Fresh Meat

Fresh Meat

Not too long ago, the channel 4 sitcom, Fresh Meat finished its first series. However not without bagging a second series due to popular demand from the audience. The show is set at Manchester Medlock University and focuses on the six fresher students (exception of Howard) living in assigned accommodation and the painful truths of being a student. The show focuses on their farcical events, whether it’s drugs, sex, alcohol, money, education, politics and even death. Yes Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain managed to write a script containing all of these typical topics, yet coating them in a contemporary and even witty spin. At the beginning of the show relationships and friendships instantly are formed.

Vod

(Short violet) Vod concentrates on the social lifestyle of university with a result of almost being kicked out of her course. She is incredible independent and strong minded with a unique style and humor. Her thick skin allows her relationship with the other s to differ from normal. In particular Oregon. The subtle bullying and peer pressure gives her the opportunity to feel empowered. This is particular shown in episode five. Otherwise known as student riots. Their friendship is threatened when she finds out about Oregon’s chosen relationship with professor Shale’s. She takes it personally that Oregon has told the affair and therefore ‘persuades’ her to break if off. Overall Vod is a compulsive, aggressive, intimidating, but she is however, streetwise, individual and entertaining.

JP

JP is a private school boy whose higher education took a turn as his lazy and immature attitude terminated his plans of a Cambridge or oxford university life. He considers himself the commander of the household from a result of his money. The link between money and power isn’t discouraged from the others along as their getting something out of it. Despite this, he shows a genuine side in episode six when id father is a victim of fatal heart attack. The choice of actor to play JP is standup comedian and now actor, Jack Whitehall.  Having non actors play roles can be risky and potentially damaging to their other chosen career. However the character was a perfect combination of his acting ability and celebrity status.       

                                                  Kingsley

After years caring for his sick mum in their Essex council flat, Kingsley is excited to be meet and hang around with friends, Kingsley’s ready to embrace life, love, sex and experience. When it comes to the above, he finds it hard to admit his true feelings. As for that Kingsley never seems to be in the right place at the right time.

Oregon

Secretly really named Melissa. Is anxious to appear cool and in doing so adapts her life in order to feel accepted by others. This is shown throughout the series as she consistently lies about her lifestyle, whether it’s wealth, background or even name. This is her way of reinventing herself as she’s terrified of being boring. Imitating Vod is the perfect excuse for her to abandon her middle class upbringing. Yet this comes at the cost of Vod intimidating her into constantly ‘helping’ her out, with education and personal matters.

Howard

How long to determine the length of Howard stay is hard to recognize. He is most defiantly social inept but seems to be content with his niche and quirky lifestyle. Ending the series by defending and standing up for his friends makes him the most lovable character of all.

Josie

Moving from Wales gave Josie the chance to start a fresh and meet new people. She is anxious to embrace student life. Her carful mind puts a strain on her friendships with the others.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/fresh-meat/video/series-1/episode-6/s1-ep6-power-through

Modern Family - Editing

Modern Family- Flash Mob  

Cross cutting is cutting back and forth between two or more events or actions that are taking place at the same time but in different places. Cross-cutting is used to build suspense or to show how different pieces of the action are related. Modern Family uses this technique often when the illustrating a story being told by the character that is being ‘interviewed’. This gives the audience a visual on the tale that's being backed up by dialogue.

 Close up is a shot showing a detail, like only the face or hands. Whereas a cutaway is a cut away from the primary subject to something the filmmaker has decided is equally or more relevant at that time. Often cutaways consist of shots showing the reaction of one character to another. This is often used to compress time in what appears to be a seamless manner. This again is another technique which is usually created to emphasis the emotion from the character that helps to build up a documentary experience.

Camera shots are part of the subject matter that is viewed and filmed by the camera. In this particular clip, there is a juxtaposition if different camera shots. This is show when footage is shown through a mobile phone and then flickers between the staged camera shots that look as if they’ve been shot from a distance. This looks as if the director has collected different footage to construct the scene.    

A transition is an easy way for one shot changes to the next. Usually created through layering of images. To add to the effect of a documentary, Modern Family don’t actually use such editing skills as it would detract from the raw camera shots and angles that assist to the production of modern family.      

Modern Family is an American television comedy series, which follows a family and records their antics. Although a scripted show, is made to look like a documentary. This is a style called ‘mocumentary’ where the fictional characters talk directly into the camera during many situations that arise throughout the series. This is created through Editing that is the process of rearranging, adding and/ or removing sections of video clips. This is all part of the post production.   

How does Hotel Babylon represent Ethnicity?

How does Hotel Babylon represent Ethnicity?

Hotel Babylon is known for a drama series set in the sexy world of the luxury five star hotel, on a journey beyond the facade of the smiling faces and glittering chandeliers and into the frenetic, non-stop world of the hotel staff. It discovers who the staff are and the background of the ethnic workers within the hotle.

The main two ways in which creating any sought of image is through mise-en-scene and sound. Mise-en-scene is everything going on ‘with in the scene’, this may be costume, set, lighting, casting, etc. Sound is the noise you are able to hear. This could be music, language, effects, or voices etc.

One of the many ways to create ethnicity is through casting of actors. We are presented with multiple ethnicities to create a group of minim wage employees working as the hotel staff such as cleaners and cooks. They range from Latina, African, to Chinese. Having many different actors of different races in a busy environment makes a scene of cultural hustle. Thus giving the allusion all the staff is multi cultural. This is shown when all of the staff is rushing to the room in which they are hiding from the immigration team. We see different skin tones and features allowing us understand the variety of races.             

The costumes are a dividing technique between the front and back of house. With the receptionist and barmen and others from the front of house, are usually clothed in smart suits as they are representing the hotel and what they stand for. On the other side the uniform changes dramatically when it concerns cleaner and cooks etc. With them there is a standard uniform showing the audience a clear divide between the two different staff units.

Sound is a key way to show ethnicity. We hear in the staff canteen and room when everyone is sat eating and on their break that there are many different people talking multiple languages and accents. This gives the audience the ability to hear the representation on ethnicity.                                                                            

The sound of typical jobs happening is another sound technique. Immigrants are famous for doing the jobs British people aren’t applying for. This could be shown through the sound of someone hoovering or sweeping.

Back to the Seventies

The 1970’s were full of sex drugs and rock and roll. It was the era of disco tech, platforms, and star wars. It was also the era in which ‘Life on Mars’ was set. In the modern day television series, the main character, Sam Tyler travels back in time to the 70’s. He is quickly forced to adapt to the culture, especially in the working environment. There are many ways to highlight all of what creates that time period. This is shown through such technical direction like costume, props, setting, music, transport and even something even more thoughtful, colours or shades.  

In episode 1 of the second series, setting the scene was Sam’s bedroom. Instantly we get the impression of the seventies with various prop and colours and prints. The next main technical design was the impeccable costumes. For Sam we are presented with flared black jeans, black shirt and a leather black jacket. The flares and leather is way for Sam to fit into the 70’s fashion and culture. But the all black colour choice, suggests he doesn’t want to get lost in the era and remember the 2000’s as his home. Another minor detail gone into making up the allusion of 1973, were the posters, leaflets and magazines hanging around in the background. In the first couple of scenes of Episode 1 of the second series, there is a big Morecambe and Wise poster promoting a cleaner Britain. This is followed by a Lulu 1973 tour poster.

Life on mars is excellent show for presenting the 70’s in the correct manor. They go from detail like transport to minor (yet still important) details like colures, to create the right image of British culture in 1973.

Made in Chelsea-Made in Studio

The ongoing television show ‘Made in Chelsea’ is questionable on many issues. It follows the lives of 12 young socialites with numerous gatherings, involving McQueen dresses, budget less shopping and priceless campaign.

What I would like to discuss is not whether Caggie and Spencer’s teenage crush with develop into a functional relationship, but the style of directing. In which it’s a juxtaposing on reality with staged appearances, phone calls, sets, etc.

It’s inevitably clear that these ‘reality stars’ don’t just happen to walk into the same restaurant as their fellow ‘reality stars’- some might simply say actors.  As if it wasn’t obvious enough that Louisa and Spencer’s comically timing phone calls in episode 2 of the second series, wasn’t an order. We are warned before the opening title “the program you are about to watch have scenes in that have been created for entertainment purposes”

Yet I don’t find myself changing the channel to watch something considered more intelligent. Is this because we subconsciously won’t to believe, crave, and even invest our time, in these stereotypical sexy new rich kids.

Gender representation in 'Life on Mars'

The BBC series ‘Life on Mars’ was a roaring success airing in 2006 and 2007 with two popular series!

There are many aspects and themes to discuss. What interests me is how gender is represented. Although it’s mainly male dominated, the lack of female characters and their representation is one to be delved deeper. The fact that the storyline is based in a police workforce is the reasoning this is shortiage of women, as this would have been very rare to have women PC as it was just the beginning of the feminist movement.

There is a constant struggle for one female character in particular. Annie Cartwright, in episode 1 of series two, she’s promoted from WPC to WDC. As if the skirt and handbag wasn’t enough to tell she’s a woman, she needs a distinctive title to constantly remind her off that. Although there is no issue with being a woman, the need for a different title isolates her, suggesting to the men she’s not quite as powerful.

Annie’s Costume as a police officer, is an A lined skirt, a little handbag with a perfectly perched white hat. For a PC this is completely impractically and inappropriate. It highlights the fact the women are there as to be sexualised, rather than work with an intelligent mind. However she put's her femine props to a pratical use. This is shown when she not only spots eveidence, but pulls out eyebrow tweasers to pick it up without fingerprints.

The working environment for the women has changed greatly over the 40 years. After Annie walks into the jeering, smoke filled room, it only takes 10 seconds for her to get sexually harassed. Her first response is too grab Ray's ass. This shows her quick thinking that is applied to her working experience, that ultimately gets her the promotion.

She is a character that is changeling the male dominated working environment. Taking it with in her stride with an intelligent mind.

Downton Abbey

Downton  Abbey

After the overwhelming success of the first series, from Emmy’s like best mini-series, best supporting actress for dame Maggie smith and creative arts Emmys for the technical team like costume and cinematography. To the sheer popular TV ratings both in Britain and America, Downton Abbey is once again our Sunday night special.   

We were launched into world war one, with a heavy contrast of two worlds. This time it’s developed from just the rich to poor and employers to staff.  This time it’s war. While the rich are sipping their afternoon tea and organizing occasional ‘help our hospitals’ benefits, the men are called to fight for the kings and queens of their country.

However this doesn’t stop Lady Edith Crawley and Lady Sybil Crawley. The destruction of the war gives Edith the motivation to move on from evening trouser wear, to become a fully qualified nurse. In doing so, Downton Abbey is transformed into a fully functional hospital. To the hesitation of the Countess of Grantham. Sybil on the other hand made use of her driving skills to become a land girl. This however if followed with adultery drama. This makes the audience notice there isn’t that much difference between today’s society and the one we watching every Sunday night at 9pm.