The Frizzy Apprentice

Feedback and Conclusion

We pitched our idea to a panel and had so very positive feedback. They all seemed to like our idea and said that our video was impressive as was the amount of research and planning we had done to create our pitch. The only thing that was suggested was maybe to introduce something unique to tell the story – Social media was suggested. Also we were advised to find something in the public eye that gave reason for the issue to be chosen.

I feel that this whole process from developing the original idea through to pitching has been very successful and has taught me a lot. I now know how to research without purely just going on the internet. Through interviewing different people I have also developed my communication skills.

By fully researching child abuse I feel this helped us to fully understand what actually happens in a real case. This benefited us because we were able to include as much realism as possible within our idea.

Handout

Bottled Up

Pitched to you by Rachael Maxwell and Amy Stringman

v Bottled up is a 6part drama based in a state secondary school in the North of England.

v The main character Sinead Hickman will appear in all 6 episodes.

v It starts with the audience seeing a sudden change in the behaviour of 15-year-old Sinead; as the series continues they become deeper and deeper involved with the character as they discover that there is something more serious behind her change in behaviour. Her stepfather is sexually abusing her.

v Each episode will continue the story but we will look at this tragic event through the eyes of different characters – from Sinead herself, all the way to a charity organization.

In connection to the storyline, we have spoken to:

· SallyAnnMiddlehurst who is the Safe Guarding Officer at Salford City College. She was able to help us in clarifying the correct course of action after a case of abuse has been reported.

A focus group with a group of students aged between 16 and 18 to see what they thought of our idea.

We have come up with an estimate of £250,000 based on a 2 week long shoot with 3 weeks editing time.

Including employment of:

4 main cast members
20 extras
Director
Producer
2 runners
2 camera operators
1 sound operator
3 Assistant Directors
1 Production secretary
Costume department & Hair and Makeup staff
3 Chaperones
Catering staff
1 Offline Editor & 1 Online Editor
1 Post Production Co-ordinator

Script

Presentation speech

- [A] Hello, and welcome to our pitch. I’m Amy…

- ..and I’m Rachael

- [A] Today, we are here to pitch a drama idea. We wanted to create a programme that was different to everything else on TV at the moment. Something hitting. Something informative. Child Abuse.

- It is something that happens behind closed doors all over the world and very few people know the signs. We feel that this needs to be addressed. Therefore, our idea is a 6 part drama – each episode from a different point of view – about child abuse….

- … Welcoming – ‘Bottled Up’

- [A] Sinead Hickman is a 15 year old school girl. Captain of the netball team. Popular. Think of your ‘American highschool cheerleader’.

- She’s a passionate young athlete and she uses that fighting spirit to bring the programme to life.

- [A] For the type of character Sinead is, we would be looking for a leading actress such as Holly Kenny from Waterloo Road or Melissa Suffield from Eastenders.

- Here are some examples as to why we would chose an actress like these

- [A] Sinead needs to be both strong and aggressive, as well as weak and vulnerable.

- So there is our main character – now on to supporting characters.

- [A] In Episode 1, as well as being introduced to Sinead, we are familiarized with Gemma. Gemma is the sports teacher at the school, a friendly face for Sinead if ever she needs help. Gemma is the one who first begins to realize that something isn’t right with Sinead.

- In Episode 2, we are introduced to Sineads family life, this includes the Step-father that is abusing her and a mother who is non the wiser about what is happening under her own roof.

- [A] Episode 3, invites the audience into Josh’s world. Josh is Sinead’s boyfriend and his world is turned upside down when the truth surfaces about his girlfriends problems at home. Then he has the task of dealing with the fact that his girlfriend is pregnant but is unsure who the father is.

- In Episode 4, the audience can see the process surrounding the police investigation take off.

- [A] In Episode 5, we look at the counseling stages, as well as looking at a charity.

- Episode 6, is the feel good episode. The audience sees how Sinead is rebuilding her life and relationships – every cloud has a silver lining.

- [A] We held a focus group to share our ideas with a percentage of our target audience – teenagers aged 16-18. The focus group was presented with everybody’s ideas – during feedback with Catherine, they said that they would be most likely to chose our idea as they feel there is space on the schedule for it and also, it contains a subject they feel needs to be portrayed more on TV.

- [A] We spoke to safeguarding officer Sally-Ann Middlehurst to find out what the legalities are after a child abuse case has been reported and how a school would deal with it.

- No dramas made either BBC’s or ITV’s top ten on barb for week of 13th May 2012 showing there’s a gap in the market for dramas.

We spoke to a number of colleagues at ITV and here are some quotes stating there opinions on gaps in the market and our idea:

"Drew- Edit assistant - I think your idea is a really hard hitting idea and would do very well as a drama i feel there is always a gap in the market for issues to be explore through dramas. Especially if they are about issues in thepublics interest."

- [A] We feel that this series would have 6 hour-long episodes, each showing at 9pm on Sunday night on ITV1. This was also agreed with our focus group.

- Thankyou for listening to our pitch. We would like to welcome any questions you may have.