CTEC Media Production – Y2

AfL: Unit 10 – Media Adaptations

Task 1: Case Studies

Produce a detailed comparative analysis of a range of media adaptations. You must explore a minimum of three case studies.

Case Study 1: Trainspotting

Original Text Original Target Adaptation New Target Audience Key Changes in genre, style, form etc. Legal/ethical Issues
Audience
The trainspotting -18-30 -Film The new target The book is written in a very -contracts
original book was - males -Film sequel audience following Scottish style by using aspects like - royalties to the books
written by Irvine -Novel sequel the film was an Scottish slang. The film was writer
Welsh and it is -A record of all increased age range adapted to seem more universal - the film was given a 18
written in an ‘urban songs used during due to the matters and understandable. They also age rating, due to its
scot’ fashion to give the film it faces (drug made the film version a lot less graphic content
the novel a Scottish - stage addiction and gory and detailed.
feel. It was released depression). The
in 1993. music for the film
also attracted many
music fans.
Notes on overall success of the transmedia adaptation:
Popularity / Wider audience / New franchise / Financial Success / Reviews etc

The newly adapted film was a much larger success than the book. This is for many reasons such as the film was voted Britain’s then beat film in the BFI Top
100 British films. It also appealed to a larger audience and gained a sequel, the success of the film generated around £48 million in box office revenue.
CTEC Media Production – Y2
AfL: Unit 10 – Media Adaptations

Case Study 2: Magical Mystery Tour

Original Text Original Target Adaptation New Target Key Changes in genre, style, form Legal/ethical Issues
Audience Audience etc.
The Beatles released an The original target The Magical Due to the poor As the film was written as they
album called Magical audience for the Mystery Tour’s critical response to went a long, even though it is The film was originally
Mystery Tour released on Magical Mystery album was put as a the UK film, US based on the album, it is difficult filmed in colour, but
the 8th of December 1967 Tour album was a soundtrack for a television networks to compare to the album. But, BBC1 did not have the
as an EP in the UK but it very large group of film that was also were put off the the adaptations to share a equipment to show it in
was released as an LP in people. Around the made by the idea of releasing psychedelic style. colour. This mean they
America on the 27th of time of its release, Beatles. The film the film. This had to show it in black
November 1967. the Beatles were was written, meant the films Unlike the album, the film has a and white which made
very popular over directed and target audience vague story line. Then the songs the film loose its
all age groups. But, stared the Beatles. was largely UK have been matched to the story psychedelic edge.
the especially the It was aired on BBC based. Due to the line. The films story line is that a
16-29 age group. 1 on Boxing day popularity of the bus made up of the Beatles and As the film and album
The Beatles also 1967, two weeks Beatles and how it a few other actors, go around were both written,
appeal to both after the album was being played the country and ‘strange thing directed and owned by
genders on an was released. The on boxing day, the happen’ along the way. The the Beatles, there was
international level. film received poor film was songs are then played to match limited legal issues.
criticism, but was anticipated by the ‘strange things’ that happen
still made into a most of the UK along the way.
theatrical movie population.
release in 1974 and
then again in 2012.
It was also made
into a comic book
strip by Bob
Gibson.
Notes on overall success of the transmedia adaptation:
Popularity / Wider audience / New franchise / Financial Success / Reviews etc
CTEC Media Production – Y2
AfL: Unit 10 – Media Adaptations

It is fair to say that the film adaptation was very unsuccessful due to the poor criticism. But on the other hand, you can argue that the film did have
moderate success as it has been remastered 7 times, into DVD and blu-ray forms. This may be down to the international interest of the Beatles, instead of
the quality of the film.
CTEC Media Production – Y2
AfL: Unit 10 – Media Adaptations
Case Study 3: Harry Potter Series
Original Text Original Target Adaptation New Target Audience Key Changes in genre, style, form etc. Legal/ethical Issues
Audience

The Harry Potter The original The original book Due to the size of Although the story line was very A legal issue regarding the
series original form audience for the was adapted into the Harry Potter similar, the films were altered to Harry Potter franchise is
was a series of Harry Potter books film series, franchise, there was interest a larger audience. For the royalties and the films
fantasy novels. They were children, but following the same no specific target example, the majority of the books rights to be aimed towards
were written by J.K. the books became storyline as the audience. The films target audience was children aged J.K.Rowling, who was the
Rowling and the popular among books. The films were not from 9-15. Meanwhile, the films creator of the original
first book, ‘Harry adults as well. The projected Harry appropriate for age rating was PG-13, meaning the content.
Potter and the books were Potters popularity young children due audience of the film will be for an
Philosopher’s released in various even more as more to the nature of older audience than the books.
Stone’ was released languages and were people found the some of the films.
on the 26th of June aimed at both
1997. The Harry genders.
Potter book series
are one of, if not
the bestselling
books series ever.

Notes on overall success of the transmedia adaptation:

Popularity / Wider audience / New franchise / Financial Success / Reviews etc

The popularity of the Harry Potter film franchise has been massive since its first film, which may have been brought on by the books success. The success
of the films has caused a second film franchise based on the film and books story called ‘Fantastic Beasts’. This franchises target audience is older that the
Harry Potter films (around 25-25). It is estimated that the Harry Potter film franchise has earned over £5.7 billion pounds.

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/harry-potter-star-wars-highest-grossing-film-franchises/story?id=17966599
CTEC Media Production – Y2
AfL: Unit 10 – Media Adaptations

Task 2: Adaptation Ideas

Select one creative product. Generate three potential adaptation ideas. Produce either a written report or a detailed graphic organiser.
Consider:

 The original creative

 The most suitable medium for your adaptation
 The feasibility of adaptation (e.g. budget, locations, number of characters etc.)
 Technological limitations (e.g. for creating imaginary worlds)
 Main facts of historical events/true life events (e.g. specific locations, timeline, main protagonists),
 New opportunities
 Use of new technology/effects
 New possible interpretations of creative product or part of it
 New characters/characterisation
 Additional storylines etc.
 New audiences - age, gender, interests, spending power, lifestyle