1) Research: Fantasy TV drama extracts
Watch the following fantasy TV drama clips and write an NCIS analysis of each one.
Clip 1: His Dark Materials
Narrative and genre: What is the story here? How is the narrative communicated to the audience? How does this fit the fantasy genre?
James McAvoy and Ruth Wilson have a conflict. Ruth commands James to ascend to the throne and claims the witch and insect will revere him. Ruth doesn't want to accept James when he contends that he gave up looking for Lyra and is fighting since the authorities is lying.
Technical codes: What camera shots do you notice and what do they communicate to the audience? How is sound used to create atmosphere? What aspects of mise-en-scene (CLAMPS) help to communicate meaning to the audience?
The few camera views that are employed in this scene include a track/dolly shot that follows Mrs. Coulter at the beginning of the scene. Other shots utilized during the sequence include a wide shot, a medium wide shot, and a medium close-up/close-up. The audience is made aware of this by both the diegetic sound of their echoed voices and the non-diegetic sound of the climax build during Lord Ariel's monologue, which settles and fades into an orchestra of trumpets.
Representations: What representations can you find in this clip - does it reinforce or subvert stereotypes? How?
There is a representation included that reinforces male stereotypes that men are dominantly in power and women are weak as she softens her voice to seem more feminine and inferior.
Clip 2: Charmed
Narrative and genre: What is the story here? How is the narrative communicated to the audience? How does this fit the fantasy genre?
The story is about three sisters discover that they are descendants of a line of female witches and that they are destined to fight against the forces of evil, using their combined power of witchcraft.
Technical codes: What camera shots do you notice and what do they communicate to the audience? How is sound used to create atmosphere? What aspects of mise-en-scene (CLAMPS) help to communicate meaning to the audience?
A thunderstorm breaks open through a door and then transforms into a demon with powers which are unrealistic elements to reality.
Representations: What representations can you find in this clip - does it reinforce or subvert stereotypes? How?
In the moment, the man doesn't pay attention to the lady when she tries to tell him something; instead, he ignores her and keeps speculating about potential outcomes. This supports the assumption that males don't pay attention to women's ideas and consistently reject them.
Clip 3: Shadow and Bone
Narrative and genre: What is the story here? How is the narrative communicated to the audience? How does this fit the fantasy genre?
In this story, the man is attempting to determine whether the woman is a prophecy that has come to pass. The man who keeps asking her, "Are you the Sun-Summoner?" and "When did you get tested?" conveys this story to the viewers. This suits the fantasy subgenre since it raises a lot of questions and keeps the audience interested in the story.
Technical codes: What camera shots do you notice and what do they communicate to the audience? How is sound used to create atmosphere? What aspects of mise-en-scene (CLAMPS) help to communicate meaning to the audience?
The over-the-shoulder view taken at 2.03 demonstrates Alina's fear. The man's low angle at 2.08 demonstrates his dominance and control over the map woman. Because he is slowly approaching telling the truth, the man's movements start to become strained as he gets closer. More tension is produced by the strong music.
Representations: What representations can you find in this clip - does it reinforce or subvert stereotypes? How?
The representation of men have to save and protect women is a reinforced stereotype as men are expected to save women from any harm and protect them. Another representation that is reinforced is that the man has more power over the woman. This is because she does whatever he tells her to do.
2) TV drama planning
Title: A chase through time
Logline – one sentence that sums up the plot of your TV drama and hooks people in (25 words or fewer):
When Stanley goes for his usual morning run he stumbles upon something which is about to change the whole timeline.
Other successful TV dramas are similar to yours:
- The Flash
- 2067
- The Adam Project
Narrative – what is the main storyline in your TV drama:
Stanley is an average man who usually goes for a run whereas this time it isnt as usual as he is chased by an anonymous man who ends up being him but in the future which when he catches up to him explains how he got trapped in this timeline and has to stop stanley from time travelling to save himself.
Genre – how will your TV drama fit the fantasy genre?
Stanley is able to time travel magically using his thoughts as he has powers like a meta human.
Narrative disruption – what will happen in your scene to develop the narrative? What will the audience learn about the characters or story?
Stanley realises he is being followed and therefore decides to start speeding up and then starts getting chased
Information about the two locations/settings that you are using and why you have chosen them:
The story will start off in a bedroom as Stanley gets up and then will move around the house as he gets ready.
The story will then move into a pathway where Stanley will be going for his jog
Information about the main character e.g. character type (hero/heroine) their desires, the conflicts they encounter etc.:
Stanley lives a repetitive boring life and follows the same routine daily and so is very shocked to see things he has never experienced before
Costume/props that you require for filming:
a dark cape and a mask along with an all black clothing
shorts and a t-shirt for Stanley to wear whilst running along with some trainers and a bottle of water
How you are aiming your product at the specified family target audience:
I am aiming this to an audience of a family however of older teenage kids perhaps 10 and above by adding a lot of action and special effects and music
3) Statement of Intent
On the same Summer Project blog post, write the rough first draft of your genuine 300-word Statement of Intent for the two-minute sequence you plan to create. The final draft of this document will be submitted to the exam board alongside your fantasy TV drama extract and is worth 10 marks of the overall 60 marks available.
This story is focused on drama fantasy and adventure with a fair share of action the story also has a small fraction of sci-fi as the story line is based on time travelling. This will be a short film roughly 2 minutes in duration aimed at an audience of family with children 10+ making it suitable for both teens and children as well as adults. The story commences in a mans bedroom as he wakes up he then goes on to get ready for the day he then goes for his morning run where he is then chased by an unknown masked character which then leads to a chase in the forest which is then stopped by a closed off gate where they confront one another and the main character finds out the character chasing him is his future self.
