Analysing a TV drama clip from "Trial and Retribution"

1) How is the genre of TV crime drama shown in the clip (Mise-en-scene, Characters, Props, Themes, Sequences)
2) Give examples of how camera angles and shots have been used effectively)
3) How has meaning been created through the performance of the actors?
4) Assess the use of sound in the clip

Characters - Interviewer (Interrogation), Scottish man being interviewed
Props - Table, drink, interrogation room, pictures (car and box)
Mise-en-scene - Interrogation room (small and compact)(no decoration)
Camera angles - Over the shoulder, looking up, Long shot,

1) The TV crime drama genre is shown through various different techniques. One technique used to show the shows genre is through the use of Mise-en-scene, setting the clips scene and genre through character costumes, Lighting and colour. Through Mise-en-scene lighting is used to set the scene of a typical crime drama. The lighting used was quite dull, The rooms and hallways being quite and dark, with a only a bright spotlight lamp used to create a dramatic effect in the interviewing room. The colours used were also quite dark, using the connotations of the colours Black, Grey and Red. These colours and Lighting used in this clip from "Trial and Retribution" help to show the genre of a Crime Drama as the scene for most crime dramas are quite dark and gloomy, and are usually quite serious.
  Another way which the Genre is set is through the use of characters. In this particular clip there is a police detective, Policemen (professionals) and the man who is being interviewed for the suspicions of committing the crime. The characters used in the this scene are all presented as formal except from the man being interviewed. The police investigators/officers/detectives are all wearing Dark suits with their top buttons done up, with their ties done up, On the other hand, the man who is being interviewed is also wearing a dark suit but his top buttons appear to be undone and he isn't wearing a tie making him seem slightly more informal. This helps to show the clips genre by showing the importance of the characters, The police who presented as more important than the man being interviewed, which is more than likely the case in similar clips to those of that genre.
  The props used in this clip help to set the scene and show the genre of a crime drama. The props (evidence) which were used (such as Photos taken from possible murder scenes and a handkerchief) set the clips scene in a police interviewing room, which would commonly be shown in a police investigation/ interviewing room in those of a similar genre.

2) Some camera angles which have been used in this scene effectively are: Over the shoulder, A long shot, Close up and a shot from above. Over the shoulder shots are used as a majority through this clip to show the dramatic effect of the interviewing scene, A long shot is shown when the man being interviewed takes a sip from his drink, as the shot shows the whole scene and it setting. The close up shot shows the effectiveness of each of the characters emotions. Finally the shot taken from above is used when the man being interviewed stands up and demands a lawyer before any more questions are answered, showing the characters strength and confidence in the situation. Overall each of these camera angles are effectively shown in this clip each being in a different way.

3) In this clip, Meaning has been created through the use of the characters. One example of this is through the atmosphere created by the characters, showing the seriousness of the scene and the meaning of how crime drama's are commonly a lot more serious rather than comedic. The seriousness in the tone of voice and facial expressions used by the police investigators/detectives/officers, help to display this meaning in the seriousness of the realism of crime dramas.

Analysing moving images revision

Possible texts for study:

• Film Trailers
• TV advert(s)
• Clips (TV or Film)
• News report
• Games Trailers
• Extract from a TV show (game show, Soap, Drama, Comedy etc - any genre)
• Music video
• Extract from a film (any genre)
• Party Political broadcast (elections)
• Extract from a documentary

Ways in which a moving image communicates with its audience:

• Colour
• Tone of voice
• Language (Formal, Informal)
• Editing (Transitions)
• Accents
• Mise-en-scene: Setting, Costume, Lighting, Character Appearance
• Semiotics: Verbal & Non-verbal communication, Denotations and Connotations
• Narrative: The story unfolding
• Genre: the type of product and the signifiers (signs) of which genre it belongs to (including serial/series conventions)

Analysing a moving image using media language:

• Technical codes: Cinematography (camerawork & lighting) and editing
• Sound: Digetic (the audience and actors can hear e.g tv being turned on) and Non-Digetic (only audience can hear e.g. music over the top, voice over etc), Sound effects
• Codes: Actions, Enigma, Cultural, symbolic
• Codes and Conventions: the way things are normally done in products of this kind, and the extent to which this product challenges or reinforces it.

Response to "Show Me" task

Show me- reply to this post by explaining the factors which affect how people respond on Audience Mock Revision


Audiences can respond significantly to a media product in various different ways, this depending on the environment around them, the circumstance of taking in the device or a more personal approach.

The environment which the audience is receiving the media product can affect their response to it dramatically; One example of this would be through environment we are in when watching a particular film. For example if you were to see a horror film in a cinema (regular or Imax) it would have a greater and deeper affect then if you were to watch it in a comfortable sitting at home (on dvd). If you were to watch a horror film at the cinema, you are more likely to be jumpy and find it a lot scarier than you would in the comport of your own home, This would be because of the controlled darkness throughout the film, the curiosity of who is also watching it with you (maybe even sat next to) also with how the film actually affects you. If you were to watch a typical horror film at home, you aren't as likely to have the same affect as you would at the cinema. This is because of the common background distractions: being comfortable at home, etc