Blog Post 7 - Stage 1 - Initial Ideas Conclusion

At this stage of the project I feel like I am now in a position to summarise and conclude my initial ideas which I have been researching and this will therefore allow me to continue with the assignment.

As I mentioned in the previous Initial Ideas Blog Posts, I was considering the series of both Ashes to Ashes and The Professionals. Taking all of the research of the initial ideas into consideration, and trying to think of what will be the most effective route for this assignment to go in, I decided to take inspiration from both of these ideas and put my own slight twist on it, too.

Gene's Quattro before and after gun-fire

As you may or may not know, the eighth (and last episode) of series three of Ashes to Ashes was penned as the last ever program which was due to a combination of a few factors. Firstly, Gene Hunt's Audi Quattro was shot at and totally destroyed by a machine gun wielding drugs gang which rendered the future of the Quattro in tatters... Also, at the end of this last program we as the viewers found out the truth behind Gene Hunt and why Alex was there - whereby it revealed that both Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes was a form of limbo for the "restless dead" police officers. These included all of the main characters Gene, Ray, Chris and Shaz who died in violet circumstances. Their deaths came as a surprise to everyone except for Gene who knew they were dead but had forgotten his own circumstances of death due to the passage of time. At the end of the episode they all, except Gene, moved on and entered The Railway Arms pub (their euphemism for heaven), however Gene stays and returns to his office. This is where another newly dead officer arrives and demands his iPhone and demands where his office has gone - similar to that of when Sam Tyler arrives in Life on Mars. Coincidentally, Gene's last words were "A word in your shell-like, pal" - the same words that he first said in the first episode of Life on Mars.

This could imply that there might be a Series 4 of Ashes to Ashes, however this is very unlikely due to the rest of the "team" now being in The Railway Arms as well as there not being a Quattro any more...

Gene's new wheels; a 1986 Ford Capri.

After much deliberation regarding the route of the assignment, as mentioned I have decided that I will use a combination of both Ashes to Ashes and The Professionals. I've decided that my twist on these will be that the tables have turned for Gene and this results in him moving to the future as opposed to staying in Limbo in the past with both Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes. Obviously due to his Quattro being destroyed therefore he will be needed a new car, and the Ford Capri will fill this position nicely as well as being from the right era too which is perfect. Where the inspiration from The Professionals comes from is firstly that of the Capri being featured, but also when I move to Stage 3 and the video trailer, the element of a car chase utilising the Capri will be able to be put into action involving some original footage that I will be able to shoot. Due to the original team of Ray, Chris and Shaz having gone to The Railway Arms (heaven) personally I think there is no future for a series set in the past otherwise a total revision of new characters would be needed, and the truth about Gene is now known so it will never be the same unlike that of the suspense of the previous three series.

In conclusion, I now feel that I have set the scene and concluded my initial ideas. From here, I will be able to move forward with the assignment, and properly start Stage 1 which is the design and creation of the DVD cover. Therefore, the next stage will be in regards to the design ideas for the DVD cover, however this will be completed after the template for the cover has been set-up and discussed. 

References

Audi Quattro Photo - Link - Last accessed 13th February 2014.

Audi Quattro Photo - Link - Last accessed 13th February 2014.