Unit 21: Interpreting the Brief

The Client: BBC

The BBC is a public service broadcaster in the UK funded by a license fee collected from anyone who used TV or On Demand services.

It's primary focus is to Inform, Entertain and Educate.

Because it is a public service broadcaster, it has an obligation to justify how it spends the money from the license fee, always try and remain impartial and fairly represent all parties.

Platform: BBC Three

BBC Three is a BBC brand specifically targeted at 16-34 year olds. When launched in 2007 it broadcasted as a traditional TV channel - but due to a decrease in BBC funding, a rapid decline in teenagers watching broadcast TV and an increase in content being viewed in an “On Demand” format - the channel was moved online with content published on the BBC iPlayer and through @BBCThree Twitter & Instagram accounts.

Due to its target market the content available on the BBC Three is very focused into what young people are interested in: including ‘the big issues’, sex, drugs, crime and other transgressive content. These topics are usually presented through short form (10-20 minute) or long form (40-60 minute) documentary, drama or comedy films.

The BBC Three "Channel" on iPlayer. Vibrant, bright colours and bold "cool" branding is used. The Three is stylised "II!". All making it identifiable as a young persons channel, as its informal and contrasts with the rest of iPlayer which targets an older audience.

Programmes available on BBC Three, all showcasing young actors with clearly transgressive documentaries and Drama's or silly comedy. A page of programmes that would certainly not typically appeal to anyone of an older age! 

Previously Drama shows on BBC Three such as "Killed By My Father" has received 1.8 million viewers. This was one of BBC Three's most successful programmes showing the potential audience my pilot episode could receive. This is slightly less then Netflix achieved on hit series "House of Cards" which received over 4 million viewers.

My Brief: Drama Pilot Episode

Based on what I know about BBC Three and after reading the brief I now know that the type of programme I need to be planning a BBFC rated “15” pilot episode of a low budget 40-60 minute transgressive drama that features younger, relatable actors/storyline so it appeals to a target audience of 16-21 year olds.

Young people tend to be attracted to specific Drama genres such as "superhero, crime, fantasy and historical", I could include aspects of all of these in my idea to make it more appealing. Classic detective and satire Dramas are not as popular so should be avoided.

Conventions to Consider: Drama Series

• Young relatable characters because of the low age of target audience;
• A gripping story that can be made serial (so it can flow across multiple episodes and keep people watching);
• Each episode could start with a “Last Time on…” and finish with a “next time on…”;
• A recognisable title sequence and title music that can easily be associated with the programme;
• A good soundtrack (use of songs that the audience will recognise);
• Be set in real world locations that an audience of this age can relate to (e.g: school);
• Activities that will be relatable to the audience take place in the programme (night out etc) but taken to the next level (over-the-top) to make it seem more exciting.

The AMC/Netflix American Drama series "Breaking Bad" was hugely popular amongst 18-30 year olds as it contained themes they could relate to. The fact that Walter is a secondary school teacher puts this crazy idea in the mind that 'What if this was your Chemistry teacher?' 

The programme is also a good example of a Drama with relatable characters, locations, famous title/theme music and an incredibly gripping storyline that flows across multiple series never mind episodes!

The competition: other providers and producers

BBC Three's main competition is Netflix & Amazon Prime Instant Video with programmes such as “Narcos”, “Breaking Bad” and “Sneaky Pete”. These have grown in huge popularity and are some of the main forces that drive the BBC to creating content in the format of BBC Three. ITV2 and Channel 4 also make a lot drama-style content for young people which is also popular - this is broadcast on traditional tv channels as well as being available online.

Unit 3: Rough Cut - Live For The Weekend

The first cut for "Live For The Weekend". The Editor (Alex Hargraves) has simply cut and assembled the footage in the correct order and adjusted the speed where required for some scenes.

A lot of the footage still looks overexposed in places and the colour looks quite washed out. There is also a lot of jump cuts which we would like to eliminate to improve the flow of the film. Titles still need to be added and also the music for the nightclub and woods scenes.

Unit 3: Legal & Ethical Issues With Live For The Weekend

My Work on the "Legal & Ethical" issues in 'Live For The Weekend':

Legal
Live For The Weekend would most likely be age rated a 15 by the BBFC.

Although the film does not involve any violence, discrimination, sex, threat or violence it does include some drug use and strong language.

picture: bbfc.co.uk

The BBFC states that "Drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse". There are drugs used in Live For The Weekend but they are taken in a way of caution (with the characters expressing concern initially), then once the drugs take effect it is shown some enjoyment. This enjoyment does not last extensively and is soon cut off by negative effects the following way. Although drugs are shown I do not believe they are promoted extensively in our production.

Some use of strong language such as "f*ck" is used in the film. Use of this language is not frequent, however, and is only used with a specific purpose - such as when Nikki first finds out about the drugs. Strong language is used here to exaggerate her dismay.

Overall, I believe "Live For The Weekend" would be rated a 15 by the BBFC. This is because it does not include any significant violence, discrimination, sex, threat or violence and only mild drug use and rare occasions of strong language.

To avoid breaching copyright law we made sure all content included in the film was produced ourselves so we own the copyright. The only aspect in which we did not create was the music, we I have discussed in detail here.

We also had to consider our filming locations as there are restrictions on what can be filmed on public and private land. After conducting research via "The Film and Video Institute", we established that we did not require permission to film on public land as our work was non-commercial. Other filming locations were private homes owned by our actors, which we gained permission from upon arrival.

When filming the production, actors were asked to sign a talent consent form which can be seen here.

Also, a health and safety risk assessment was carried out, this can be seen here.


Ethical
In terms of representation, our film represents teenagers in quite a stereotypical negative light. They are portrayed to be doing drugs, partying and not caring about school. This is what some 'older' people seem to think is stereotypical in modern times, unfortunately, this film does support this stereotypes by representing the characters in this way.

Increasingly, female representation is increasing in the Film and TV world with more female actors taking a leading role, our film supports this trend with our protagonist being "Chloe".

Unit 3: Logging of Footage

Once filming was complete I transferred footage from all the cameras onto my computer and organised it into order within folders for each scene.

Footage from different cameras was encoded to the same type within Adobe Media Encoder, all footage was downscaled to 1080P, although separate folders of 4K footage was still maintained just in case it was required later.

I then imported the footage into Premiere Pro within bins, I then passed the Premiere Pro file with all the Raw Footage onto the Editor, Alex Hargraves, to start work. 

Unit 3: Production Log - Live For The Weekend

As filming was in progress, as Director of Photography, I made notes on the progress of how filming was going stating the pros and cons of how each shoot had gone. I have now put these notes into the following Production Log:

Production Logs are used within the drama film production industry to record what happens within different shoots, these are then used by the post-production team and producers and directors. They will state any amendments that have to be made to the final product because of restrictions on the day of filming for example. This makes sure that all members of the crew understand what has been done and why. 

Unit 3: Permission for Actors

As filming was in progress, I ensured all actors signed a consent form:

Unit 1: Demographic Profiles

NRS (National Readership Survey) Social Grades - categorised different classes A to E. It is a way of the publishing industry to classifying audiences in a way understood by almost all advertisers.

• A - Higher managerial, administrative and professional.
• B - Intermediate managerial, administrative and professional. 
• C1 - Supervisory, clerical and junior managerial, administrative and professional.
• C2 - Skilled manual workers.
• D - Semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers.
• E - State pensioners, casual and lowest grade workers, unemployed with state benefits only.

NRS, RADJAR and BARB all provide demographics about media products and the average audience for them, helping advertisers decide what to buy and when etc. 

• NRS Social Grades - a way of classifying demographics based on occupation and income. 
• RAJAR (radio joint audience research) - collates listening figures for over 300 radio stations in the UK. 
• BARB (Broadcasters audience research board) - collect audience viewing figures for all major UK TV broadcasters such as BBC, ITV & Sky.