Updated Aims and Intentions (but its too long!)

Aims and Intentions  

I will use media language to create a brand for my show which targets 18-35 year old ‘millennial’ audiences, and will reflect both the crime drama genre as well as creating my own unique identifying feature. The sequence will use both high-key (e.g. therapy scene) and low-key lighting (e.g. outdoors) which will contrast against each other. As well as this it will provide a typical setting of an established city and the alleyways that lay within them, similar to how Sherlock does with London. With the editing the show will consist of quickly cuts to build up tension when action is taking place, point of views shots to see the perspectives of the characters and establishing shots to set the scene. For the print-text I will use colours such as blacks, whites and red which are common to the crime drama genre as well as horror. The colour red also being significant in beauty magazine for women as being bold, outgoing and powerful - which is an accurate description of my lead character. The hybridity reflected in my show plays on the use of repetition and difference (Steve Neale), where the combination of elements allows the audience to engage with the unknown and the enigma (Barthes) surrounding what is to happen next. 

The main character of my production is a female and will subvert stereotypes of females being weak and inferior, as she is seen as powerful and can kill heartlessly; her emotions are unstable and somewhat psychotic like Villanelle from Killing Eve. The audience is positioned with her, making us understand her motives and emotions even though she is a killer. She is seen to be struggling with the death of her mother and we see her being in denial about the situation and blaming others for her loss; this nature reflects someone who does not care for other excuses because she has already been hurt. Her character acts on the binary oppositions (Strauss) of someone who is both unstable as well as mentally stong-minded, where the audience can decide whether she is good or bad.  

I intend to target my audience through the familiarisation of crime dramas, through the themes of death, murder and pain; as well as iconography of blood, victims and the equilibrium that it takes place in (Todorov). The show is set in Cambridge, which is an ordinary city that anyone could feel familiar in, however as a series of murders take place the city is filled with fear and dilemma; the audience will wait in anticipation to find out what will happen whilst beginning to feel sympathy for the main character.  

As crime dramas are typically more enjoyed by males, I wish to engage females through use of representation and through the lifestyle magazine. Therefore, my magazine consists of articles about beauty and fashion, whilst also presenting ideas about females in films and TV. By reaching this demographic more people can discover the show, watch it and enjoy it.  

In terms of ITV’s already established audience I’m targeting the ‘Connected LIVES’ which are young adults who are balancing both new technologies and new responsibilities. The show allows them to use TV as escapism, whilst having personal connections to these characters and what feelings they are going through. The show will address mental illness in young people, which will provide a greater awareness and representation of it to the world.   

Digital convergence will be demonstrated by including identifying symbols in both pieces of medias. The main image on the magazine front colour is the main actresses, the face of the show, who is denoted to be wearing a sparkly dress and red lipstick to connote elegance, which is the opposite of something her character would wear. She is again seen in on the double page spread which includes staged photoshoot images, behind the scenes photos and an interview with the main actor. These elements will allow the audience to find out more about the show, as well as the actress herself and what her opinions of the show were; they can build personal relationships with the actress as she takes on her role.