Aims and Intentions II: The Return of the Aims and Intentions

Learner Name: Jack Larkin

Word Count: 499 words

My drama will emulate the cinematic, Scandi-noir feel of many of ITVs greatest successes, such as Broadchurch, by using a range of media techniques. The show will be heavily graded, emphasising in particular the greens and blues, while still keeping the colour palate fairly muted. As the scenes from my extract are quite intense, with a lot of strong emotion on display, the shots (particularly those of the DS running to the warehouse) will have handheld-style camera movement and a shallow depth-of-field, alternating between medium shots and close-ups on the faces of those involved, or important props.

Regarding characters, the lead DCI and DS will be male and female respectively, reflecting many modern ITV crime dramas, providing cross-gender appeal, and upholding ITV’s commitment to gender parity. The reason I’ve chosen a male DCI is because the audience are more likely to believe that a male cop could be a corrupt crime king than a female one, due to stereotypes both from the media and the criminal underworld itself, aiding suspension of disbelief. The DCI is not necessarily likeable, yet the guilt he feels over the crimes he’s committed humanises him to a degree. The DS is sharp and on-the-ball, and aware that not all as it seems, but her curiosity and desire for her big break keep her from telling anyone else of her suspicions. Reminiscent of most modern shows, the characters would be complex and their personalities would develop over the course of the series – however, this is difficult to illustrate in three minutes.

Several factors will make my show appeal to my target audience. As previously mentioned, the two main characters are male and female, which helps to give the show cross-gender appeal. The show will also be shown at the weekend post-watershed Monday 9pm slot on ITV – usually reserved for drama – which will not only make it available to a wide audience, but also give potential viewers an idea of the kind of show they’re in for before they even read the synopsis, as these shows have a reputation for being gripping and gritty. In addition, the show will be made available immediately for streaming on the ITV Hub, which is very popular with the 18-35 millennial audience my show is targeting, who are used to being able to get content immediately when and where they want it.

In regards to the print piece, I've decided to do a Q&A-style interview with the director. I'll discuss representation of characters, issues for women in the industry, and the 'success' of Dead and Buried, as well as more light-hearted topics about the director's personal life. My piece will be an upmarket men's magazine, similar to GQ or Esquire. As such, my cover will be quite modern and minimalistic in style, with an interview with the male lead of the show being the major selling point. The double-page spread will also be quite minimalistic, with a strong green grading on the title image providing a visual link with the audio-visual piece.