Set Pieces

1- What typically happens in the scene?

2- What part does it play in the narrative?

3- What iconography is used?

4- What audience pleasures arise from the scene?

5- What languge may be used- vocab!

 

 

Press Conference

This is where people are informed

about the crimes and then people from the press are able to ask questions based on the murder.

• Cameras
• Press
• Microphones
• Desks
• Rows of chairs
• Flashes

 

The Laboratory



This specific scene is usually where they bring the evidence they have collected evidence from the crime scene, they analyse the evidence to see if they can gather any clues. It plays a much part in the narrative as the investigators are able to find clues as to who the criminal is. Scientific terms such as "Chromatic" are used which are unknown to everyday people but to scientists those words are everyday words for this, they also use type of language to make themselves look more clever then us. The pleasures that this scene gives are simple crazy, unseen, unlikely, wild and abnormal gadgets which people fall in love with straight away just by seeing them in action, the variation of gadgets and how they work fascinate people.

• Gloves
• Lab coats
• Computers
• Test Tubes

 

Interrogation scene

The crime flashback is usually done to show the crime taking place, and in many occasions it is done with a different suspect to enhance to the audience the range of suspects that may have been part of the crime.

• Dark, as the flashbacks usually show scenes of violence and crime
• Flashback Scenes may cause frightening moments to the audience and it allows them to witness the crime themselves.
• Clarification, gives proof of who, how and where the crime was committed in the narrative.
• Jolty Camera
• Quick Montages

  

Eureka moment

The moment when some important information is uncovered and an investigator may have a moment of intelligence and can figure out who the suspect is.

• In many ocassions this is the moment when the crime will finally be solved or a step away from it being solved.
• This may be a moment when the audience will either find out that they were right or wrong about who the victim was. This makes the audience feel involved and  intelligent if they were right.
• Facial Expressions are usually happy and exciting as the moment everyone has been waiting for has finally arrived.

Initial crime scene

This is where the family of the victims are informed of their death.

• This tends to be sad for the audience and it is usually a silent/quiet scene as the family or relatives are being informed about a not very good and 'happy' thing.
• This could sometimes bring further clues as the family may know someone who could have committed the crime.

   

Crime Scene-

 

This is the scene where the crime has been.

committed and the investigators go to see what has happened. This scene allows evidence to be collected and taken back to the lab so that they may be able to find the perpetrator

• Detective arrives at crime scene
• Police tape
• Evidence Markers
• Cameras

Arrest/Confession

 

Crime flashback

The crime flashback is usually done to show the crime taking place, and in many occasions it is done with a different suspect to enhance to the audience the range of suspects that may have been part of the crime.

• Dark, as the flashbacks usually show scenes of violence and crime
• Flashback Scenes may cause frightening moments to the audience and it allows them to witness the crime themselves.
• Clarification, gives proof of who, how and where the crime was committed in the narrative.
• Jolty Camera
• Quick Montages

Visit to next of kin

This is where the family of the victims are informed of their death.

• This tends to be sad for the audience and it is usually a silent/quiet scene as the family or relatives are being informed about a not very good and 'happy' thing.
• This could sometimes bring further clues as the family may know someone who could have committed the crime.

Autopsy

 

This is where the body of the victim

is investigated to see whether there is any evidence connecting a person with the murder.

• Body Bag.
• Tweasers.
• Lab Coat.
• Table which the body is on.

Independent Research Analysis - Kidnapp and Ransom

I was introduced to a crime drama which goes by the name "Kidnap and Random", it is a British television miniseries, shown on ITV1. The series revolves around the latest cases for expert British hostage negotiator Dominic King, played by Trevor Eve. The first episode aired in January 2011. I viewed an episode of the latest series(2) on ITV iplayer so it is still access able on the the ITV website, to be more specific this episode aired on February 23, 2012. I felt that the beginning sequence to this episode was completely different to what I have ever seen in a crime drama and that element of this specific episode "Wowed" me. There wasn't any special effects as the series is realist, the begining intro is silent and only photos and words of the actors appear, there is a redy colour which is illustrated in the intro, could it link to blood?

In the new series, we join Dominic King in Srinagar, Kashmir negotiating the release of the Mehtas, a British Asian family kidnapped while on holiday visiting their son Mahavir. As the handover is completed, the police arrive and a shoot-out ensues.Dominic gets most of the family to safety but the kidnappers get away with Mahavir. In their panic they board a tourist bus, taking all those on board hostage. As this series is still new there has still been no rating on IMBD but the rating for season 1 was at 6.7/10 with 132, this illustrates the reduced population that Kidnap and Ransom has, especially compared to Luther (132 - 7022). It also could be that I have never actually seen an advert for "Kidnap and Ransom" and that could reduce the viewings dramatically. Each episodes around about 45 minutes so it doesn't bore the audience. Due to the dramatic scenes when adverts approached I became furious as I wanted to see what was going to happen next and I wanted it as soon as possible.

I felt that the episode as a whole was very interesting and unique. Instead of us finding out the killer like CSI we knew who the criminal was but the problem catching him. I felt the episode went really fasted as it is a very fast paced crime drama and gets into the action very quick, even though I know its a 45 minute episode it felt like 20 minutes. I really enjoyed the unique twists that this episode had and due to this I will be watching the new episode and staying tuned to the series as a whole.

Independent Research Analysis - Luther

I stumbled across a different crime drama entirely at around 10 O'clock after the watershed, Season 1, Episode 2. Luther is directed by Brian Kirk and Written by Neil Cross, it first aired on the 11th of May 2010 but was replayed on TV in 2010/2012. This specific episode got around 5.93 million views, Which is outstanding for a second episode of a new crime drama. Replays illustrate the crime drama as a whole as being "worth it", if the series was terrible they wouldn't put it on replay after a year, but if it was good of course they air it so that the audience can relive the excitement they had a year ago or new views could begin watching.

Luther has to stay ahead of a killer who is trained in using sniper weapons and has been murdering police officers. Luther struggles to discover the shooter's true motivation, which is tied to his war veteran father. This episode was rated 8.6/10 with over 7022 votes which is astonishing amount of votes, especially to "NCIS". These episodes of Luther run for about 1 hour which is a very long time but due to the intense,action and creepy scenes the audience are engaged and couldn't care less about how long it is as they are so interested in watching the rest of Luther.

My thoughts of this episode overall was very high, I enjoyed the whole as it was very jaw dropping as the audience didn't know what to expect next, the episode was very sped up whilst it was in intense moments which gave the episode that extra effect which had the audience really concentrate, which of course then led to the audience engaging with the episode.I really enjoyed the victims roll in this episode as he had a very interesting and unique background story which we then began to feel sorry for him, even though he killed 5+ police men. Last Words "Brilliant, I will be watching Luther again in the future."

Independent Research Analysis - NCIS - Naval Criminal Investigative Service

Whilst i was browsing the Television guide, I came across NCIS Season 1 Episode 4 or simply known as "The Immortals" episode. This program is usually aired on Broadcast "CBS" in American and is only on after the watershed. This episode broadcasted in 14 October, 2003 but I watched it as a replay in 2012, this demonstrates how the show is watched any day and any time due to its interesting and fascinating content.
The NCIS team investigates world of online gaming after a reconstruction of a video game stunt gone bad, kills a sailor. This episode was rated 7.4/10 from 166 people on IMBD (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0658030/). The episode ran for 42 minutes which is a good time to keep an episode as if the episode is too long the audience feel that it's dragging and same vies versa but instead of dragging it's annoying as they are really getting into the episode and then 20 minutes in it finished which aggravates the viewers.

My thoughts of this episode as a whole was interesting and very in-depth and gives an incite to the gaming world and what it could do to you both bad and worst. The victim in this episode was very out of past compared to the rest of the army which meant the team had to identity the online video game then tie it with the fictional character to reality.

Sub-Genres & Hybrids

Crime Drama Audience

Use of Camera

Camera Usage in Disaster Movies

I have been given a sheet from my Media Studies teacher Mr Fisher and i feel the need to cut it down to short sentences for easy revision so here goes:


Understanding the Role of the Camera


Close Up
-Is used to direct our attention on something in particular. Often a facial expression, as close ups emphasize a characters emotions. A close up could also is a significant clue to a development in the plot or prop.(close up of a knife could mean it being used to kill someone).


Extreme Close Up
-Focuses the audiences attention on even smaller detail, these shots are used for artistic shots. Extreme close up also give a sense of discomfort so they can be used to really get the audience close to the action.


Long Shot
-Shows us the whole of a character, thus drawings our attention to a persons costume and body language. A long shot may be needed to offer perspective. For example in The Day After Tomorrow, we see a long shot to see the wave approaching the library. Long shots are also used so we see the setting as it might be important in that moment.


Mid Shot
-Allows us to see a person from the waist up, mostly used so we can see the dialogue between to characters. Mid shots also give us information about the setting, but not so much is distracts us from the conversation/action.

High/Low Angle
-A high angle shot is when the camera is placed higher than the subject and so we are looking down on them. A low angle shot is the opposite.If you are placed higher up than a character, you feel as if you have more power and the character is more vulnerable. We are placed stronger than them, if the camera is at a low angle the character looks bigger and making them look more important and powerful.

Over the Shoulder:
-This shot is framed from behind a person who is looking at the subject. The person facing the subject should usually occupy about 1/3 of the frame.This shot helps to establish the position of each person, and get the feel of looking at one person from the other's point of view.It's common to cut between these shots during a conversation, alternating the view between the different speakers.

Point of View:
-This shot shows a view from the subject's perspective. It is usually edited in such a way that it is obvious whose POV it is.


Camera Movement:
-Pan
-Tilt
-Tracking
-Crane
-Bird's eye view
-Zoom

Framing
-Framing refers to the edge of the picture and what has been deliberately placed inn or excluded from the frame. We often discuses tight framing of a sequence of shots of close-ups and maybe mid shots where little of the background can be seen. By not allowing us to see the background may also result in a sense of discomfort as we wont be able to see something which may be approaching.


Depth Of Field
-Technique used to distract our attention from the background detail, or to make it noticeable, is depth of field. Sometimes a director will only want us to focus on certain subjects within the shot so he will make sure other elements are out of focus and blurred. If the setting,colours or landscapes are important and the director wants them to be in detail and clear, deep focus is used to make sure everything's focused. Shallow focus is the opposite effect where only part of the image is in focus.