M1 Single camera productions explained with reference to well chosen examples expressing ideas with clarity and with generally appropriate use of subject terminology.
Targets:
Task 3: You have explained the terms but you have not applied them to many examples. You must explain when these narrative forms are apparent and why they have been used + extend your analysis.
Choose some films/programmes that have obvious elements of the narrative theories and talk about them a little!
This will help you solidify your merit grade.
Task 1 Use the links below to help you write a few paragraphs that answer the following questions: (P1,M1,D1)
The single camera format is when one camera is used to film the product which is usually film or one off dramas such as doctor who or scrubs. Single camera formats allow the director to get extreme long shots such as the one used in kill bill. The single camera format also gives the director more control over each shot filmed but is much more time consuming to edit as if you are filming a convosation you have to film one person first then the other person and then put it together but with a multiple cameraformat you can film them both talking to each other at the same time. Also when using the single camera format their will be a lot of panning between characters or objects compared to multi camera, where you could film it all and cut to the next person.The single camera format may be used to produce long shots and intricate shots which are easier with a single camera.
A multi-camera format is when more than one
camera simultaneously films from many different camera angles, then when edited the production is put together. This is used In most programs as it is generally easier to get many different angles, less time consuming and easier to put together. This format is usually used for live shows such as the new X-factor auditions which were in front of a audience. This gives more choice of shots for the production crew to use. It also makes getting audience and presenters reactions easier, as the camera crew can have camera's on all aspects of the show and wont miss anything or have to pause, like they would with a single camera.
The popular sitcom friends started out being shot in a single camera format but then changed to
multi camera due to the mass audience support. Many sit-coms today are still shot in the single camera format rather than multi camera.
Task 2 Write a short paragraph explaining the differences between series, serials and single dramas. Write about four TV programmes from different genres and ex
plain which category they fall into and why. (P1,
M1,D1)
T.v shows can be put in to different categories: Serial or serials.
A series is an ongoing string of a drama that may last for several weeks or contain a certain
number of episodes such as merlin or the sit com the peep show.
Merlin is a single camera series aired on the BBC it falls in the genre of fantasy as it is fictional. It is currently on the second series which includes fourteen episodes. It has a linear narrative with all the typical conventions of a fictional single camera drama; Vladamir propps theory of hero (Merlin/Arthur) villain (mythical creature/ warlock) and damsel in distress (Arthur/Merlin/Morganna/Gwen) all this anchors the genre of fantasy as a non real narrative along with mythical creatures are used.
examples of other series :
* Doctor who which falls in to the genre of sci-fi. It is anti real.
* The peep show is a sit com and has a genre of comedy.
* primeval which is in the genre of sci-fi fantasy due to the "monsters" connoting sci-fi and the anomalies which a fictional anchoring the fantasy aspect to the drama.
* The most popular single camera on going series are soaps such as Hollyoaks, Eastenders and Corronation street.
A serial is a two part or an three part drama that may last a week or be shown over three weeks such as lost in austin or wuthering heights which were shown on itv.
Lost in austin was aired in september 2008 and consisted of four episodes making it two short to be classed as a series. It was a single camera drama adaptation of a book, which was made modern so we could say it was fantasy as no one would actually
get warped in to a book.
examples:
* lost in austin which was non real as it wasn't based on truth and hasn't actually happened.
* wuthering heights on itv.
*The children on ITV.
Task 3 Based on a discussion of the three clips below and your own knowledge of film and television, use specific examples to explain where different narrative structures occur and why they are used. (P1, M1, D1)
The three clips i have included below each use a variety of techniques and each have differnt narratives. I will explan how the narratives help create tension or what the effect of the narrative is.
The first clip (Dallas) shows a vareity of cliff-hangers which are usually used at the end of an drama, to create suspence and create an enigma to keep the viewers interested, as the audience will have to tune in next week to find out the resolution to the situation. There are about eight different cliffhangers used in the below video. The ciffhangers all contain peril; is a character dead? This i feel is used so the audience will watch the next show to find out if their favourite chacter is alive. The cliffhangers make the endings open and create an enigma. This technique will hopefully ensure the audience will watch the next show to find out what has happened. The diajetic music is added to create suspence and tension so that when the scene is cut off at the most crucial part, the viewer is left worked up and full of wonder. These are done in a linear format as they are endings. The clips are realist as this could happen in reality and the program contains no fantasy or elements that could make it anti real such as mythical creatures.
The next video is constructed with a non linear approach. The main charactor is sat on his own then the shot changes to him walking down the street in to a door, which then jumps back to him sat down. This is non seqential as if it was linear it would show him walking in to the shop then sitting down. He could be having a flashback as to how he ended up sat down alone, or the director could have simply put this in the show the audience how he ended up in his current location The constraints of haveing a linear narrative are that you cant have flashbacks or go back and explain things to the auidience.
The next clip is constructed with a linear approach. The film St Trinian's has a linear/sequential narrative as the plot is constructed in a chronological order and with a beginning middle and an end. The particular clip below is of the St Trinian girls sabotaging the other team, by putting magic mushrooms in their tea. The scene doesn't include any flash backs or flash forwards, and has a equilibrium, disruption resolution as suggested by Vladamir Propps theory. This helps create a beginning middle end effect and so created a sequential clip. As this is only a clip from the film it has an open ending as the main problem in the film has yet to be resolved. The film itself has an unrestricted range of information, the audience sees and hears everything that is going on but not all the characters do. The plot is goal orientated as the goal is to steal the painting and save the school.
skins reflects reality so it is of a realist narrative, Whereas shows such as primeval and merlin are not real so are anti real and have never actually happened (fictional). Donnie Darko is an anti real film and has a non linear narrative as it bends reality, as the main character has doomsday style visions.
Non linear/ non sequential Is the opposite of linear and could mean that events are shown from different points of view. This means that the events occurring could be out of chronological order unlike in linear where events are in chronological order. An example of a non linear film is Donnie Darko as the main character is having a vision about how him escaping death will effect the lives of many others. The trailer below shows how the plot is non sequential, though the main character talking about time travel
Linear/ sequential structures are when the viewers are given the events as they happen which makes this type of narrative simple to understand. The events that happen in the film or program will happen in a beginning, middle and end style with typical narrative elements such as hero, villain and damsel as suggested by vladamir propp's theory. The film or program may contain a few flashbacks if they are needed. This is demonstrated in the clip below where Harry has a series of flashbacks whist Voldemort is in his head.
Flashbacks are when a character may remember something from the past. This can be used to
give the audience an insight to events occurring from the characters perspective,this can brake up narratives.
examples:
Hollyoaks contains flashbacks to past events so the audience can remember what has previously occurred or gain an insight to what is going on with the character.
Other programs that use flashbacks are skins when Freddie, cook and Effy are remembering what has happened and lead to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGiJqPujlAc
Endings can be closed with a resolution or remain open with no resolution or a new disruption, for example Emmerdale contains both as one characters problem will be resolved when another character develops one. This is to remain open but also closed as the stories run in to other episodes to maintain the audiences interest. Soaps usually have open endings that run on to the next episode, through enigma as the viewers will wonder how the problem will be resolved. Films mostly have a closed endings such as st trinnians where everything is sorted out and the school can stay open. Some examples of films with both open and closed endings are trilogies like lord of the rings or harry potter. Both have closed endings at the end of each film but an open ending to continue the story in to the next film.
Realist/anti realist plots are when something is real or reflecting reality (realist) or made up and non-fiction. An example of a realist program is hollyoaks as it is supposed to reflect reality through real life situations. An example of a non realist program is E4's misfits which is about super heros and therefore not real.
The patterns of narrative:
goal orientated plot- this is where the plot is constructed around a goal so the characters could be searching for treasure or trying to protect something.
search or investigation-is basically when the characters are looking or searching for something like in the film new moon when Bella is searching for Edward.
journey- is when the characters go on a journey such as in the lord of the rings when Frodo goes on a epic journey to destroy the ring and ends up coming across all sorts of problems.
climax- all comes to a end.
Task 4: Using the information below write or record a commentary on the following clip. Explain how the following are used to good effect...(P1 M1 D1)
The first sound that we hear from the drama is a train running, this usage of an diajectic sound creates an enigma as the audience will be wondering what a train has to do with the drama and if it is important. This merges in to the first establishing shot which is used to anchor the setting of a train station, with a woman walking. This is the equilibrium of the drama as nothing has gone wrong yet the scene is peaceful linking with Todorov's theory of equilibrium, disruption and resolution. During this establishing shot the camera pans left, to reveal a woman walking through the station. This again creates an enigma as the audience will be wondering who she is and why she is there. During the next scene their is a long shot of two men getting out of the car , which is used to show that these new characters are coming in to the plot and disrupting the woman. The next few segments consist of the woman then focusing on the men walking then back to the woman. The effect of this usage of jump cuts is to give the viewer an insight of what is going on with all the characters and show the audience what is happening. The usage of an extreme close up of the woman's face, is used to convey her emotion and add to the enigma as the audience will be wondering why she is crying. This shot then merges in to a long shot of the woman to show us the surroundings which goes back to an extreme close up of her feet , with the other male characters feet walking behind her. This effect is used to show the audience that the woman is going to walk off the platform but doesn't know that she is being approached. After this a long shot of the three people is used to confirm who is their with the character, a close up of the woman's terrified and troubled features. The next effect of flashback tells me that the piece is non-linear. The flashback is primarily used to give the audience an insight to what has happened to lead, to the occurring events. The effects used on the flashback such as black and white with blurred backgrounds, are put on to help anchor this section of the drama as a flashbacks as these are typical conventions flashbacks use. The background sound is used to create tension as you can clearly hear a heartbeat, which is a stereotypical technique used in horror. This is used to create an eerie atmosphere to the flashback and connote something out of the ordinary. During the flashback jump cuts are used frequently during one scene (with the woman on the ground) The fast cutting rate between the woman and a hand holding pills, connotes she took them and that is why she is either dead or ill. The effect of the cutting style is drama, the fast cuts which almost make the pills flash on and off like a warning create drama. Shortly after the first few flashbacks a following pan shot is used to follow the woman who is walking away. Then a close up of her being pushed by the male character. This shot along with the dialogue makes the male look like the villain and the woman look like the damsel/villain as she is being attacked after she may have killed someone. The woman is made to look like the antagonist by the usage of a tilt shot up to the woman's face that begins at her feet. This shot that pans upwards making her seem bigger and dominant.
TASK 5 Watch the clip. What are some of the differences in technology available to modern audiences? With the advent
of new media, why has it become more difficult to reach a broad target audience? (P1 M1 D1)
The modern age has ensured thecreation of high quality technology. This technology has meant that the consumer has many different methods of getting programs. The number of programs also has meant that audiences have been fragmented. In the past their was few programs so they would gain a bigger audience but now the vast variety of T.V shows means shows get less viewers. Now a good drama or socially led content may attract viewers due to the fact they can appeal to all social class factors, due to the broad target audiences who watch T.V. Today television can no longer rely on a mass audience except shows such as x-factor which had a audience of 13.5 million on the 17th of october which is big for today. Todays Primary target audience is those of a younger age who decide what they want to watch rather than the big cooperate companies deciding for the audience.
TASK 6: Create a media consumption profile for a person fitting the A criteria in the NRS Social Grades classification. Comment on the type of programming they would consume from TV and Radio in addition to commenting on newspaper's magazines and the internet.Complete a similar profile for someone of your own age but the opposite gender. (P1 M1 D1)
Audience classification:
Profile for someone aged 17 and male:
They would fall under the category of D/E and would most probably read magazines or tabloid newspaper such as the star or daily mail. The internet would be highly used due to the technology being prominent in todays society and used by highly by young people.
Task 7 (P1,M1,D1)
In our radio drama we will use a range of equipment such as one camera and a tri-pod to make the filming smooth and steady in certain scenes such as the flashbacks. We will use a narrator to help the scene which will be recorded with a voice recorder. When we edit the drama we will use software such as i-movie to put the film together and organize the clips. We will also put effects and transitions in on this software. We will sort of sound clips on garage band to make the sound levels correct and put on effects needed we will also edit the diajetic and non-diajetic music on garage band. The people involved in the production will be a director, a camera operator and three actors. The location of the drama is in various rooms in one of the actors houses but mainly in the playroom as that is what the film is about. The costume worn will be new as the film is set now to make it easier and appeal more to our primary target audience by creating a personal identity with the audience. The main props we will use include fake blood, a fake Ouija board, a mirror, a candle, invisible string, a fan- to create a breeze & flickering light switches to connote/signify a spirit is there and make it more appropriate to the genre.
Task 8 (P1,M1,D1)
Objective: This information is a proposal for my teams single camera drama, that has a genre of horror. The drama will be set in a house that is haunted by a spirit. The drama is a modern take on a classic genre with many antagonists.
Setting: The drama itself will be set in a normal house to create an oxymoron of the the events going on inside and create an enigma to the story, as it is not a typical haunted house. We will use darkened lights to create generic verisimilitude and so the drama contains the correct conventions. The music bed will be non diajetic music chosen to suit the mood of the piece and create tension.
Time duration: 5 minutes (300 seconds approx)
Description: The drama is set in a modern house, with the characters wearing clothes appropriate to the target audience (being modern or in fashion). This will help the target audience of teenagers create a personal relationship with the people in the film.
The film will have an enigmatic start with a flash forward establishing shot, that will be blurred and short snappy shots to create tension and show what is happening in the film and the danger that the characters will be in. The equilibrium of the drama comes after the flash forward and is a panning shot of some teenagers walking to the house with bags and clothes to help anchor the fact they are sleeping over. We will use another establishing shot of the house to help set the scene. In the house the disruption occurs with a crane shot of the characters playing a ouija board in the playroom. The game turns chaotic with many events happening such as candles flickering, doors closing, shadows and lights going off, to connote they have summoned evil spirits that are now seeking revenge on the teens. The characters will tell the story of the playroom and how its supposedly haunted. One of the teens goes missing and the camera will follow them later in the story. The two other characters will notice the candles that have gone out and other events will happen to add to mystery and tension. The main events of the story is one of the people being drowned the other being pushed down the stairs and the owner of the house being a evil spirit. This will then go to a shot of them inviting new victims to the house and laughing evilly to signify the story isn't over.
Task 9 (P1,M1,D1)
Below is the storyboard we created was made to roughly match different sequences/shots and what location these will be filmed in in the house. This would help the camera operator film the correct shots.
Task 10 (P1,M1,D1)
We decided to create a production schedule to ensure the single camera drama would run smooth and without problems. The schedule shows all the dates that different processes would be completed on with the locations and time of day. We made sure that when we were filming all the actors could make it and learn what they needed to do before hand to improve their performance. It also helped show us what props we needed and what clothes we needed to wear so we wouldn't forget on the day.
Task 11 (P1, M1, D1)
When filming the single camera drama i had to do a risk assessment form to ensure we would be safe at the location (house). After that we filled in the three main hazards that could happen and how we would avoid these and stay safe. This is a screen shot of my teams risk assessment work:
This is my evaluation for my single camera drama production.
The drama In my personal opinion i feel that we did achieve our purpose of creating a single camera drama aimed at teens and of a genre of horror. We did this by always considering what would be appropriate to the primary target audience. The main two purposes of our piece were to entertain and diversion.
I got some people to watch our single camera drama and this is what they said:
courtney: i liked the general story to the drama and i thought the actors acted the story out well. The music bed used fitted perfectly with the mood of the piece making it more eerie and mysterouos to watch. the transistions and effects were used well to create tension and i liked the photo flashing up. The only change would be the camre quality and the screen is full of snow, i dont know if this was due the effects or due to what it was recorded on.
Josh: I found the plot good but sometimes confusing thought i managed to understand it. I liked all the different camera angles that helped to make the drama less boring and more imaginative. I liked the effects on the video it made it look proffessional.
We tried to give out positive images of the characters except the antagonist, who did have a negative image as she was a spirit that was murdering people so this had to be done due to the narrative. Different ethnic groups were taken in to consideration as one of the characters was Indian this was so our drama can not be biased towards one group of society. The music bed that we used was intended to be non diajetic. The music in my view did help add to the mood of the drama as it created tension and added to the "horror" aspect by including heart beat sounds which is a typical convention of the genre horror. The location of our drama was in a house as the story was about a house having an evil spirit. A older house or a house that looked "haunted" would have improved the image and made the drama more realistic, but we couldn't find a house that would do that. The language that we used was appropriate to the target audience as we spoke informally which is the fashion for teens our primary target audience. We tried to make our video look appropriate for the genre of horror by giving it effects to create this feel.
Technical issues: The voice levels went quite in some places so we had to voice record some speech and dubbed over it to make it louder and less fuzzy. We made sure that the music bed never over powered the music by changing the levels of both the music and voices when needed. When we edited the piece we did cut someone's voice out but we fixed it by by re-importing the clip and editing it more carefully.
We used many things typical of the genre of horror with the scream and candkes going out. These are all used in proffessional dramas to create tension and a spooky atmosphere. When a proffessional creates a drama they will have more time, money, staff and equiptment than us wich i think would give them an edge, but i feel our drama was to a very high standard. The narrative did include an enigma with the charater dissapearing and the events in the playing that could be also seen as distruptions. The drama has a breif resolutuion when the viewers learn who the villian is, but then with a phone call inviting more victims over and open end is created. The drama is definatly multi-strand with different events occuring throughout.
I Think that i did well in our production, i wrote most of the script and acted as well as filming and editing. I learnt how to use many more effects and transistions i had never used before. I definatly feel that i filmed my section well without my hands shaking and incorporating a few camera shots in it. I think i was a good team member i did get involved and do my work and help others when they needed my help.
In the future i would use a better camera and tape so the quality of the film would be better and not snowy like it is.
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