2. Existing Product Research
• Research existing products/topics for your production and
production methods.
• This could be quite broad to begin with, but should focus
down to relevant examples [in terms of styles, techniques
and content].
• Consider your audience, what do they expect, what
techniques and content will interest them.
• Summarise your findings before generating your own initial
ideas for this project.
• Your summary should consider what your research has
provided and how this is useful to you and your production.
• Add more slides – this is encrouaged!
3. Existing Product
Vice create informative documentaries about a wide variety of topics from all over the world. They create controversial and cutting edge documentaries
which are accessible to mature audiences of all cultures. They use their platform to explore themes within the world which are dangerous or potentially
illegal. With a unique and sometimes satirical stance from the their journalists, Vice is widely regarded as a down to earth, underground media built by real
people to oppose mainstream media. From short style documentaries and formal style articles to Twitter wars and Snapchat stories, Vice has exceeded
conventional media by taking a new age approach.
Focusing on Vice’s UK branch, their documentary style most commonly features a journalist who plays the role of host whilst conducting interviews and
narrating over the entire piece. This makes the documentary, and the company overall, more personalised and brings the audiences closer to the company
as an entity. This format of having a presenter style documentary is something I would like to explore in my own documentary for these reasons. The
content of these films are usually raw and gritty by showing true clips and real life stories of situation. This adds the element of story telling. Vice does not
only deliver information and facts, it tells the story of what happened and who were affected by by it. The level of personality that is presented through this
documentary style cast a wide range of emotions onto the audience which exceeds the level of regular documentaries that only provide information. A lot
of the content is usually regionally based featuring a strong focus on the specific areas of the country.
Vice’s product is something that I will take a lot of inspiration from due to its level of storytelling and the content that they choose to investigate and
associate themselves with. These are things I will try to incorporate into my own product through art styles, themes and styles.
4. Existing Product
Noisey is a music media channel created by Vice. Like Vice, Noisey focuses on popular and controversial topics within the music world.
For example, they have widely focused on the genre of Drill in the UK which recently acquired the controversy of inciting violence and
leading to the rise in knife crime in London. Their documentary, Don’t Call it Road Rap, hosted by The Streets’ Mike Skinner addressed
the issues of drill music through the artists group known as 67.
As music is something I would be interested in documenting, Noisey’s mixture of storytelling content and topics of looking between the
line of music and their artist is something that inspires my own work. The syle of these documentaries involves a host/presenter who
interviews and narrates over a mixture of captured footage and archive footage of the artist or topic related to the subject of the
documentary. Noisey focuses on artists, genres and the subculture that follows, also featuring the effect that the subject has on an
audience. Their interviewing style reflects a sympathetic analysis of a persons character rather than probing and being intrusive into
their life. The interview and the subject seem like friends rather than a formal interview situation. This is an interview strategy I would
like to use during my project as I believe it is a more successful outlet for gaining information without being intrusive.
5. Existing Product
The Youtube channel KaptainKristian provides in depth analysis into different aspects of pop culture through soft spoken narration, fluid animation and
ambient soundtracks which sit below his informative voice. The content is all based on opinion and discusses the effects of different medias such as music,
television and animation. With a total of 23 videos and an extremely rare upload schedule (most probably due to the time it takes to construct each video
and animation) KaptainKristian has analysed everything from comic book characters such as Superman and Batman, to the effect that the band Gorrilaz has
had on the world of music and genre.
The thing I like most about KaptainKristian’s content is that he conveys all of his analysis convincingly and clear. Although the content itself is a matter of
opinion, the tone and presentation of his findings are seductive enough for any audience to believe that he is an expert. The animation style combined with
this creates an atmosphere that is hypnotic and immersive, with the effect of being lost in the art style and involved with the subject.
This factual delivery is different to the previous types I have explored as this is analysis or breakdown based on another persons opinion. I would like to
explore this in the future however I do not think I am as talented with crafting and delivering a solid narration at this moment in time.
7. Research summary
In my research, I have found a variety of ways to deliver factual information to
an audience. It has shown me that the delivery of the information should be
catered to fit the information itself and the target audience. I intend to create
my product around a specific music genre which will have a specific target
audience so should be created to fit their needs. I should also think about the
culture of my topic and the stereotypical lifestyle that my audience have.
Another thing that I found important is the purpose of my product; whether it
is meant to inform, or entertain, or both. I found this by looking at the
contrast between channels like KaptainKristian and channels like Wisecrack.
Both are informative however the main purpose of the product seems
different. Wisecrack’s purpose is humour, as well as putting forward
information, whereas KaptainKristian focuses solely on the information and
the delivery of the product. In conclusion, my research has helped me
examine the variety of different products that are available for me to
experiment with and look at strengths and weaknesses of the different kinds.
From here I will look at the potentially products I could create and design an
art style to fit this.
9. Idea 1
Hip Hop Profile
Interview
InspirationsAspirations
State of the
IndustryStory of subject
Live Performance
Focus on the
culture of the
genre
Rap Beef
10. Idea 1
My first idea is to create a series which profiles different up and
coming artists in the Hip-Hop scene. As my final product would only be
the first episode, it would only feature 1 artist however each episode
would focus on a different person. The episode would be shot in a
short, interview format in which the artist would discuss different
aspects of their own career and the industry in general. Ideally, I would
like to have an interview style setting, possibly inside a studio whilst
the artist is recording and then finishing with a live performance. The
benefits of this are for the artist as it would be free publicity and a
chance for them to get their own music out there online. The format
would involve and interviewer and an interviewee and would
frequently cut to different clips of previous performances or pictures
that would accompany the conversation.
I would plan the questions before hand and would attempt to lead the
conversation like a traditional interview, however I would like it to be a
more relaxed environment rather an interrogation.
11. Idea 2
Metal Thunder V
Interviews
Inspirations
Aspirations
Story of the event Live Performance
Complications
Chris’ Story
Past Events
12. Idea 2
Metal Thunder is an event run in Harrogate in
support of well known cancer charities. The
story of the event is truly inspirational regarding
a group of friends coming together to organise
the charity event after the loss of their friend to
cancer. The event runs every year and has a
large attendance. I would intersect clips of the
actual event together with interviews with the
people involved.
Look at different types of content, design elements, the subject and context.
Type of content- studio/location photography, articles, reviews, adverts, sketches, drawings and other artwork
Design – colour schemes, photography and images, text/picture ratio, font choices
Subject and context – What subject(s) is the fanzine covering? What is the writing style? What is the mode of address? In what context was the fanzine produced? Context is the environment in which something was produced. Think about the time this was made.
Look at different types of content, design elements, the subject and context.
Type of content- studio/location photography, articles, reviews, adverts, sketches, drawings and other artwork
Design – colour schemes, photography and images, text/picture ratio, font choices
Subject and context – What subject(s) is the fanzine covering? What is the writing style? What is the mode of address? In what context was the fanzine produced? Context is the environment in which something was produced. Think about the time this was made.
Think about a subject you could write about, a design style you could work in and why you would want to do it.
Think about content. What different visual and written elements would you include?
Initial ideas can be documented in any way that you would like. Mind maps are ok, but they don’t work for everyone. If you prefer to simply write your idea, do that. If you want to combine text and images, do that. As long as you communicate a potential idea, the method is up to you. Present you idea and also some justification for your choices. You can link this back to your research.
Think about a subject you could write about, a design style you could work in and why you would want to do it.
Think about content. What different visual and written elements would you include?
Initial ideas can be documented in any way that you would like. Mind maps are ok, but they don’t work for everyone. If you prefer to simply write your idea, do that. If you want to combine text and images, do that. As long as you communicate a potential idea, the method is up to you. Present you idea and also some justification for your choices. You can link this back to your research.
Think about a subject you could write about, a design style could work in and why you would want to do it.
Think about content. What different visual and written elements would you include?
Initial ideas can be documented in any way that you would like. Mind maps are ok, but they don’t work for everyone. If you prefer to simply write your idea, do that. If you want to combine text and images, do that. As long as you communicate a potential idea, the method is up to you. Present you idea and also some justification for your choices. You can link this back to your research.
Think about a subject you could write about, a design style could work in and why you would want to do it.
Think about content. What different visual and written elements would you include?
Initial ideas can be documented in any way that you would like. Mind maps are ok, but they don’t work for everyone. If you prefer to simply write your idea, do that. If you want to combine text and images, do that. As long as you communicate a potential idea, the method is up to you. Present you idea and also some justification for your choices. You can link this back to your research.
![Existing Product Research
• Research existing products/topics for your production and
production methods.
• This could be quite broad to begin with, but should focus
down to relevant examples [in terms of styles, techniques
and content].
• Consider your audience, what do they expect, what
techniques and content will interest them.
• Summarise your findings before generating your own initial
ideas for this project.
• Your summary should consider what your research has
provided and how this is useful to you and your production.
• Add more slides – this is encrouaged!](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)