Statement of intent: first draft

How do you intend to use the four areas of the media theoretical framework to communicate meaning and meet the requirements of your chosen brief? (approx. 400 words)

Product 1

My documentary is based around show-jumping, a sport that is not typically shown online and on television. The aim of this documentary is that it will intrigue the audience by using a sport that they will be less used to, as compared to football for example.

In terms of language, I intend to use a wide range of shot types across the 3 minute opening, across various locations such as the stable yard, tack room and surrounding countryside in order to be engaging for the audience, and reveal a sense of realism to the daily life of the talent, Harry Bateman. The use of shot types will be useful in terms of allowing the audience to feel involved and as a result, from audience research, the audience is then more likely to involve themselves online or discuss with others. There may be an opportunity for intertextuality within the documentary with texts such as books and films, however I think this may be more suited to the website (product 2).

BBC3, the brief of production that the documentary ad online has to fill, as a public service broadcaster has to fill the values of ‘educating, informing and entertaining’. By covering a topic that is not widely focused on, it leaves a perfect opportunity to emulate these values both online and within the opening by teaching them something new as well as being engaging.

The targeted audience of middle to upmarket and socially conscious 16-25 year olds are widely involved with the watching of documentaries, and appear from my own research to be more likely to be involved than any other age group. This can be used as an advantage and so through the use of hashtags and links to online this age group will be more likely to engage with media convergence I hope to convey.

The main aim of representation and the preferred viewing is that the audience will enjoy learning about show-jumping as a sport as well as the behind the scenes, hardworking ethic the talent, Harry Bateman possesses. The show will reveal real life issues, such as balancing social life and sport, as well as problems such as injuries that can be sustained along the way.

Product 2

The website is a great way to engage the audience further and offer other forms such as added clips and audio. The website also offers a great opportunity for intertextual references, such as books and films that the talent recommends or has viewed himself. A continual colour palette will be used across the two forms, to create a form of house style. My idea for books is to use Tim Stockdale and Nick Skelton, sporting icons, as well as films such as Black Beauty that most of this age group will be aware of.

Social media such as Instagram and twitter will be used on the website perhaps as a side bar to allow connection between media formats, this could be such as the talent’s accounts so that they can engage personally with them.  The use of this may also encourage publicity if the documentary is tagged or shared between the audiences. The age group of 16-25 are engaged online, and so this is a perfect opportunity to create media presence.

The positive representation will continue to be used across the website, and offer a Q&A (as suggested by audience research) for the talent to answer, and so allow greater understanding by the audience to this unique sport and lifestyle.

How do you intend to link your media products to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the digitally convergent nature of your media production? (approx. 100 words)

Convergence will be used by hashtags and links both online and within the 3 minute opening of the documentary, which allows the audience to actively engage by their own choice should they feel interested and engaged to do so. The documentary may reference their online platforms (Instagram, twitter) and website additional content such as behind the scenes or daily routine of the talent, that the audience may be entertained, continuing to fulfil the remit of the public service broadcaster BBC.