This document discusses conventions of scripted reality television shows like The Only Way is Essex and how they were used and challenged in the production of a parody trailer called "Well Manc." Key conventions that were examined include stereotypical storylines, characters, costumes, dialogue and filming techniques. These conventions were then exaggerated and challenged through the parody trailer to create a humorous imitation of scripted reality media.

1. Evaluation Question 1
How Did you USE,DEVELOP or CHALLENGE
codes and conventions of real media products?

2. Soap conventions 1
Camera shots normally persist of-
•Close ups
•Establishing shots
•Two shot
•Medium Close up
•Realism
•Colour and lighting reflect the mood
•Drama
•Usually run all year round- never
ending
• Represent region e.g. Eastenders is in
London
•Realistic characters- so the audience
can relate to e.g. Little make up etc..
•Realistic story lines

3. Soap conventions 1
storylines
Soaps such as Coronation street and Eastenders Have a older target audience (older
women, and working class) so the storylines will deal with issues with realistic
situations to suite the viewer such as-
Divorce Money Marriage Children
problems
Affairs in Addiction Death Sex
marriage

4. Cathartic storylines 1
Storylines that viewers can relate to that happen in everyday life
These story lines are all realistic to people lives, especially people in the target audience
range ( around age 15-30). Both scripted reality and Soap use these type of story lines such
as- Family problems, Affairs, Pregnancy, breakups etc. Focusing on scripted reality, The
only way is Essex and made in Chelsea are very popular amongst younger people, older
people start to become intrigued in the shows are they become a nations talking point.
Scripted reality shows as usually aimed at girls rather than boys as the shows are more about
vanity wealth and gossip which is not stereotypically interesting for boys. These storylines
things that happen in many people lives everyday, however the storylines are dramatic, also
meaning that the audience becomes hooked as the shows are left on cliff hangers..
Storylines are sometimes add humor to make the show seem funnier which shows ‘the
scripted’ side to the reality.

5. 1
Scripted reality conventions
Storylines
Love Fights Fights
affairs physical/ Marriage physical/
Broken verbal verbal
friendships & gossip Group Love
rivalries Cat
relationships triangles fights

6. Scripted reality conventions 1
Characters
jewellery Short back and wealth Orange/fake tan
sides
Big hair
Fake tan
Fake boobs Attractive
Expensive Styled hair
clothing
One of the main stereotypes of a Scripted reality character is the accent from
where the show is located, one of the main features of most scripted reality
shows include where about the show is set. The accent and status and class defies
what kind of area the stars are from. For example in Made in Chelsea; the fact
that it is set in Chelsea means that already the audience will understand that the
stars will be from very rich families and will be wealthy.

7. Scripted Reality 1
Media Product- Well Manc
I chose to make a Scripted reality trailer. Yet as a group we
decided to develop from the idea of just making a trailer
and decided to produce a parody of scripted reality.
From studying the type of language used in scripted reality
we focused on ‘the only way is Essex’. In the show they
use terms such as ‘reem’ and ‘well jell’ and as a
group we wanted to link the title of the show with this slang
to show the parody. Some of the ideas for the name of the
show were-
•Well jell
•Mancunian way
•Well reem
•Well Manc
After looking at all the names we decided to go with
‘Well Manc’ as is links with the TOWIE slang yet the
trailer was shot in Manchester so we didn't want to link it
too much with Essex hence the- ‘Manc’

8. Scripted Reality 1
Making a parody
A parody is a humours imitation of a person, event, moving image
etc and doesn't take itself very seriously. So we chose to use a
parody to develop and challenge the conventions of scripted
reality focusing on- ‘the only way is Essex’ we did this by
exaggerating the conventions- storylines, costumes, characters etc
to create a more humours side to the trailer. In addition a parody
goes against the conventions. For example, we chose to shoot a
scene in MacDonald's contrasting with being in a classy expensive
bar where the stars would go to hang out. We did this to make it
look tacky and cheap to contrast to the glamour and wealth
convention

9. Scripted Reality 1
The only way is Essex Using conventions Well Manc
When planning and
filming ‘well manc’
we looked at how the
stars position themselves
and made our shot types
very similar
Close ups are used all the
way throughout scripted
reality so we used close
ups throughout our
trailer aslwell
Our billboard is very
similar to The only way is
Essex's theme with the
theme of just having
pictures of each character

10. Scripted Reality 1
The only way is Essex Well Manc
Focusing on the characters we looked at
the only way is Essex style and challenged
it by exaggerating conventions. E.g. Too
much tan, humours and over the top
clothing.
Tan made to look too orange and bright
pink lipstick to represent the vanity
We made even the male characters look
orange to show the parody

11. Scripted Reality 1
Green screen & Dialogue
After researching 'the only way is Essex 'trailers we chose to use the green screen idea of all the
stars answering different questions on screen. We followed the convention of the stars
sounding unintelligent, as a stereotypical very on scripted reality stars is that they value glamour
over intelligence. So from looking at the dialogue we used similar traits. E.g. Both in well Manc
‘Rolex’ counts down and mess’s up implying he is stupid also the stars take there time with
answering the questions and saying ‘urrrrrrrrm’ also implying they cant think of anything.