Textual analysis

Skins - generation 2, volume 4

• The writers of Skins describe the programme as being similar to soap opera; however it is better considered as a teen pic.
• Teenagers, who are neither children nor adults, fall awkwardly between the ‘binary oppositions’ of ‘children’ and ‘adults’.

Teen pics came into their own in late 1950s Hollywood, as young people had significant disposable income for the first time and their parents were less and less likely to go to the cinema.

Skins has an unusual narrative structure; it is both a serial, in that episodes follow one another chronologically, and also a series, each programme is self contained. The programme focuses on one character from the gang in each episode, while also featuring the rest of the gang in others episodes but having the main focus’ character always onscreen.

social class 

The teens range from middle to upper middle class. They all live financially comfortable lives, though emotional support at home is often lacking. The location is unspecific. It is shot in Bristol, but other than some regional accents – Welsh and West Country.

Commissioning

ITV Commissioning


http://www.itv.com/commissioning/


ITV is the home of high quality, popular television from the biggest entertainment events, to original drama, soaps, sport, factual series and independent news, both national, and regional.






ITV2 is ITV's entertainment channel for young people, with a range of shows including original scripted comedies and panel shows, American acquisitions, and movies.






ITV3 is a home for popular classic drama series from ITV, alongside a selection of choice factual and entertainment programmes.






ITV Encore has a schedule dedicated to drama, featuring the best of contemporary British drama series from ITV.




Channel 5 Commissioning


http://www.channel5.com/commissions/
Guy Davies, Commissioning Editor - factual (example)



8pm: popular returnable documentary series in Channel 5 heartland areas. We have a number of strong, straightforward hits at present which hit our audience right between the eyes and dependably rate over a million e.g. ‘Yorkshire Vet’, ‘Traffic Cops’, ‘GPs: Behind Closed Doors’. So what are the new areas which have characters our audience will recognise and identify with, and which are broad in appeal to set up a strong evening’s viewing?




9pm: formats with real purpose and returnabilty. Tone needs to be more life affirming and key in to current concerns e.g. ‘Rich House, Poor House’, which found a highly successful way of exploring the wealth divide, class and happiness; or ‘The Great British Benefits Handout’ which rolled on the benefits genre into a ‘golden ticket’ experience changing lives for the better.



10pm: intelligent, controversial and innovative series ideas which can punch above their weight in terms of noise, reputation and ratings – both for young skewing and ABC1s  e.g. ‘Gangland’, ‘Inside The Sex Business’ as well as true-life crime focusing on big stories interpreted for our audience such as ‘Fritzl: What Happened Next’ and ‘Soham Revisited 15 Years On’. And younger appealing returning series like ‘One Night With My Ex’ which entertainingly explored a well-established theme in a new and contemporary way.

Initial response

My initial response to the brief was to create a TV teenage drama. The reason for this is that I have always found interest in the E4 programme 'Skins' which follows the lives of teenagers in the city of Bristol. I do not wish to follow exact conventions of typical dramas but I do want to involve a realistic look on teenage lives and how other factors impact the lives of teenagers.
Furthermore, I want to create a TV programme which breaks the fourth wall between the characters and the narrative, this could add a comedic element which is something I also want to include in my programme.


As all my initial ideas are based on teenagers and their lives, I would want to involve personal matters like mental illness and dysfunctional families for example, to not only relate to the audience but teach people of the effects of these types of situations. As my programme might contain sensitive themes and content which is inappropriate for younger viewers, I would therefore make my programme a high rating which fits to the brief of the target audience and allows a more diverse range of themes.

Information about me

My name is Katy, I am 17 years old and I attend Hills Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge. The blog I am writing is for my Media coursework. The assignment that I have been set involves creating a 2:30-3 minute extract from a TV programme. The programme must fit to the typical genres and conventions/themes covered on either Channel 5 or ITV.  Furthermore the extract must be taken from a certain/specific moment in the programme, for example the criteria is a main disruption, a conflict, a turning point or the resolution.
Additionally, we have also been asked to create a print front cover and a double page spread article, for a new lifestyle magazine. The lifestyle magazine has a brief in which the programme must fit with the target audience of millennials between the ages of 18-35.

Action Plan

Date	Tasks	Comments
w/b 11/6/18	Introduction to NEA brief - look at the type of genres/programmes on ITV and C5 Set up blog and create intro post and some basic ideas
w/b 18/6/18	Start research into what each channel is looking for - commissioning Research TV listings from each channel including timings and genres and put it into a format Write a summary of my finding
w/b 25/6/18 (progress review week)	Start my textual analysis: find video clips/research of programmes that fit my genre and note the codes and conventions
w/b 2/7/18 (Hills fest and English conference week)
w/b 9/7/18	Submit first draft aims and intentions sheet - Weds 11th July
w/b 16/7/18 (EP Marketplace this week) TERM ENDS 19th July	Get feedback on your aims and intentions and begin re-draft
w/b 23/7/18	Summer holidays