unit 6: critical approaches to creative media...

ND Media Production Y2Unit 6: Critical Approaches to Creative Media ProductsTutor: Jim DohertyStudent: Aisling Sweeney

Unit 6: Critical Approaches to Creative Media Products

Task 1 – Constructing Media Products for Specific Audiences

Introduction: In this assignment, I will compare and contrast two different media texts from the film and TV industries – a low budget independent production and a big budget Hollywood production. I will also identify and describe the target audience for each of the media texts.

1. Millennium Forum – Aladdin Pantomime Production

Genre: The genre of this production was for entertainment purposes.

Content: For this production project, there were a various number of promotional videos that were requested by/for the millennium forum to use of both their Facebook page and Youtube channel.

Here is a list of the content that was provided by NWRC students for the millennium forum.

Cast Visits Foyleside Trailer (Client requested)

Cast Interviews (Client requested)

Dame 10 year video (Client requested)

Voxpops

Cast Production Trailer

Genre Codes and Conventions: The Aladdin pantomime production was promoted for entertainment purposes for the viewing general public. The millennium forum used different methods to attract people to view the pantomime, with a live band to perform all the music to give the show more atmosphere and experience for the audience, and using more newly recent songs, that people could sing-a-long too. Using props and colourful costumes designed for each of the characters specifically. The director had a clever way of merging the audience and the cast members together with different movements and gestures that included the audience as a part of the show. Also, a 3D version of the genie was a new method that attracted people to see this “real life” character. Different various set designs were used throughout the pantomime to give a sense of place of where the characters were in that time and place.


Target Audience: The main target audience for the pantomime is for families and anyone who enjoys pantomimes in general especially the tale of Aladdin. The age range for this particular show would be from ages of 6-60+. It does not have a defined age bracket because everyone knows the tale of Aladdin and pantomimes are advertised as a “family activity”.

Advertisement Techniques/Mode of Address: The advertisement aspect behind the Aladdin production was created to encourage these audiences to come view the show themselves. By having the actors attend the “Santa comes to Foyleside” event meant the actors could bound with the audience and interact with them, whilst filming the reactions of the children you can see the excitement and grasp the build up to the pantomime. By having the pantomime characters (cast members) speaking into the camera saying “Come to the Millennium Forum from the 4th of December to 3rd of January” is another way of interacting the target audience to insure they come see this show in a short period of time.

2. Titanic – 1997

Genre: The genre of this film/production is a romance/drama/disaster.

Content: In this film, it tells the story 84 years later, a 101 year old women called Rose DeWitt Bukater that tells her story to her granddaughter about her life set in April 10th 1912 on a ship named the Titanic. When young Rose boards the ship with the other passengers alongside her mother and fiance, she meets a drifter called Jack Dawson. She explains the story of the Titanic and what happened during her stay on it.

Genre Codes and Conventions: As the genre is a romance/drama, there is an expection that there will be some sort of “disaster” that will emerge between the two people that are destient to be together. One of the most famous scenes from the Titantic is the ship sinking scene, it follows these different conventions as shows:

Linear narrative that leads up to and away from the central disaster.


When the disaster is towards the end of the movie the narrative is even simpler by using a “will they, wont they” countdown to the moment of doom or escape which provides more plot twist to the narrative.

Using high impact scenes means little is required for the plot details as disaster is bound to happen.

Interest between two humans/characters and their relationship running alongside the disaster theme.

Here is a list of different codes that are used in this production:

Pan over the disaster – ship sinking scene.

Zoom into the different characters reactions during the moment of disaster as it commences.

The lighting will always get darker to create more effect for build up of suspence.

Music to highlight the emtions of the effects of the disaster and sets the mood for the scene.

Using CGI effects.

From the following video, the Titantic follows a majorty of these codes and convetions listed in only one scene. The production follows the lighting, camera work and sound for this practicular scene that’s theme is disaster. Various camera shoots are used such as panning over the event and zooming into other characters reactions, also to follow them with the use of dark lighting and music to suit the scene and create a mood. It also incorporates the convention of “human interest” because of the relationship between Jack and Rose throughout the narrative.

Target Audience/ Mode of Address: The target audience for this production/film is as follows:


Fans of the stars People interested in the real story of the Titanic People who like romance and drama movies People who like movies in general - movie buffs.

As the film is rated at PG13 there is no real age group that this film is targeted too, however that age group wasn't their main target of audience, they narrowing on the group of people who are fascinated with romance. It’s aimed at people who enjoy the romance genre of the stereotypical damsel in distress and knight coming to save her. Titanic is different to the typical romance film as the main girl, Rose, is stuck in a verbally abusive relationship and is in need of an escape or someone to save her. Jack steps onto the ship and catches her eye. As Jack comes to the rescue of Rose to save her from this relationship, a plot twist comes along when the death of Jack affects their relationship.

During the filming of this production, the producers used some real footage of the Titanic underwater. The reason behind this was to be able to attract the audience who are interested in not only the film but also the actual Titanic ship to capture the real damage and to also capture the action packed scenes. Not only is this film aimed towards people who enjoy the genre romance but also people who enjoy high impact scenes that make you feel that you are apart of the film.

Survey Results:19 people particapted in this survery.


Q.1: What is your gender? 68.42% answered females compared to 31.58% were males. 19/19

answered this question. 2/3 of the survey was answered by females in comparison to the 3/10 of male’s who filled this survey. The survey was unisexed and was non biased in any way, shape or form. However, more females carried out the survey compared to males. Females are more inclined to answer surverys rather than males, In female magazines there are various types of quiz’s and surveys that women will take part in for entertaiment

Q.2: What is your age? 100% answered 18 to 24 catogery, 19 out of 19 answered this question. This demostrates that majority of this age group are young adults. As nobody was in the other catogories that were given, this shows that young adults between the ages of 18-24 are more active online than the other age groups that were provided in the survery. The 25 upwards catogeory did not take part in this survey as the survery itself was aimed towards more younger people with the selection of questions that were asked such as favourite type of media to use on a daily basis’ and how long would you spend using the internet per day.

Q.3: What type of activites do you particapte in? 16 answered this question whilst 3 skipped this question. Most of these repsonces are mainly based around males – e.g. sports, rugby, boxing and


weights. In repsonce for the females answers is art, playing music and listening to music. This shows that males particapte more in activites in comparison to females. The sports that were named in the comments are more targeted to a male audience as they are seen as more mauscline sports in comparison to art that is more female based.

Q.4: What type of magazines would you prefer to read? 19/19 answered this question. The highest ranking genre of magazine ranked at 31.58% which was Fashion. Sports was the only one that did not get voted. Fashion is the most popular genre of magazine that is bought in a day to day basis’, This is mainly cosumed by females than males as fashion magazines that contain celebrity gossip, beauty tips and fashion advice on what the new trends are. Music magazines are the second highest rated magazines that can be consumed by both male and female, magazines such as Billboard, NME, MOJO and Q magazine. These magazines have interviews with music artists and bands, the 20 newest hits and music news.


Q.5: In what form do you consume your media? 19/19 answered this question, The highest ranking was Internet at 89.47%. Radio consumed no votes. Internet is the most popular form of media that is used now a days, the internet contains various different forms of media such as radio stations,

streaming stations for television shows etc. Also, people use the internet for social media for communcation purposes and can be used to showcase work from people such as Youtube, where numerous of video creators have careers from.


Q.6 What is your favourite type of genre of film? 18/19 answered this question, Whilst only 1 skipped it. Comedy was the highest ranked at 38.89%, Thriller and SIFI ranked no votes. Comedy is the most popular genre in film production, as comedy is light-hearted it attracts both males and females to watch it. Comedy can be combined with various different genres such as Romance – RomCom, Action – Action-Comedy and Horror – Horror-Comedy. Romcom’s are targeted towards more females where as Action-comedy is more male based.

Q.7 How long do you spend consuming media each day? 19/19 answered this question. 2-3 hours ranked in 36.84% at the highest whilst Other was the lowest at 5.26%. This shows that most people will spend the average 2-3 hours consuming media per day, from checking emails to facebook and connecting people, Media is a major part of most people’s lives espically media based jobs as that involves using the internet.


Q.8 What would you rather in a magazine? 19/19 answered this question, A balance of both (more images/pictures and more in depth text) ranked the highest at 78.95%. More text and in-depth ranked the lowest at 5.26%. Having a balance of of both images and more in depth text has the best of both worlds for people who want to see images and read more in depth about the certain topic that is written. Magazines should contain a good variety of these two groups.

Q.9 Why would you watch a documentary? 19/19 answered this question. “To be informed about the topic” ranked in the highest at 84.21%. Other ranked the lowest at 5:26%. In documentaries,

there should be a purpose for making the documentary which is to inform people about the topic that is being told to the general public. A good example of a documentary is “Supersize me” which tells the story of Morgan Spurlock who undertakes the challenge of eating Mcdonalds fast food for numerous of days straight and to see how much body weight he gains.


Q.10: What do you look for in a documentary? 19/19 answered this question. “A serious documentary, about a interesting topic” ranked the highest at 84.21%. The lowest ranked was Other at 5.26%. The main purpose people watch documentaries are to be informed about the topic, they are various types of documentaries created about different topics such as history documentaries about world wars, observational documentaries- e.g. High school (1968) and participatory documentaties – e.g. Super size me.

unit 6: critical approaches to creative media...

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