Pilot Episode Ideas

Idea 1 - Modern Drama

Overview:
A story of a father and his daughter (9/10) who has slight autism but a wide and full imagination. She enjoys the environments of nature and the wild around her her. The two live alone in the country on the side of a small village. The mother died when the daughter was young. She struggles in her ordinary comprehensive school that struggles to understand her as well as everyone. The father is an author and is currently working on a book in his spare time while trying to work his day job as a journalist and writer for the local paper. One day the daughter disappears whilst she's out playing in the garden. The father gets in contact with police. The village searches for her as well as a handful of police. The father struggles to deal with her being missing. He writes as a means of therapy as well as having a therapist. He writes a story about a young girl who loves nature, inspired by his own daughter. His story continues as well as the search for his daughter. Eventually, the story the father writes leads him to his daughter and she is found.

Strengths-
This idea certainly approaches the genre of a drama and covers more sensitive themes such as autism and single parents which BBC Three like to talk about. The idea would be able to fit into the low budget plan. Being set in England and in the country, no great expense would need to be made on location hire. As well, there are no radical scenes that require large props or effects. The general series is fairly calm in terms of its  story line and themes which will be easier in terms of budget because extravagant costumes and props won't need to be made or hired. In terms of audience gratification, I believe an audience could certainly gain diversion and feel a sense of escapism being transfixed and completely focused in the moment.

Weaknesses-
In terms of a series directed at 15-21 year old's, the themes and story line may not attract a wide youth audience. It doesn't really cover many themes that younger people have found to be interested in such as drugs and crime. The production as well may struggle to keep a series going to find numerous content to keep an audience watching. With the level of content in the series it would be more suitable to a film. As well, to intrigue an audience, the pilot episode would need to be highly engaging and characters would need to be interesting. And in terms of this idea, the characters would need more development than in just a single episode.                                                                                                                                                                           

Idea 2 - Historical Drama

Overview:

Set in 1916 Lyndhurst, England, the story follows the lives of young teenagers (16-17) at home while WWI is in full combat. We follow their home life, jobs etc and friendship they have with one another. It shows their struggle and feeling of trapped, not feeling like they're helping the war in any way. One of the three boys is a year older than the other two and turns 18. He joins up leaving the other two behind because he's desperate to help out in the fight. They have ideologies of what war is like, they believe it to be far more glorious than they believe. The eldest boy, William, is sent off to France to fight. He sends back letters to the other two making it all seem far more enjoyable than it actually is to not upset them. The series follows the separate boys but the pilot episode is based on them as friends before joining and the struggles they all have. Then the feeling of separation and loss amongst them when the eldest leave.

Strengths- With this idea, I have seen before BBC Three produce a series based on WWI. Looking at this era from a young persons perspective would certainly attract younger people and interest more youth into the happenings of WWI itself. Having teenage boy protagonists, this programme will attract teenage boys as well as gaining the attention of older viewers for the historical perspective. I believe when looking at gratification theory the audience will be able to get a more personal relationship with characters if they are of similar age. This means the audience can get an understanding of another's world and feel more social empathy. Also looking at audience surveillance, and younger audience can learn about relevant events and historical society. Educate an audience ad expose them to new world which is what BBC Three are vert keen on.   

Weaknesses- The problems facing this idea are that such as the cost. Being set in 1916, costumes, set and props will all need to be hired and historically accurate to fit the time era. As well as the idea of military. Trucks and army vehicles etc will need to be hired and multiple cast members for battle scenes with a lot of special effects and editing. Being based on WWI as well may no attract the current youth audience who very few engage with historical dramas. As well in modern times with politics of Trump and Brexit, the topic of WWI may be decreasing in the younger audiences more and more and people may find it irrelevant to their lives as they have no connections. 

Idea 3 - Horror Drama   

Overview: 21st century Scotland, set in Fort William area. Group of friends, two boys and one girl. Ages 15-16. Live in a very small village on the outskirts of a town. They are quite a strange group who stick together because no one else understands them. They enjoy the freedom of playing outside in forests and fields with air rifles and making fires and building dens. The series focuses on the oldest boy who the perspective is from. One day the youngest boy goes missing. The other two search for him in forests etc. The boy mainly. The girl is in a world of her own, she talks to herself. Very spooky and weird. A few days later the young boy is found dead in his own bed. He's been placed there by someone. The kids are all fairly strange so show no real emotion or sadness to their dead friend. At least the girl. The two go to their den in the woods to breath from the situation. A twist in the story, the girl is the killer and she and the boy are alone in the woods together. She pulls out a knife and tries to kill the boy. Amongst a brawl she ends up getting stabbed by her own knife and is killed. Police are on the scene of the previous murder and the boy feels like the blame will be lead to him. He decides to run away and go on the run from police. Having just killed someone, the blame seems to direct to him. From then the story follows him on the run from police hiding out in the woods and mountains. The pilot episode covers the story until the boy is found to be lost and a threat is uncovered.

Strengths- I believe that with this idea, it is very doable in the budget as limited props are required as well as locations. They are all very naturalistic places and most scenes take place in similar locations. I also believe that this idea would attract a younger audience as the protagonists are all youths so the audience will be able to relate to the characters. Being a horror and looking into quite a weird world of individuals, I think BBC Three will certainly engage with the idea as it is unique and perhaps not attractive to an older audience. I also believe that the pilot episode itself would draw in an audience because it ends on a very dramatic part which will undoubtedly leave viewers a reason to continue. In terms of audience pleasures, they will be sucked into this world of horror where situations like that don't occur in our world. It gives audience escapism and allows them to divert from their own world. As well having character who are of a similar age to the target audience gives them a sense of personal identity that a younger audience would be able to relate to.

Weaknesses- The negative aspects of this idea is that the idea as a whole may not be able to be developed into a full series, or more development will be required. Perhaps as well, BBC Three may not be all for the idea as it doesn't really match with the criteria of content they seek to provide. Not all youths may be interested as it looks at the horror genre which only attracts a certain audience. And in terms of location. Being set in the country side, a lot of young audience members may feel instantly negative about it as they either cannot relate or have no interest. In terms of audience surveillance, this series is mainly for an audience to watch and relax or escape. They will not gain any educational benefit from it or learn things about society in the world.