Statement of Intent: Second draft

Website

I have chosen to base my media products on the issue of social media and whether content needs to be, in the modern day, more closely monitored and filtered, therefore reducing the amount of harmful material that audiences are exposed to. I intend to construct a unique and[VC1]  fresh-idea[VC2]  brand, through use of an edgy, distinctive website and a highly realistic, dramatic but short documentary clip. I found it extremely difficult to find suitable websites to use as research, as websites and documentaries rarely accompany each other. However, I overcame this error by looking extensively at BBC websites that accompany documentaries, such as the Stacey Dooley webpage. I intend to use a close-up establishing shot of the interviewer as an establishing shot, archived on the home page, as this appeared to be a common theme throughout the websites I looked at. As you scroll down. the page will be full of links to other ‘media texts’ featuring the same interviewer, all accompanied with thumbnails to entice audience engagement. The interviewer will therefore be represented as someone with an increased cultural competency and someone as they have a widened knowledge on global issues, therefore upkeeping the adventurous representation of the BBC industry. The dramatic element of my website will be furthered through use of visual icons and codes, such as pop-up questionnaires, to give the audience some extra information on the topic and to gain what their opinion is on. This is interesting in terms of Clay Shirky’s End of audience theory, as it could give an insight into whether audiences seize the opportunity to ‘speak back’ to producers.

Video

In my video, I will depict, through a range of camera angles, shots, low and high-key lighting and additional visual codes, a female interviewee who discovers and brings to light issues on social media, adhering to BBC Three’s remit to ‘introduce new talent’; her. In 2017, 95% of UK citizens aged 16-24 used some form of social network. Due to this, I have casted the interviewer as a female, aged around twenty years old, who will fit perfectly within the target demographic, therefore representing the interviewer as approachable and down to the earth, aiding audience engagement. I would like my video to have high levels of authenticity and realism and I will attempt to adhere to Bill Nichols’ participatory documentary theory – which is when the encounter between filmmaker and subject is recorded and the filmmaker actively engages with the situation they are documenting. I would like to depict multiple situations of confrontation between street on-goers and the interviewer, which not only is a common convention of BBC Three documentaries, but involves audience participatory, allowing the interviewer to be seen as any other person and allowing the audience to engage and relate with them more. I will also use visual codes such as drawings/illustrations, accompanied by texts/facts and figures to get across some of the dangers of the internet, to entice the audience to think individually about the social media topic I have chosen. I would like to expose the audience to as much information as possible which’ll make them think – ‘Should social media sites be more monitored?’ but I would still like to execute this in an engaging manner.

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) 

It is extremely important that I utilise convergence and synergy in order to successfully engage and maintain the audience’s interest. To do this, I must create a strong brand identity through use of an interesting three-colour palette of orange, green and grey colour, hidden easter eggs leading to exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the main character(s) (an interviewer) in my documentary, and more common codes and conventions that run throughout all platforms, all media texts and is successful in differentiating my brand from other brands. Throughout both media products, I intend to utilise pop-ups which when clicked, will take the audience to an extra tab where they can purchase online merchandise or access exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of out-takes of the interviewer.