Media Strategies: Representative Organisations

Around the early 1880’s, the Reverend George Staite voiced the need to establish an organisation similar to that of the ‘Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ due to a fact that social deprivation and hardship was at an alarming level for children.

On the 8^th of July 1884, his wish was granted and ‘The London Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children’ was founded.

By 1889, the London Society branched out to 32 others around England, Wales and Scotland, raising funds for inspections and investigations on reports of child abuse and neglection. As a result of an annual general meeting the society decided on changing its name to the ‘National Society for the Prevention of Child Cruelty’. In the same year, Queen Victoria was made Patron and the first Prevention of Cruelty to Children act was passed.

Since then, more than 10 million children in the UK have been rescued by the NSPCC.

The NSPCC recently faced criticism for allegedly exaggerating and fabricating facts and figures in its research and also using ‘fear mongering’ techniques in its advertising.

The Independent Television Commission (ITC) received 150 complaints regarding the NSPCC TV Ad which was aimed to encourage viewers to report suspected child abuse situations. The advert included objects like teddy bears, children wallpapers and magazines while a voice-over of adults is heard speaking to children either aggressively, sexually and mockingly.

Some of the viewers, who reported, claimed that they had been abused at a younger age and found the adverts to be distressing. Others either claimed that the campaigning advert was to hard-hitting for children to watch, that it implied only parents abused children or that it could potentially encouraged abusers in a stimulating or reassuring manner.

The ITC sympathized with the viewers who claimed to be victims of child abuse and found the advert distressing but stated that it however, approves of such strong material to be shown in the context of charity or public service advertising. Although the campaign was powerful and emotive, the ITC judged that its cause and objectives were generally acceptable.

The NSPCC then explained that they also offered arrangements for counselling sessions with counselling organisations.

Furthermore, the ITC disagreed with the complaints suggesting the advert to be “suggestive of only parental abuse” and “encouraging for abusers” and concluded that the advert should be allowed to continue, leaving the complaints un-upheld.

Bibliography:

History of the NSPCC: http://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-we-do/about-the-nspcc/history-of-NSPCC/history-of-the-nspcc_wda72240.html

Television Advertising Complaints Report: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/itc/itc_publications/complaints_reports/advertising_complaints/show_complaint.asp-ad_complaint_id=207.html

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Society_for_the_Prevention_of_Cruelty_to_Children#Campaigning_and_controversy

Final Cut Pro - Making a Film Trailer (SOFT)

Week 6 and we embark on a two-day project of trailer making using FINAL CUT PRO!!!
We were placed into groups of two and given the task of producing a trailer for a short film titled 'SOFT'.
I was paired up with Neill Morris and this is our finished product!! Enjoy!!!

Story-Telling Unit: The Meeting - Synopsis (Draft 3)

‘The Meeting’ is a film about a confrontation between a male in his mid-twenties Dean Chamberlain, his girlfriend Chloe Richards and two hooligans Gaz Maloney and Sid Graham.

Dean was attacked by a group of teenage yobs as he walked through an alleyway. Chloe came along shortly afterwards and seeing him in a state, she helps him out. Shortly afterwards they begin dating and have been together four years to the day.

It’s the eve of Valentine’s Day and Dean decides to take Chloe to a river side view where they regularly visited when they first started dating; he intends to propose to her. Dean however, forgets the ring in his car and so when he goes back to get it, he comes across two mobsters hanging around the car park. He instantly recognises them as two of the boys who inflicted that brutal attack on him four years ago which has haunted his memories ever since.

Gaz Maloney and Sid Graham who also recognise Dean decide to approach him with intentions none other than to replicate the events of the previous meeting. Chloe who hears loud noises from the direction of the car park becomes worried about Dean as she has been ever since the attack and decides to go after him only to find him getting beaten up by Gaz and Sid.

The whole repeat incident has a major psychological effect on Dean but he tries to fight his inhibitions especially as Chloe is now part of the situation so he strains himself to also protect her. This causes him to lose his self-control with raging and chaotic consequences.

This is a 5-10 minute short film that touches on dynamic subjects such as ‘bullying’ ‘love’ and ‘redemption’ with a dramatic plot.

Story-Telling Unit: The Meeting - Pitch (Draft 3)

'The Meeting' is a Romantic/Drama about a couple Dean and Chloe who get caught up in a violent confrontation with two yobs in relation to a brutal attack a few years back.

Story-Telling Unit: The Meeting - Synopsis (Draft 2)

‘The Meeting’ is a thrilling short film about a confrontation between a male in his mid-twenties Dean Chamberlain, his girlfriend Chloe Richards and two hooligans Gaz Maloney and Sid Graham. It’s the eve of Valentine’s Day and Dean decides to take Chloe to a river side view where they regularly visited when they first started dating; he intends to propose to her. Afterwards, on their way home they run into Gaz and Sid who after just purchasing a replica gun from Neil Gascoigne decide to threaten and bully the couple ‘just for a laugh’. This has a psychological effect on Dean due to a previous experience of being attacked by thugs. He tries to deal with the whole situation and protect Chloe but the whole replication gets a little too much for him mentally and he loses his self-control with chaotic consequences. This is a 5-10 minute short film that touches on dynamic subjects such as ‘racism’ ‘love’ and ‘reprisal’ with a thrilling, entertaining and dramatic plot.

Story-Telling Unit: The Meeting - Pitch (Draft 2)

A Short thrilling drama about a couple who find themselves mixed up in a confrontation with two juveniles which then results in horrid consequences.

Story Telling Unit: The Meeting - Synopsis (Draft 1)

‘The Meeting’ is a thrilling short film about a confrontation between a professional footballer Dean Richards, his long-term girlfriend Chloe Sims who is a 3^rd year fashion student and two gangsters Gaz Maloney and Sid Graham. It’s the eve of Valentine’s Day and Dean decides to take Chloe to a river side view where they regularly visited when they first started dating; he intends to propose to her. However, unknown to them only a few yards below where they sit, Gaz and Sid interrogate and then murder a drug dealer Neil Gascoigne for double-crossing them. After hearing groaning and pain coming from below, realising what was going on Dean tries to get away with Chloe but Gaz and Sid already noticed they had been watched so they go after Dean who tries to protect Chloe when they reach the car park and all hell breaks loose. This is a 5-10 minute short film that touches on dynamic subjects such as ‘love’, ‘conscience’ and ‘decision making’ with a thrilling, entertaining and dramatic plot.