Teeside Uni Write Up

In the past month I visited a Teesside Uni, and attended a number of talks regarding journalism and everything alike.

The first, which was presented by a member of The Sports Bible, explained the inner workings of the social media business. He told us how certain that he was of the career path the had chosen and how much he would recommend it to others.
Another covered his past experiences with events and jobs that his position had taken him in the past, for example he said he has visited oil rigs. He mentioned that there were exiting attributes to his job, as well as the times being flexible, which was necessary due to his family life.
As well as the sports journalism course was shown to be for younger people rather than that of older, this is due to the amount of social media and online presence needed for the role.
To begin the visit though our personal details were recorded before the first talk began. These included an email address, names, dates of birth and a  phone number.
This was done to help further our knowledge on the university and the courses they offer, ultimately deciding if a course at the university is something that we would consider as a future.
 A brief tour of the university was shown and certain key members if staff were introduced, for example former journalists and media culture representatives.
Of these lecturers one was a possible victim of Raoul Moat, she told the story of how she was invited to the crime scene and all the insurances that had to be made, as well as the safety measures that had to be taken.     













The picture above shows the main and only campus of the university. This is the campus that we visited and it is located in Middlesbrough.
I learned many things from this experience, such as: a good way to begin a career in sports journalism is to begin freelance, as well as this, the hours that a journalist works are very flexible and reliable, however this can quickly change if a large news story appears.
But this visit mostly helped me on deciding that my already chosen career was more for me than journalism.

LGBT Representation in Media

The media portrayal of LGBT people refers to the varying and evolving ways in which the mediadepicts or portrays the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.
According to an article from The Guardian LGBT characters are at an all time high according to new findings. The annual 'Where We Are on TV report has found that 8.8% of regular characters expected to appear in the next year of US television are LGBT, this is up from last year when it sat at 6.4%, with over 50% of these characters being of different ethnicities. There was also an improvement on the balance between male and female characters over the last year.
Netflix was named as the streaming service with the highest number of LGBT characters, thanks to shows such as Orange is the new Black and Luke Cage. There was also special praise for Will and Grace, Super-girl, Empire and How to Get Away with Murder, which were all singled out for their individuality.

Benjamin Lee. (2019). LGBT characters at record high on TV, report finds. Available: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/oct/25/lgbt-characters-at-record-high-on-tv-report-finds. Last accessed May 1st 2019.

Mary Swangin. (2018). LGBT Media Representation. Available: https://www.menspharmacy.co.uk/blog/lifestyle/lgbt-media-representation/. Last accessed 1st May 2019.

Some of the UK's best known LGBT activists, celebrities and allies have been nominated for the 2019 British LGBT Awards. 
This event takes place on the 17th of May and will be the biggest annual gay awards show in Britain.
It is set to be hosted by reality TV favorite and LGBT ally Kelly Osbourne.
As well as the awards ceremony for those of the `LGBT community, online streaming services have began to collaborate with these events, for example, Spotify has added an LGBT Pride playlist, encouraging their Gay, Bisexual and Transgender listeners to 'Be strong, support each other, protect each other, we're making history together'.

Benjamin Butterworth . (2019). British LGBT Awards 2019 Nominations: full list of nominees including Rylan Clark-Neal, Little Mix and Dua Lipa.Available: https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/people/british-lgbt-awards-2019-full-list-of-nominees/. Last accessed 8th May 2019.

Props

The following props are used throughout the project, some will be used in the background of the set where as some, such as the instruments will be used throughout the project. Some of these items will be used to progress the narrative such as the radio and the water bottle.

The sketches above show some of the costume used throughout the production, some will be worn by secondary characters and some will be worn by the main character Tom.

Proposal

Film Synopsis
The film I intend to create is centered around music, whats behind the scenes, what the life is like outside of being on stage and what happens after the lime light is off the celebrity. It shows their struggles, their highs, their lows and it shows how they converse as a band and a family. It also shows the struggles that you possibly didn't know existed, such as the fear an artist faces about living up to their past music or past appearances in the press, building a certain reputation that can be hard to break in later years. I intend to show the making, recording and preforming of the music being made for the project.

The Logline
My film captures the struggle of a washed up band member that is despised by the other band members as well as himself. He battles with drug and alcohol addiction have pushed away anyone willing to help him. But once he discovers he has only months to live, he decides its time for a show, one last show.
Beady Eye is a music driven drama centered around a washed up band from the 1990s, they set the world on fire when they announce a reunion, but the reunion may not be for innocent reasons 

Screenplay Structure
Act 1
As a washed up front man, Tom Anderson has nothing and no one left, but he is presented with a piece of life changing news
Act 2
He contacts his old band and after some persuasion they agree to one final show, the band then begin rehearsing
Act 3

They preform the final gig, but Tom collapses on stage and the credits begin to roll

Film Treatment

Tom Anderson (40) a washed up former front man from a 1990s band still reeling from a failed solo attempt has wasted his last chance ten times over, he's perfectly happy in his way of life. His family and friends all think that if he isn't already dead, he will be soon. The only person that he has regular contact with is his dealer, he's his best customer by far. 

His dead end life is disrupted however when he begins to suffer fainting spells and visits a doctor, he receives news that he has a terminal illness and won't see the end of the year, this sparks a change in him. He gets clean and tries to contact his band, the only people that will hear him out.

The band meet and Tom keeps his reasons to himself, the band are not happy to see him due to past actions and arguments, but agree to meet none the less, after some convincing that is. They discus the reunion and don't think its necessary or even possible, but over all they agree after a heated exchange to do it for the fans.

They begin to preform and quickly pick up where they left off, none will admit it but they have mussed playing as a group and a family. Its almost as if they never broke up, their music is improving and they are beginning to get along.

However, just as things are beginning to look up, his lifestyle catches up to him. His test results come back and the doctor informs him he has even less time to live, and he won't be able to preform ever again, let alone on a gig as big as that has been blocked for the bands grand reunion since it has been announced in the media and press coverage.

He slips back into his old ways, drugs and alcohol. His band members come looking for him and find him passed out, they demand an expiation and he gives one, he tells them of his illness and how long he has. They begin to feel sorry for him and ask to continue with the gig, he does not tell them that if he does so it was vastly speed up the process of his illness.

They preform the gig, it is flawless, it is already being held as the best gig in recent history, but before its through, Tom collapses on stage. Credits begin t roll.

Characters

The characters in this picture are few in number, there is a lead character played by Tom, a secondary character played by Rob, the rest of the band played by Josh Pool and a doctor played by Luke Taylor. Tom is dressed in designer clothing, but isn't making an effort at all in his appearance due to his drug addicted life style, but is still however trying to hold onto a past part of himself. 

Josh wears sports equipment due to his lifestyle, instead of going solo like Toms failed effort he began playing professional american football.

Rob is the most level headed of the band, with a wife and child he always has someone to think about other than himself. He dresses in casual clothing and is well groomed.

Target Audience
The target audience for my chosen project would be younger male teenagers, due to the type of music and clothing worn and preformed throughout the film. As well as this the TA would also be people that were around during the rise of Oasis in the 1990s. 

Learning Aim A-D

Leanring Aim A
Looking at different sectors
identify jobs within these sectors
explain roles - what do people do in these roles
roles within film
i.e. producer - over see the final cut, over see budget, locations, can disagree with the director, doesn't have to pay but in charge of budget, recruitment - interview process
have to talk about different contracts that are available in these roles - full-time, part time, freelance
explain professional behaviors in media industries - teamwork, meeting deadlines, applying to the law
Learning Aim B
What career you are interested in working in
what area do you want to work in
what role you want to work in
explain structor tom to bottom of film roles - director to runners
explain legal and ethical cultures within film - copyright, permission, libel, censorship, age ratings
analyst the structor
Learning Aim C
produce a relevant CV
what future job you want to do in media
director - particular skills i.e. editing
mention qualities about you i.e. punctuality
show reel- all work completed, see experimentation, have all of work on separate blog or website
first page say who you are, what you are aiming to achieve and link to a CV
Learning Aim D
networking is an important tool to raise awareness, Facebook, twitter and linked in
use social media networks to develop contacts for employment
create professional social media platforms, twitter, Instagram, bio, showing examples of work
Powerpoint covers all topics
interview those within this industry (Kenny)
where did they start within this sector

Beady Eye Script (final draft)

'Beady Eye'

By

Joseph Simmons

Script

Final Draft 

11 April 2019

FADE IN:

1                                                  

                                                         INT.  STUDIO. MORNING 

                                          In a dusty, creaky home studio. TOM ANDERSON, a slim,

                                          broad shouldered young man with brown hair wearing

                                         a tailored jumper and slim fit jeans stands straight and 

                                          tall, and then sits in an old dusty chair.

TOM (V.O.)

(Nervously)

I need a break, there's nothing left for me to turn 

to, they'll agree, they have too.

2           

EXT. ROAD. DAY

We see TOM walking along a path located

next to a road

AUDIO

Cars wiz past TOM, we hear them get louder

and faster

TOM walks quickly and forcefully toward his destination, 

that could be anywhere, but his is determined to get there

3

INT. STUDIO NIGHT

TOM stares at old vintage equipment, it still plays tunes in his 

head sometimes, he remembers, fondly of the time spent with 

his band members.
there is a distressed bass guitar in a pale red colour, as well as an electric and acoustic
guitar, these are slightly better looked after, but however are missing certain strings
the drums are in terrible condition after years of abuse 

He then reaches for something in his left pocket

4

CONT

INT. STUDIO. NIGHT

We see a phone screen, it is a black phone, brand new, this is done
to indicate the illusion of wealth even after all these years, even if just to himself
 it's light is blinding and it takes 

time for the camera to adjust, we then see contacts shown

to not have been contacted in some time

AUDIO

We then hear a dial tone 

It goes on for what feels like minutes

TOM (V.O.)

(Irritated) 

Pick up, you owe me that

The phone is answered abruptly and the scene

CUT TO BLACK

5

INT. STUDIO. NIGHT

We see a room of gathered band members,

we don't know why they are there 

They all look somewhat displeased

LUKE, a skinny eighteen year old 

student with short black hair and skinny jeans, JOSH, a strapping, tall and broad 

eighteen year old student with shoulder length blond hair

and ROB, a tall skinny teenager with short black hair and beard 

TOM

Thank you all for coming

LUKE

We owed you that much, but why are we here

TOM

It's time that it happened 

JOSH

(angrily)

It?

TOM

We need to reform 

ROB

No, you need us to reform 

ALL(at once)

R This always happens 

T It isn't like that 

J Of course it is 

L You promised you'd stop this Tom

TOM

(loudly)

ENOUGH!

TOM

I brought you here out of nostalgia, this needs to happen, I need it to happen, 

please 

ALL

Alright Tom, for them, not for you 

6

INT. CAR. DAY

An interior of a car is shown,it is new and low budget, it is shown to be moving quickly somewhere 

it gives no indication where, or why, the interior of the car is well looked after and tidy
it is a distressed grey colour with few chips or marks of any kind
the car itself is not one that you would imagine a former rock star to be driving
this would confuse the audience and help to gain their attention and hold their
curiosity  

7

INT. STUDIO. DAY

The band members are shown playing instruments, by the end of the scene they are well

rehearsed and play as a band, just like years earlier, there is ROB on bass, JOSH on drums,
LUKE on guitar and TOM on lead vocals, they all look focused, determined, they are all
second only to TOM

8

INT. TABLE. DAY

A newspaper is shown landing on a table, it reads 'Beady Eye Reunite', the table is
brown and wooden, brand new and hardly stressed, the news
paper itself, much like the table is fresh and clean,
there aren't an creases or folds, this metaphor is used to
specify the new Beady Eye

9

EXT. STAGE. DAY

People are gathered, a large crowd, loud, restless and out of control

the band then emerges on stage, the crowds cries then become deafening

AUDIO
Screams, cheers and bellows of crowds of people
in this scene we see TOM preform a recurring action of grabbing at his throat almost in pain  

10

INT. DOCTOR'S OFFICE. DAY

we see a white clean space, a guess could be made that it has been used for medical practices
it is pristine and new, we see a desk with a plethora of papers and information
we also see two chairs, one, on the receiving end of the desk and the other at the siting
we see a well dressed doctor, wearing smart dessert boot shoes as well as a white coat and various medical equipment
we see TOM wearing the same clothes as in the previous scene, he wears a pair of black slim fit jeans as well as a green jumper
AUDIO
we do not hear any spoken words, we hear a high pitched noise that blocks out what the characters are saying, but we see by TOMS reaction that it is devastating news

11

INT. ROOM. DAY

we see a medium shot of TOM's back, the shot is shaky and unstable, much like TOM in his current situation 

we see an array of alcohol and recreational drugs in-front of him, his clothes are dirty and unkempt as if he hasn't eaten or slept, his hair is messy and unkempt 

we see him using and drinking drugs and alcohol 

in a state of depression   

12

INT. ROOM. DAY

ROB enters the room
he is wearing all black as to avoid photographers
he approaches TOM and sits beside him, we see his face change as he sees the pile of drugs and alcohol

ROB
(softly)
what happened mate, tell me

TOM
(whimpering)
its my voice Rob, they say I'll loose all speech within the week

ROB
I'm sorry, but things aren't over just yet

TOM
I don't understand

ROB
We still have one more show, but the rest of the band needs to know

TOM
You're right, it's time

13

INT. ROOM. DAY

the band sit in a mirrored shot of the one prior, all sat in a circle of chairs

we do not hear their conversation

Audio 

calming sounds such as chimes and wind 

14

INT. STUDIO. DAY

The studio is the same as previously described, however the band is determined and unstoppable

\TOM looks tired and weary, he suddenly feels faint and needs to sit down, the band then 

rushes to help him and he refuses their help and continues to preform, it isn't as good as his previous 

performances

15

INT. STUDIO. DAY

a close up of TOM is shown, this is done to better show the viewer his facial expressions and mood

he looks nervous and unprepared

his clothes however are well tailored and well put together 

16

INT. WALKWAY. DAY

 TOM is shown walking towards a stage (tracking shot)

this is done to build tension and anticipation for the up coming scene

he is shown walking towards the stage with confidence in himself and in his band mates 

17

EXT. STAGE. DAY

the band is shown playing the gig, the crowd is large, is winds all of the stadium 

the band are shown to be tired and well worked 

it is shown that the crowd is in love with the band and this gig 

it will later be called their best 

TOM is a shell of his former self, his is in tune, well timed and confident 

TOM is seen to be struggling to stand, the screen then goes black as we catch a glimpse of his band mates running to catch him

 AUDIO

Beady Eye's Flick of the finger 

18

credits roll

FADE OUT

THE END 

Beady Eye Storyboards

Beady Eye Final storyboard draft

This is the final story board for my short film Beady Eye, it is a large improvement from the first draft as it longer in duration and contains the shots and shot types, as well as the synopsis and characters thoughts and feelings. It also contains different camera shots. It also shows movement arrows which show the charcaters predicted movement, this is done to make the viewer feel more immersed while viewing the storyboard.

Music Video Storyboard(First Draft)

The story board above was my first draft at the music video storyboard, it is very basic, as it only shows one shot throughout all of the slides. It does not show any movement arrows, editing techniques or feature the shot type or movement. The costume design is not explained or commented on, facial expression is not used or commented on. Speech is not commented on, it does however feature an audio section in which the tracks title is shown.

Beady Eye Film Storyboard(first draft)

 This is my first attempt at story boarding, it does not feature movement arrows, shot types are not shown, camera movements are not shown, very few different shots are used making the project feel stale and lifeless. A good story board is supposed to capture the life and essence of a film, these are not attributes that would be translated to the big screen.

Video game storyboard(final draft)

 This is my final draft at a video game storyboard, it features a title card which shows the audience what they are watching and helps to build anticipation. It features title cards of actors names which informs the viewers of who they will be watching, this also helps build anticipation. It also features movement arrows as well as a description of digetic and non digetic sounds, it also shows the viewer what shots will be used and what editing techniques will be used. These all help the audience paint a mental picture of what the picture itself will look like. These things help the viewer decide if they would view the film upon its completion.

Music video(final draft)

 This is my first draft at a music video for Beady Eye, it features editing transitions and techniques, as well as a variety of shots and camera angles. It shows the names and movement arrows to the actions directions of the characters and camera. It also utilities a speech and audio section.

Video game storyboard(final draft)

 This is my final take of a story board covering a Beady Eye video game. It shows a title card to build anticipation and a loading bar to make stationary and slower scenes more bearable for the player. It also features an on screen representation of charcaters to help players follow speech and cut scenes. It also allows the player to employ a sense of personal design by employing a character designing feature, allowing the player to decide race, sex and other physical traits as they see fit. It also employs readable text as well as spoken for the benefit of deaf and hard of hearing players. It also features bosses to heighten and challenge the players ability.