𝕊𝕦𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕣 ℙ𝕣𝕠𝕛𝕖𝕔𝕥: ℂ𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕖𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕜 ℙ𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘

1) Research: Fantasy TV drama extracts
Watch the following fantasy TV drama clips and write an NCIS analysis of each one.

Clip 1: His Dark Materials

Narrative and genre: 

What is the story here? 

Ruth Wilson and James MacAvoy argue. Ruth demands James puts himself on the throne and says the witch and insect will worship him in a good way. James disagrees and argues that he abandoned the search for Lyra  and is battling because the authority is a lie but Ruth doesn't want to believe it.  

How is the narrative communicated to the audience? 

The narrative is told through both actresses conversation.

How does this fit the fantasy genre?

The reality of witches is imaginary which fits into the fantasy genre.

Technical codes: 

What camera shots do you notice and what do they communicate to the audience? 

Close up shot: shows clear facial expressions and tension between both characters .

How is sound used to create atmosphere? 

Near the end of the scene sound is used to show an emotional and dark atmosphere.

What aspects of mise-en-scene (CLAMPS) help to communicate meaning to the audience?

Actor placement and movement: when James put his hand on Ruths face the audience can see weakness and an emotional connection between both characters.

Representations: 

What representations can you find in this clip - does it reinforce or subvert stereotypes? How? 

There is a representation that reinforces men are in power and women are week because when James put his hand on Ruths face she looses control and softens her voice.

Clip 2: Charmed

Narrative and genre: 

What is the story here? 

The girl tells the healer that he appears to have saved too many lives or is about to save a life the demons don't want him to save but he doesn't believe in demons and thinks it's a prank. The thunderstorm breaks open the door and knock over the two girls which then transforms to a demon. Demon uses its powers to kill everyone in the room then it transforms back to thunderstorm to escape the mansion.

How is the narrative communicated to the audience? 

Through communication and action of characters. 

How does this fit the fantasy genre? 

A thunderstorm breaks open through a door and then transforms into a demon with powers which are unrealistic elements to reality. 

Technical codes: 

What camera shots do you notice and what do they communicate to the audience? 

Wide shot at the beginning the audience see the mansion as sketchy and powerful due to its low angle shot. 

How is sound used to create atmosphere? 

When the girl feels a chill there sound is used to show something is going to happen and it creates a mysterious atmosphere.

What aspects of mise-en-scene (CLAMPS) help to communicate meaning to the audience?

Makeup: The blood on characters show that they've been killed.

Costume: The appearance of the demon shows the audience that they are the villain in the episode.

Representations: 

What representations can you find in this clip - does it reinforce or subvert stereotypes? How? 

There is a representation subverts the stereotype that women are fragile and men are always supposed to protect women because when the healer was about to be attacked the girl picks herself off the floor and puts herself in front of him to protect him and takes the damages.

Clip 3: Shadow and Bone

Narrative and genre: 

What is the story here? 

Zoya tells sir there was a beaming light and the guy next to them exposes that it was the nut maker. Sir asks the nut maker if she can summon light and where she grew up. Then when he asks when she was tested she freezes and goes quiet. He walks to her and requests that she lifts her sleeve and then he uses his sharp ring to cut her and reveal that she summons light. 

How is the narrative communicated to the audience? 

Through action and communication. 

How does this fit the fantasy genre? 

The element of light being summoned from someone don't fit reality.

Technical codes: 

What camera shots do you notice and what do they communicate to the audience? 

The over the shoulder shot at 2.03 show how terrified Alina is. The low angle of the man at 2.08 shows how powerful and dominant he is over the map woman.

How is sound used to create atmosphere? 

The man's movement as he is getting closer starts to create a tensed atmosphere because he is slowly getting closer to revealing the truth. The intense music also creates more tension.

What aspects of mise-en-scene (CLAMPS) help to communicate meaning to the audience?

costume: the way the nut maker is dressed shows the audience that she is a low classed girl.

Representations: 

What representations can you find in this clip - does it reinforce or subvert stereotypes? How? 

There is reinforcement of the stereotype that men are seductive which is represented the way guy asks the nut maker to pull her sleeve up and when he says "please" at the end the nut maker doesn't stand up for herself or say anything she just allows him to pull her sleeve up for her.

Additional research: optional extension
Depending on your coursework plan and the type of TV drama sequence you wish to create, you may want to research additional TV drama extracts. Focus on the fantasy genre of TV drama - this article on the best 10 fantasy TV shows may be useful. 

Whatever you watch, make sure you write some additional notes or bullet points about these fantasy TV dramas on your blog so you are documenting your research.

2) TV drama planning 

Plan out the title and narrative for your new, original fantasy TV drama so you know how your extract will fit into the overall series.

Complete this TV drama pitch document with your NEW original idea for a fantasy TV drama aimed at a family audience. Copy and paste the questions from the Google doc into your blog. 

TV Drama Pitch – fantasy genre

Our coursework task involves coming up with our own idea for an original television drama that you have created. This must follow the conventions of the fantasy genre and show that you have thought about how to meet the brief and aim your production at the family target audience.

Fill in the following details:

Title: Bloom

Logline – one sentence that sums up the plot of your TV drama and hooks people in (25 words or fewer):

Ordinary girl finds out she has fire powers.

Other successful TV dramas are similar to yours: 

Fate: The Winx Saga

Narrative – what is the main storyline in your TV drama:

A masked guy who is desperate to capture the last girl who has hidden fire powers.

Genre – how will your TV drama fit the fantasy genre?

It will include witches which is an element that is unnatural to reality and a girl with powers goes against reality.

Narrative disruption – what will happen in your scene to develop the narrative? What will the audience learn about the characters or story?

The ordinary girl has hidden fire powers

Information about the two locations/settings that you are using and why you have chosen them:

The park

Information about the main character e.g character type (hero/heroine) their desires, the conflicts they encounter etc.:

Masked guy: villan

Ordinary girl: hero

Costume/props that you require for filming:

A Mask

How you are aiming your product at the specified family target audience:

Demographics is it's for a variety different age groups and the phychographic group is the mainstream so it aims at a family audience.

3) Statement of Intent

On the same Summer Project blogpost, write the rough first draft of your genuine 300-word Statement of Intent for the two-minute sequence you plan to create. The final draft of this document will be submitted to the exam board alongside your fantasy TV drama extract and is worth 10 marks of the overall 60 marks available.

Guidance is provided by AQA in their NEA Student Booklet but we strongly recommend you also look at our Statement of Intent suggested content document too.

Introduction

My fantasy TV drama will be called "Bloom" and It will appear on Netflix streaming service. My 2 minute extract will appear in the beginning of an episode where the main characters are introduced. The narrative is about a masked guy who is desperate to capture the last girl who has hidden fire powers.

In my TV drama there will be representations of gender and ethnicity.