Framing Guide - HW

Framing Guide

Tilt

Extreme Close Up

Close Up

Medium Shot

Long Shot

Establishing Shot

High Angle

Low Angle (Policeman)

Two Shot

Point of View

Over The Shoulder & Reverse

Shameless Extract Deconstruction [Series 2, Episode 2 | 33-37 Mins]

Part of the clip -
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/shameless/video/series-2/episode-2/burning-love




How is camerawork used in this excerpt of 'Shameless', to represent Marty's character?

'Marty' is a character who suffers from a disability known as turrets, and is represented in many different ways in this extract. The camerawork in this clip is used to reinforce and imply 'Marty's' disability, you can see that 'Marty's' character is vulnerable, isolated, protective, emotionally unstable, potentially dangerous, sinister, and other characters treat him with caution, through various shots.

First shot in the clip is a deep focus shot, this allows you to see all three of the characters. The other two are sat away from 'Marty', reinforcing the idea of him being isolated. 'Marty' is in the foreground, which shows the audience his disability up close. The next shot is of the other two characters outside of the room 'Marty' is in, having a conversation about 'Marty', this is known as a two shot. It is filmed using a steady hand held camera to show realism, and the conversation tells us that 'Marty' should be treated with caution.
Another shot, shows 'Marty' alone in his bedroom from a high angle shot, representing 'Marty' as small and insignificant. The camera is slightly cantered which shows that something is not quite right. It then moves on to a medium close up shot of 'Marty's' face, to show his emotion, and he looks quite angry and distressed, at this point, 'Marty' could be seen as being potentially dangerous.

The clip cuts to an exterior shot which is tracking a car, and then cuts back to 'Marty' which shows links between the two, and also this shows the viewer the reason why 'Marty' is angry. The clip then moves on to a voyeuristic shot, where the camera is position on the bonnet outside, looking in and watching the people inside the car. The camera then tracks 'Marty' wearing dark clothing at night time, and then leads to the camera panning down to show 'Marty' carrying a petrol can, this shows 'Marty' as being potentially dangerous, and the series of shots link together with Propp's villain idea. The next shot is from underneath the car, and only shows 'Marty's' feet whilst walking towards the car to imply him as being a sinister character. As the scene gets more frantic as 'Marty' is pouring this petrol over the car more angrily and quickly, a close up of the petrol is used, whilst the camera is shaking to reinforce 'Marty's' actions.

The clip moves on to show over the shoulder and reverse shots to show the three people, 'Marty' and the two in the car, but however they are separated, and a sense of opposition is implied. The 180 degree rule is enforced in these shots, and this shows that 'Marty' is still isolated from everyone else. The camera then keeps cutting back to close ups of 'Marty' to show the viewer his anger, and distressed facial expressions. As the scene moves on, 'Marty' produces a lighter, which becomes a cause of concern for every other character, the lighter is in most of the shots from then on until the end of the clip, and it becomes a motif for 'Marty', even if you can't see him, you still know that he is holding the lighter, again implying how he could be potentially dangerous. The camera moves on to a close up of the lighter, and then cuts to everyone's face in the crowd, reinforcing that the lighter is the main cause for concern when held by 'Marty'. The camera then shows an extreme close up of the lighter which builds suspense, and you can see clearly that 'Marty's' hand is shaking which once again shows potential danger.

Once the lighter is taken from 'Marty' the next shot is a crowd shot which suggests that the panic is over. However 'Frank Gallagher' comes along and drops a cigarette, and then the camera shows a close up of the cigarette on the floor where the petrol is. The camera then zooms in to capture everyone's reaction, and then once the car is set a light, the camera slows down and pans to see everyone's emotion. 'Marty's' face looks happy and slightly deranged, however when the camera cuts to everyone else, they all look shocked and unimpressed. Once again, right at the end of the clip, it shows how 'Marty' is isolated and how his mind is different to everyone elses.

Lesson 3 - BLog Tips and Practise 11.09.09

Blogs Tips & Practise

Today we:

• Made sure we could all access our blogs
• Looked at how to format and edit blogs, including linking to videos and uploading images
• Ensured all HL was completed and uploaded onto blogs
• All practised linking to videos from youtube
  

Lesson 2 - Theory & Background 10.09.09

TV Drama Theory & Background

• Enigma

Linear Narrative
______________________________

A -----------> B -----------> C

Start ------ Problem ------ Middle ------ Resolved ------ End

• Todorov
  
  - Equilibrium: World is safe
  ___________
  - Disruption: Nuclear device is stolen
  - Disequilibrium: Panic
  ___________
  - Resolution: Kills bad guy, retrieves nuclear device
  - New Equilibrium: World is safe again

• Propp
  
  Typical identifiable characters in all narratives:
  
  - The Villain: Deformed/foreign - black clothing
  - Donor: Q
  - Helper: Q/Bond girl
  - Princess: Bond girl
  - Father: Great Britain
  - Dispatcher: M
  - Hero: Bond - attractive & white clothing
  - False Hero: Double agent (Second bond girl sometimes)

HW - How crime is represented in 'The Bill'

How crime is represented:

• Crime is bad (obvious, as it is presented from police point of view)
• Urgency - needs to be solved quickly.
• Thoroughly investigated - you watch a full investigation of one case during an episode.
• Taken seriously - no jokes in storyline (very serious and proffessional)
• Criminal never looks popular - a viewer never wants to be like the criminal
• Concern - victims (victim's family always asking questions)
• Unpredictable - twists and turns in the case
• Time consuming - case never solved early, usually takes a few days in the story
• Repetitive - everything has to be checked more than once
• Un-glamorous - criminal always gets caught in the end, and put in prison

Lesson 1 - Representation 4.9.09

Representation

- Based on signifiers

- Changing signifiers changes impression

Shameless

We are going to look at the opening credits to the first series of Shameless, and see how the following are represented.

- Family

• Odd - voiceover (common)
• Working Class
• Not Stable
• Likeable

-  Area

• Poor
• Rundown
• Typical council estate
• Open to dodgy dealings

- Crime

• A good thing
• Not taken seriously
• Normal and fun

Shameless Opening Credits

0:00 - 1:55 
The first shot of 'Frank Gallagher' is at 0:06 and is of him looking drugged or drunk A hand held camera is recording this shot and it signifies how unsteady 'Frank' is himself.
'Debby' 0:45 - 0:50 use of irony. 'Frank' calls her an angel, and says how she is sent from God, but the irony is she is shown from a low angle shot showing her as slightly intimidating, where the camera is looking up at a knife.
Use of curved fish eye lense represents warped view, possibly showing 'Frank's' view, and his world.