Discuss the ways in which the extract uses camera shots, editing, sound and mise-en-scene to construct representations if teenagers/generations

In the clip of ‘Some Girls’ teenagers are represented in different ways using camera shots, editing, sound and mise-en-scene.

Firstly, at the start of the clip, a theme song and montage is played, as any other television series would have. The montage is used to show short frames that slide across (a wipe) of the four main teenage girls being typical teenagers. Camera shots are used to construct representations of this. The very first slide is of one of the girls talking on her mobile phone and making a ‘stroppy’ facial expression, this is showing a stereotypical teenager which is what this series is all about. The camera shot shows a close-up of the teenager on her phone to show the audience her facial expression and the fact that she is using her mobile phone. Towards the end of the montage an extreme close up is used to show the same girl putting on her makeup before school. We can identify that is she is going to school because she is in her uniform. This constructs a representation of teenagers because many stereotypical teenage girls of today are now seen with lots of makeup on and ‘re-designing’ their school uniform by wearing short skirts, knee-length socks, short ties and their own cardigan or jumper over the top. Therefore, the audience would know that from seeing the girl who is applying makeup before school is just a stereotypical teenage girl. At the end of the montage, one of the girls is shown on camera walking out of the estate she lives on to get to school. Two boys not in uniform are shown pushing around a shopping trolley and one of them falling out of it, a wide shot is used to show this and how they are being typical teenage boys as they are behaving badly in public and not in uniform, this could be showing that they are not going to school meaning they may have been expelled or are too misbehaved for school. This constructs a representation of typical teenagers.

Secondly, I looked at types of sounds that was used in the extract to construct representations of teenagers. A lot of non-digetic sound is used throughout the episode of ‘Some Girls’. Throughout the montage at the start of the episode, the frames of the 4 main characters are being shown being ‘typical’ teenagers, sound is played over the top and their voices and sounds have been cut out (non-digetic sound) whilst the theme song is being played, which is a funky, girly, modern type of music which relates well to the series. This type of music constructs representations of teenagers, as anyone who was to only listen to the music would know that the episode would be about young/teenage girls. A series that is about crime would most probably have a theme song at the start that is quite tense and dark to relate to the series. Once the montage at the beginning ends, the music is still playing but behind the sound of the actors speaking (digetic sound). The start of the episode is quite happy and fun, we can see this because one of the main characters of the series is riding her bike in her school uniform and smiling whilst incidental music is used to enhance this particular atmosphere which is happy. The sounds/music that is used throughout the episode is very girly and ‘funky’ which constructs representation of teenagers because the music relates directly to the episodes storyline which is about teenage schoolgirls.

Thirdly, the editing of the extract gives a construction of teenagers through use of fast editing and slow motion shots. The extract begins with a montage in which different frames use a wipe effect to show shots of the four main characters. The montage is very important to the whole episode because this is where the audience can gain an impression of what sort of characters the actors play. The montage is played at the start of every episode and uses short frames to show clips of the characters, which is where the construction of teenagers are shown the most. A key example of this is when the four main characters are shown dancing around in a bedroom but has been edited to be played in slow motion. The slow motion has been used to show the facial expressions that the teenage girls have at this point and to also show their clothing, which can actually determine what sort of character they are and to most importantly construct the representation of a typical teenage girl.  In this part of the extract, all girls are seen smiling and jumping around together looking into the cameras direction. The slow motion edit has been used to show what the girls are wearing. They are wearing their school uniform, and as I previously discussed, it has been re-styled to make it their own. The ‘slow-mo’ effect allows us to identify that their school ties are very short, one of the girls is shown with their own cardigan and they are all clearly wearing a lot of make up. When a wipe effect has been used to switch to this slow motion effect, it is to clearly show the audience how they are presenting their idea of teenagers.

Lastly, mise-en-scene is also another component which is used in the extract to construct a representation of teenagers as it shows the different characters and their environments and when they are out of those environments. For example, when in the montage the four girls are showing dancing and jumping around in one of the girl’s bedroom, the audience will quickly be able to identify that it is a very girly, teenage bedroom due to the bright pink walls and slight ‘clutter’ over the floor. This has been constructed to represent a typical teenager as they are stereotypically known to be quite messy, but also the bright pink walls shows us that it is a very girly, young adults bedroom. Mise-en-scene is used to represent teenagers outside of their environment too. An example of this is right at the end of the montage when the four girls are shown with their backs to the camera walking together by a parade of shops, this constructs a representation of teenage girls because it shows that they are in quite an urban area and stereotypical teenagers are often found ‘hanging around’ the local shops. One of the girls on the far right of this clip is shown walking with a bicycle, this can also be constructing a representation of teenagers because the four of them are shown walking with one walking along side their bike meaning that they do not drive as not as many older people would be seen walking in a big group or riding a bike.

In conclusion, the representation of teenagers in the extract is constructed through the use of close-up camera shots, and also slow motion editing to allow us to identify what sort of teenagers and characters they are. Moreover sound is used to create a ‘funky’ and ‘girly’ representation and one of the most important components, mise-en-scene which is used to represent the teenage girls inside and outside of their environments to allow us to decide what sort of representation they are trying to create.  

Media essay question

Discuss the ways in which the extract uses camera shots, editing, sound and mise-en-scene to construct representations of relationship

The ways in which the clip ‘Cutting It’ constructs representation of relationship is by using camera shots, editing, sound and mise-en-scene.

The clip constructs representation of relationship by using a selection of camera shots such as an extreme close-up, close-up and cut-ins. At the start of the clip the clip the newly wed husband and wife Allie and Gavin are in a London taxi. They seem very close in this part of the clip as they are holding hands, the camera uses a cut-in to show both the Allie and Gavin holding hands in the taxi and you can see Allie is wearing her wedding ring. The camera uses a cut-in to show that this is important so that the audience can understand that their relationship plays a big part in this scene.

Another camera shot that is used to construct representations of relationship is when the camera is filming over the top of the husband and wife’s bodies lying on the pavement together at the end of the scene. This camera angle/shot is used to show both Allie and Gavin lying closely together staring into each others eyes as the camera slowly zooms out to show this. This constructs representation of relationship as the audience can clearly see they are in love or at least a very happy couple. If the camera angle was to be filmed on the side of one of the characters, the audience would not be able to get a full view of how the couple are lying next to each other and we would not be able to recognise that they are in a relationship or in love. Therefore this is why this particular angle is used, so that we can recognise that Allie and Gavin are close together and staring at one another. 

Not only are camera shots used to construct a representation of relationship but also sound is used to represent this. Towards the end of the scene when Allie had been knocked over by a passing bus, Gavin who is across the road who watched this happen stared at her in shock, unsure what he should do. As he is about to run across the busy road, the sound of a heartbeat is played loudly in the background of the scene to add effect. This represents that he is scared and anxious, but also because it is the sound of a heartbeat this could be representing love, which constructs the representation of the relationship he has with Allie who is lying on the pavement across the road. If no sound was to be played at this time, the audience may not know what his emotions were as he does not speak or a make a sound when his wife is knocked over. Therefore, by having this particular sound effect, it adds emphasis and tension to the scene, but because it is the sound of a beating heart, this can be seen as representing the relationship that Gavin has with his wife Allie.

In this particular scene of ‘Cutting It’ many different components are used to construct different representations, one of the main components being mise-en-scene. Mise-en-scene is shown to represent relationship in this scene especially at the end when the husband and wife are lying down on the pavement with flowers scattered over the pavement from where they had fallen over near where they were lying together. This is quite ironic seeing as they are both laying closely together on the pavement after Allie had been knocked over and seeing that there are flowers scattered around them this could be seen as romantic. Another way in which mise-en-scene has been used to construct the representation of relationship between Allie and Gavin is when they are both in the taxi (which I previously discussed about camera shots) and Allie takes hold of Gavin’s hand and holds it tight, which is clearly representing that they are in a relationship. They are also sitting very closely together in the taxi which represents that they may have a close relationship, this clearly shows that they have a good and close relationship.

Editing is also a component used to construct the representation of a relationship between the couple. One type of editing used in the scene to show a relationship is when Allie is shown in the hospital with her consultant but no sound is made a part from slow, sad music. Gavin is then shown waiting outside across the road, and the camera goes back and forth showing Allie again in the room with her consultant whilst music is being played. The sad music that is being played over the sound of the cars going past where Gavin is and the sound of the voices where Allie is, could show that because they are both a part from each other that they may feel quite sad as they come across as inseperable when they are in the taxi at the start of the scene. If happy music was to be played at this point of the scene when they are both a part, the audience may get the wrong message.

In conclusion, camera shots, editing, sound and mise-en-scene are all used to construct the representation of a relationship between the man and woman in this clip, as it shows that they are very close and loving towards each other. Particular camera shots and angles are used to show this, as well as editing, sound and mise-en-scene which clearly show that they are very much in love and happy together which is representing that they are in a good relationship. If any of these components were used in the wrong way, the audience may get a different message to what the director is intending to get across to them, therefore they are used very accurately to show Allie and Gavin’s relationship.

Task 7

Develop a pitch for your own TV drama, specifying plot, setting, characters/actors

Setting: small, village neighbourhood, set in modern time (2012)

   Characters:

   Pat (67) - Librarian 

   Owen (34) - Butcher

   Kelly (14) - Student of local high school 

   Eddy (40) - Kelly's father

   Caroline (38) - Kelly's mother

   

   Plot: Caroline is having an affair with Owen and is caught by Pat. Pat is a good family friend of Caroline and Eddy, she is unsure whether to tell Eddy that she has seen Caroline with Owen. Pat, months later decides to pluck up the courage and tell Eddy what has happened. He strangely takes it very well and says to Pat that he will handle the situation and thanks her for telling him. 

     Pat is in shock but feels like a huge weight has been lifted. On her way home from telling Eddy at his house, she walks through the dark village streets, she discovers Owen, dead. She knows it couldn't have been Eddy who killed Owen, as he was at home with Pat when she was telling him the horrible news. So who was the murderer?

   

Task 2

What proportion of the Television Schedules are Drama?

About a quarter of the Television Schedules are Drama TV Shows. Between 12:00am and 9:00am, most Televisions Schedule important or reality-based shows including the News, things like Masterchef, Rip off Britain, The Jeremy Kyle Show and even Countdown. They mostly schedule repeats or missable shows because most people are asleep and will not be watching the TV at this point in the day. Then, from 9:00am to 3:00pm, 'Daytime TV' takes up most of the schedule, these shows are also relatively unimportant, they include things like Homes under the Hammer, This Morning and Loose Women. Between 3:00pm and 6:00pm, Children's Television and Family friendly shows are shown, this is because people are starting to return to their houses from work and school. These are shows that will probably be on the TV when dinner is served or when Children do their Homework. Lastly, and most importantly, between 6:00pm and 12:00am, Drama is scheduled. Shows like Emmerdale, Hollyoaks and Eastenders start at this approximate time. Then throughout the Evening, more adult shows are broadcast, and later even programmes that may be rude or with bad language.

Task 5

Selection of stills from TV dramas demonstrating the range of shot types

Very Wide Shot (VWS) Very Wide Shot is used to show a large environment without showing us too much or too little, it shows what is necessary but also makes it more realistic. In this example, Lola is at the front door but the VWS is used to show what is around her to hopefully give the audience an idea of where she is. The type of social group represented is middle class, as you can see the girl is wearing a jumper and the house she is standing near looks slightly shabby and not too modern.

Over-the-shoulder shot (OSS) This shot is used to show that their is a conversation going on often between two people which is shown in the clip on the left. This particular shot is used to portray the Point of View of the subject without actually taking them out of shot. (Clip from New Tricks)

Close up (CU) This is used to show facial expression, the character is on the phone and is obviously being told something important or is having an important conversation. The shot is accompanied with a zoom In to make it more dramatic for the audience. (Clip from Haunted)

Cut-In - Cut-In is used to show something relating to the situation within the scene or some other part of the subject in detail. It is useful as it gives the viewer something to look at other than characters or settings. In this clip, legs are shown walking down the stairs, this could be because the director may want the audience to think about who the character is by showing a part of their body to make them guess, the camera then zooms out to show who.

Two-Shot - Two Shot is used to show two people in the frame, they are usually talking, arguing etc. Here in this clip, it seems that there is an intense conversation between both the girl and the boy as you can see they have very serious facial expressions. Two-shot is often zoomed into the characters faces or from the chest up.

Mid-shot (MS) Mid Shot is used to show the subject without much detail. Character's face can be seen and character's body can be seen, this is so the audience can see the subject, but not to the extreme of their whole body or just their face. Here in this clip, most of their body is shown but not to the point where every detail is on show, as the audience can see what is around them rather than just looking at their faces.

Wide Shot (WS) Wide Shot is used to show a large area, but not a very large area. The whole of the subject can be seen as well as the environment he is standing in. Here, 5 characters are shown, only parts of their bodies are shown and you cannot see all of their faces. You can see that they are outside as there is a police care and a fence. In this clip, the police car and police officers would be the most important part of the scene as it would be quite serious, because a the police officers would mean that there has been a crime

Cutaway (CA) Cutaway is used to show something other than the characters already on screen. It can be something related to the scene or something completely unimportant. In this example, the 5 people standing outside the pub looking at the Taxi have nothing to do with the main part of the story, they are just passers-by on the streets, you can see this as two people are walking by, the three other people have stopped to look at what is going on by the taxi. They all look about middle-class type as they are wearing jeans, jackets (nothing posh) just normal outdoor clothing.