Task 3: Product and Audience

Target Audience•The primary target audience for Top Gear is males. However many females do still watch Top Gear.

•Older men aged 30 and above who like masculine activities such as Rugby or Football and can have a laugh with each other about their previous cars. These men have a good knowledge about cars.

•The females who watch Top Gear may watch it with their male partners and also have an interest in cars.

Scheduling and Format•BBC 2: 7:00pm (On Saturday or Sunday) In the evening so appeals to adults who may have finished work and are able to watch it. It is also a time when students are not at school or college and can also watch Top Gear.•The presenters are humorous and always making fun of each other, a term which males call “banter” and therefore attracting a male audience.•The program has the character The Stig which makes the audience constantly wanting to know who he is.•The program has a different celebrity each week who the audience may see as a role model and idolise giving a sense of Personal Identity.

•Top Gear is a magazine format show. Their is segments of the show which are on the program every week, the same as a magazine. An example of this is the “Cool Wall” where they rate different cars on how cool they are. This happens in the show every week. This provides the audience with useful Information about how cool different cars are.•Occasionally the three presenters: Richard Hammond, Jeremy Clarkson and James May race each other to get to a location. An example of this is where Jeremy Clarkson raced Richard Hammond and James May from Wembley to San Siro. This is usually in segments throughout the show mixed with the regular segments of the show such as the “Cool Wall”. This builds suspense with the audience wanting to know who wins. This enhances the Entertainment of the program.•Occasionally the program leaves the audience with an open ending, wanting them to know more. An example of this is when Jeremy Kyle drove into the swimming pool, he did not appear on the closing segment of the program leaving the audience with an open ending.

Narrative Elements

PresentersThe Top Gear presenters present the program as equals. Their is no lead presenter in the program, they all present Top Gear as equals. As the program is targeted at a older audience 2 of the presenters: James May and Jeremy Clarkson are older than middle aged, being in their early 50’s with Richard Hammond being 10 years younger at 43.The presenters make fun of each other and make fun of themselves.•Jeremy Clarkson is the oldest presenter out of the 3 at 52 years old. They describe Clarkson as the “Big Oaf”. He is recognised for his “Tongue in Cheek” humorous personality which appeals to a older men. The three usually make fun of Jeremy Clarkson’s tall height and being slightly overweight.

Richard Hammond is the youngest presenter and the only one who may appeal to younger audiences. Hammond, often called “Hamster” by his colleagues is made fun of because of his short height. Hammond has been a presenter for many Science shows during his career including Brainiac Science Abuse.James May is referred to as the most mature character out of the 3. He appeals to more older mature audiences. This sensible character is reinforced in his nickname of “Captain Slow”.

Mise-En-Scene•The set is designed and appeals for a masculin audience. It has an urban look with steel bars and walkways in the background with dark blue lighting.•Items from memorable Top Gear episodes are also included such as the red Toyota Hilux Pickup truck in the background from Series 3 episode 1. They tried their hardest to destroy the truck but it still works making it famous as the Top Gear invincible truck.•Their is a live crowd surrounding the presenters with no barriers and a variety of different people in the audience. This may be because the studio would look bare without them and that the laughter can be heard when the presenters are making fun of each other instead of putting fake laughter on later.

CameraWhen filming is inside the studio there are low angles shots of the presenters. These shots are mainly mid shots. Sometimes the presenters are situated in different areas of the studio and the camera whips from one to another. When the camera transfers from one presenter to another it whips quickly.

When they are filming on location there is usually low angle shots of cars to indicate their superiority as well as tracking shots of them on the road. These shots are often close ups to make the car mysterious and add to their superiority. There are often a variety of different shots which are used as flash cuts.

When they are filming on location testing out cars. The presenter will often narrate details of the car as they are driving with a camera fitted inside the car.

Editing•Top Gear uses many different editing techniques to make reinforce the cars superiority and ability. It makes the cars more attractive by using flash cutting from all different camera angles. Top Gear transcends from one shot to another through either cross fades or whips. This depending on the topic is fast paced if it was a fast paced car however sometimes a story follows where the presenters talk about the history behind the car, in this instance the editing would be slow.•Top Gear often uses filters on the camera’s to enhance certain colours in the shot which makes the car stand out against the background and makes the colours darker. An example of this filter is shown below by Jeremy Clarkson.

Verbal Elements•The title “Top Gear” is ideal for the program as it relates to the highest gear of a car when the car is at its fastest.•The presenters speak directly to the camera which addresses the audience directly giving them a slight personal feeling.•The presenters speak casually and use British slang, this makes the audience comfortable in what they are saying. As the presenters are talking directly to the camera they are making harmless fun of each other which the audience relates to giving them a sense of bonding.•The presenters each have different accents as they are from different areas of the country. Jeremy Clarkson is from the North, Richard Hammond from the Midlands and James May from the South. Jeremy Clarkson’s accent is very loud and brash compared to the others who is more subtle. This creates social inclusion for the whole UK population which is Social Integration.•Narration about the details of the cars gives the audience Information and recommendations on which car to buy.•It is very organised the way they go from one presenter to another in different parts of the studio. It is scripted to make it clear for the audience to understand and the segments on location are organised fluidly.