TASK 1

Series, serials and single dramas

Single and multi camera formats.

Series 
A series is made up of a number of episodes which are broadcast regularly, usually once in a week. A series may contain between 6 - 40 plus episodes, The characters from the series will remain the same and they will be used to tell a different storyline in each episode. A series may have a narrative. There will be mainly one narrative in an episode which will resolve itself by the end of the episode.

A few examples of series would be:

·       Waterloo road, this is a series that has been going on for a couple of years and each season consist of at least 11 to 12 episodes. Each episode of waterloo road will continue with the same storyline, until the end of the season. The characters remain the same or sometimes with new seasons they might add new characters to make it more interesting. The narrative for waterloo road is more show rather than tell, this way, it makes the audience think for themselves and make up their own conclusion.

Details

Official Sites: BBC

Country: UK

Language: English

Release Date: January 2006

Filming Locations: Hilltop Primary School, Kirkholt, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England, UK

·       Jersey shore

·       Celebrity juice

·       Doctor who

Serials also have the same characters, but usually only have 3 to 6 episodes and is only broadcasted once. The storyline usually continues throughout each episode. Due to the episodes being aired day after day, the narrative will continue throughout the episodes until the series is finished. the equilibrium will in the first episode and as the show progresses the equilibrium will be disrupted and  as the series finishes, the equilibrium will be restored.

A few examples of serials would be:

·       Top boy, this was a one off production which had only four episodes, this also continued with the same storyline from the previous episode. This production contained of four 1 hour episodes which showed the outlaw side of london and who ran the streets.

A thriving but underground drugs business is being run by Dushane ('Ashley Walters' ) and his friend Sully (Kane Robinson) to become the richest men on the block.

·       The ropes

·       The walking dead

·       Tale of two cities

Single dramas are programs that only show once because it is only designed as a one off story. The whole production would be filmed, edited and then perfected before it is aired on tv. The story is usually based on topical issues.

A few examples of single dramas would be:
·   
 Dirty wars, this is a fictional drama based on extensive research on UK’s emergency planners, emergency teams. This is a one off drama which contains a different topic in each episode.

Details

Official Sites: BBC

Country: UK | USA

Language: English

Release Date: 26 September 2004 (UK)  

Filming Locations: London, England, UK

·       Criminal justice

·       NCIS

·       The mighty boosh