Artefact

Friends Blog

Treatment

Tagline:

Your favourite 5 characters are back in your favourite T.V series with exclusive scripts, images, videos, character information and leaks all for you on one personal blog where there are new releases every day.

Backstory and context:

Friends is an American television sitcom that follows the lives of three men and three women who live within the same apartment block at some point throughout the series and a friendship between them all builds. The show is made up of 236 episodes, spaced out into 10 different series that ran from the first episode being aired on September 22^nd1994 until May 6^th2004. All ten seasons of Friends ranked within the top ten of the final television season ratings, with the 8^thseries reaching the number one spot. The final episode was watched by around 52.5 million American viewers, making it the fifth most-watched series finale in television history, and the most-watched television episode of the 2000’s decade (Kalin, 2015).

The show was originally to be called “Six of One” (ABC news, 2012) however was changed to “Friends” after the decision was made to have all six characters within one friendship group. The idea for the show came from David Crane and Martin Kauffman who thought the idea of “six people in their 20’s making their way in Manhattan” was a feeling that everyone knows about and related it back to his own experience of finishing college and fending for himself when starting his life in New York. A risk was made, and NBC bought the idea as a ‘put pilot’ with the hopes a pilot would be made to prevent financial penalties. 

The show’s opening titles follows a specific colour specification with red, yellow and blue dots placed in between each letter of the word ‘F.R.I.E.N.D.S’, which correlates with the colours of the umbrellas that are used by the cast members during the titles opening song. This created a link between the characters and the title and in consonance with the design. Another convention of the show is the portrayal of realism within the show and their no fear of intervening with each other in different relationships and family members.

The Central Perk is a feature within the show and a principal setting which has inspired many imitations around the world.  In 2006, Iranian businessman Mojtaba Asadian started a Central Perk franchise, registering the name in 32 countries. The coffee houses are replicas of the Central Perk within the show, with episodes being played and the character of Gunther who works within the real coffee house in the show went to the opening of one of the replica coffee houses. There are other transmedia projects linked to the T.V show such as Friends conventions called “FriendsFest”. The convention is based within the UK for a 12-week tour where it stops in 6 different locations. The convention includes different sets from the show and interactive moments within the Central Perk. On site there is also a shop offering exclusive memorabilia and merchandise.

A follow up T.V show was released focusing on the character of Joey within Friends. The show, called “Joey” was based upon Joey’s life and his move towards Los Angeles to pursue his acting career. The show was given the previous time slot of Friends, however was axed after 2 seasons after viewers decreased as the show went on.

The show finished in 2004 and repeats are shown daily on the T.V show comedy central. However, the entire 10 series of the show were released on the online streaming entertainment system at the beginning of the year allowing its audience to re watch and new audiences to experience the show. The increase of popularity once again within the show has inspired my choice of the TV show and the creation of my artefact.

Synopsis:

The artefact I am choosing to create will be an online media platform. I will create an online blog that will include:

• Clips of old episodes
• Scripts from previous episodes
• Information on characters and what they are up to now
• Conspiracy theories
• Possible ideas for new episodes or a film

The blog will be created as marketing material for the show from the point of view of the production company. The blog will start with existing videos of the show that reveal the most important popular moments that are split into the different series. Along with the episodes, existing scripts will be posted for fans of the show to read over. A character page will allow fans to search into their favourite cast member, discover new facts about them and follow them when they left to show to where they are now. There are a wide range of conspiracy theories that have either been created by fans or other audience members of the show. These are perfect way to keep audiences interested in the show by allowing them to read through existing and new theories they are kept hooked on the show and end up re watching episodes that are included within the theories to work them out for themselves. Finally, with recent leaks of possible further episodes or even a film to be released of a reunion of the characters, as a marketing publicity stunt, possibly ideas for these releases will be published.

Each section will have its own private heading within the blog page based at the top, with a header image of the logo for the show above it. One piece will be published in each of the sections, with new releases being posted each week to keep fans coming back to the blog regularly. There will be links to different pages within certain posts if there is a connection to allow audiences to read on or follow onto more information that is related. To give the fans an interactive perspective within the media platform a comment box shall be left at the bottom of each page where questions will be answered from fans and any suggestions or wishes they have, within reason, shall be granted. Once the blog is created a test run will commence of a links that will be posted within an image of a location or a set from the show. These links will tell the audience to a virtual reality/ 360 image to allow them to walk through and rotate through the area chosen. This feature will link to the “FriendsFest” that has already been created within the UK. It will allow audiences to experience a small feel of what it would be like to be at the sets and greaten their interest to possibly attend the convention.

Some characters from the cast, since leaving, have become famous in the area of media of separate jobs they have entered. This would mean the section upon information of characters would need to be extremely accurate and may only be a small section of the blog. Certain members are very much in the public eye and it is clear onto where they are within their lives now. This could cause the section to be less popular for characters such as Rachel or Joey who have starred in a range of films or other popular T.V programmes around the world. It would leave the focus to be upon the other cast members and make it interesting for fans to read.

With the existing spin off show of “Joey”, other possible spin offs, that would exist within the further episodes section, would limit possible choices. The lives before the show of other cast members are mention and shown through flash back within episodes, leaving only the character of Phoebe to have a pre-friends spin off show. Despite this all characters would have the possibility for a post-friends opportunity which is where the main examples will come from, with some focus on the main characters children now grown up with their own lives to be followed alongside their parents.

The design aspect of the blog shall follow the convention colours within the show. A black home page will allow the logo to stand up with the colours of red, blue and yellow linking in from the dots that are held in the logo. The other prominent colour would be purple on different sections as a link towards the Monica’s apartment which is the main set for the show.

The blog would fit nicely into the utility of “Friends” as a whole, with the recent release and re-popularity of the show since being released on Netflix, new and old fans are wanting to experience the show with extra information and gossip. It would also create a basis for a transmedia extension with the possibility of more virtual or augmented reality creations. With the increase of coffee shops replicating Central Perk, it would also create the opportunity for live performances, where fans can attend and be served by characters from the show.

Plot Points:

• Completion of blog with testing of virtual reality to commence
• 360 imagery to be added to blog of sets and locations
  • Create a link to the “FriendsFest”
• Contact “FriendsFest” with the interest of creating a live performance within their Central Perk
  • Adapt the convention for a range of live performances for a more interactive experience for audiences
• Script writing to commence for new episodes within a spin off show for Phoebe before meeting the rest of the friendship group, leading up to the first episode of Friends
  • Virtual reality can be used at an event premiere for audiences to see sneak peaks of the new episodes
• Following the success of a spin off show, a pitch can be created with ideas for a film
  • Film to be based on their lives since the T.V show ended
• Updates to be realised via the existing blog and social media accounts such as Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and Twitter
• Trailer to be filmed
  • links back to virtual reality for further sneak peaks
• Discussion panel with each character for the film
• Premiere for the film
  • include augmented reality QR codes for fans who attend and find throughout the venue for extra scenes or bloopers
• Release of film in cinemas
• V.D release to include same augmented reality QR codes for all to experience the extra footage

 Characterisation and attitude:

Within the story there are 6 main characters that are followed through out and the audience get to experience more than most. These characters are the story and will continue through the projects.

Rachel Green is the first character we are introduced to and is a fashion enthusiast. She is introduced to us after running out on her wedding and moves in with her friend from her childhood Monica. She begins an on-off relationship within another character from the show that lasts through the entire 10 seasons. She dates other men in between her on-off relationship with Ross however the audience are desperate for her and Ross to be together. Rachels career builds through the series, as she starts as a simple waitress at the well-known coffee house Central Perk. From her fashion enthusiasm she becomes an assistant buyer a well-known and high-end fashion companies. Her character is an example of starting from the bottom and working your way up to achieve your dreams, which come true through her work and love life by ending up with Ross in the end.

Monica Geller is classed as the mother hen of the group and is also a chef. She is known for being a perfectionist, bossy, competitive and her obsessive-compulsive nature. Monica is well known for being overweight as a child and is the topic of most jokes about this by her fellow friends. She works as a chef at a range of restaurants through the series and links to her bossiness. Monica has 2 serious relationships in the show, one with a man 20 years older than her and the second with another member of the friendship group. Monica ends the show married and have adopting twins moves to a house outside of the city.

Ross Geller is the brother of Monica and also has a relationship with Rachel. He is mocked for being a palaeontologist and the natural museum of history who later turned into a professor. He is also well known for his failed marriage to his first marriage to Carol who turns out to be a lesbian and the mother of his first child. He is married a further two times to Rachel, when drunk in Vegas and to Emily from England. Ross’ second child is to Rachel after a one-night stand.

Chandler Bing is the childhood friend of Ross and also becomes Monica’s husband. Chandler is recognised for making jokes and sarcastic sense of humour in the group and having a peculiar family being the son of an erotic novelist mother and a gay, crossdressing Las Vegas star father. He has a well-paid and high responsibility job that is unknown to his fellow friends. He has one constant relationship until he marries Monica with Janice known for her outrageous laugh.

Joey Tribbiani is a struggling actor and a food love who gains a little success from the soap opera ‘Days of our lives’. He is known for being a womaniser and having a string of short-term girlfriends. He is considered to be innocent, caring and well-intentioned and less bright than the rest of the friendship group. He often uses the phrase “how you doin’?” in an attempt to win over the women he chats up. Joey is roommates with Chandler and then with Rachel once Chandler moves in with Monica.

The final character of the group is Phoebe Buffay who is a masseuse and a self-taught musician. We all know Phoebe as the girl who grew up on the streets of New York after her mother passed away and her father left her. She writes and sings her own songs that are of the quirky nature. She has 3 serious relationships within the show and ends up with Mike Hannigan. She does not live with any of the other characters during the series however, it is known that she used to live with Monica.

Scripts:

With my artefact being a blog, each time something is released it will be done so within the form of a post. Dependent on what section of the blog the post will be on, will determine how it shall be scripted. Some posts will include a mixture of different medias, such as, text, imagery or video. In order to show and express this within my blog, I searched for examples in order to gain inspiration and an understanding on the best design layouts. I came across a blog based upon the T.V show “The Walking dead” to look through for guidance while my blog is in early production stages and the design is being chosen.

It is very important that the blog will be scripted and formatted to the conventions of the show “Friends”. The examples (Figure 1) from the walking dead blog shows they have replicated the title logo for the show exactly and have placed it upon a relevant coloured background with effect. It can also be seen that they have created headings for separate parts of the blog and have added the media platform of linked social media, an option to be looked into within my blog.

(Figure 1)

Each heading of my blog shall be full of different posts relevant to the topic heading it is underneath. As mentioned, they will include a range of medias, such shown in the walking dead blog via a title at the start of each posts to determine which media is included (Figure 2). They have also scripted using simple bullet points (Figure 3) instead of large paragraphs of text to avoid the audience and readers of the blog from losing interest in what they are reading. Simple headings in clear, large fonts are used with the scripted words catching the reader’s attention. On the right-hand side of the certain pages on the blog is the link to the social media pages for the show, however there is also tweets and messages picked and copied from said certain media pages from fans of the show. This separate unscripted section of the blogs gives the audience members an interactive feel and a more personal involvement within the blog and the show. Within a certain page of the blog there are hyperlinks scripted within the text to give the audience the freedom the be transported to another section of the blog or to an exclusive clip/ news feed linked to the show.

(Figure 2)

(Figure 3)

As mentioned I will be having a cast member of the blog outlining the character during the show and also what the person playing the character have been up to career and personal life wise since the show disbanded. The walking dead blog has a similar section within its blog which focuses mainly on the characters and crew members that are part of the show (Figure 4 & 5). The script for the characters bio’s being with a simple explanation of the characters and his storyline through the different series but while still holding some information back to keep the suspense for fans. This script technique will be replicated within my blog however it will also be developed past the show with further work being scripted in and large gossip news too. Linked to the characters in the walking dead blog, are interviews and Q & A’s they have participated in for further reading and information to the audience. This idea has not been researched to be part of my blog, however this could be possibly scripted into the layout to prevent too much text on the blog and more use of other media platforms.

(Figure 4)

(Figure 5)

A mixture of media platforms is once again used within the walking dead blog to script and explain the show as a whole. A main video clip that was used a previous trailer for the show is largely placed on the page, with the scripted text placed to the right-hand side of it (Figure 6). The text follows the logline and main synopsis that was scripted for the show, with main event and main characters mentioned inside. This page allows new and upcoming fans of the show to gain knowledge of it beforehand and it a possible feature that can be scripted into the “Friends” blog to accommodate for a wider audience.

(Figure 6)

 As my blog is still within early production stages, no script has been created yet for the different headings and pages I will have. Despite this, there are some key elements that will need to be included that I have learnt from researching the walking dead page.

• Clear headings
• Character names
• Simple short paragraphs on each post
• A range of media platforms
• Certain colour schemes to coordinate with the show
• Facts linked to the show and characters
• Hyperlinks
• Social media
• Spoilers

User-centric scenarios:

The finished blog will be available for any member of the public to access via online functions. Blogs are statistically 53% successful for marketing material and 43% of people admit to skimming through blog posts for interest as long as the blogs have images which helps it to increase its views by 94% (Sukhraj, R. 2017). “Friends” main audience falls under the category of 16-30-year olds of both genders however younger and older audience are known to also watch the show. Taking the average audience member as correlation, would mean a user can be created who is easily accessible and knowing of the internet, making it easy for them to access the blog and any hyperlinks that are scripted into the blog. This would be their main point of entry into the platform with constant returns to the blog to check for updates. These updates will create news of an upcoming film that is currently in production that will include the same characters as the original show and tell the story of their lives now. This would help advert the discussion panel also. Looking at a user who would be online would make them more likely to own technology that can access QR codes and augmented reality linked to the film once released. The interest for the film is kept heightened from gossip on the blog and as a fan, the user has either option to attend the premiere to find the QR codes first or wait for the DVD release.

Another user to the platform will gain access from the original show from its re-release onto Netflix in 2018. Netflix’s main audience is American viewers of mixed gender aged 25-34 years old (Lindsay, M. 2014) with a rise in younger audiences. There is also an increase in subscriptions to Netflix in both America and European countries. With the release of “Friends” being on both the American and English Netflix, and audience is established in both countries. A user who has watched the original show on Netflix would be a regular watcher of shows on the site and enjoyed the series when it was released. With the popularity of the show on Netflix, I would recommend for a spin off series and possible new episodes to also be released on the site after being shown on T.V. This would allow both areas of the audience outlet to see the new show and the user who watched it on Netflix to have the pleasure of watching a spin off series.

The existing conventions gain a large audience every year it comes to the UK and go on tour for 12 weeks. This could be the point of entry for a user who is a fan of conventions and the show combined. The user is a reoccurring face at the conventions every year and one year when updates are mentioned, during marketing of the convention, that there will be new attractions and developments, a return visit is planned. This would allow the user to explore new areas of the platform within the existing convention and experience live performances in the Central Perk and have a more interactive experience to feel as though the user is immersed within the world of “Friends” more realistically.

Appendix:

http://www.amc.com/shows/the-walking-dead (Figure 1-6)

Bibliography:

ABC News. 2012 “‘Friends’ Was Originally Called ‘Six of One'” [Internet] Available from https://Abcnews.go.com/friends-was-originally-called-sixpof-one.html[Accessed April 2018]

Kalin, N. 2015 “Top 10 Most Watched TV Finales Ever” [Internet] Available from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/natalie-kalin/top-ten-most-watched-tv-finales-ever_b_6760238.html [Accessed April 2018]

Lindsay, M. 2014 Netflix: Target Market [Internet] Available from https://storify.com/mmlindsay/netflix-target-market  [Accessed April 2018]

Sukhraj, R. 2017 28 Little- known blogging statistics to help shape your strategy in 2018 [Internet] Available from https://www.impactnd.com/blog/blogg[Accessed April 2018]