Deutschland 83: case study blog tasks

 Q1: The drama contains a wry sense of humor and the criticism is that the show wasn't nearly as successful in Germany as it was in other countries-  by the time the last episode was shown in Germany, it had shed half its starting audience, with only 1.72m viewers. 

Q2: "Saw the title on Netflix recently but didn't bother. To me German series often suffer from poor production value and screenplays are either obsessed with complexity or dull and boring. The latter dominates."     I believe that shows like Deutschland 83 are shows with great production and seemed very high so I disagree with this opinion.

"The whole series was something of a learning experience for me. I think that's why I loved it so much. Always happy to have my knowledge topped up!"                I agree with this take I feel like we can learn many factors of the Cold War while pandering to a wider more engaging audience if you can sprinkle in action drama with comedy then it'll be likely to be successful in other countries.

"Deutschland 83 was great, and I also hoped it was a sign of things to come on German TV. 'See; Germany can do it'. Only then to find out that it was an American writer...."      The writer was also German as well he has enough background to create a convincing re-tell of the events of Berlin so I disagree with this take

Q4: He said that he learned mostly in school about the Cold War and they had mostly learned about WW2 as of recent event in history possibly the most impactful moment in human history he hadn't lived in the Cold war but said if he had he would live in West berlin as it had the most freedom.

Q5:Channel 4 has a remit where it is expected to deliver 'high-quality, innovative, alternative content that challenges the status quo.' This is significant to the way the interview was conducted as it is a different and unique approach. It creates synergy between the TV series and the interview which fans of Deutschland 83 would really like.

Q6: This might interest the Channel 4 news audience as they watch the news so they are aware of these political issues. They are highly likely to be fans of Deutschland 83 so perhaps they would be interested to see what their favourite character has to say on the issue.

Q7: Among other successful films and TV series such as "Danni Lowinski", "March of Millions" and "The Tower", UFA Fiction is currently producing the domestic crime procedurals "Bella Block", "Donna Leon", "Soko Leipzig" and "Soko 5113".

Q8: A proudly independent group of content creators, we're one of the world's largest and most successful producers and distributors of entertainment, drama, film, and documentaries.

Q8: Deutschland 83 reflects the international nature of television production, being produced by a company with global subsidiaries and the inclusion of Americanisation and postmodern ideologies to appeal to global audiences, capturing its international nature and appeal.

Q9: Channel 4 introduces Walter as an enigma of a man, only revealing him to be an artisan of reviewing shows, showing him to be good at his profession.

Q10:  Channel 4 is trying to appeal to viewers heavily invested in shows and films and only seek to watch the best of modern media and those with an interest in arthouse and niche media.

Q11: The Walter presents series suggests that most audiences are watching TV dramas and series through streaming sites and binging them on websites or through boxsets rather than tuning in to scheduled viewings meaning that availability in bulk is vital when appealing to those unable to consistently tune in and the more impatient viewers that have become accustomed to the on-demand viewings of the modern digital era. 

Q12: The pleasures suggested by the trailer include diversion, as it shows montage editing of multiple action sequences and general enigma codes that may draw audiences in, as well as surveillance as the documentary footage and the audio of Reagan's speech indicates the series will be historically educational

Q13:  The Split screen used throughout highlights the differences between the East and the West and who he is in each place but the only narrative hints we are given are by the song playing itself, giving a vague overview of the historical context and allowing the audience to question the narrative. The action sequences themselves act as action codes and allude to conflict in the West and his general life.

Q14: This would have stopped the instant gratifications provided by the trailer as it would've slowed the pace overall and worked against the fast-paced editing of the trailer; potential audience members could have also been loss due to a heavy foreign focus rather than an accessible western drama, as many audiences are put off by foreign language dramas due to the language barrier.

Q15: The pilot episode received 2.5 million viewers first episode has now consolidated with 2.5 million viewers

It surpassed all other Channel 4 premieres

 In addition to receiving almost entirely praising reviews from news outlets.

Q16: The press release describes the drama as a 'stylish coming of age story, framed within a suspenseful thriller.'

Q17:Both adverts feature similar slogans, 'over the wall - under cover/under the gun' communicating the spy sub-genre, and having Martin as the centered image on the DVD cover with a Walkman hint to the coming of age aspect of the drama, as well as the historical context of the costume drama.

Q18: Bright vibrant and colorful fonts quotes and posters can bring in audiences to see the so-called beautiful show they could be interested in the series.

Q19: Different countries hold different past and present values and pride themselves on different matters. The UK appears to be more surveillance-based and is known for its rich history, and the depiction of this history in the media, presenting British society as high-brow and cultured whereas the US focuses on its Hollywood appeal and reputation in the entertainment industry, therefore its campaigns need to be memorable, eye-catching and enticing to stand out from the high density of advertisements on American television. Distributors can also adapt their campaigns to communicate varying aspects of the narrative to specific regions that hold a greater interest or involvement with certain aspects.

H/W COMPLETE