This is question 2 of my Evaluation for the G324 Advanced Portfolio in OCR GCE Media Studies, working under Brief 6 - Children's TV Drama.

1. G324 ADVANCED PORTFOLIO
SCOTT CARTWRIGHT – BRIEF 6 (CHILDREN’S TV DRAMA)
EVALUATION QUESTION 2

2. “HOW EFFECTIVE IS THE COMBINATION OF YOUR
MAIN PRODUCT AND ANCILLARY TEXTS?”
• In response to this question, I think that it is most important to
have a synergy between all 3 of the products that are made in the
Advanced Portfolio. Whether this synergy be visual and aural.

3. THE PRODUCTS
• Here are the products completed for the Advanced
Portfolio;
The Title Sequence to an original Children’s TV Drama
The DVD Cover for the series
The Radio Advert for the DVD of the series
Next, I will dissect parts of the products and explore how
they might form a synergy.

4. “HOW EFFECTIVE IS THE COMBINATION OF YOUR
MAIN PRODUCT AND ANCILLARY TEXTS?”
• Observing the two pieces of evidence to the right,
we can see the inclusion of the post-it notes on the
DVD cover that actually appear in the main task.
• A visual synergy is formed here as people will
recognise these post-it notes from the computer
when browsing over the DVD cover. And also the
content on the post-it notes are quite symbolic as
they are the context questions. These question tie in
quite well with the genre of the series, and also
provides that synergy between the main and
ancillary texts. This is something that could coincide
with Barthes’ semic code (Narrative Codes theory)
which plays with the notion that signs and symbols
are used for effect or typecast in a certain genre.

5. “HOW EFFECTIVE IS THE COMBINATION OF YOUR
MAIN PRODUCT AND ANCILLARY TEXTS?”
• Once again, observing the two pieces of evidence
to the right, we can see the inclusion of dialogue
in the Radio Adverts that is interpolated in the
main task.
• An aural synergy is formed here as people will
automatically recognise the voice of the main
protagonist, Scott. The fact that the dialogue is
played at the beginning of the advert shows how
the character is introduced in order to grab the
audience that recognised the aforementioned
vocals. And thus, provides that synergy between
the main and ancillary texts.

6. “HOW EFFECTIVE IS THE COMBINATION OF YOUR
MAIN PRODUCT AND ANCILLARY TEXTS?”
• From another observation of the two pieces of
evidence to the right, we can see the inclusion of a
screengrab that has been edited in a polaroid effect
for the DVD cover. The screengrab is actually taken
from a shot that appears in the main task.
• Once again, a visual synergy is formed as from
seeing the main task and then looking at the DVD
cover, you’d hope that they would recognise the
protagonist, Scott, walking towards the
establishment in the second flashback sequence.
The fact that the photo has been given this polaroid
effect can show how a synergy is created between
the main and ancillary texts due the nature of the
genre of the Children’s TV Drama.

7. “HOW EFFECTIVE IS THE COMBINATION OF YOUR
MAIN PRODUCT AND ANCILLARY TEXTS?”
• Once again, observing the two pieces of evidence to the
right, we can see the conjoining of dialogue in the Radio
Adverts that actually appear in the main task. The dialogue;
“Oh, and the face, change it will you, it looks like a bulldog
chewing a wasp.” is quite humourous as a remark coming
from Scott towards a security guard who could probably
smash him to a pulp.
• An aural synergy is formed here as people will recognise
this witty line delivered by the main protagonist, Scott. Not
only will people recognise the dialogue but also the fact
that it succeeds the line; “The Sun has claimed it charming,
compelling and downright comical” shows how this line is
considered to be a highlight of the series. And from
audience feedback, people said that they like this moment
and found it humourous. I feel that it is this provides that
synergy between the main and ancillary texts. A visual
synergy is also formed as this very quote is also placed on
the DVD cover under the titles text. Had they had brought
the DVD after hearing the advert, they would see the quote
and remember this being included in the advert.

8. “HOW EFFECTIVE IS THE COMBINATION OF YOUR
MAIN PRODUCT AND ANCILLARY TEXTS?”
• From a further observation of the two pieces of
evidence to the right, we can see the inclusion of
similar typography on the DVD cover to that of
the typography that appears on the title card.
• Once again, a visual synergy is formed as from
seeing the main task and then looking at the DVD
cover, you’d hope that the buyer/viewer would
recognise the use of the font from the titles and
thus, identify that this is the DVD of the series. I
feel that this is an effective graphological
combination between the main and ancillary
texts.

9. “HOW EFFECTIVE IS THE COMBINATION OF YOUR
MAIN PRODUCT AND ANCILLARY TEXTS?”
• To summarise the discussion in response to the above question, I
very much feel that my three products have a strong synergy with
one another in at least one way or more, and that they all carry
that similar ‘house style’.