Brainstorming Themes

Here I have brainstormed a variety of potential themes for my children's TV drama. I brainstormed a variety of themes that I feel are popular amongst my target audience, I would like my TV drama to be educational for my young target audience so tat they learn whilst they watch without realising. After brainstorming potential themes I Then chose four Themes and asked fifteen members of my chosen target audience for their opinions on what theme would appeal to them. 

From research of what will appeal to my target audience, I found that the most popular theme is Time travel. I like this theme because, not only is it popular amongst my audience but i can also encorporate the educational  side within this topic. 

Sub-Task Research Conclusion

What Was Effective?

I personally feel that all the DVD and magazine covers I researched were highly effective and appealing to their specific target audiences. All magazine and DVD covers followed all the typical media conventions that I feel worked to their advantage and make the overall product look more professional and eye catching to the customers when on the shop shelves. When designing my covers I will take these features that I have found effective into account in order to make a professional and appealing cover for my target audience that relates to my TV drama series. 

Magazine Cover - Similarities

Here I have made a mind map of all the similarities between the Magazine covers I have researched; this is so that I can clearly see all the conventional features of children’s TV Drama magazine covers quickly and effectively. I will also refer back to the mind map when designing the cover for for my magazine so I know what conventional features I should include in order to make a successful and memorable Magazine cover that will appeal to my target audience. 

DVD Cover - Similarities 

Here I have made a mind map of all the similarities between the Children's DVD covers I have researched; this is so that I can clearly see all the conventional features of children’s TV DVD covers quickly and effectively. I will also refer back to the mind map when designing the cover for my DVD so that I know what conventional features I should include in order to make a successful and professional looking DVD cover.

Sub Task - DVD Research Developed

Here I have chosen two popular Children’s TV Dramas and their DVD covers; this will help me to see how the DVD covers links to the program and its title sequences. By further developing my research I will be able to analyse more DVD cover conventions and it will also give me inspiration when it comes to designing and making my own DVD cover. 

From this research I found that these DVD covers link to their program and, title sequences by using the same memorable logo as their mastheads so that it is familiar to the reader/audience. I also found that they all use their main characters on the front covers to show the audience who is important in the programme. I can now use this research to design and make an effective DVD cover that like the one I have analysed links directly back to the TV programme and its characters. Overall this will help me to make a realistic DVD cover that will follow all the media conventions of a children's DVD cover. 

Sub Task - DVD Cover Conventions

Here I have chosen a selection of popular children’s TV dramas and their DVD series covers, I am analysing these so that I can see what conventions are typical of Children’s DVD covers, this will then help me to design and make a successful DVD  based on my TV Drama. 

Firstly, all the DVD covers have very bold and busy layouts to grab the audiences attention when on the shop shelves, particularly the Doctor Who and Hannah Montana covers have used bright eye catching colours that are appealing and grab the audiences attention, this may be because, their target audience is drawn to in by big images and bold titles rather than simple more adult colour scheme and layouts. . Many of the covers also use bright contrasting colours that again will grab the young target audience’s attention. The use of contrasting colours may be a typical convention of children’s DVD covers because, they are very image and layout based as it looks exciting and fun rather than the more minimalistic DVD covers aimed at an older target audience.

Secondly another convention of the children’s DVD covers is that they all include their programs logo as the main masthead or title for the DVD cover. This may be because it is easy for the young target audience to remember and recognise from the TV programme. Also by using the TV programmes well known logo on the DVD cover further promote the TV programme to other people in the shops not just to those buying the TV programmes merchandise.

Thirdly, another convention of Children’s DVD covers is that they all use a main image that bleeds off the page and has the main character at the front of the photograph. Young Dracula and Hannah Montana particularly follow this convention, this convention allows the audience to see immediately who is the main character in the programme and who the plot is based around. They also have the other characters in the background of the shot with further emphasises the characters status in the programme.

Another convention I have found is that all the DVD covers have an age certificate on the DVD cover with any warnings. This allows the parents to know what age this DVD is suitable for and what graphic content the TV programme may contain. 
The final convention I have found on Children’s DVD cover is that on the back of they cover that all use images that correspond with the episodes on the disk, this gives the audience an insight into what the episode is about quickly and effectively. The children’s DVD covers I have analysed may contain more images that those on an adult DVD because, children may not be able to read and understand they synopsis as much as adults, so lots of small images is interesting and more exciting for them.

Sub Task - Developed Magazine Research

Here I have chosen three of the most popular Children’s TV Dramas and their magazines; this will help me to see how the magazine links to the program and its title sequences. By further developing my research I will be able to analyse more magazine conventions and it will also give me inspiration when it comes to designing and making my own Magazine cover. 

From this research I found that these magazines link to their program and, title sequences by using the same memorable logo as their mastheads so that it is familiar to the reader/audience. I also found that they give the reader exclusives about upcoming episodes and relate every article and activity to certain characters in the programme. I can now use this research to design and make an effective magazine cover that like the one I have analysed links directly back to the TV programme and its characters. Overall this will help me to make a realistic magazine cover that will follow all the media conventions of a children's magazine. 

Sub Task - Initial Magazine Research

Here I have chosen a selection of popular children’s magazines that are based on children’s TV programs, I am looking at these so that I can see what conventions are typical of children’s magazines this will then help me to design and make a successful magazine based on my TV Drama. 

Firstly, all the magazines have very busy and bold layouts to grab the reader’s attention when on the shop shelves, particularly the Cbeebies and Disney adventures magazine have gone for this look ,this may be because, they are aimed at a younger target audience who tend

to be drawn in by big images rather than bold headlines. Many of the magazines also use bright contrasting colours that again will grab the young target audience’s attention. The use of contrasting colours may be a typical convention of children’s magazines because they are very image and layout based; this may be because it, looks exciting and fun rather than boring bold headlines that are more conventional of adult magazines. This is not typical of many magazines that are aimed at an older audience as they tend to use a simple colour scheme that is usually similar to the masthead. Furthermore, all the magazines I have chosen, use one main headline with lots of sub articles around them, this makes the young readers think they are getting more for their money and again looks eye-catching and bold on the shop shelves compared to other magazines. 

Secondly, another convention of children’s magazines that I have found is they all include a small logo of the TV channel that the program is shown on, this is not only so children know what channel the program is on but it is also a form of advertising. By advertising the TV channel and the program on the magazine will make the TV channel memorable and children will gain a wider interest in the channel and other programmes it may show, by promoting the channel its rating figures will rise causing a bigger success for the program and for more merchandise like, DVDs and toys to be made and sold.

Finally, all the magazines use large clear typefaces to again draw in the reader’s attention. This is a convention of many children’s magazines because, it allows the children to read independently as they may struggle with reading. This allows them to become more independent and take an interest in reading and the magazine, it is also more enjoyable for the children and makes them anxious and excited to buy the next issue.

Title Sequence - Research Conclusion

What was effective?

All the title sequences I researched were highly effective for their particular target audience; however, certain sequences stood out to me and were memorable by the techniques the producers used. I particularly liked the Doctor Who title sequence I researched although, this was a very simple sequence it was highly effective as the theme tune and computer graphics captured the audience’s attention and clearly conveyed its Sci-Fi theme. I found from my research that all title sequences need a catchy and memorable theme tune that have to convey the mood and, genre of the program to its target audience. Other title sequences that done this effectively was the ‘Good Luck Charlie’ and ‘Tracy Beaker theme tune this is because, they both outlined the plot of the program through the lyrics in the song. Furthermore, this gives the audience an idea of what the program will be about and, the upbeat and positive lyrics used in both title sequences implies that the programme is fun and light hearted entertainment for the viewers at home.  Another, key feature I found in the title sequences I researched  which I feel is  highly effective is,  the use of images showing characters in the programme.  This again gives the  audience an insight into what the characters are like and their personalities. For Example, the MI High title sequence shows short clip of the main characters which highlight their personalities such as, the character Rose is shown in a science lap suggesting she is the smart one whereas, Daisy is seen in an extravagant coat suggesting she is the ‘diva’ of the show. Overall, many conventional features of the title sequences I researched were highly effective, I liked how many that I researched used a colour scheme with highlighted the genre of the program and clearly conveyed the target audience it was trying to appeal to.

What are the similarities between the title sequences?

Here I have made a mind map of all the similarities between the title sequences I have researched; this is so that I can clearly see all the conventional features of children’s TV Drama sequences quickly and effectively. I will also refer back to the mind map when making the story board for my sequence so I know what conventional features I should include in order to make a successful and memorable title sequence.