Introduction and Initial Task
You must generate thoroughly thought-through ideas for a single camera production showing creativity and flair and working independently to professional expectations.
Breaking down a tv pilot - Breaking bad
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Mild-mannered high school chemistry teacher Walter White thinks his life can't get much worse. His salary barely makes ends meet, a situation not likely to improve once his pregnant wife gives birth, and their teenage son is battling cerebral palsy.
First episode date: January 20, 2008 No. of episodes: 62 (list of episodes) Awards: Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama. |
The first structural element of a TV pilot would be the teaser in order to grab the attention of the user and get them hooked onto the show. When it comes to breaking bad, the teaser starts off with a surprising opening image of a pair of professional heather brown pants flying in the air which soon gets driven over by a driver clinging to the wheel with the pedal completely flat. He seems very suspicious as he is sat bear in his white jockey underpants and a gas mask which makes it seem like he is hiding from something which is why hes in a rush but we are already introduced to multiple questions which all lead to, what is he running away from? As these questions run through our minds, we get introduced to the element of intensity as we see yellow and brown liquid which foams around what seems to be two dead bodies. This makes the viewers realise how this is a life or death situation. You see him then point a gun at what seems to be the cops, and that's the end of the teaser ending with a blank screen.This is very puzzling but to us, this is quite exciting as everyone always loves to figure out whats happening or whats going on during this intense moment. That is the job of a teaser, it demands our attention leaving us wanting to know what happens next.
Most TV episodes follow a specific code and convention; they are broken up into a teaser and four acts usually with commercials between each. This may not be the case with Breaking Bad but it still follows this four-act structure. All acts have a different purpose which all establishes a new important aspect of the series and the main character, Walter White. The pilot conveys everything the viewer needs to know about the series.
Act One: ''The day in the life'' technique
The show is heavily centered around the protagonist, growth, changes and decisions within society which leads to everything that happens next. The director Vince Gilligan said during an interview how ''The audience doesn't have to agree with anything Walt is doing, but they have to understand why he's doing what he's doing.'' This was accomplished by doing the day in the life technique which was portrayed by showing us his history as a chemistry teacher to a butch of rebellion students, and his second job at a car wash, both which aren't completely rewarding. We see his marriage is also not as successful, his son Walter Jr. who looks up at his brother who is a DEA agent which makes him a forever threat in the series. This all leads to one specific question, what is missing in Walt's life? Act one shows us how powerless he is even to he is a diplomat in chemist, he is almost always demeaned. We are shown that he longs for a purpose and to be in control for once in his life even though he lacks both. This establishes his normal which prepares us for the abnormal to strike at the end of act one when he collapses in the car park marking the end of act.
The show is heavily centered around the protagonist, growth, changes and decisions within society which leads to everything that happens next. The director Vince Gilligan said during an interview how ''The audience doesn't have to agree with anything Walt is doing, but they have to understand why he's doing what he's doing.'' This was accomplished by doing the day in the life technique which was portrayed by showing us his history as a chemistry teacher to a butch of rebellion students, and his second job at a car wash, both which aren't completely rewarding. We see his marriage is also not as successful, his son Walter Jr. who looks up at his brother who is a DEA agent which makes him a forever threat in the series. This all leads to one specific question, what is missing in Walt's life? Act one shows us how powerless he is even to he is a diplomat in chemist, he is almost always demeaned. We are shown that he longs for a purpose and to be in control for once in his life even though he lacks both. This establishes his normal which prepares us for the abnormal to strike at the end of act one when he collapses in the car park marking the end of act.
Act Two: The Premise
Usually, the premise is a concise summary of what the show is about at its core which is the pilot episode's job to clearly convey this to the audience. If the show is primarily centered around a protagonist, this means that the premise is usually contains this formula:
''The protagonist's life is turned upside down when X happens, so they decide to do Y.''
Act two in this case, opens with X which is the fact he suddenly faces the fact he has lung cancer. As he tries to deal with this, he decides to take his brother Hanks offer to take him on a ride-along where he ends up learning more about the meth business when he coincidentally sees a former chemistry student he used to have fleeing the scene. Walt through this has figured out ''Y'' so replacing our formula with the formula of the show:
''The protagonist's life is turned upside down when X happens, so they decide to do Y.''
''A high school chemistry teacher finds out that he has terminal cancer and decides to cook meth in order to make money for his family.''
This is the established premise of the show and in act 3 we see how this begins to affect who he is.
Usually, the premise is a concise summary of what the show is about at its core which is the pilot episode's job to clearly convey this to the audience. If the show is primarily centered around a protagonist, this means that the premise is usually contains this formula:
''The protagonist's life is turned upside down when X happens, so they decide to do Y.''
Act two in this case, opens with X which is the fact he suddenly faces the fact he has lung cancer. As he tries to deal with this, he decides to take his brother Hanks offer to take him on a ride-along where he ends up learning more about the meth business when he coincidentally sees a former chemistry student he used to have fleeing the scene. Walt through this has figured out ''Y'' so replacing our formula with the formula of the show:
''The protagonist's life is turned upside down when X happens, so they decide to do Y.''
''A high school chemistry teacher finds out that he has terminal cancer and decides to cook meth in order to make money for his family.''
This is the established premise of the show and in act 3 we see how this begins to affect who he is.
Act Three: Power
There is a book written by Lajos Egri which is called ''The Art Of Dramatic Writing'' here he talks about what a character needs to be the ''pivotal character'' aka the protagonist. ''A man who's fear is greater than his desire, or a man who has no great, all-consuming passion, or one who has patience and does not oppose, cannot be a pivotal character.'' This is why in act 3, we see how his desires start to overpower his fears. This is done when we see him stealing lab equipment from the school, he withdraws all his savings to buy an RV with Jesse and gets his first taste of power when he stops a group of guys from making fun of Walter Jr. by kicking the back of the boys knee where he falls onto the floor. This comes a huge surprise to the Walt family as he would never do that before. This is when we see his true absents of fear. Vince Gilligan wrote on a news article how ''Television is historically good at keeping its characters in a self-imposed stasis so that shows can go on for years or even decades... When I realized this, the logical next step was to think, how can I do a show in which the fundamental drive is towards change?'' this shows us how Walt's situation will transform him. Referring back to 'The Art Of Dramatic Writing'', Lajos wrote how ''A pivotal character must not merely desire something. He must want it so badly that he will destroy or be destroyed in the effort to attain his goal.'' After this powerful move, this leaves viewers wondering who he will become.
There is a book written by Lajos Egri which is called ''The Art Of Dramatic Writing'' here he talks about what a character needs to be the ''pivotal character'' aka the protagonist. ''A man who's fear is greater than his desire, or a man who has no great, all-consuming passion, or one who has patience and does not oppose, cannot be a pivotal character.'' This is why in act 3, we see how his desires start to overpower his fears. This is done when we see him stealing lab equipment from the school, he withdraws all his savings to buy an RV with Jesse and gets his first taste of power when he stops a group of guys from making fun of Walter Jr. by kicking the back of the boys knee where he falls onto the floor. This comes a huge surprise to the Walt family as he would never do that before. This is when we see his true absents of fear. Vince Gilligan wrote on a news article how ''Television is historically good at keeping its characters in a self-imposed stasis so that shows can go on for years or even decades... When I realized this, the logical next step was to think, how can I do a show in which the fundamental drive is towards change?'' this shows us how Walt's situation will transform him. Referring back to 'The Art Of Dramatic Writing'', Lajos wrote how ''A pivotal character must not merely desire something. He must want it so badly that he will destroy or be destroyed in the effort to attain his goal.'' After this powerful move, this leaves viewers wondering who he will become.
Act Four: Fun and Games
This final act brings together and explains everything we saw in the opening teaser. We learn he excels at cooking meth due to his chemistry filled background which will not only help with creating his status, but gives him that power he has been longing. This also shows the audience what they will expect in future episodes such as their long line of drugs and a lot of narrowly escaping death and/or being caught. This is all about the fun and game which he show will promise to show you and what to expect in the next episodes to come. You then also see him climb into bed after this hectic day with his wife which is when he is relieved to be alive and also dreading the fact his life won't last. In short, this is the key point where the audience can make the choice whether they want to continue the show or not through uses of tone, pacing, characteristics and subject matters.
This final act brings together and explains everything we saw in the opening teaser. We learn he excels at cooking meth due to his chemistry filled background which will not only help with creating his status, but gives him that power he has been longing. This also shows the audience what they will expect in future episodes such as their long line of drugs and a lot of narrowly escaping death and/or being caught. This is all about the fun and game which he show will promise to show you and what to expect in the next episodes to come. You then also see him climb into bed after this hectic day with his wife which is when he is relieved to be alive and also dreading the fact his life won't last. In short, this is the key point where the audience can make the choice whether they want to continue the show or not through uses of tone, pacing, characteristics and subject matters.
what is a family friendly show?
A family-friendly item or administration is one that is viewed as reasonable for all individuals from a normal family. Family agreeable cafés are ones that give administration to families that have little youngsters.
The BBFC has two superseding standards: to shield youngsters and powerless grown-ups from possibly destructive or generally unacceptable substance, to support kids and families pick whats directly for them and to maintain a strategic distance from what's most certainly not. BBC’s commissioning process plays a role within their television commissioning teams, channel teams for BBC One, Two, Three and Four, BBC Sport and iPlayer. Censorship (BBFC) and Watershed (OFCOM)
In order for audience members to be aware of what content they are about to watch, televisions have to make sure they give an age rating. This type of information is set by the British Board of Film Classifications which is: |
- U - Universal
- PG - Parental Guidance
- 12A/12 - Only suitable for persons of 12 years and older.
- 15 - Only suitable for persons of 15 years and older
- 18 - Only suitable for persons of 18 years and older.
- R18 - Supplied only in licensed shops.
The essential company in charge of film guideline in the United Kingdom (UK) is the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), in charge of the across the country arrangement and control of movies showed at films just as all video works discharged on physical media inside the UK. The BBFC is obliged to direct all media discharged on VHS, DVD and blu-beam and even, in spite of the fact that to a decreased degree, certain computer games just as anything discharged on the web. Distributed grouping rules are used by the BBFC so as to guarantee that film substance is age fitting and to secure youngsters and youngsters fro seeing inadmissible or wrong content. The BBFC arrangement rules are set up through standard research with people in general, including more than 10,000 people over the UK, and are refreshed each 4-5 years.
Breaking down 2 family-friendly episodes
Friends:
Friends is considered a family-sitcom however, everyday parents & kids both say that 12 years is an appropriate age to watch the show.
Friends is considered a family-sitcom however, everyday parents & kids both say that 12 years is an appropriate age to watch the show.
- There is a lot of close up shots especially when the character is speaking so it feels like the viewers are communicating directly with the characters.
- When the characters are not communicating, we usually see a full shot of all the characters sitting on the couches relaxed.
- When they make a comedic joke about marriage, you see a real bride walk through the door which is a narrative structure as it correlates to whats being said.
Mise-en-scene:
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- All of their hairstyles may establish that they are from an upper class due to the light colour scheme used and the work jackets.
- A woman walks in with a wedding dress which may symbolise how marriage is always bound to fail especially as this type of comedic effect.
Sound:
- The first sound we hear is a train sound. This train sound shows that they may be in a busy city and have just arrived there.
- In order to increase the comedic effect, there is a laughing sound used after a joke has been told.
- There is still a continuous use of laughter used which makes it look more funny.
- There is diegetic sounds of the cup being hit with the spoon or the tearing of the sugar packet which makes it seem even more realistic.
- Brief music is played when changing the set which leads us onto the sound of television.
- There's a lot of jump cuts which keep us as the viewers entertained constantly as we don't get bored looking at one specific thing continuously.
- Blank screen which leads us onto a shot of the apartment which shows us they are all in a new location now.
Modern Family:
Modern Family is considered a family friendly show but otherwise also appropriate for 11+ until season 6 when the kids get older.
Modern Family is considered a family friendly show but otherwise also appropriate for 11+ until season 6 when the kids get older.
Camera Work:
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Sound:
- We are first shown how Phil, who seems to be the father of the household doesn't take anything serious through the use of gaming sounds. This shows that he is a very modern, laid back father.
- Sound of the kids playing football is emphasized so it seems like it was a very active scene.
Mise-en-scene:
The eldest daughter is wearing rebelious clothes which shows us how she is most likely going through the teenager phase where she is going to cause trouble Very light makeup is used on all the members so this shows us how theyare not trying to seek attention but rather, create a family friendly environment. |
Editing:
- There is a cut scene from the iconography straight to the mother and father which makes us as the viewers identify the characters which we will see later on in the show.
- We are then shown the different modern couples with their families.
Initial idea + PRE-PRODUCTION DOCUMENTATION
I have decided to create a comedic drama based on Laura as her cousin Anna comes over to attend her school. Ever since this change, Laura feels like she has lost all rights to her privacy as she has always been followed around by Anna who are polar opposites.
cAST mEMBERS:
- Rishika Singh as Laura
- Alex Gili as Anna
- Rishika's mother as Laura's Mother
Location Scouting
I think the best place for this to take part would be in a house. Due to the amount of cast members living nearest to Rishika's house, I decided that filming at her house would be idealistic both with time, costs and the overall aesthetics of the video would be enhanced.
storyboard
CONTINGENCY PLAN
Filming timeline
Risk assessment
EQUIPMENTHere is a list of the equipment which I will be using in order to produce my Music Video
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