Representation of the working class – Skins

Skins isn’t an obvious choice for representation of the working class, but rather for representation, but non-the-less i find it interesting and most of the adolescents featured are from very working class families. To start, the working class are mainly portrayed through the use of mise-en-scene; the working class characters wear stereotypical working class clothing (knock-off designer brands etc), and also possess working class traits such as the way that they talk and the manner in which they act. These characters are contrasted with the more middle class characters in their friendship group, such as Grace, who dress more modestly and speak with correct pronunciation and grammar.

Representation of the Working Class

Camerawork was also used in order to portray the working class status for characters in the drama. The shots used to show them are normally from high angles from the perspective of more middle class people, such as friends, teachers and other authority figures.

Coursework – Initial Ideas

Today we began to organize our coursework project, for which we have to plan, film, edit and evaluate the opening to a film of any genre. We are working in groups of two and I am working with Coupy.

Firstly, we had to decide which genre of film we were going to create and managed to shortlist our ideas to four different possibilities:

• Romance
• Horror
• Crime
• Musical

However, later that lesson we decided that it would be too difficult to establish the opening of a film as a musical as we would not be able to open the film with any form of singing or dancing as this would be tacky and unprofessional.

Coupy and I began to brainstorm some ideas about what we would do for the opening of a crime scene and we came up with a few bad ideas, but one decent one. We thought that the story line would be about a murder and then the last part of the opening would show the investigation. We would use tracking shots to follow the murder around the house in order to create an air of suspense, and we would use fast pace cuts in order to achieve the same effect.

Representation of an Authority Figure: Sherlock

Power and authority are represented by Sherlock in this TV Drama as he clearly holds social and intellectual authority over the other characters. This is shown through the use of camera work, editing, mise-en-scene and sound design.

In ‘Sherlock’ low angles camera shots are used looking at Sherlock in order to show his power and authority over the other characters. Similarly, high angles shots are used to focus on other characters to show that they are beneath him intellectually. Many of the shots focusing on Sherlock are tracking in towards him showing that the viewer should be interested in what he is saying.

As well as this, most of the shots feature Sherlock in them again identifying him as the authority figure in the programme. Also, the shots mainly focusing on Sherlock have a longer duration than on any of the other characters. In this way, the editing and camera work are almost guided by Sherlock himself, the authority figure.

Mise-en-scene has a big part to play in showing Sherlock’s authority as everything, down to the clothes that he wears, makes him look more important and authoritative than the other characters. Even the actor chosen fits the stereotype: cold looking and angular.

Textual Analysis: This Is England ’86

Discuss the ways in which the extract conveys the representation of relationships using the following:

• Camera Shots, angles, movement and composition
• Editing
• Sound
• Mise- en-scene

Camera work is used in This Is England ’86 in order to show character relationships in the clip. At the beginning of the clip, Milky and Woody are pictured in an extreme long shot showing the distance between them in their friendship at that point in time. However, as they begin to speak to each other and sort things out in their relationship, the camera gets closer to them, symbolising them becoming closer as friends. Similar to this, in the scene where Lol and Trev are talking the camera first shoots them as a body shot, but as Trev beings to open up to Lol, the camera goes to close up shots of them, making them physically and metaphorically closer together. in this scene, point of view shots are shown from Lol’s point of view, looking towards Trev; this shows that she is really listening to her and that their relationship is close. Another example of a close relationship, is that shown of Shaun and his father, this can be interpreted by the fact that when Shaun is smelling his Father’s shirt, the camera looks down on him, almost as if his father is looking down on him.

As Woody and Milky become less awkward and more friendly on the field, Milky slaps Woody playfully, showing a brotherly relationship. in addition to this, the two boys hi-5 when they are scooting on their matching scooters, again showing their brotherly friendship. It is also clear that Milky and trudy are comfortable with each other, and have a friendly relationship, as she talks to him out of the window while wearing her dressing gown, which means that they don’t feel the need to be formal around each other. Also, Shaun and Smell can be seen as in a relationship as they resemble parent figures when sat in the front two seats of the car. Where as, it would appear that Combo is the vulnerable, child like figure, in the backseat whom Shaun and smell are looking after. However, contrasting to this, Combo could be seen to be a fatherly figure to Shaun as when he is in the bath Shaun walks in without looking uncomfortable and hands him his fathers old clothes.

The most obvious use of editing used to portray relationships in the clip, is the montage at the end. In this way, the character relationships can be measured up against each other, for example it is obvious that trev and Lol have a closer relationship than Woody and the boys asleep (Meggie and co). Also, Milky and Woody’s relationship is fortified by the mirroring shots of them scootering, showing that they are very alike, as best friends often are.

Milky and Woody’s conversation on the field can be heard on screen before the viewer can see that they are talking, showing that at this point in time it may be awkward to see their conversation as they are still awkward with each other. However, during this scene where Woody and milky are walking on the field, natural sounds can be heard, showing the healing of their relationship. Also, sad music starts to play when Trev begins to tell Lol about her problem, mirroring the sad nature of the scene. The sad music carries on playing over the rest of the montage even though all of the footage isn’t sad, which portrays the fact that relationships become tighter under sad circumstances, mirroring the close relationships shown in the clip. Also the sad music features a violin which has an uncomfortable sound, mirroring the uncomfortable nature of the scene.

Repesentation of Teenagers – The Inbetweeners

The Inbetweeners, first aired on E4, is a comedy based on and aimed towards teenagers. The programme plays on and exaggerates the stereotypes associated with today’s ‘wanna-be-cool’ adolescent. Although the group made up of Will, Simon, Jay and Neil is uncool as a whole, it’s still consists of a diversity of characters.

One of the main characters and narrator, Will is representative of the ‘nerdy’ stereotype that some teenagers are tagged with, and has all of the characteristics that this kind of kid is expected to have: the glasses, the overprotective mother and even the briefcase. Jay however, although still majorly uncool, likes to think of himself as a bit of a ladies man – but both his friends and the viewer know that Jay is a compulsive white liar, and will say just about anything to boost his social status. Class clown, and token dummie Neil helps the light-hearted nature of the program, and breaks down every situation into its simplest form, and although he doesn’t realize it himself, is in fact the groups biggest ladykiller. Simon could be regarded as the most ‘normal’ of the group: in love with his childhood sweetheart, easily embarrassed by his parents and always up for lad time – a representation of teenagers that most can empathize with.

All of the teenagers and the character relationships in this program are relateable to most and the funny side to growing up is portrayed.

This is England – Information

Following my previous review on This is England, I’m not going to bore you with another story overview, but rather, for those of you who have not read it I shall instead provide a more exciting approach… Everybody loves a trailer…

So let’s get down to it; This is England was written and directed by Shane Meadows, and was first released at the Toronto International Film Festival on the 12th September 2006, it was later released in the UK on 27th April 2007 over six months later. The producer was Mark Herbert, who until now I have never heard of, and the companies which produced it were Warp Films and FilmFour Productions. This is England was budgeted at £1,472,500, a moderately low budget for a film which was so well received and made £5,058,600 at Box office.

This is England ’86

Written by Shane Meadows and Jack Thorne, TiE’86 was originally aired on channel 4 and run from 7-28 September 2010. This series is a follow up to the film, and follows the lives of the same characters three years later. This series focuses more on the mod revival scene than the skinned subculture frequently referenced in the film. The story takes place during the 1986 FIFA World Cup and journeys the lives of the gang still looking for love, entertainment and employment.

This is England ’88

Written by the same people and once again directed by Meadows, TiE’88 follows the same characters but two and a half years down the line. The scene is set in the Christmas of ’88 and focuses on the aftermath of the previous series and how Shaun, Lol and Woody are coping with life since leaving the gang.

This is England ’90

This series following the characters from the film, first and second series has not yet been released and has been postponed from its conspired release in July 2012 because of Meadows desire to film his documentary following the reunited rock band The Stone Roses.

This is England, (Shane Meadows, 2006)

Set in 1983, Meadows takes us on a Journey following the life of twelve-year-old Shaun who’s growing up in a rough town, somewhere in Northern England. School is out and Shaun finds himself palling about with a group of local skinheads getting up to all kinds of mischief with Woody and the gang. However it’s not long until the fun turns sour at the return of Combo, an older skinhead who has just got out of jail, and a divide in the group of friends becomes clear. Combo gives them a choice: to fight with him, in aim of keeping England, ‘England’, or to not. Young and impressionable Shaun takes the decision up on himself to join Combo in his racist affairs in order to do, what he thinks, will make his father (who died in the Falklands War) proud.

BE WARNED!: This film is not for the light hearted and is certainly not for those with a hatred towards violence. However similarly, the film has to be taken with a pinch of salt, and even those with a liking for violent movies are likely to be affected in a different way by this film than by you’re average gory drama. The involvement of Shaun, your run of the mill, white, working class, school boy in the violence and extreme racism makes the acts all the more shocking. Added to this, the film contains intended violence towards children and racist assault. I personally didn’t like the violence and the extremist right wing views portrayed in the film, but at the end of the day, the message the film gives us as English people not only addresses issues of the time, but the same issues that are relevant today. In this way, This is England is arguably worth a watch if not only to inform you about the issues represented in the film. However, on the basis of enjoyability I would say that the plot is flimsily constructed and wholly unfulfilled.

Sherlock: series 1, episode 1 – power

Following the analysis of ability/ disability in this episode on a previous blog post, this analysis breaks down the aspects of power and power relationships in another clip of this same episode.

I’m not going to bore you with a full description of every detail I have picked up regarding power in this clip; but rather give a brief out line as to some of the points I have picked up ( a full analysis can be found in the diagram above anyway).

Mise-en-scene

Sherlock wears a very formal attire putting him in a higher power position than Watson, who, although dressed smartly, isn’t quite to the same level as Holmes. Furthermore, upon finding Sherlock, he is located in a laboratory often associated with education, again putting him in a position of power. Also, most of the conversation in the clip is directed by Sherlock and he often interrupts and ignores other characters.

Sound Design

When Sherlock begins with his deductions, a non-diegetic mysterious soundtrack begins to play, showing his intelligence. Added to this, the music changes to a darker sound when Watson questions his knowledge, indicating that Sherlock doesn’t like to be challenged as a character with power.

Editing

Most of the camera time is focused on Sherlock, showing his importance. Also, there is a blue filter on the scene making it look clinical, and again making Sherlock look more intelligent.

Camera Work

Most of the shots between Sherlock and other characters, Watson and Molly, are angling downwards from Holmes to them, showing his higher power status compared to them. As well as this, most of the shots include Holmes in them, thus signifying his importance and power.

Mise-en-scene

Mise-en-scene is anything other than sound, camera work or editing used in a film normally in order to create an effect on the audience.

Lighting

Light: light is added to a shot in order to create a certain mood dependant on the amount added.

Shadow: shadows are normally used in a film to create an air of mystery or even fear.

Colour

Temperature: this just means the main colours in a shot. For example a predominantly res shot could insinuate evil.

Actors

Appearance: this can be conveyed through the use of costume, hair and makeup. This creates the persona of the character and the position within the narrative.

Performance: this consists of dialogue, how the dialogue is delivered, the script, facial expressions and gestures made my the actors. This is why casting is crucial in order to create a certain effect within the film.

Setting

Studio Shoot: when a scene is shot in a studio, everything, down to the last detail can be controlled. Added to this, acts such as stunts are safer and more controllable.

Location Shoot: a location shoot can be cheaper as it already exists and has a more real effect in the film.

Set Decoration: this includes props and things that can be positioned in the shot in order to fit the scene and the narrative.

Editing

Editing is used for a number of different reasons, including conveying character emotions and states, indicating passage in time and creating mood in a scene. The types of editing used include narrative editing, pace, post production editing, montages and transitions.

Narrative Editing

Continuity Editing: this means the order or chronology that the events are edited into.

Contiguity Editing: when two or more events can be happening in a screen at one time.

Temporal Editing: where events happen in a way that is abnormal to us, for example, a rewind or a slow motion shot.

Pace

The frequency of cuts between shots: this can either be shown using more cuts in an action scene or less cuts in a less action filled scene.

Post Production Techniques

Filters: such as putting a tinted lens over the camera.

Special Effects: for example, editing something that doesn’t exist into a scene such as an alien.

Colour Correction: this can be used in order to brighten or otherwise edit the colour of a shot, scene or entire film. This ensures that every shot Is consistent.

Montage

A montage is usually used to compress time or to establish a time or place. A series of clips am scenes are set to music.

Juxtaposition

Two contrasting things together in order to hi light the difference between them.

Transitions

Dissolve: where an image fizzles out to nothing or a different image.

Wipe: where the frame moves off screen.

Fade: when an image fades to black, white or another colour in order to signify sleepiness, lack of consciousness or death.