2. Introduction
Create an opening scene which would best fit our target
audience
Our selected the genre was ‘Teen Comedy’.
We had formed a team of 4 members, this team consisted of
Jayesh, Mark, Shyam and myself.
Research had to be done specifically for our selected genre.
3. Pre-Production Planning Aims
We had different aspects of a teen comedy to cover in
our opening sequence.
Beneficial Team Discussions.
What our genre was going to be.
How can our target audience relate to this opening
sequence.
How effective the camera shots we have chosen will be.
4. More Planning
On top of brainstorming ideas, we also had to create much more
detailed plans to guide us through the process of creating this
opening scene, explaining why each shot would be used and
why they were used.
We did this In the form of a ‘Storyboard’, displaying the events
that would occur in our opening scene in chronological order.
One of the pages of the
storyboard, mapping out what
camera shot will be used, in what
direction and when. The
storyboard also shows the
dialogue being used at the time
simply so we can visually see how
the scene would play out all
together.
5. Production Timeline
The following chain of events occurred whilst creating our
opening scene
Teen
Planning Research Drama/Comedy
surveys
GrayWolf
Entertainment Opening Initial Draft
scene Planning and
Production
Editing First
Draft
Final Draft Feedback
6. Planning and Production
For Planning, we created our opening scene synopsis, script
and storyboard.
Whilst Filming, we tried to include a range of camera shots
to emphasise key parts of the opening .
Whilst editing we had to keep it between 2 and 3 minutes so
video trimming was quite important.
The final draft session was used to include our bumper and
any other clips and transitions we felt was necessary.
7. Research
Research had to be done before
attempting to create our own opening
scene.
Research on different teen comedies
By analysing the four aspects, mise en
scene, camera shots, editing and sound,
of many professional teen comedies we
easily noticed how teen comedies are
layered and built up.
8. Target Audience
The target audience profile would be used to see what
teenagers prefer in teen comedies.
If whether it would be an overwhelmingly funny opening
scene which attracts the audience, or if the opening
scene was much more subtle and engaging.
We used the target audience profile
to see what the typical teenager
enjoys most.
We could adapt our opening scene
much more accurately than to guess
what teenagers look for in a comedy
opening sequence
9. Ideal Teen Comedy Conventions
There are a few conventions of typical teen comedies which we
have implemented into our own opening sequence. The
conventions we used include:
Fast Pace Editing. Teen Comedies have very quick, short scenes
and do not drag themselves out to prevent the audience from
losing interest in the scene.
School Setting. One of the main conventions of teen comedies
is that they are set in or around a school or college as this is
the easiest way of representing the actors as students (young).
Rock Music (Or similar to). Fast paced electric guitar sounds
accompanied by a drum beat will often set the tone for many
opening sequences, we have decided to implement this
convention as it is very typical and generic in teen comedy
movies.
10. Conventions Rejected
We decided to reject the following conventions and not use them
in our opening sequence:
Dark Lighting.
This does not fit In at all with our other chosen conventions
because the main character of a teen comedy is typically very
predictable and what he/she is going to do is obvious.
Slow Music. Slow music is used in sequences to build tension in a
scene where something shocking may happen however this is not
ideal as scenes in teen comedies are short and quick to the point,
the faster paced music we have opted for is much more
appropriate.
11. Audience Feedback
After the production of our opening sequence, we gained
audience feedback from others in the class.
They judged our work, giving us compliments and also points
for improvement.
The suggestions for improvement given to us played a crucial
part in turning our rough cut into the finished final cut.
The feedback received was both
positive and negative.
We aimed more on the negative
feedback, because we could use it to
improve our opening sequence.
12. Ways which our media product uses, develops and
challenges forms of real media products
There are many similarities in our media product compared to real
media products.
There are differences which we skipped on purpose, so our opening
sequence does not look like a copy of something else.
From extensive research and analysis, we understood that many teen
comedies begin with short voice overs to introduce the area and the
characters.
Voice overs talking about the character or others have also been used
in teen comedies such as Kick-Ass.
Use of 6 to 7 short voice overs to engage the audience and make them
feel comfortable with the situation.
Phrases in the voice overs such as ‘welcome to my life’, ‘ nothing much
happens’, is very relatable to many teenagers as it is true, not much
happens In an average teenagers life, at least not every day.
13. Ways which our media product uses, develops and
challenges forms of real media products
Instead of trying to include all techniques from real media
products, we focussed on a few specific ones.
I think that focussing on a few techniques is more effective than
including all techniques. (More simple, easier for the audience)
Included more characters with varying personalities to keep the
audience engage.
The audience should be able to relate to at least one character.
For example, our main character is a nerd, however with the multiple
characters introduced with a voice over, this main character has more
than one opportunity to become friends someone with a varying
personality, therefore the story becomes more engaging.
14. Ways which our media product uses, develops and
challenges forms of real media products
As a group we thought that it is very significant for the audience to
identify the techniques used in our media product the same way they
would if they were viewing a real media product.
Stereotypes are major factors in all media products which can be
viewed positively, negatively, or both in the eyes of the audience.
By creating certain stereotypes in our media product such as a school
nerd and a bully we can engage our audience.
15. Real Media Products vs. Our Media Product
• An establishing shot of the school • An establishing shot of the school
entrance. Is used to show the main character
• White clothing standing by himself.
• Walking around, trying to fit in. • White/Grey clothing.
• Standing still to not attract
attention.
16. How our media products represent
particular social groups
Both genders have been included in our media product.
Characters with different races are used in our media product.
The common stereotype of the ‘school nerd’ is effectively used to
show that those in that social group.
Some social groups including the ‘gamers’ have been shown
negatively in our media product as they have been portrayed as
lazy and careless.
17. Institutions that could distribute
our media product
Universal Studios could distribute our media product.
Universal have produced countless teen comedy movies
such as Johnny English, Ted, and Kick-Ass and may find
our media product very relatable to the majority of our
target audience
Warner Bros. Entertainment could distribute our media
product also. Similarly to Universal, they are one of the
top 5 major distributors in the world and this means
that our media product would gain an even larger
audience and a bigger release.
18. Target Audience for our media
product
Our media product is aimed at teenagers, and more
specifically, teenage males.
We have chosen the most suitable target audience for our
media product.
We have chosen teenage males specifically because our main
character is male.
I think that the age rating for our media product should be 15
and over.
19. Target Audience Surveys
Online surveys were created by
our group in attempt to pinpoint
onto our target audience.
Our survey results would show us
whether or not we chose the right
initial target audience.
The results also improve the
accuracy for our media product, in
terms of choosing the right genre
for the right age group.
20. Appealing to our Target Audience
This is the poster which was created for
our media product.
Our specific audience is teenage males
so by using our main male character on
our poster, we should appeal to more of
our specific target audience.
21. Our Media Product Poster
Our company
Our title is a playful pun,
name is labelled
suggesting that our
above the title so
main character is
it is fully visible to
trapped in school as if
our audience
he has a ‘prison
sentence’, a fun way to
engage our audience.
The main character is
dressed in formal
clothes.
No specific date has
been given.
The age rating of the
media product, 15 is
the average rating for
all teenage movies
22. How we attracted our audience
Props, clothing and the setting are used to replicate a
typical classroom which all students can easily
understand.
The pan of the room reveals all the students and their
behaviour, we can see some students falling asleep or
with their heads down and hoods up.
Here we can see the students
bored of the lesson already,
and it had only just started,
however our main character is
facing forward, continuing on
with the lesson.
23. Technology used in the process
One piece of technology was the mac and its iMovie
editing software.
Gained new knowledge.
We used a Panasonic HD camera to record all of our
footage alongside a very sturdy tripod which managed to
keep the camera still during heavy weather conditions
like very strong winds.
24. Improvements
I was the director for both the preliminary and the final.
I think that I could have tried to keep the camera more
steady.
The technology used could have been replaced with a
camera of higher quality.
25. From the Preliminary to the Final
We have learnt a variety of things whilst creating our media
products;
Our planning and research skills have increased over the
duration of time.
We have also become more organised in terms of preparations
for filming.
We have gotten better at editing and handling equipment.
