February PPE preparation: TV Game Shows

Your PPE Media Studies exam is on Tuesday 28 February at 8.35am.

The preliminary material that gives you the brief you need to follow in the exam is available here. You will also be given a printed copy in class.

You MUST complete the following research and planning tasks before the exam on Tuesday 28 February.

Revision

1) Revise all your Task 1 research from December. 

2) Make five revision cards for Pointless: TV Game Show key conventions; hosts and why they are popular; game format and contestants; studio set design and mise-en-scene; audience pleasures.

3) Prepare three key moments from actual Pointless episodes that you could use as an example in a Task 1 answer (e.g. a specific discussion or joke between the two hosts).

4) Make five revision cards for The Cube: TV Game Show key conventions; host and why Phillip Schofield is popular; game format and contestants; studio set design and mise-en-scene; audience pleasures.

5) Prepare three key moments from actual episodes of The Cube that you could use as an example in a Task 1 answer (e.g. a contestant discussing what they would do with the prize money; a specific game that creates tension for the audience etc.)

Research 

The Chase

*Note: the social media questions will need to be completed at home due to the school's firewall blocking certain sites.

1) Watch this whole episode of The Chase:




2) Read The Chase Wikipedia entry and make notes on why the show is so popular.

3) List the key conventions of Game Shows that you find in The Chase.

4) What audience pleasures are offered by The Chase?

5) How important is the host Bradley Walsh in making the show successful? What is his appeal to the audience?

6) How is The Chase's Twitter feed used during the show? What audience might this particularly appeal to? How does this add to the audience pleasures of The Chase?

7) How does The Chase's Facebook page encourage audiences to interact and engage with the show? 

8) What does The Chase app offer to audiences? If you can, download the app to your phone or tablet to further research the way it promotes the show.

PPE brief: Planning and preparation

1) Re-read the preliminary brief carefully to ensure you fully understand what the exam will focus on.

2) Choose which of the three potential game shows you will develop a pitch for.

3) Brainstorm ideas for your chosen TV game show from the three offered. Plan out the following:

• Slogan or tagline - how will you sell the show to an audience?
• The studio/location in which the show is filmed (and what is looks like)
• The host or hosts
• The contestants or panellists
• The games/activities contestants play
• The prize(s)
• Potential TV channels and timings to broadcast your show
• Your show's USP - unique selling point
• Your show's target audience (demographics and similar shows they might watch)

4) The preliminary brief provides a target audience for each show. How would your game show plan appeal to the audience stated in the brief? Think about the audience pleasures of TV game shows here.

5) Storyboard the opening sequence (around 1min) for your new TV Game Show. Use this AQA storyboard sheet if you don't pick up a paper copy in class.

6) Design a website homepage for your chosen TV show. Remember to include video content and links to social media.

7) How could you use social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to further promote your chosen game show?

8) Write a three-paragraph answer for why your show will be successful in the incredibly competitive marketplace of modern television.

All tasks MUST be completed before Tuesday 28 February.