The Hollyoaks clip begins with a long shot to establish the setting and situation. All persons are dressed in black and a young woman is riverdancing. The diegetic sound comes from a band which is playing traditional irish music. The lifestyle is influenced by the irish traditions, how we can see from the dance and music.
Then a serial of shots follows, first a medium shot which shows three persons on a sofa, then a close up from Bernadette and again the medium shot with the three persons. The camera is focused on the person in the background not on the dancing feets in foreground, this means they are more significant. The older woman seems really interested in the dancing and music, but the other two aren´t.
Obviously the action takes place in a middleclass living room. The typical looking floor, curtains, sofa and rest of furniture tells it us. But we cannot determine it directly. This and the costumes belong to the Mise en Scéne.
The dancing woman is a strong "main" character, she gets the attention from all other people.
After the next song begins the camera shows different close ups from persons they all see surprised. When the flute plays it worst note we can see a close up(the camera zoomed in short and quikly, it is called a reaction shot - creates enigma) from a face of a older woman on the sofa, this matches perfectly.
The irish music stops and we can hear a few quiete voices and this means something shocking happened.
It cuts back to a long shot like at the beginning(like a point of view or voyeuristic shot), but now we can see a man in a white dress (Kylie Minogue had something similar on in a music video) with red high heels and socks. This dress is a contrast aginst all the people who are wearing black.
While Chris is speaking the camera shows again close ups from older women, they are all shocked. ´Cause he is telling them that he´s bisexuall. The Granny becomes unconscious, we can´t see it but the amplified sound effect of a glass tells it us .This shows that it is, even in the 21th century, not possible to live his sexuality without being discussed. But the younger people show more tolerance then the older ones. So the lifestyle changed through all the years.
While the dialouge between Chris and his mother the camera cuts between close ups of them.
This and the next scene were linked with a sound bridge, which is showing the emotion (sadness) of the woman. An other image had been put over the medium close up.
The memories of her are black/white and blurry. Then a transition leads the memory back to the medium close up of her and it blacks out.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Analysis of camerawork, editing and sound in the 'Desperate Housewives' clip
Season 5, episode 1.
The camera shows different medium and long shots from the people in the Wisteria Lane which is totally destroyed. The transitions between the shots are just cuts. Over the scene is a narration, a so called voiceover. The character speaks directly to the audience, this is a direct mode of adress. The music is synchronous it matches the pace of editing.
Then we can see a close up of a hand carrying a cup of water and the camera goes up and away from it, so we can see Bree Vandecamp is carrying it. It's like an eyeline match but only the other way. The camera is unsteady and keep her in focus then she is passing it.
The next one is an establishing/long shot taken from a crane then the camera ia zooming slowly in to the face of Lynette. There is still the narration and the music over the scene but now we also can hear the ambient sounds, like a walky talky from the police, people who talking, etc.
Then an eyeline match follows, now we can see on what the crowd is staring. It's a destroyed house. This long shot is also took from a crane.
The camera is tracking Bree through the people and stops again at Lynette. The medium shot of a firefighter and the medium close up of the desperate housewives were separated through cuts.
The ambient sounds and the sad music are still there when a dialouge between the women starts. When Susan is pointing at the paramedics the next shot shows them from the way the crowd is seeing them. Again there are no special transitions, just cuts.
After Lynette left the group a medium shot shows Susan and edie talking. There is no backgroundmusik only the dialouge and ambient sounds.
When Karen or Bree are saying something a quick cut shows them and than an other cut back again to Susan and Edie. There's a shot reverse shot between Edie and Karen.
A high angle shot shows a firefighter so we know something important will happen.A cut to Lynette, she reacts to the sentence from the firefighter. To the same time music starts.The camera is tracking the little girl coming out of the house through the firefighter and then hugging her mother.
Then a shot back to the housewives shows the happy emotions of them.There are medium shots of the kids coming out of the destroyed house.The music increases.
All people (Lynette, Kids, Housewives) are looking at something, an eyeline match shows they are looking if Tom, Lynettes Husband, is coming out too. The music stops when a hand of Tom appears, but there are still the ambient sounds.
A close up shows the emotion of Lynette, facilitate.
New music starts when Tom is hugging his family, the camera shows them wih a medium shot.
The medium close up of Karen shows that she is happy, but then her emotions are changing to disquiet - where is her best friend Eyda ? To the same time the music changes too. The camera is tracking her and a cuts to Tom. An over the shoulder shot to Lynette , she's looking questioningly.
When Tom is shaking his head the music changes completly. At the medium close up of Edie and Susan the voiceover begins again. The camera shows Edie going to Karen and stand besides her. Then it tilt down to the hands.
The camera shows different medium and long shots from the people in the Wisteria Lane which is totally destroyed. The transitions between the shots are just cuts. Over the scene is a narration, a so called voiceover. The character speaks directly to the audience, this is a direct mode of adress. The music is synchronous it matches the pace of editing.
Then we can see a close up of a hand carrying a cup of water and the camera goes up and away from it, so we can see Bree Vandecamp is carrying it. It's like an eyeline match but only the other way. The camera is unsteady and keep her in focus then she is passing it.
The next one is an establishing/long shot taken from a crane then the camera ia zooming slowly in to the face of Lynette. There is still the narration and the music over the scene but now we also can hear the ambient sounds, like a walky talky from the police, people who talking, etc.
Then an eyeline match follows, now we can see on what the crowd is staring. It's a destroyed house. This long shot is also took from a crane.
The camera is tracking Bree through the people and stops again at Lynette. The medium shot of a firefighter and the medium close up of the desperate housewives were separated through cuts.
The ambient sounds and the sad music are still there when a dialouge between the women starts. When Susan is pointing at the paramedics the next shot shows them from the way the crowd is seeing them. Again there are no special transitions, just cuts.
After Lynette left the group a medium shot shows Susan and edie talking. There is no backgroundmusik only the dialouge and ambient sounds.
When Karen or Bree are saying something a quick cut shows them and than an other cut back again to Susan and Edie. There's a shot reverse shot between Edie and Karen.
A high angle shot shows a firefighter so we know something important will happen.A cut to Lynette, she reacts to the sentence from the firefighter. To the same time music starts.The camera is tracking the little girl coming out of the house through the firefighter and then hugging her mother.
Then a shot back to the housewives shows the happy emotions of them.There are medium shots of the kids coming out of the destroyed house.The music increases.
All people (Lynette, Kids, Housewives) are looking at something, an eyeline match shows they are looking if Tom, Lynettes Husband, is coming out too. The music stops when a hand of Tom appears, but there are still the ambient sounds.
A close up shows the emotion of Lynette, facilitate.
New music starts when Tom is hugging his family, the camera shows them wih a medium shot.
The medium close up of Karen shows that she is happy, but then her emotions are changing to disquiet - where is her best friend Eyda ? To the same time the music changes too. The camera is tracking her and a cuts to Tom. An over the shoulder shot to Lynette , she's looking questioningly.
When Tom is shaking his head the music changes completly. At the medium close up of Edie and Susan the voiceover begins again. The camera shows Edie going to Karen and stand besides her. Then it tilt down to the hands.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Sound and music techniques in the 'Hollyoaks' clip
A lot of ambient sounds are use in this excerpt to support the setting which is a forest. Bird voices help to create the natural sounds and when he's walking you can hear leaves. It is a kind of versimilitude, creating a sense of reality. To the same time you can hear the heavy breathing from the guy, this one is called amplified sound. After he says the first time "Tom" the music begins. The trumpets are non diegetic sounds. The music becomes stronger to reflect his fear to the audience.
When he jumps into the water we can hear and see it, so the water noise is a diegetic sound. In the time, where he is in the water the music increases until the moment he recognize that the jacket is not his son.
Under water you can hear his sound perspective.(But 0:25 you can hear bird voices) The point of view is changing between the man and woman, so the sound perspective is changing too.
Then when he emerges the music stops, so that the audience can listen to the dialouge.
Another diegetic sound is the bang against the window and the screaming from the inside of the car. It is isolated, because the audience see the car also from the outside.
After this you can hear again the ambient sounds (birds) and the diegetic sounds (water; screaming from the guy). When he's under water again the song from Snow Patrol ("The Finish Line") begins. It shows that the men give up or loses his fight against the water. His power is gone and maybe he dies because of this. There is a smooth transition between his bubbles sound and the song. The song match to the slow motions of the guy.
When the camere isn't showing him under water is the song still playing and all the ambience and diegetic sounds are disappeard.
It is very synchronous, because the song supports the action very well, it shows the importance of this what is going on. This little moment could change everything. Through the music and sound the audience can feel the emotions and maybe can develop own emotions too.
When he jumps into the water we can hear and see it, so the water noise is a diegetic sound. In the time, where he is in the water the music increases until the moment he recognize that the jacket is not his son.
Under water you can hear his sound perspective.(But 0:25 you can hear bird voices) The point of view is changing between the man and woman, so the sound perspective is changing too.
Then when he emerges the music stops, so that the audience can listen to the dialouge.
Another diegetic sound is the bang against the window and the screaming from the inside of the car. It is isolated, because the audience see the car also from the outside.
After this you can hear again the ambient sounds (birds) and the diegetic sounds (water; screaming from the guy). When he's under water again the song from Snow Patrol ("The Finish Line") begins. It shows that the men give up or loses his fight against the water. His power is gone and maybe he dies because of this. There is a smooth transition between his bubbles sound and the song. The song match to the slow motions of the guy.
When the camere isn't showing him under water is the song still playing and all the ambience and diegetic sounds are disappeard.
It is very synchronous, because the song supports the action very well, it shows the importance of this what is going on. This little moment could change everything. Through the music and sound the audience can feel the emotions and maybe can develop own emotions too.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Explain how camerawork and editing are used in this excerpt of shameless
Shameless, Series 1, Episode 5: 37-41 minutes
The excerpt begins with a long shot of the back of Frank to see the location around him. Then a point of view shot out of the car shows also Frank walking with an other guy besides him. You can see his current condition, he's drunk. The next shot is a master shot, it shows Frank walking to the camera. He's now alone, an ellipsis was used here, that means Franks whole way wasn't shown to the audience. It's a medium shot of him when the car turns around the corner and continues to tracking him. When the car gets faster more point of view shots are used also the cuts are faster to make danger clear. Then you can note that the car trys to hit Frank and after failed this it crashe into a van. In this scene match on action is used. Then a long shot shows the audience what happens.
First a close up of Franks face shows his surprise and shock after what has happend, he recognized that his son drove the car. The editing used for this an eyeline match, you can see Frank is looking at someone/something and then we see that he's looking at his son.
A shot-reverse shot is used when his son is coming out of the car, first the face of boy then Frank's face and then again the boy and how he trys to a beat Frank. Always when he sees his son a low angle is used because he's lying on the street and looks up to him. You can see it also from the boys point of view, then a high angle is used. Also the cuts are getting again faster to keep the attention of the audience.
Again a close up is used to show the emotions of Shaila when she notes that a fight is outside of her house. She feels fear and is shocked. Then an establishing shot is used, which is showing her house. A medium shot of her is used when she sees an other car coming to the fight. Then she opens the door and the light through the open door is used as a white transition between this action and an other hit to Frank. A quick cut to Shaila and how she's closing the door to the same time like the beat. This is like parallel action.
A fish-eye lense is used for the scene with the daughter of Shaila in her room. It allows the audience to regocnize the condition of the girl's mind. She don't know what she has to do next or what will happen.
Match on action is used again when the girl is walking out of the house to the street. (Or was it the woman, I don't know anymore). When the boy pulled away from Frank, a high angle is used, probably by a Cameracrane added. The camera is unsteady and handheld when Frank helped on the legs. The scene ends here.
The next scene starts with a zoom out of Frank's bloody face. Now you can see that he's not alone Shaila is with him and helps him. This is a two shot. The camera is now steady and the cuts are not such quick anymore. This shows the audience danger is over now. Then you can see a close up of Shailas daughter, she has tears in her eyes. Between her and Frank on the couch with Shaila the 180-degree rule is used. They are not in a conversation but the daughter reacts with her emotion on the things which Frank and Shaila saying. Also match on action is used when she is leaving the room, first you can see her face and then when she passes the couch in the background.
And again an eyeline match is used when Frank is looking at Shaila.
After the next two shot of Frank and Shaila the scene ends. In this excerpt are two different locations.
The excerpt begins with a long shot of the back of Frank to see the location around him. Then a point of view shot out of the car shows also Frank walking with an other guy besides him. You can see his current condition, he's drunk. The next shot is a master shot, it shows Frank walking to the camera. He's now alone, an ellipsis was used here, that means Franks whole way wasn't shown to the audience. It's a medium shot of him when the car turns around the corner and continues to tracking him. When the car gets faster more point of view shots are used also the cuts are faster to make danger clear. Then you can note that the car trys to hit Frank and after failed this it crashe into a van. In this scene match on action is used. Then a long shot shows the audience what happens.
First a close up of Franks face shows his surprise and shock after what has happend, he recognized that his son drove the car. The editing used for this an eyeline match, you can see Frank is looking at someone/something and then we see that he's looking at his son.
A shot-reverse shot is used when his son is coming out of the car, first the face of boy then Frank's face and then again the boy and how he trys to a beat Frank. Always when he sees his son a low angle is used because he's lying on the street and looks up to him. You can see it also from the boys point of view, then a high angle is used. Also the cuts are getting again faster to keep the attention of the audience.
Again a close up is used to show the emotions of Shaila when she notes that a fight is outside of her house. She feels fear and is shocked. Then an establishing shot is used, which is showing her house. A medium shot of her is used when she sees an other car coming to the fight. Then she opens the door and the light through the open door is used as a white transition between this action and an other hit to Frank. A quick cut to Shaila and how she's closing the door to the same time like the beat. This is like parallel action.
A fish-eye lense is used for the scene with the daughter of Shaila in her room. It allows the audience to regocnize the condition of the girl's mind. She don't know what she has to do next or what will happen.
Match on action is used again when the girl is walking out of the house to the street. (Or was it the woman, I don't know anymore). When the boy pulled away from Frank, a high angle is used, probably by a Cameracrane added. The camera is unsteady and handheld when Frank helped on the legs. The scene ends here.
The next scene starts with a zoom out of Frank's bloody face. Now you can see that he's not alone Shaila is with him and helps him. This is a two shot. The camera is now steady and the cuts are not such quick anymore. This shows the audience danger is over now. Then you can see a close up of Shailas daughter, she has tears in her eyes. Between her and Frank on the couch with Shaila the 180-degree rule is used. They are not in a conversation but the daughter reacts with her emotion on the things which Frank and Shaila saying. Also match on action is used when she is leaving the room, first you can see her face and then when she passes the couch in the background.
And again an eyeline match is used when Frank is looking at Shaila.
After the next two shot of Frank and Shaila the scene ends. In this excerpt are two different locations.
Camerawork in Heroes - Cheerleader driving scene
The first thing that you can see is a blurry character on the floor. The camera is showing this like that, because the person is stoned.The camera is switching focus from foreground to background.
The next shot is a close up to the pictures and a transition a picture of a girl and a similar looking cheerleader. This means the girl at the picture is the cheerleader.Then the camera is tracking a guy while he's going to the girl. When the girl is talking the camera zooms into her face.
The high angle shot and the long shot showing us that they are alone and a kind of emptyness is surrounding them while they are leaving the place.
The next shot is a two shot of the girl and boy in the car. The camera is shaking to show that the car is moving and the zoom of the wheel shows the speed. The profile shot shows us how important the cheerleader is for the scene. Claire is blurry but still in the foreground while the boy is talking.
To remember the audience that they are still in the car the camera is moving "outside" when the boy and girl are talking.
The high angel shot which is also a static shot show the red light and the fast car which don't cares about it. When Claire gets more angrier the transitions between the scenes are getting quicker.
After the car crashed the high angle shot shows what happens.
The next shot is a close up to the pictures and a transition a picture of a girl and a similar looking cheerleader. This means the girl at the picture is the cheerleader.Then the camera is tracking a guy while he's going to the girl. When the girl is talking the camera zooms into her face.
The high angle shot and the long shot showing us that they are alone and a kind of emptyness is surrounding them while they are leaving the place.
The next shot is a two shot of the girl and boy in the car. The camera is shaking to show that the car is moving and the zoom of the wheel shows the speed. The profile shot shows us how important the cheerleader is for the scene. Claire is blurry but still in the foreground while the boy is talking.
To remember the audience that they are still in the car the camera is moving "outside" when the boy and girl are talking.
The high angel shot which is also a static shot show the red light and the fast car which don't cares about it. When Claire gets more angrier the transitions between the scenes are getting quicker.
After the car crashed the high angle shot shows what happens.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
How is camerawork used in this excerpt of 'Shameless' ?
In this excerpt of 'Shameless' I will identify the different shots and write about their effects.
The first one is a deep focus shot, which shows the persons in the background are less important then Marty in the foreground. After the two persons had left the room a two shot, medium close up shows them and a private conversation between the two characters is taking place.In the next scene a high angle shot shows Marty in his room. This creates a kind of loneliness and supports the mood. The camera jumped in and used a medium close up of Marty's face to show his emotions.
Then in the next scene the camera is tracking a car, that means the characters in the car are significant. After the camera show us, through an establishing shot, the place where the scene is it jumped back to Marty in his room. Then he is running towards the camera, which is static and focused. This creates a sense of urgency and speed.
At the next shot the camera is going down to show that Marty is carrying patrol, and through tracking him we know his plan. Thereby the camera is under the car, an Atmosphere is created if the audience would be there. We can see Marty is walking to the car. When he is pouring the patrol all over the car, the camera jumps unsteady to follow it and show instability.
An over the shoulder shot is used often from now on. We can see the lighter in focus and that creates danger which is typical for TV Dramas.
Series of two shots are put into place two show all the different characters and their feelings. To show again the setting and where everything is medium close ups and master shots are used between this scene.
Then an extreme close up of the lighter reminds the audience at the danger. Another Close up shows the cigarette and the fire at the petrol trail. After the car had exploded the camera shows the different feelings of the people through medium close ups. Some are shocked and other are amused.
The first one is a deep focus shot, which shows the persons in the background are less important then Marty in the foreground. After the two persons had left the room a two shot, medium close up shows them and a private conversation between the two characters is taking place.In the next scene a high angle shot shows Marty in his room. This creates a kind of loneliness and supports the mood. The camera jumped in and used a medium close up of Marty's face to show his emotions.
Then in the next scene the camera is tracking a car, that means the characters in the car are significant. After the camera show us, through an establishing shot, the place where the scene is it jumped back to Marty in his room. Then he is running towards the camera, which is static and focused. This creates a sense of urgency and speed.
At the next shot the camera is going down to show that Marty is carrying patrol, and through tracking him we know his plan. Thereby the camera is under the car, an Atmosphere is created if the audience would be there. We can see Marty is walking to the car. When he is pouring the patrol all over the car, the camera jumps unsteady to follow it and show instability.
An over the shoulder shot is used often from now on. We can see the lighter in focus and that creates danger which is typical for TV Dramas.
Series of two shots are put into place two show all the different characters and their feelings. To show again the setting and where everything is medium close ups and master shots are used between this scene.
Then an extreme close up of the lighter reminds the audience at the danger. Another Close up shows the cigarette and the fire at the petrol trail. After the car had exploded the camera shows the different feelings of the people through medium close ups. Some are shocked and other are amused.
Genre
Genre is a french word for 'Type'.
'Genre' is a critical tool that helps us study media texts, producers and audience responses to texts by dividing them into categories based on common elements.
Generic Characteristics
The aim of genre is to classify media texts based on shared characteristics. These characteristics, known as 'generic elements' or 'generic characteristics' are the ingredients that make up a particular genre.
TV Drama Sub-Genres
A 'sub-genre' is where genres are subdivided into even more specific categories. TV Drama sub-genres include:
'Genre' is a critical tool that helps us study media texts, producers and audience responses to texts by dividing them into categories based on common elements.
Generic Characteristics
The aim of genre is to classify media texts based on shared characteristics. These characteristics, known as 'generic elements' or 'generic characteristics' are the ingredients that make up a particular genre.
TV Drama Sub-Genres
A 'sub-genre' is where genres are subdivided into even more specific categories. TV Drama sub-genres include:
- Teen Dramas: e.g. Skins
- Soap Operas: e.g. Coronation Street
- Costume Dramas: e.g. Sharpe
- Medical Dramas: e.g. Holby City
- Crime Dramas: e.g. The Bill
- Docu-dramas: e.g. Hamburg Cell
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Deconstruction of Coronation Street
Name of drama: Coronation Street
Camera shots, angle, movement and composition: eye level shots, close ups, long shot, voyeuristic shot, over the shoulder shot, deep focus shot
Editing (transitions, effects, match on action, pace etc): matching the character, close up → emotion, slow transitions between scenes
Sound, music and dialogue: theme at the beginning, focus on the dialogue, background sounds
when characters are talking
Mise en scene (lighting, set design, costume, props, colour scheme etc): set design presents reality, dark light = bad mood, costumes represent the character
Camera shots, angle, movement and composition: eye level shots, close ups, long shot, voyeuristic shot, over the shoulder shot, deep focus shot
Editing (transitions, effects, match on action, pace etc): matching the character, close up → emotion, slow transitions between scenes
Sound, music and dialogue: theme at the beginning, focus on the dialogue, background sounds
when characters are talking
Mise en scene (lighting, set design, costume, props, colour scheme etc): set design presents reality, dark light = bad mood, costumes represent the character
Components of TV Dramas
What makes all of these fit within the TV Drama genre ?
- Characters - easily identifiable; often a stereotype; can also be seen as simple
- Stories - all TV Dramas tell stories; often end happily; told again familiar backdrops; told through the dialogue
- Versimilitude - creating a sense of reality
- Music - punctuates the action; create a special mood
Various TV Dramas
Soaps
- Skins
- Hollyoaks
- Eastenders
- Coronation Street
Way of life in the USA
- Desperate Housewives
- Sex and the city
- Scrubs
- House
High Production
- Heroes
- Lost
- 24
- Reaper
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Introduction
I'm a pupil at St. Cuthbert Mayne School in Torquay. In Media Studies we should create our own blog, which is focused on TV drama.
Media Studies deals with media language, form & style, convention, signification, representation and audiences.
I will be analyzing a particular TV drama.
The language used within many TV dramas helps the viewer to develop a greater understanding of many aspects, such as themes and characters, and I will be looking at how this one achieves this.
Media Studies deals with media language, form & style, convention, signification, representation and audiences.
I will be analyzing a particular TV drama.
The language used within many TV dramas helps the viewer to develop a greater understanding of many aspects, such as themes and characters, and I will be looking at how this one achieves this.
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