Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs representation of ethnicity using the following:

·      Camera shots/ angels/ movement

·      Lighting

·      Sound

·      Mise-En-Scene

·      Editing

In class, we watch an extract from the TV Drama Hotel Babylon. It is aimed at 15+ and is shown on TV at 9pm on a weekday.

The scene begins with a hotel manager walking in to the swimming pool area. It shows a tracking shot. We can tell that he has a very high up position in the hotel as he is wearing his black suit and positioned very straight and tall, showing superiority, however when this man is greeted by what seems an ex-friend, he acts very awkward, with obvious example of him trying to get away. The friend that he is greeted by is of a Carribean race, he uses slang words that are found in that language. To the audience he is looked down on, as the character (the manager) is liked by the audience, and it seems as though the other guy is making the manager feel awkward, and not wanting to be there.
Another race shown in the clip is in the kitchen, it shows an italian man, and a british. Using the italian guy is very stereotypical as they are known for their italian food. He insults the english chef by calling him a 'British pig'. We can see that they obviously have a past together due to the realtionship we see, however we can also tell that they discrimminate against each other due to their different nationalities, as we can see due to the insults. As the argument progresses, as does the music, it becomes a lot louder and helps build the tension. The italian chef is wearing black, which connotes evil and this makes the audience know that they should not be liking this chef.
Next we hear music, it is coming from a room in the hotel. Two polish women walk in, one being very outgoing and one being the opposite. They are portrayed as poor to the audience as they are stripping and dancing to a sexual french song, when they don't want to do it. One of the maids is wearing white underneath (connotating purity and goodness) and the other black, along with the white underwear she has a cross neclace on, it is obvious she doesn't want to be doing this.
The Japanese is seen to be rich and a tourist (stereotypical) as he is staying in a hotel there and the maids make a comment about him being a top customer. Japanese are known to be the tourists around the UK.
Later the immigration officers come in, and all the immigrants are hidden away, this is a major part of the scene which the camera's are seen to be looking down at them, as they are against the law. A hotel manager also helps them to hide, this shows she has something to do with this.
All of the managers are easily seen due to their black smart suits. The more laid back memebers of staff seem to be the white british ones, wheras the others seem up tight and rushing around the hotel trying really hard. 
This clip shows a wide variety of different races and carries out their strereotypes very well.

Skins

This clip shows conventional features of a teen TV drama as it is set in a school where the teenagers watching the show will go. The first people we meet are Freddie and Effy, this shows that these will be the main characters in the show. We know that it is this is their first day because they are introducing each other to one another.

A feature that is common in teenage TV dramas is having a good looking main protagonist which this programme does.

The programme attracts the audience because people can relate to some of the stories which take place and can show how different people react in different situations.

Skins is quite an unusual drama as each episode focuses on a different character in the programme. So it goes into more detail about each of the characters personal life. By doing this it allows the audience to get an attachment to each of the characters.

It is also quite unusual because the story line goes into quite deep emotions and shows explicit scenes which you wouldn't see in other teen TV dramas like Beaver Falls and The Inbetweeners.

They often use point of view shows to show the audience the eye of the characters. The also use medium shots to show that people are in conversation and also over the shoulder shots and reaction shots to show the different characters when they are talking in a conversation.

 This will be a over the shoulder shot which would turn into a reaction shot when changing to the next person.

 This is a medium shot to show the audience are having a conversation.

This is a point of view shot to show the audience that Freddie and Effy are looking at Freddie's group of friends.

Beaver falls is a teen drama, made by the british film industry, however set in America. It is about a group of 3 boys that go on a 'camp america' kind of thing, for their summer. The age group ranges from 16-22, with the characters being 19 years old. It is a stereotypical group of boys, consisting of an attractive , a geek, and a genuine (average) guy. it attracts its target audience with an attractive main protagonist, many girls (at the camp), and humour. It has sexual scenes, strong language however in a humoured way. It brings up issues of relationships, school, drugs through many emotions, which may relate to some issues that the audience may be going through. The programme brings humour through showing the immaturity of the characters.
Establishing shots and pan shots are used a lot as they remind the audience of how the group of boys are on a camp in the USA, making this tv drama different to those other teen drama's focused around school, however the idea and theme of school/university is brought up throughout the series.

6102 Foundation Portfolio: History of Music Press

6102 Foundation Portfolio: History of Music Press: History of Music Press

3 TV Drama's.

Beaver Falls

Beaver falls is a teen drama, made by the british film industry, however set in America. It is about a group of 3 boys that go on a 'camp america' kind of thing, for their summer. The age group ranges from 16-22, with the characters being 19 years old. It is a stereotypical group of boys, consisting of an attractive , a geek, and a genuine (average) guy. it attracts its target audience with an attractive main protagonist, many girls (at the camp), and humour. It has sexual scenes, strong language however in a humoured way. It brings up issues of relationships, school, drugs through many emotions, which may relate to some issues that the audience may be going through. The programme brings humour through showing the immaturity of the characters.
Establishing shots and pan shots are used a lot as they remind the audience of how the group of boys are on a camp in the USA, making this tv drama different to those other teen drama's focused around school, however the idea and theme of school/university is brought up throughout the series.

Notes On 2 Minute Drama Clip

Click for Link to video - Waterloo Road
Begins at 17:10 mins
Characters in scene - Ronan, Maddie, and Vicky
Costume - A scruffy but recognisable school uniform
Setting : Food Technology class room. By using this mise-en-scene (of the location and costume), the problems that are brought up in this scene are intensified, as a couple arguing about paying the rent could be a casual topic, but as it is placed on a 17 year old couple, living on there own, the matter seems a lot more important.

 Maddie and Ronana are having a laugh, whilst Vicky is at the foor of the classroom (but they can not see her), and viewers can see Vicky, not looking impressed. The camera then does a point of view shot from behind vickys shoulder to put the audience in her position, of seeing her boyfriend having a laugh with another girl. Vicky gets paranoid by this and interupts with 'Having a good time are you' very uinfriendly. Maddie is only trying to help Roana and Vicky out with financial problems, but Vicky doesnt see this. Maddie is demanded to leave by Vicky, so she does, then Ronan explains how she was only trying to help them get more money for paying their rent. It brings up the issues of relationships and stress from work at school into one scene. Vicky gets out of hand and starts repeatedly hitting Ronan, whilst he shouts at her to stop. Music is introduced, and this intensifies the repeating hits on Ronan. Camera then turns to a different scene and location after seeing a reaction shot of Ronan, whilst the music gradually decreases, bringing back equilibrium to the Teen Drama.
              

5 Print screen shots

Scheduling Details: BBC One, Wednesday, 7:30pm
Created By:Ann McManus + Maureen Chadwick
Producer: Various
Director: Various
Characters: Earl Kelly, Maxine, Janeece

Narrative: Earl is at Maxines home where he plans to shoot her as she doesnt want to be with him anymore. Whilst this is going on and they continue t dispute, Janeece sneaks in behind Earl and tries to take the gun off him, however he takes control and pushes Janeece away and accidentally in a 'moment of madness' shoots maxine. The scene ends with Steph coming home to maxine lying on the floor dying.

Mise en scene: The characters are all seen in uniform as they are students. The lighting is dim which shows mystery within the scene, and whenever Earl Kelly is shown, he is placed in the shadows, emphasising his danger and evilness. The setting is in an empty house, in order to emphasise the idea of no escape to the characters, when in the life threatening situation. It is in a standard family home, where the colour code is a calm red, which adds to the element of danger.

Sound: Behind the characters speech, there is a very quiet high pitch sound, with the occasional high piano keys. When the tension is building between the two characters, the high pitch noise becomes louder, and therefore easier for the audience to hear, this helps add to/build suspension for the audience.

Identifying the sub-genre of a Television Drama.

From the screen shot that I have found, i can tell that the programme is sub-genred 'teen drama'. All the people in this shot are in uniform, showing that they are teenagers. The fact that they are all surrounding the car is very stereotypical for these 17 year olds, as being 17 means you can drive, and teenage boys obsessing over fast cars and looking good to you mates, and as you can see by the shot, the boy is showing off his car to others, and the girl is proud that she has a friend with a car, whilst others are admiring it. The school in the background sets the scene, and this also shows that the drama is based here.  The students are dressed in a way of going against the schools dressed code, with a boy in a cardigan, and with short skirts, and buttons undone on the top, this is also seen as stereotypical for rebellious students.