10 D: Q.3 CUFFS

How far does the extract try to create a sense that it is portraying 'real life'?

• In your answer, you should: analyse aspects of the extract giving detailed examples 
• judge how far these aspects create a sense of watching 'real life'

Throughout the TV show "Cuffs" real life is portrayed in numerous areas. To begin with, there is no altered light within the entire series. The first scene we see begins with a cloudy sky, immediately you get a sense of realism as it shows that England isn't very sunny place. The camera bobs as Ryan walks onto the beach, Making you feel like you are there watching him. Ryan walks onto the beach observing the naturalist beach sign. The sign is aged and defaced, again giving a feel of that life in this world(the world of Cuffs) is not all sunshine and happiness. 

Cuffs Exam question 2

How is sound used to create meaning? (5 marks) Give at least two examples.

The scene begins with the police officer's walking past a shop a dark and eerie tone plays over. This creates a great amount of suspense for the viewer, as it makes it plainly obvious that something is about to happen.  A car pulls up to the side in diegetic sound, we can hear the car engine shut off. This diegetic sound allows the viewer to get a sense or realism, it shows that the world is still going on around the characters. The camera spins to face the police officers, an engine noise erupts out as a pickup truck race past the officers. The engine noise really takes you off guard, it shows the viewer that it was something no one was expecting as it happens so all of a sudden. 

Ryan and Jake are in a cafe with other police officers, all is calm and seems well. The calm is disrupted by a distraught voice barking through the radio, this is called an off-screen sound. This shows how quickly the police had to change from ordinary life to their duty. As the Ryan and Jake get in the police car a heavy bass guitar is playing at a fast pace, the sirens are heard in the diegetic sound. The guitar gets your heart rate up and makes the viewer feel the tension. The Sirens allow the viewer to feel like this is real-life as they add a sense of raw and unfiltered. This is also shown in the following chase scene as the tyre squeals and sirens are easy to hear. The tyre squeals also show how fast they are needed to go to catch the robbers. 

Looking at what I have talked about it is clear that the sound has a huge impact on the meaning of the show.  

BBC Radio one Live Lounge

The Live Lounge, BBC Radio 1 is our case study for a major exam question worth 10 marks.
We are expected to write a page and a half, in the exam about our case study in answer to question 3

Explain how and why producers of radio programmes target different audiences. Refer to the Radio 1 Live Lounge to support your answer.
  
Today in class we go through the exam question set in the specimen paper along with the model answers supplied to us by the exam board. 
We listen to those Radio 1 Live Lounge radio programmes that are available online.
We learn about:

• PSB broadcasting
• The BBC remit to entertain, to educate, to inform
• How local radio targets specific specialized audiences
• or mass audiences
• or specialized audiences on a national scale
• BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge's 'unique acoustic performances from a range of established and breakthrough artists'
• How an older demographic is targeted Throwback Thursdays
• How national radio may offer traffic reports
• while local radio offers local news, weather, traffic reports and sports coverage
• How younger presenters are used to engage younger audiences such as Clara Amfo in the mid-morning slot