV drama, to include the title sequence to the TV programme, together with two of the following three options.
- the front cover to a magazine for the series;
- a DVD cover for the series
- a radio advertisement for the magazine
Shown below is a spider diagram which shows all my initial ideas on one page, which also has pictures and the logos of these specific show ideas. Throughout these pictures bright colours and symbols have been used which shows a running theme in that television shows bright colours are reliable characters work well.
First Idea
The first main idea I had was to create a title sequence for a show where travel was involved so, in my title sequence I could create a journey which my characters would go on. This would also be to introduce them.
Wednesday 21st September
Main Idea
The main idea I have is to create an original children's TV drama, which is going to include title sequence for the TV programme. The first idea I had was to choose a travel programme, where a group of teenagers go on a journey, which meant that the title sequence could take you on a journey, which would show where the teenagers are at the start of every programme, if you had not seen the show before. As I was unsure where to start or what title sequences exist previously which include travel. I then went onto Google and researched 'Top 20 title sequence.' The results of my search came up with this web page. This web page included title sequences from Mad Men to Dexter, Desperate Housewives and The Sopranos, after watching these title sequences I found that The Sopranos title sequence include a journey which is a perfect example of a title sequence which shows travel.
Top 20 TV Title Sequences
'The Sopranos.'
'The Sopranos,' takes you on a journey of the viewer being in the driving seat. Which ranges from the New York skyline, Statue of Liberty, and an aeroplane taking off to New Jersey which is where the journey takes you to, a nearby state where there are industrial sites and old fashioned steam railways. Within this 1.36min title sequence the viewer already has an understanding of the accepts of the lives which the television series characters lead, from the viewer being in the driving seat and witnessing this dramatic change in location in such a short time, which sets the scene. This hyperlink takes you to the 1.36 'The Sopranos,' title sequence.
After seeing 'The Sopranos,' title sequence I then looked into other television shows which take a journey in the title sequence.
'The Sopranos,' title sequence.
'Coach Trip.'
After researching and watching television looking out I then noticed that the Channel 4 Show Coach trip also takes you on a journey. All of the Coach Trip title sequence is animated, with filmed sections of the coach travelling, which is the format which I hope to create my own title sequence in, as this would mean I had to learn a new skill and would be more effective that just a film. The title sequence starts with a filmed aerial shot of the coach, which then cuts to the animation which shows a map which then zooms into France and shows were the coach is going. This link takes you to the title sequence of Coach Trip which is the start of the clip until 47 seconds in.
'Coach Trip,' Title Sequence
'United States of Tara - Opening Theme'
I discovered 'United States of Tara,' on the Top 20 Title Sequences website as discussed previously in this post. I took an interest in the 'Unites States of Tara,' as a pop-up book has been used throughout the title sequence. As I am a more practical person, creating a pop up book and using this throughout the title sequence would work well for me which I can then edit it so the pop up book moves. The link below takes you to the title sequence of the 'Unites States of Tara,' which starts with an over view shot of a book opening which then leads to a pop up book, which includes a house, then a kitchen. Which includes an opening of an oven with a cake popping out and then a garage and a wardrobe.
'United States of Tara,' Title Sequence.
Explanation
The three title sequence shown above of 'The Sopranos,' 'Coach Trip,' and 'United States of Tara,' are all highly edited and filmed extremely well. When looking to create my own title sequence a product to this standard with as much editing which has gone into the title sequences shown would not be possible. This is mostly due to the time limit to create a title sequence, as I have very basic skills of editing and how to create a title sequence, I would take far too long to learn all the skills needed.
Although the idea of a pop up book as used in the 'United States of Tara,' appeals to me, and could be created to provide a basic but very effective title sequence which would appeal to children. Due to the lack of editing technology which is available at the school which I am studying I now need to look at more simpler but effective title sequences. Which can be achieved to the highest standard possible but not looking over worked.
Audiences
The target audience which has been chosen for this project is for young children, the show which is going to be chosen also needs to appeal to children so they know and remember the show and possibly put it on for their children to watch or record this particular show, such as if they see the opening title sequence and are drawn in by this. The target audience of these three is teenagers and young adults, as the brief clearly states that the title sequence needs to be aimed at children. As a result the content of some of these title sequences would not be suitable for children, such as in 'The Sopranos,' the main character in the title sequence is smoking a cigar which would not be appealing or appropriate to children.
As a result of this I have researched on the BBC Iplayer and looked at the CBBC section of the website CBBC Iplayer and watched many title sequences from the children's CBBC shows. The shows I have watched range from 'Arthur' to 'Mona the Vampire,' I also research on the Disney Website and found shows like 'The sweet life on Deck.' Although the shows I found on the Top 20 Title Sequences website had amazing and well throughout and connected title sequence this was not the right target audience.
As I have looked through the children's title sequences, our teacher then decided that it would be easier and a lot more effective if we take an already existing children's television show and re-brand it and make it suitable for the style of title sequence which I am going to create. Such as 'The Suite Life of on Deck,' I may re-brand this by having 'The Suite Life on Deck,' or instead of the character's living in a hotel, they could live on a holiday safari park in Africa.
Thursday 22nd September
Content
The content of this title sequence will be aimed towards a children's audience as stated in the brief, this title sequence will be shown on television channels such as Cbeebies or the Disney channel. I have now chosen three children's dramas to look at in more detail, to find one the best out of the three to re-brand and then make a title sequence for and help me to carry out the Ancillary tasks.
'The Suite Life on Deck.'
'The Suite Life on Deck,' is a spin off series of the original Disney television show called 'The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.' Which followed the antic's of Zack and Cody at the Tipton Hotel, in Boston, The United States of America. Where there mother works as the hotels singer, as well as their dad who is a recurring character in 'The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.' As he is a struggling singer on tour in America. 'The Suite Life on Deck,' still follows the life of Zack and Cody but this time on a cruise ship, the SS Tipton were their mother is the resident singer, all of the original characters from 'The Suite Life of Zack and Cody,' are also in 'The Suite Life on Deck.' The title sequences shown belows introduces all of the characters which are going to be in 'The Suite Life on Deck.'
The start of the title sequence shows the front view of the boat which shows the power and how important the boat is going to be throughout this show, which then leads to clicks of the characters and shows their activities and antics which take place in the show, after this there are scenes which have been specifically filmed for the title sequence to show the characters. This includes Zack and Cody playing basketball and then being in a medium close-up shot of themselves such as Zack and Cody on the title sequence with their real names on the screen also. This pattern follows for three following characters after Zack and Cody. This title sequence then ends with Zack and Cody water skiing off the back of the boat. As the title sequence ends with the two main characters being at the stern of the boat, this represents that through the title sequence you have been shown everything the boat as to offer and shows the boat is a metaphor for the television show.
'The Suite Life on Deck,' Title Sequence
'Mona the Vampire.'Mona the Vampire is also another children's television drama which I have researched, after seeing this television programme on the CBBC channel, which has previously been on the BBC channels. Mona the Vampire follows the adventures of a 10-year-old girl Mona Parker, although she calls herself Mona the Vampire. In every episode a new and different 'supernatural' character appears which Mona and her friends battle to save themselves and there families. Although only Mona and her two best friends Charlie and Lily can see these 'supernatural characters.' The title sequence below introduces Mona and briefly her best-friend Lily with also some of the 'supernatural' characters which Mona encounters. With also showing what happens in Mona's everyday life for example going to school, being with her friends, sleeping, dressing as a vampire, going to the park and solving mystery's. These clicks are shown to a specifically written song for this title sequence which tells you about 'Mona the Vampire,' and her life.
'Mona the Vampire,' title sequence.
Arthur
Arthur is set in an fictional American City, where this series revolves around Arthur Read who is an 8-year-old aardvark. The series follows his school life and interactions with family and friends, through a normal day in Arthur's life. The title sequence shown below introduces Arthur and his close relationship that he has especially with his friends at school. The title sequence starts by Arthur walking down a street, which is then followed by a song which talks about what Arthur is doing, such as 'everyday he is walking down a street.' The title sequence then follows in this same way throughout the rest of the title sequence, his dog also joins him at the start of the title sequence which then jumps to Arthur being in a book and his little sister turns over the page. Which then reflects how even if Arthur is the main character his sister may have some control in this series or some of the attention is on her throughout the shows, as well as in the title sequence. After this Arthur then walks thought to his living room, many shots are then used of Arthur's friends singing and Arthur riding a bike with one of his friends. However the title sequence then cuts back to Arthur talking a picture of his family all sat on the sofa together giving the impression that this is going to be a family based television show.
'Arthur,' title sequence.
Friday 23rd September
Characters
Characters appear in all genre of television programmes which include drams and soaps. However these do vary depending on which genre of television programme you are looking at as well as the target audience. As for the a soap opera these are more complicated for example the main character types in Hollyoaks.
For example the main characters in Hollyoaks soap opera are:
- the promiscuous male or female - Mercedes McQueen
- the gangster/criminal - Warren Fox
- The boss figure - Tony Hutchinson
- Troublesome older character - Myra McQueen
- feisty young female - Nancy Hayton
- the pregnant teen - Amy Barnes
- the respected figure - Mike Barnes
- the strong women - Jacqui McQueen
- young couple - Carmel McQueen and Calvin Valentine
- never do well - Darren Osbourne
- jack the lad - Dave Colburn
Where as for a children's television drama there are more basic characters which are shown below for the characters of Mona the vampire.
Mona the vampire
The main character is Mona, who lives a normal school life, but her and her two best friends called Lily and Charlie fight monsters which only they can see in their spare time. This drama has stereotypical characters of one main character as the lead, with the main characters also having two sidekick characters as friends.
Other characters which are stereotypical are Mona's parents, and Angela the bossy girl who likes to think that she is better than Mona. A character like Angela appears in almost all children television dramas, an example for Mona the Vampire;
- main character - Mona Parker
- best friends - Charlie Bones and Lily Duncan
- bossy character - Angela Smith
- parents - Mr and Mrs Parker
- teachers - Miss Grotto
- cat - fang
Suite Life of Zack and Cody
The shows eleven main stereotypical characters who will be found in most soap dramas. In children's drams there are some of the same stereotypical characters. As such for the Suite Life of Zack and Cody, shown below.
The characters included in the 'Suite Life of Zack and Cody,' these are stereotypical characters, however instead of one main character there are two which are twins called Zack and Cody Martin. Where there is normally only one main character.
There are other stereotypical characters such as;
London Tipton - hotel heiress
Maddie Fitzpatrick - good girl
Mr. Moseby - hotel manger/Carey's boss
Carey Martin - Zack and Cody's mum/hotel singer
Arthur
Arthur is the main character in this BBC series, who goes to school and sees his friends and family, this cast is very family based, with all the main characters being Arthur family and friends.
Other characters include;
- Buster Baker - Arthur's best friend
- Francine Alice Frensky - Arthur's friend
- Mary Anne 'Muffy' Crosswire - Francine's best friend
- Mr and Mrs Read - Arthur's parents
- Emily - Arthur's sister
- Mr. Ratburn - Arthur's teacher
Decision
After looking at 'The Suite Life on Deck,' 'Mona the Vampire,' and 'Arthur.' My favourite is 'Mona the Vampire,' I feel I can re-brand this which would work well, where I can also produce a good quality title sequence for this show, which will appeal greatly to children and be effective. Especially with the theme of Vampires which have proved to be a greatly successful theme, after films such as Twilight, which most children are interested in. I can also adapt this show further in a style which would work for my title sequence such as in a pop up book style.
Location
The location is where the television show or series is set, this could be a school, a holiday destination or a village or town. For examples of locations for television shows like Grange Hill is set in a school, Benidorn is set in the Spanish resort and also filmed on location.
Waterloo road
Waterloo Road is a school based drama, which means that mostly all of the scenes are filmed on location in a school or around this area where the school is based, for example the students and teachers houses. The title sequence of Waterloo road introduces you to the location of the school, which includes shots from the class rooms which includes the teachers and students. The name of the show 'Waterloo Road,' is also created out of tables and chairs to make up these letters to spell out 'Waterloo Road.' This also introduces that this is a programme about a school, as the students are working and also throwing paper aeroplane while sitting around the tables which is associated with schools.
Waterloo Road - Title sequence
Balamory
Balamory is a younger children's television programme which is based in a small island, which is of the same size of a small village, called Balamory which is based off the coast of Scotland. The title sequence introduces the characters and their houses which they live in, the characters all dress in corresponding colours to their houses such as Archie who lives in a pink house, so dresses in pink. The title sequence also introduces where the characters will be spending most of there time, such as in the nursery or the shop.
Balamory - Title sequence
The location of Postman Pat, is similar to Balamory as both are set in a small village, were everyone knows each other. The Postman Pat title sequence starts with a birds eye shot of the small village, this shows how small the location of this television show is going to be. Which then zooms into the street were the post office is located with Postman Pat driving his post office van. This shows that the show is going to be about Postman Pat travelling around the village delivering post. Which is also shown by Postman Pat then going into the post office and then loading his van. Another main character of Jess his cat appears in the van, which Pat then drives around the village waving to all of the village people including the children at a school.
Postman Pat - Job Swap Day
Scenes
Scenes are also a critical part of any television programme and also a main part of a title sequence, as the scene sets what is going to happen in the rest of the television programme.
Waterloo Road
An example of this is Waterloo Road, a scene which is continually shown within Waterloo road which includes the title sequence as well is at the school gate, which then leads to the school playground. This is shown in a photo below, the school gates represents the opening of the school, with also the characters within the school. In the photo below shows a mum of one of the school pupils being chained to the school gates. This shows how the school gates denotes to shows a symbol of the starting of the school grounds, and were you will enter the school.
Balamory
All of the scenes in Balamory are shot within a small village called Balamory. This small village is shown in the photos below, which is made up of many different houses which are all different colours. The different colours of the houses denote who is in the house, such as the fire station is red to symbolizes an emergency or a fire, where as the pink is Archie's house a friendly artist, these are bright and friendly colours which would encourage children to watch this programme.
Tracey Beaker
As Tracey Beaker is set in a children's home, many of the scenes take place around this house especially in her bedroom, as there are about 12 children in the Tracey Beaker show who all have their own room's therefore these rooms are featured greatly in the show. As the whole show is based in this one children's home with various other locations such as the garden also being featured.
The options of briefs were;
6. A selection of materials related to an original children's TV drama, to include the title sequence to the TV programme, together with two of the following three options:
- the front cover to a magazine for the series;
- a DVD cover for the series;
- a radio advertisement for the magazine.
8. The first two pages of a new local newspaper, together with two of the following three options:
- a poster for the newspaper;
- a radio advertisement for the newspaper;
- two hyperlinked pages from the paper's website.
9. A website for a new TV channel, to include a minimum of three hyperlinked pages with original images, audio and video extract, together with two of the following three options:
- a newspaper advertisement for the channel;
- a double page spread for a listings magazine, focused on the children's launch;
- an animated indent sequence for the channel.
I have chosen the first brief number 6 for the main reason that creating a title sequence appeals more to me than, creating the first 2 pages of a new local newspaper to create a website for a TV channel. Since newspapers seem to be bland and consist greatly of writing or to create a website for a new TV channel, as I would have to to think a brand new TV channel. Where as if you pick the first brief the main idea is re-brand an already existing children's TV show.
Skills
The main skill that I will draw upon which I already have is the Photoshop skills which I have gained over the past few months after completing the summer task which was set. Which was to create a comic strip from a comic book about an existing fairy tales which had to have a twist. For example my project was 'Peter Pan,' although instead of there being two boys and a girl my version had just two boys. Which made this version of the 'Peter Pan,' comic strip more adventurous.
Peter Pan with Wendy, James and Micheal
Another skill which I will draw upon is blogger which is relatively new to me. However I have already started using blogger to display my media portfolio. This involved signing up to blogger, and then learning how to use this website, such as to import links, photos and videos for my portfolio. Another skill which I am going to draw upon is to learn how stop motion works and the main principle behind this and how I can get stop motion to work for my title sequence. I will need to research and build upon skills from testing to tying out the stop motion style.
Monday 5th December
Developments of blog
The site which I have used to create by blog on is Blogger this was because this site is very simple and easy to use as well as you can also make different pages on the blog instead of just having one page where all your posts are published. Which would then make it difficult to give structure to the blog or to the research and initial ideas for the media product which I am going to create. Since I have pages to my blog it is quick and easy to find the specific information which you are looking for such as in the page called 'Layouts, drafting,' from simply clicking this it then takes you to the layouts for the main task of the title sequence and the auxiliary tasks. Blogger also has other features which work well these include Video link to you tube or you can upload your own from your user, web links were you can simply type in the web address and then label your links which you are creating. These are very effective features and also work well within the blog and helps to make this blog more interactive for the user and also make it more exciting than just using the blog just for words.
Development of blog on Blogger
Over time my blog background and design on blogger has developed overtime. This is mainly because the background of my blog reflects the ideas that I have had for the final products of the title sequence, DVD cover and magazine cover.
As the initial idea I had was to make a title sequence about travel, and the idea that a journey will be carried out during the title sequence which shows what the group or characters have come from or travelled from to get to there detestation or where the characters are now. As a result I chose a map as the first background for my blog, which I changed to being the colour blue which also represents the sea which could be another way of travelling by boat or a cruise.
After finishing the final products I have changed the background and design of my blog on blogger, this is so my blog which then represented the theme of Mona the Vampire which I have chosen as I have carried out research and mock animations this was the children's television I choose. As I have chosen the animation style of a stop motion sand animation, I have chosen a black background which dark orange lights in the background, which is a string regimentation of the black sand and the light box shining throughout which is represented by the dark orange lights as shown below.
Creation
The creation of new ideas is another skills which I will need to draw upon, which would also help me greatly to think of new and interesting ideas for the title sequence which I am going to create. And also with the ancillary tasks the creation of new ideas would also help and influence greatly the success of these ideas.
For example thinking of new ideas and creating them would help greatly making a stop motion animation as the main task would be the stop animation title sequence, which when drawing on ideas this would work greatly when researching and then thinking of my own ideas. Which also would impact if I decided to use and create a pop-up book to use in the main title sequence. This would then impact both the DVD cover and the magazine cover which I also need to create. As the theme and the idea of a pop-up book would work throughout all of these activities as well as the main activity.
Movie maker would also be another skill which I would need to draw upon within these tasks, this would be so that the animation would move. As I am creating an animation this could be filmed which would mean that movie maker would need to be used to edit this film and make this film to the best quality possible. Movie maker would also be used if I decided to create a stop motion animation, as many photos would have to be taken, edited and then put into a film format. The programme of movie maker is also a key skill to learn and draw upon as I am creating an animation the only programme available to me is movie maker to make a video click or animation.
Interests
This brief and tasks that I have been given interest me greatly in different ways. These interest range from editing to researching and thinking of new ideas how conventions can be challenged of a normal television title sequence for children. Which also includes creating a blog, which means signing up to blogger as well as having to use the templates provided or your own to create a blog.
Designing an animation also interests me, since discovering sand animation which has excited me greatly rather than doing a basic stop motion animation, I am greatly excited to make storyboards and test out the sand animation to see how it works. With also what can be achieved by the sand animation techniques.
Creating an animation is another one of my great interests in this project, which for my product is most likely to be a stop motion animation, which is where you take many photos for example a paper cut out of a bat which is then moved slightly and then taken another photo of this paper cut out. These many photos are then edited individuality and then put together in movie maker to show how they all can move together.
I am also interested in creating a successful final product, which includes the title sequence which I am going to create as well as the DVD cover and magazine front page which is also going to be created. This is because for GCSE and AS most tasks have involved making a DVD or magazine cover at one stage which have never been over-ally successful, as I now have gained Photoshop skills which can be used to make these products to the best quality possible.
Direction
After carrying out research I have decided the direction I will be coming from is a child friendly direction this will include the content of bright colours, and images that will draw children in and that would want to watch this show after seeing the title sequence which I am going to create. Although in recent times children are growing up at a younger age due to culture and society. This means that it may not be necessarily to use as brighter colours as I first thought, as I am also using animation and not film to create my title sequence this could mean that I could use black and white instead of bright colours to get the young audiences attention. Which could be explored in a different style of animation such as stop motion.
As Mona the Vampire is the children television show which this project is going to be based on this television show is aimed at children who watch the CBBC channel which is on every week day Monday to Friday 3 o'clock until 5 o'clock. As Mona the Vampire is about vampire this is on during the late afternoon and aimed at children so does not need to be over-ally dramatic or scary but does need to have the point that vampires and monster are what the show is about is the main angle I am going for.
The already existing title sequence that Mona the Vampire has reflects bright colours which include purple, yellow, orange which are represented as mainly Halloween vampire like colours. However as many children are more daring today and more interested in scary television shows therefore a new interpretation of the Mona the Vampire title sequence would work well. As this would give a new twist and appeal to the television show, which is also the angle I am going for.
Differences from AS level
This A2 project differs greatly from the AS level project as the brief that has been set this year is much more practical. As for AS level all work was based and presented on power-point, which included making magazine covers, CD covers and magazine articles. Some basic Photoshop skills were used last year, although these were only basic such as taking out red eye in photos and cutting out parts of the photo and put them on to another photo.
Where as the work this year, is to create a blog which is much more practical with uploading videos, photos and web links on to the page. Which is very different then just working on power-point, as creating a blog is also interactive were follow students can comment and make suggests on how your blog can be improved and who other items you need to add.
As a result of using blogger this year I have improved my Photoshop skills greatly as you can not edit a children title sequence on blogger you need to use specific programmes designed for these uses such as Photoshop. After I also took part in the summer A2 taster lessons between June and July I also gained more knowledge and use of Photoshop by creating a cartoon strip based on the story of Peter Pan.
As a result of not achieving the best grade possible last year due to unfinished work, this year I have made a time management plan which has been put on my blog. This is to show how much and what needs to be work by when. With also how much time this work will take to complete. Which also gives more structure to the work and what I am working towards, unlike AS when you were just give a task after task with no direction of what the work was building up to.
