GCSE Media Studies PPE preparation: TV Drama

Your PPE Media Studies exam is on Tuesday 27 June at 8.30am in the Lecture Theatre.

The preliminary material that gives you the brief you need to follow in the exam is available here. You will also be given a printed copy in class.

You MUST complete the following research and planning tasks before the exam on Tuesday 27 June.



Research 

Waterloo Road

1) Watch the whole of Waterloo Road - Season 1, Episode 1:




2) Read this Waterloo Road Wikipedia entry and write down the number of seasons and episodes broadcast and the channels they have appeared on. 

3) How does Waterloo Road meet the key conventions of TV Drama?

4) Write down three storylines (or narratives) from Waterloo Road - note which season the storyline appeared in. They can be from the first episode above or from another season if you wish.

5) Why might audiences have enjoyed Waterloo Road?


Doctor Who

1) Watch these extracts from the classic Doctor Who episode 'Blink':






2) Read the opening of this Wikipedia entry for Doctor Who and make notes on why the show is so popular.

3) Now read this Wikipedia entry for the episode above - 'Blink'. Why is 'Blink' considered to be one of the best Doctor Who episodes ever?

3) List the key conventions of TV Drama that you can find in Doctor Who.

4) Write down three storylines (or narratives) from Doctor Who - note which season the storyline appeared in. They can be from the earlier episodes (such as 'Blink' above) or from the most recent series if you wish.


5) What audience pleasures are provided by Doctor Who?

Planning

1) Brainstorm ideas for a new TV Drama for a 15-24 audience demographic. Plan out the following:

1. Title
2. Tagline - how will you sell the drama to an audience?
3. Setting(s)
4. Main characters and why audiences will like/dislike them
5. At least three of the narratives or storylines - at least one should cover the series arc (a narrative that continues across the whole series).
6. Potential TV channels and timings to broadcast your new TV drama
7. Your TV drama's USP - unique selling point
8. Your show's detailed target audience (demographics and similar shows they might watch). Remember: the age group specified by the preliminary brief is 15-24.
9. Three reasons your TV drama will appeal to that target audience 

2) Storyboard a trailer (length: 30 seconds) for your new TV Drama. Use this AQA storyboard sheet if you don't pick up a paper copy in class.

3) Come up with a variety of ways to promote your new TV Drama to your target audience. Plan out the following:

• Official website for the TV drama that allows audiences to meet the characters and find out more about the storylines
• Ideas to feature your drama on social media e.g. hashtag, video content etc.
• Any other creative or unusual ways to promote your new TV drama to the audience

4) Write a three-paragraph answer for why your new TV drama will be successful in the incredibly competitive marketplace of modern television.

All tasks MUST be completed before Tuesday 27 June. Complete them on your GCSE Media blog.