Whilst doing the other primary research as a group, we have all had the task of individually asking people aged from 19 to 25 to ask them about our soap.
I told my selected people about our soap's storylines, its characters, its name, its style, scheduling times, our cast photos, plans for a website and magazine covers, and they told me what they thought.
They thought that the storylines would be gripping, and people would definetly want to watch our soap because of the drama included. They said it was a good idea of how we included a range of different races and religions because a large audience needs to be able to relate to at least one character when watching the soap, in order to ralte to and feel involved within the soap.
When looking at the cast photos, they said they looked very professional, mature and well put together, and that the characters each stood our amongst each other which is good, because it is easy for our audience to see that there is a range of personality and style for different people in our audience to relate to. They also said that from the photos, they could tell that our soap is not aimed at young teenagers, because our photos are arranged with a sensible amount of colour, and mature dress sense.
The idea of a lesbian relationship going on within our soap seemed to really interest them. They said that not many soaps or dramas take on this storyline because it's hard to act out, so us having it within ours should attract a large audience, because they want to see what happenes, and if the characters' relationship works out. They found the rape storylines really intressting and that they would certainly watch this soap because of the realism portrayed.
They said they thought that advertising using a website and magazines and posters is a smart choice, because of how much this area within the media industry is growing. The internet is used every day, not just by young adults, but by people of all ages, ranging from primary school children, to buisness men and women in their 50s. This way of advertising is definetly going to attract a good amount of our audience, and using advertising within magazines is a good idea aswell because of how many people buy them as a way of keeping up to date with the media.
The thing about having sinister storylines like this is that it has to be shown on television at the right time, and they approved of our newly planned sceduling times, saying it is a time when everyone is actually looking to watch good television after a hard day's work and all they want is rest and entertainment. With this factor sorted, our soap should do well.
Liberty came across as really 'young' to them. They said that it reminded them of revolutions and 'hippie times'. But they said that the idea of breaking free from a mould that your culture or background is trying to keep you within is pretty much what every young person is trying to do. They said that it fits, to call the soap this, because almost every young adult will be able to relate to this, and fighting for equality, or to be able to act by one's own rights is still happening. Overall they found the name very suited to our soap and thought that, as long as we keep on coming up with gripping storylines, it will stay that way.
From researching the opinions of our second target audience, I have gained an understanding of what they think, and this has helped me to make sure everything is suited well, based on this research. I understand better their opinions about our soap, and the ways in which this will impact our audience overall.
Friday, 30 October 2009
Thursday, 29 October 2009
Focus group 16-19 years
Today, in class, we carried out our proper focus group primary research. This video shows the questions Anna asked a few of our selected people, and their answers. We were aiming to find out what people our age think about our soap, and all of our choices and thoughts about it, however, we asked people who are not in our media class, as these would have clear minds and be able to tell us what they thought, honestly, and also, as a proper audience.
We told our random selection of people about out soap- telling them the name, the sceduling times, the storylines, and we showed them group photos aswell. The one below was the most popular, and we are happy with this, as we agree that it is one of our best photos.
They thought our title was sophisticated and original, whilst our photos showed the costumes that we created for our characters and that they are mature and show that perhaps they are university students.
They also liked the idea of advertising online and within magazines, saying it is the best way to get our soap well-known and viewed the most.
We told our random selection of people about out soap- telling them the name, the sceduling times, the storylines, and we showed them group photos aswell. The one below was the most popular, and we are happy with this, as we agree that it is one of our best photos.
They thought our title was sophisticated and original, whilst our photos showed the costumes that we created for our characters and that they are mature and show that perhaps they are university students.They also liked the idea of advertising online and within magazines, saying it is the best way to get our soap well-known and viewed the most.
Reflecting on pilot group excercise in class as a group
We approached a small group of people in our lesson and provided them with the information on our pitch and treatment, and also our broadcasting times.
We learnt that we could actually improve our planning and soap plans by learning from others and what people had to say about our soap. It was good to hear their opinions and learn that, if we wanted to get as wide an audience as possible and please our audience and most importantly, our target audience, then we would have to listen to them now.
The feedback we got was very useful and we decided to incorporate it. We learnt that our decided broadcasting times clashed with 'Eastenders's broadcasting times and were also too late which meant that our audiences would be fewer because this was the time that the parents put their children to bed. Eastenders is also a popular soap, so audiences would probablly watch that instead. So we decided to have Liberty play before Eastenders, that way they can watch it as they relax for the evening, and it wont clash with any other soaps.
We were glad that we did this pilot exercise because it helped us to make better decisions and improve our plans.
We learnt that we could actually improve our planning and soap plans by learning from others and what people had to say about our soap. It was good to hear their opinions and learn that, if we wanted to get as wide an audience as possible and please our audience and most importantly, our target audience, then we would have to listen to them now.
The feedback we got was very useful and we decided to incorporate it. We learnt that our decided broadcasting times clashed with 'Eastenders's broadcasting times and were also too late which meant that our audiences would be fewer because this was the time that the parents put their children to bed. Eastenders is also a popular soap, so audiences would probablly watch that instead. So we decided to have Liberty play before Eastenders, that way they can watch it as they relax for the evening, and it wont clash with any other soaps.
We were glad that we did this pilot exercise because it helped us to make better decisions and improve our plans.
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Saturday, 24 October 2009
Saturday 24th October- Meeting up at Elena's house to take the group photo for our magazine covers
On Saturday, I went to Elena's house to meet with the whole group so we could take pictures for our magazine cover.
I put on my make-up when I got to the house. Apart from the usual natural looking make-up, I put on bright aqua sparkly eye-shadow and pink lip-gloss. This was because of my character and we think that as I am a lesbian, I do not have the dress-sense or same sense of what is attractive because my character is not trying to appeal to the opposite sex.
Shadie's boyfriend Moji was there and so was Anna's boyfriend Dervish. These two boys are going to be playing crucial parts in our soap trailer, so it was important that they were in the photo. Elena will not be playing one of the main roles- so she was taking the photo instead of being in the photo herself.
In the end, I chose to wear purple tights with dark blue denim shorts, a bright pink lace-up corset-style top, a short-sleeved zip-up star-pattern hoodie and low black peep-toe heels. I wore grey ankle-high converses to Elena's house however i took the black heels in my bag so that as a group, we could decide which ones were more suitable for wearing during the photo being taken. So we decided that as everyone else was dressed quite formally, and what I was wearing was already really colorful and punkish in style, the heels would be better, to make my character look like she had made an effort as well as the others, despite her character.
Shadie wore more plain clothes. Her character is not openly lesbian so her true sexuality is a secret, therefore she would not be wearing clashing clothes unless she was with my character, and we also felt that we did not want to give away too much of the storyline away in the photo, so therefore, she is dressed plainly and normally like the other characters.
Anna was wearing a black long sleeved top tucked into a black mini-skirt with black tights and black court shoes. I think this fitted her role nicely because she is a nice sensible girl, however she also likes to party. So the sensible colour black- however- fitted and sexy- conveys both sensibility and maturity to wear something like that and pull it off with confidence.
Dervish was wearing a shirt and jeans. This portrays his character as the sensible, caring boyfriend of Anna. He will probably also be playing the role of Anna's rapist, however, we will never see the rapist's face. Although, as a group, we are thinking that, when playing the role of the rapist, dervish should wear dark clothes including rough jeans, a dark top, a large over-coat and a cap- for keeping his head down.
Moji was wearing a shirt tucked into jeans with a belt. This portrays his character as sensible and caring more about being obedient and smart rather than sexually attractive. This fits, because his character is the suitor Shadei's parents find for her to marry.
We took a number of different group photos in different ways, based on group photo research from existing soaps and dramas such as 'Gossip Girl' and 'Friends'. For some of the photos, I was lying down at the front, and for others, I was standing up next to Shadie. In other photos, I was holding Shadie's hand and laughing, and then for others, I was just sitting on the same chair as her so that we would all fit nicely into the photo, but there was nothing sexual going on between us. We were just looking at the camera.
We took at least four pictures for each different type of photo so that we would have more than enough photos. Because- the risk of taking too few photos would have been that- becuase there are six of us- there would have been many mistakes and situations where expressions were inappropriate because photos were taken at the wrong time. So the more photos taken- the better.
At the end, Shadie and I had a photo taken together so that we can use it on our magazine covers if we want to. It is one of the main stories so it is important.
Anna and Dervish are going to photoshop the photos to improve them and pick the best ones, and then Anna will put them as a draft onto her blog so that, as a group, we can look at them in class and chose which ones we want to use.
I put on my make-up when I got to the house. Apart from the usual natural looking make-up, I put on bright aqua sparkly eye-shadow and pink lip-gloss. This was because of my character and we think that as I am a lesbian, I do not have the dress-sense or same sense of what is attractive because my character is not trying to appeal to the opposite sex.
Shadie's boyfriend Moji was there and so was Anna's boyfriend Dervish. These two boys are going to be playing crucial parts in our soap trailer, so it was important that they were in the photo. Elena will not be playing one of the main roles- so she was taking the photo instead of being in the photo herself.
In the end, I chose to wear purple tights with dark blue denim shorts, a bright pink lace-up corset-style top, a short-sleeved zip-up star-pattern hoodie and low black peep-toe heels. I wore grey ankle-high converses to Elena's house however i took the black heels in my bag so that as a group, we could decide which ones were more suitable for wearing during the photo being taken. So we decided that as everyone else was dressed quite formally, and what I was wearing was already really colorful and punkish in style, the heels would be better, to make my character look like she had made an effort as well as the others, despite her character.
Shadie wore more plain clothes. Her character is not openly lesbian so her true sexuality is a secret, therefore she would not be wearing clashing clothes unless she was with my character, and we also felt that we did not want to give away too much of the storyline away in the photo, so therefore, she is dressed plainly and normally like the other characters.
Anna was wearing a black long sleeved top tucked into a black mini-skirt with black tights and black court shoes. I think this fitted her role nicely because she is a nice sensible girl, however she also likes to party. So the sensible colour black- however- fitted and sexy- conveys both sensibility and maturity to wear something like that and pull it off with confidence.
Dervish was wearing a shirt and jeans. This portrays his character as the sensible, caring boyfriend of Anna. He will probably also be playing the role of Anna's rapist, however, we will never see the rapist's face. Although, as a group, we are thinking that, when playing the role of the rapist, dervish should wear dark clothes including rough jeans, a dark top, a large over-coat and a cap- for keeping his head down.
Moji was wearing a shirt tucked into jeans with a belt. This portrays his character as sensible and caring more about being obedient and smart rather than sexually attractive. This fits, because his character is the suitor Shadei's parents find for her to marry.
We took a number of different group photos in different ways, based on group photo research from existing soaps and dramas such as 'Gossip Girl' and 'Friends'. For some of the photos, I was lying down at the front, and for others, I was standing up next to Shadie. In other photos, I was holding Shadie's hand and laughing, and then for others, I was just sitting on the same chair as her so that we would all fit nicely into the photo, but there was nothing sexual going on between us. We were just looking at the camera.
We took at least four pictures for each different type of photo so that we would have more than enough photos. Because- the risk of taking too few photos would have been that- becuase there are six of us- there would have been many mistakes and situations where expressions were inappropriate because photos were taken at the wrong time. So the more photos taken- the better.
At the end, Shadie and I had a photo taken together so that we can use it on our magazine covers if we want to. It is one of the main stories so it is important.
Anna and Dervish are going to photoshop the photos to improve them and pick the best ones, and then Anna will put them as a draft onto her blog so that, as a group, we can look at them in class and chose which ones we want to use.
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Creating the personality and costume of my character
This lesson, I am coming up with what I am going to be wearing for the photo which we are going to be taking for our group photo for the magazine cover, and also what I am going to be wearing during filming.
I have decided that I am going to be wearing shorts with brightly- coloured tights and a star- patterned hoodie. I am also going to be wearing a brightly coloured top beneath the hoodie, bright eye-shadow and a spiky bracelet. For my feet, I think I will wear my black and white converses. They are not a very feminine shoe and I think that wearing them for the photo-shoot will be appropriate. However, the other members of the group are going to be dressed formally, with mid-height heels, so I have decided that I am also going to be taking my low black high-heels in my bag so that, as a group, we can decide whether they will be good enough for the photo- shoot while I have the rest of the costume on.
I have decided that I will also wear contact lenses so that the reflection off my glasses will not ruin the look of the photo. This will also help to add to the stylized look of the photo, that I think we want to achieve. Actors usually do not wear glasses in photos like this for magazines.
We are still to decide whether I should wear glasses during filming. Glasses will appear casual, which is what we actually want, however, my character may actually have nothing wrong with her eye-sight.
I have decided that I am going to be wearing shorts with brightly- coloured tights and a star- patterned hoodie. I am also going to be wearing a brightly coloured top beneath the hoodie, bright eye-shadow and a spiky bracelet. For my feet, I think I will wear my black and white converses. They are not a very feminine shoe and I think that wearing them for the photo-shoot will be appropriate. However, the other members of the group are going to be dressed formally, with mid-height heels, so I have decided that I am also going to be taking my low black high-heels in my bag so that, as a group, we can decide whether they will be good enough for the photo- shoot while I have the rest of the costume on.
I have decided that I will also wear contact lenses so that the reflection off my glasses will not ruin the look of the photo. This will also help to add to the stylized look of the photo, that I think we want to achieve. Actors usually do not wear glasses in photos like this for magazines.
We are still to decide whether I should wear glasses during filming. Glasses will appear casual, which is what we actually want, however, my character may actually have nothing wrong with her eye-sight.
Thursday, 15 October 2009
Soap Name
Today in our lesson as a group, we took a vote and chose the two names each that we would individually prefer for the name of the soap. I chose Liberty and Khol.
Overall, Liberty got the most amount of votes, so this is what we are going to go with.
Overall, Liberty got the most amount of votes, so this is what we are going to go with.
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
Soap Name Ideas
Overall, as a group, we came up with a small amount of possible names for our soap.
Orange: Different segments could represent different plots and story lines and the peal could represent how a plot unravels.
Liberty: This just means how people have the right to act themselves, and we thought this would be relevant for our soap seen as the story lines and characters in our stories are going to be conveying our generation and how we want to be able to live our lives the way we feel is right.
Kohl: This was my idea, and I think it would be a good title because Kohl is a type of black eye liner and people wear it to feel better about themselves in real life because they think they do not look good enough natural. It could also represent darkness in a character, and also how some characters may want to put on a tough front when really, they are really sensitive.
Laburnum Grove: This is the road our school is on and thought it could be a possibility for the name because other soaps use the location of their soap such as 'Coronation Street'. This could work.
Leopard: This was Anna Philona's idea and came from the pattern on my jumper. She thinks it could be a good name for our soap because of how ''leopards change their spots'' and how this could relate to human behavior.
Orange: Different segments could represent different plots and story lines and the peal could represent how a plot unravels.
Liberty: This just means how people have the right to act themselves, and we thought this would be relevant for our soap seen as the story lines and characters in our stories are going to be conveying our generation and how we want to be able to live our lives the way we feel is right.
Kohl: This was my idea, and I think it would be a good title because Kohl is a type of black eye liner and people wear it to feel better about themselves in real life because they think they do not look good enough natural. It could also represent darkness in a character, and also how some characters may want to put on a tough front when really, they are really sensitive.
Laburnum Grove: This is the road our school is on and thought it could be a possibility for the name because other soaps use the location of their soap such as 'Coronation Street'. This could work.
Leopard: This was Anna Philona's idea and came from the pattern on my jumper. She thinks it could be a good name for our soap because of how ''leopards change their spots'' and how this could relate to human behavior.
Thursday, 8 October 2009
Finalising Character Roles
Our character roles were finalized in todays lesson. I now know that I am going to be playing the role of Shadei's secret gay lover. I am going to be acting out the role of a lesbian.
I will have two main costumes:
Casual clothes- jeans, T-shirt, flat shoes/trainers.
Party clothes- dress/skirt, mid-height heels.
Anna Philona will be playing the celibate girl.
Shadei Rabeie will be playing the role of the religious girls who is sceretly a lesbian.
Elena Antoniades will be playing the Shadei's mother.
Dervish will be playing the role of Maria's boyfriend.
Gary will be playing the role of Shadei's father.
Moji will be playing the role of the arranged marriage partner who will marry Shadei.
Dervish will be acting as the rapist.
We have chosen extras and members of the group who we feel will be the best people to suit the characters we need. With this decided, we just need to make sure that everyone will be availuable on days that we need to film.
I will have two main costumes:
Casual clothes- jeans, T-shirt, flat shoes/trainers.
Party clothes- dress/skirt, mid-height heels.
Anna Philona will be playing the celibate girl.
Shadei Rabeie will be playing the role of the religious girls who is sceretly a lesbian.
Elena Antoniades will be playing the Shadei's mother.
Dervish will be playing the role of Maria's boyfriend.
Gary will be playing the role of Shadei's father.
Moji will be playing the role of the arranged marriage partner who will marry Shadei.
Dervish will be acting as the rapist.
We have chosen extras and members of the group who we feel will be the best people to suit the characters we need. With this decided, we just need to make sure that everyone will be availuable on days that we need to film.
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
Research: Inspiration for our own group images from existing soap/drama/programme images and posters
As personal research for ideas on what kinds of photos we could take for our group photos, I have looked at existing posters which include the whole cast within the poster. I think this research will prove useful because we will be able to see how existing soaps and dramas present their characters in a casual way, and we could do something similar.
These posters have provided me with just a few ideas that we could use for our group pictures. We will try different poses and see what works for us.
These posters have provided me with just a few ideas that we could use for our group pictures. We will try different poses and see what works for us.
Monday, 5 October 2009
Risk Assessment Forms and Location Recce Forms
Elena Antoniades and Anna Philona have now completed the recce form and risk assessment forms. So we have now completed the planning process of our project.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
