Task One (P1, M1, D1) Understanding single-camera products
The single camera format is used primarily in shooting one off dramas and movies. This process basically uses a single camera to record all the footage used in the production, as the scenes are shot consecutively. This type of shooting is usually cheaper than using multiple cameras, but on average takes longer to create the finished process. On the other hand of the scale is the multi camera format; here multiple cameras are used to shoot the product. The multi camera format is used primarily in live shows, such as Friday night with Jonathan Ross; here the production team can cut between shots to create a more dynamic effect.
There are many advantages to using a single camera format when shooting, for one; it allows the director to get more focused and specific shots, without the worry of catching the other camera in shot. The fact that only one camera means that the production team don’t have to spend as much money on cameras. The single camera set up is also a lot more convenient for the crew, for instance you could shoot dialog between two characters without both of them having to be on set. It is logistically more possible to use a single camera set up, as the physical restraints of the set are less likely to accommodate a multi camera set up.
The multi camera set up is a much easier and less time consuming way to shoot footage. Here multiple angles can be recorded for a sequence simultaneously, which can then be sent to the editor to be cut and placed into perfect sequence for the end product. The multi camera set up is used mostly in live shows, giving the production team a wide choice of shots to mix for the show. For example on question time, during a controversial debate, occasionally the camera man will shoot a close up of a member of the audience to the viewer, expressing the desired reaction to the argument. This effect gives the show a more intimate atmosphere and looks better planned out.
There are many examples of both single and multi camera set ups, a good example of a single camera drama would be the highly successful American show Supernatural, which also happens to be a series drama. This is due to the fact that though each season has its own large plot line, running through all the episodes, each episode itself has an entirely different story arc. An example of a multi camera drama series would be the Jeremy Kyle show, as it is a live topical debate show, multiple cameras are needed to catch shots of both the audience and the host/guests. The multi camera set up also makes for easier and more accessible shots when the host wants to go into the audience and ask questions.
References
(www.wikipedia.org www.pgsmedia.co.uk www.google.co.uk)
Task Two (P1, M1, D1) Series, Serials and single dramas
Single camera dramas are split into different categories, depending on the narrative structure of the program. The first example is a series, programs such as 24; this is due to the fact that the programme is on for one hour a week, for a long running 24 weeks. A series usually consists of 6 or more episodes, like the BBC series Being Human, which is a comedy drama genre centred on a vampire, a ghost and a werewolf trying to live incognito in a Welsh town. Another example of a successful BBC drama is the periodical drama of desperate romantics, documenting the life and exploits of Dante Rossetti and his brotherhood of artistic friends as they pursue careers, fame and women. This falls into the category of series as it consists of six, one-hour episodes, show once a week.
A serial drama is like a series, except it is much shorter, usually between 1 and 3 parts; often serializations of books and plays are serial dramas. An example of a serial drama was the recently adapted Wuthering Heights, which showed as two, two hour parts on ITV, which were broadcasted on Sunday, and then again on Monday. Another serial drama is Red Riding, a dramatization of David Peace's cult novels about Yorkshire during the 1970's and 80s, including the Ripper murders. The reason this is a serial drama is because its a three part drama, showed over a period of three weeks.
References
(www.channel4.co.uk www.google.co.uk www.itv.co.uk)
Task 3 (P1, M1, D1) Narrative
The narrative structure behind a series or serial drama is often used as a tool in the production of the drama, and can drastically change the way we view the program. The conventional style of presenting a narrative is by using a Linear or sequential narrative structure, this basically means that the events which occur during the course of the program appear in chronological order. An example of a linear narrative would be in the program 24; as the series presents a whole days events, beginning at 6 am or 7 am and working through the day until the clock reaches 6 am or 7 am of the following day. In the case of serial dramas, periodical drama's which cover events such as battles or assassinations usually occur in chronological order, this is because it helps the viewer understand what has happened, and why it happened.
On the other hand, a non-chronological narrative is called a non-linear or non-sequential narrative, as the events which happen in the program are shown in a different order to how they occurred. One example of a non-sequential narrative, is the newly released film Babylon A.D, here the main character, played by Vin Diesel, begins the narrative on the day he "died" and then shows the viewers the events which worked up to that day. The effect this has on the drama is profound, the narrative hooks seize the viewers interest, and immediately makes them question why this has happened, and what could have lead to such an event. The audience is also thrown out of their comfort zone, as they have been conditioned for years by Hollywood films to trust in the linear narrative, understanding what happens after each event, introducing the non-sequential narrative often leaves the viewer in the power of the director, as he then decides which part of the film will be shown to the viewer and which part will be saved to cause shock and excitement later on.
Though it is seen as a tool in creating a non-sequential narrative, flashbacks have been used effectively by directors for years; in order to give a film or drama a sense of enigma or to provide the viewer with past experiences from key characters. The popular and largely controversial U.S drama, Lost, is a good example in exploring the use of flashbacks and their effects on narratives. One of the predominant features of the narrative, is that a group of strangers have crashed on an island, and must come together to survive, what really adds a sense of drama and excitement to the drama, is when the director decides to give the viewer a morsel from a key characters past. What made the narrative even more confusing was when the producers decided to use flash-forwards in one of the later series, by changing the pattern of the narrative all together, the producers succeeded in creating an interesting and original drama. Some critics believe that the flashbacks are one of the main causes of Lost's popularity. In terms of the film industry, countless iconic films feature some type of flashback in the narrative, such as the film Memento. The narrative surrounds a man, who has an abnormal mental difficulty, after a short amount of time, the man forgets everything that has just happened. The way this effect sets this film out from the rest, is that the director starts the film at the end of the narrative, and works it backwards in sections, almost playing the entire film backwards. The effect this gives on the film as a whole is stunning, creating an enigma from the word go, and immerses the audience in the characters confusing tale.
Another key aspect of narrative, is the division between realist and anti realist. The terms realist and anti realist, basically mean fictional and non fictional. Every series, serial drama or film ever created has either been based on fact, fiction or both. A popular example of an anti-realist narrative, would be that of Harry Potter, the magical world created by J.K Rowelling is based on fictional characters and setting. Whereas the film W is a documentary of George W Bush and his role as president. A nice twist of both fact and fictional is the film Pans Labyrinth.The films narrative works in a certain way, so that only the little girl sees the fairy tale creatures, some critics argue that all these strange events are figments of the girls imagination, created to escape her life on conflict in the closing days of World War 2.
An important sequence in the construction of any narrative is the ending. There are two different types of endings that can be used; the closed ending and the open ending. A few examples of films with closed endings are, The Last Samurai, I am Legend and Dorian Grey. These are labelled closed endings, as the narrative firmly finishes at the end of the film, leaving no room for a sequal. An example of an open ending include, Pulp fiction, Twilight and Resident evil, these are defined as open ended, as their endings are left unexplained or unfinished to the viewer; leaving room for speculation or sequals.
The patterns in narratives are also vital to the narrative structure. Goal oriented plots such as The lord of the rings, dominates the main narrative of the story, making it clear what the characters have set out to do, and why it is important. Search or investigation narratives are usually crime dramas/films, such as CSI or In the line of duty. The journey aspect of a narrative could signify a literal journey such as in the film Around the world in 80 days, or this could connote a mental journey, sa is the case in the channel 4 drama skins, which is focused on a group of teenagers dealing with life at 18. The final part of narrative structures are the climax's in films, these usually connote the key point in the film, where revelations are unveiled, battles are fought and goals are reached. Climax's in films such as 300 and Saving private ryan act as key turning points in the film, illustrating some of the last acts of the main characters.
The range of information is a key factor in the viewers understanding of a narrative. The first type of information is the un-restricted narrative, here the audience can see and hear everything that's happening in the film or drama, without the presence of the main character. The audience usually know the ending to such productions, as this is used most frequently in documentry dramas and films based on real events; examples of which are Black Hawk Down, Braveheart and Titanic. The second type of information is the restricted narrative, in this case the audience learns new information as the character learns new information, creating a more intimate and intense atmosphere. Examples of this type of information are seen in the films: The Mummy, Memento and Pitch Black.
Propp's theory on narrative structure was that every narrative had a; hero, helper, damsel and villain, this theory is widely applicable to the majority of films and dramas made in this day and age. Examples which support theory include the popular crime drama Wire in the Blood, here a psychologist Tony Hill, would assist the police detective Alex Fielding, in saving the life of a hostage who has been captured by a murderer. Another example which supports Propps theory is the film Pirates of the Carribean: The Black Pearl. In this film, young William Turner is trying to rescue the woman he loves, Elizabeth Swan, who has been captured by the mutinous pirate Captain Barbossa, and is helped by Jack Sparrow. Some could even argue that Jack is trying to retake his ship, the Black Pearl, from his mutinous first mate, Barbossa, with the assistance of William.
Todorov's theory on narrative structure was that there were 3 stages to every successful narrative, an equilibrium, a disruption which creates an inequilibrium and a resolution of the disruption. The theory states that it doesn't have to be in this exact order, as a large amount of films and drama's have began to a disruption, rather than an equilibrium. An example of this can be seen in the film Dorian Grey, it begins with a young man, stabbing someone to death with a broken shard from a mirror, which acts as a disruption, a title appears on the screen stating "one year earlier" and depicts the scene of the young man's arrival to the city of London, which is set as a quaint equilibrium. Another example of this can be seen in the film Beowulf, as the film starts with a disruption, caused by the monster Grendle, an equilibrium isn't seen until Beowulf has killed the monster and become king. This state of equilibrium is again broken when a dragon attacks the kingdom, this is resolved by both the dragon and Beowulf's deaths.
References
(www.wikipedia.org www.google.com www.pgsmedia.co.uk www.youtube.com)
The initial shot used in the drama Seven, is a typical establishing shot. This shot is used to introduce the audience to the set of the drama. As the shot slowly pan’s around the scene, the audience is also introduced to the main character of the short drama, Joan, who is walking through the area. The lighting used on set is mainly natural lighting, creating a dark look to the area, possibly connoting that the character we are meeting is dark and mysterious. The sounds heard in the shot are mostly the sounds of suburban life, footsteps, distant cars and train’s. This gives the shot a natural feeling with the audience, giving them something to identify with before the narrative begins to unfold.
Near the two-minute point of the drama, the character Joan experiences a flashback. This is illustrated through an over the shoulder shot of whom we presume is Joan, as she reads a newspaper. The editing in this shot makes it clear to the audience that they are seeing a flashback, as the shot is grey (signifying the past) and the camera seems disorientated, as if the character is seeing the scene again. The camera then proceeds to close in on words such as “drugs” and “death” which are seen on the newspaper, a heart beat can be heard through out the shot, implying that the character is linked to the events, and is either excited or scared to see the words. The lighting in the shot is dark, which adds to the effect of the flashback.
The final scene of the drama splits from a medium shot of the two men, to a mixture of shots featuring the character Joan. She jumps on the train tracks, whilst one of the men stops the other one from trying to stop her. Non-diegetic music can be heard in the background of the shot, the violins connote something bad is going to happen in the scene. Finally Joan sits on the tracks whilst the camera advances on her, the shaking effect is used to convey a sense of immediate and oncoming danger to the character. The sound of a train’s whistle can be heard, suggesting that the character has jumped onto the train tracks and is about to be hit by a train.
References
(www.pgsmedia.co.uk http://filmsound.org/terminology/diegetic.htm#diegetic)
The world of media consumption is changing, the digital era of media has made mass viewing audiences extinct. Back when television only had 2 or 3 channels, each channel was guarrenteed a mass viewing audience, take Only Fools and Horses as an example, the Christmas special aired in 1992 gained a staggering audeince of 20.1 million people, which is about a third of the entire population. This mass viewing audience made it incredibly easy for advertisers to get their products accross to a wide audience, "If an advertiser like Ford wanted to reach the viewers, all it had to do was run a big ad on one of the networks, and were guarrenteed a mass audience" - (Rupert Murdoch)
The digital era has ushered in a menagerie of new types of media, introducing things like Sky+ and the BBC iplayer. Due to all these different types of access to media, and all the newly founded channels on television, the mass viewing audience has ceased to exist. Massive shows such as the X factor and Britains got talent, will on average achieve a viewing audience of 10 million, half the numbers of people who watched the Only Fools Christmas special in 1992. This "Creative Destruction" is changing the way we view and recieve media, the centralised corporate controlled media back in the 90's has changed conisdirably in the last decade. Back then, the media monguls of the world decided what we watched and when we watched it, they controlled our media due to a lack of choice. But now, the situation has been turned on its head, the power of controlling what we watch has been handed down to the consumers now, as they make the choices of what they want to watch, when they want to watch it and how they want to watch it.
The media has been forced to adapt to its audience, times where the whole family would crowd around a box set to see an episode of Corronation Street have passed. The consumer needs between a middle aged office worker and a child are going to be vastly different, corporation owners acknowledge this need for change. People like Rupert Murdoch are keeping ahead of this digital change by making their media accessible, for example, to gain a bigger audience for 24, Fox broadcast him on their main network, then they release the season on cable television, then distribute it onto dvd where the show will be given a global viewing audience. They have even created a website, hulu, which allows people to watch the entire season for free, amongst 100's of other shows.
"To stay ahead of the competition, a media company needs to diversify geographically so it can reach more people" - (Rupert Murdoch)
References
(www.youtube.com www.google.co.uk www.pgsmedia.co.uk)
Task 6 (P1, M1, D1) Audience Classification
During the course of my production, I will be using a variety of media tools to capture my production in the highest quality. We filmed the opening scene with Panasonic 3ccd HD camcorder pal; we used this because the opening scene was located in the school, where we were allowed to use the camera freely. We used this camera to achieve the highest quality product we possibly could, though the rest of the shots would be in different locations, and would require us to change to hand held cameras. The opening scene featured an establishing shot and several close up’s, to fully apply the camera to the scene, we had to add a mobile tripod, this way the camera man was able to make the shots comfortably and reduce any shaking of the lens.
During the rest of the shooting we decided to use handheld portable cameras, using a tripod attachment to increase the steadiness of the user, creating more professional looking shots. The location features a number of obstacles, which could have resulted in damaging the original Panasonic camera, which we used to shoot the opening shots; this is probably the main reason why we chose to use the handy cameras.
Due to the nature of our product, we used the built in voice recorders of the cameras to record what sound we needed, such as back ground noise to make the product seem more realistic. There is no recorded dialog between the characters, as a comedic technique to the production, we have the characters miming words, which we are then adding subtitles to the clips. By using this technique, we are also able to avoid the problem of poor sound recording in the dialog between the characters. Since the majority of the production is a large chase scene, additional recording equipment would have been ineffective.
We wanted the production to seem realistic, this way the true point of our product would be conveyed to the audience much clearer. In an attempt to make the production seem more realistic, we decided to use natural lighting, any type of lighting equipment would probably have over-dramatised the production.
The team consists of four people. There is one camera operator, two main actors and an additional supporting actor. The majority of the narrative of our comical production was centered on the two main characters, one of them believes that the other had stolen his enchiladas, which is where the chase ensues. We decided to film this as a skit of a serious action chase scene, two people getting worked up and angry over a rather small matter. The support actor plays the part of our recurring motif in the narrative; he represents the main enigma in the “narrative” as he appears in every shot without seeming to have moved. All of this is filmed by our cameraman, the advantage of having such a small team, is that the chance of any one of us missing a days filming is reduced.
The locations in our production consist of our schools dining hall, and two large areas of the local park. The school dining hall acts as the beginning of our production, it’s the area where the disruption happens. The scene then picks up at the first large area of the local park, tracking the two characters as one chases the other. The final location in the production is the second large area of the park, here the character finally catches up to the supposed “culprit” and confronts him, and the scene ends on a cliffhanger to maintain the enigma of the narrative.
The props and costumes of the production feature a tray, tables, chairs, a banana costume and various playground objects. The tray is used at the beginning of the production in the dining hall; this is where one of the characters becomes suspicious that the other has eaten his enchiladas. The tables and chairs are also used in this initial shot, as the characters are in a relaxed and informal setting. The playground objects are used as obstacles for our characters to clear, and the setting of a playground also adds to the non-serious nature of our production. The banana costume is used in the final piece of the production, to make sure the audience is left with the sense that this production was based on comedy, its used during the credits.
The software used in the editing and importing process’s of the production is an important factor in the success of the over all product. Our main editing software is iMovie HD, the wide range of tools and editing features appealed to us, but the promise of user-friendly implementation also added a significant bonus. The main cutting and re-organisation of clips will take place in this program, along with the addition of subtitles. We have also composed the products sound track using garage band, here we used a comedic sound effect track to anchor the products genre.
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