<aside> 💡 A huge thanks to juan llamas-rodrigues. He inspired this assignment. (Original text can be found here).

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Assignment Overview: The Media Dossier & Pitch

In this final project for our Global Media Cultures course, you will step into the role of a showrunner or producer. Your task is to pitch a media project—whether a TV show, film, podcast, or album—specifically designed for a non-American audience. This assignment will challenge you to think critically about the complexities of creating media on a global scale, considering cultural nuances, audience expectations, and the global media landscape.

Your final deliverable will consist of two parts:

1. A 5-Minute Recorded Pitch: You will record a 5-minute pitch as if you were presenting your idea to media executives. Your goal is to convince them that your project has the potential to succeed in a specific non-American market. You’ll need to be persuasive, clear, and culturally informed.
2. A 1200-Word Media Dossier: This accompanying paper will include a detailed analysis of your media project, drawing on at least three sources from our class texts. The paper should explain your creative decisions, the theoretical foundations of your project, and a reflection on its potential impact.

Assignment Prompt

Pitching for a Global Audience

In today's interconnected world, creating media that resonates with global audiences requires a deep understanding of cultural dynamics and audience expectations. Your assignment is to develop a media project aimed at a specific non-American market. You will create a 5-minute recorded pitch and write a 1200-word paper that explains your creative and analytical process.

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We’ll share these out as a class.

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Part 1: The Pitch (Recorded Presentation)

• Role: Imagine you are a showrunner or producer pitching your project to a panel of media executives.
• Objective: Persuade the executives that your project is culturally relevant, marketable, and has the potential to succeed in the target market.
• Content: Your pitch should cover the following:
  • Project Overview: What is your project? (TV show, film, podcast, album) Provide a brief synopsis.
  • Target Audience: Identify the non-American market you’re aiming for and explain why your project will resonate with this audience.
  • Cultural Relevance: Discuss the cultural aspects you’ve incorporated to ensure the project’s success in the target market.
  • Global Appeal: Explain how your project could appeal to audiences beyond the target market, potentially becoming a global hit.
  • Impact: What is the expected cultural impact your project will have on global audiences? How might it be interpreted in different parts of the world.

Part 2: The Media Dossier (1200-Word Paper)

Your Media Dossier will provide a deeper analysis of your project, grounding your creative decisions in theory and reflecting on the challenges of producing media for a global audience.

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Use at least three sources from our class texts to support your analysis. These sources should help explain the cultural, historical, or economic factors influencing your project.

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• Section I: Media Analysis (900 words)
  • Genre and Style: Analyze the genre(s) of your project and discuss how they align with the tastes and preferences of the target market. Consider how the production style (cinematography, sound, editing, etc.) contributes to the overall appeal.
  • Cultural Representation: Evaluate how your project represents cultural elements specific to the target market. How does it engage with local traditions, languages, or social norms? Discuss the importance of these representations for the project’s success.
  • Cultural Translation: Reflect on the complexities of adapting your project for a non-American audience. What challenges did you encounter, and how did you address them?
  • Global Strategy: Consider the potential for your project to reach a global audience. How would you market or adapt it for different cultural contexts without losing its original appeal?
• Section II: Reflection (~300 words)
  • Personal Reflection: Discuss what you learned from this project about the global media landscape and the role of cultural sensitivity in media production.