The document discusses several true crime media productions that will be used for research and inspiration in creating a new work. It analyzes common techniques across Making a Murderer, Serial, West Cork, American Vandal, and What We Do in the Shadows, such as sit-down interviews, twisting narratives, realistic visuals, and leaving implications. Audience research revealed interest in action, comedy, and true crime genres. The short work will incorporate researched techniques while appealing to a variety of interests.

1. Research
Jesse

2. Making A Murder
This is a series about the case of a murdered woman and the
men convicted of it, and whether justice was served or if these
men were falsely prosecuted. This show has a lot of genre
conventions that I also plan to use in my piece such as the crime
board with lots of connections and a timeline of events that are
said to have taken place.
Making sure to keep the intrigue going through and to seemingly
have an earth shattering revelation every episode is a big
contributor to the show having such a big effect and making it a
‘Binge’ watch show. This is one of the things I will use to keep
watchers attention and draw them in.
Interestingly there is no narrator/investigating voice, we never
hear any questions being asked just the real people that are
involved with the case. I'm not sure whether I will use this
technique or not.
The show also uses a lot of footage from old news footage and so
has the look of an older lower quality show and has a faded
colour pallet.

3. Serial and West Cork
These two pieces of media are admittedly not in film form but I still feel I
have a lot to learn from both. They are both podcasts that centre around a
murder and both investigate who is actually guilty and whether the
criminal justice system has been used to blame the wrong man.
Both are investigation podcasts/documentaries of a sort.
Both are driven by testimonies by people related to the case, whether that
be a family member of the victim or the suspect himself. I will do the same
to tell my story.
Serial is especially good at creating a narrative flipping every episode on if
the convicted man is guilty is innocent or guilty.
But both have episodes that offer a unique angle on their cases.

4. American Vandal
This is a mockumentary show about vandalism at a school.
I think that this doesn’t have a particularly vivid colour pallet but I think that I
will instead choose more of a themed colours for my theme.
It again uses the sit down interview technique, but this time the
narrator/investigator has a large presence in the show and is in fact one of the
suspects.
The show uses an extremely serious tone to deal with what is at heart a
childish act, this is what creates the comedy in the show. It also though a
show that keeps up intrigue and works extremely well as an investigative
show.
It relies heavily on voice over and when it is not in a sit down interview it is
usually explaining the situation over close ups of a year book or establishing
shots.
It weaves an extremely complex narrative extremely well and has so many
plot threads hanging at once that it is impossible not to feel hooked.
It also uses third party media such as phone footage to tell the story of this
American Vandal.
The whole thing takes place around a high school reflecting the childishness
of the crime the show centres around.
As well as having an incredibly corrupt faculty clearly reflecting what shows
like this have revealed about the American legal system.

5. What we do in the shadows
It's a mockumentary about vampire roommates, who are
several hundred years old and live on human blood while
trying to live normal lives.
A mockumentary heavy on the comedy.
This show brilliantly contrasts the surreal with the mundane.
This has a lot of costumes from the 1800s to easily
demonstrate the vampires age.
As well as having a lot of red to further emphasis the blood
sucking nature of these creatures.
A very vibrant colour pallet helps bring the world to life.
I think the unique perspective helps bring this product its
audience. It embraces the ridiculousness of vampires and yet
everyone's need to feel accepted in society and fit in.

6. Research Analysis
• What common features do the researched products have?
• Sit down interviews.
• Twisting narratives.
• A realistic colour pallet and visuals.
• Lots of revelations.
• Leaving implications to be made by the audience.
• What aspects of the research will you include within your own
production work?
• I think I will use a lot of the aspects mentioned above, most of
the conventions used in this genre are essential for its story
telling.

7. Audience Research
The participants of my survey are largely male. Giving me results
baised towards this audience.

8. Audience Research
The answer that came up
most is the action genre.
This means I need to
make sure my piece is
fast paced and filled with
movement. As these
techniques are shown in
the action genre often.

9. Audience Research This reveals the
number and variety
of ways that
consumers now
consume media. I
need to make sure
that I take into
account all the
different ways
people may be
watching and the
ways in which this
may effect my
product. Such as
how to cater to
smaller screens,
with no small
writing.

10. Audience Research
This question shows me
that comedies are
definitely a viable option.
And that there are various
products audiences like
and therefore I will
attempt not to lean too
hard into any genre.

11. Audience Research
This question tells
me that there is a
large audience that
watches/consumes
the true crime
genre and therefore
making a short that
appeals to them will
work for my target
audience. I can
therefore have
humour that comes
from the knowledge
of this genre.

12. Audience Research
This further proves that my
film is viable for my
audience as well as a wider
audience. And audiences
are open to something
new if it can capture their
attention.

13. Audience Research
Again this just shows me the
variety of things that people
want from a piece of media.
Therefore I will try to make
my piece more than one
thing. I will attempt to give it
depth to appeal to the wider
audience. This means
including comedy as well as a
well written fast paced story.

14. Audience Research
This is not such a
surprise to me. It
proves that getting
people to watch a
short is hard.
Hopefully setting
mine as a pilot to
a TV show may
help generate
interest. This will
help get people to
watch it and
hopefully leave
them wanting
more.