Foundation Production – ReportBrief and ResearchFor my groups production we will be producing an opening, four minute sequence of a children’s television programme for children between the ages of 5-12. We will be using film, more in depth, television. Although we will be using filming equipment. As our group originally had four members but now three, our production and all areas of work have been changed so that we can still achieve our targets and complete our productions.We carried out a lot of research before we planned our ideas and general production. We each watched and analyzed a series of children’s programmes aimed at children between the ages of 5-12 (this was to get an idea of our brief limit). We each took a different area of children’s television such as; Cartoon/Animation, puppetry, fact shows/news, old and modern shows. We have also asked a series of children between these ages, what types of show and genres of programme they are interested in.In the research we carried out, we found many things that we have taken into our own idea and production. We found that using a lot of; colour, repetition, songs, music, basic dialogue, catchphrases and many other concepts. We took some of these ideas and concepts and applied them to our idea. Another thing that was noticed was the fact that in on going shows, there tends to be a different theme for every episode. Although we wanted to add this to our show, we felt that as it is only one episode that we should concentrate on the ongoing theme, which in our case is milk, calcium and strong bones.For symbols and signs, we have decided to keep the colour conception simple. For example our main, ‘good’ character will be dressed in complete white whereas our ‘bad guy’ will be dressed in complete black and his face will be covered. This is so that the audience will associate the colours with the character. Another symbol within our production is the symbol of milk. Within our idea milk is a very important issue and with society being in favour of children drinking milk, as almost a traditional belief that calcium in milk will help to give strong teeth and bones. It is represented as being ‘good’.Conventions within our show will be simple but effective. This includes lots simple, bright, primary colours, basic camera shots, simple lighting and fun but again simple dialogue and audio. We have researched children’s programmes and these seem to be broad across most shows. We have taken this into account and decided to use them within our own production. Simple and basic colours, camera shots, lighting and other effects are used, as children tend to have short attention spans. If they perceive a show as being to complex, ‘boring’ or ‘intellectual’, most children will tend not to watch.
Our group has organized time well, making sure equipment is free to use on dates that are needed and making sure everyone needed is available on certain dates. For example all actors will be needed on filming dates and so permission must be granted if the actors need consent to leave lesson or work. Actor consent forms helped us to achieve this. Actors, equipment, locations are booked for filming dates to help with organization and to increase efficiency of filming.
Props, settings and actors were all used to their strengths to gain efficient use. We found from our research that the ‘good’ characters within most shows tended to be happy and cheerful, almost exaggerated. So we have applied this to our characters, especially the Calcium Kid (The main character). Props have been used efficiently; we have only used props where appropriate, for example puppets are used in scenes which are ‘happy’ and not in the dark scenes, we felt that using them within the dark scenes would be inappropriate as the puppets are seen as comical characters and would change the mood of the scene. Settings have been used well. Making sure lighting is a main point. Using a dark background for the lair helps to create a ‘scary’ tension whereas using fields for the cow give a more realistic/comical effect for other scenes.
We have decided that we will have a focus group after our production has finalised, as our target audience our children aged 5-12, it makes sense to ask them what they fought of something they had just seen rather than asking them to remember what they like about their favourite shows. We decided this as children tend not to have a long attention span and would be easier to record actions after watching something then asking them to recall.
As a group since the departure of one member, we have worked extremely well to meet deadlines and hit targets. We have worked swiftly to make sure we beat the deadline early so that we are in a comfortable position if any adjustments to the production need to be made. We have all contributed evenly, keeping to the different areas we appointed our selves, helping each other if needed. Decisions are made as a group, in areas such as; costumes and directing, to make sure we are all happy and that we are moving in the right direction.
Prior to the scripting and drafting, we decided we wanted the programme to be upbeat and comic like. Through the script we have added dialogue which is simple and comical but also gets the point across. We have added in catchphrases, which from our research we found children seem to enjoy as they are common place in today’s children’s programmes of similar genre.
Prior to Storyboarding we had ideas that we wanted the film to contain mostly simple but appealing camera shots, lighting and angles. We felt that using complex camera shots would possibly be a waste as children tend to focus on characters than surroundings. Only shots such as; medium shots, close ups, tracking shots, high and low angles shots are to be mainly used.
In our production we have has a budget, this can be seen in the budget list. It includes items such as; costumes, props, makeup and music.
As research we created a questionnaire, this was to see which genre and types of show our focus group favoured the most. This included asking the children what their favourite show was from a group of popular children’s shows, also asking which genre was their favourite, such as; art, cooking, cartoon. We had to keep questions basic, as our focus group is still in developing stage.
We also held auditions for actors, to come and audition for the final roles within our television programme. The characters included; Calcium Kid, Badtooth Bandit, Daisy the Cow and a girl. All actors had to audition and the actors we have chosen were picked on acting ability and enthusiasm.
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