Preliminary exercise: TV drama scene

Preliminary exercise: TV drama scene

1) State the genre you have chosen for your TV drama - family or crime drama.
The genre of my chosen TV drama show is crime/family.

2) Choose at least three TV dramas similar to your concept and watch the trailer and one scene from each. Make bullet-point notes on everything you watch, commenting on camerawork, editing, sound and mise-en-scene.


At the start of the trailer, it shows a high point of view shot of the cars drifting around. This builds excitement for the audience at the very start of the trailer. Due to this opening, it engages the audience to continue watching and expect more scenes like this in the trailer. There is a medium/long-shot of the man shouting as well as including the deserted area that he is in. This creates many emotions and exhibits to the audience that there is not only action that is delivered but as well as emotions and really upsetting scenes. Later on, An over the shoulder shot is taken as the man drops his daughter of to school. The camerawork in that scene is used very efficiently as it creates a meaningful emotion which is regret and guilt that will be foreshadowed across the whole TV drama show.

Money Heist

Money heist uses a lot of mise-en-scene since each seen scene is planned according to the heist therefore, including different costumes for each step that they are going to take, Each person has a unique role therefore, their movements will be different to the others. One costume that is commonly used the red costume connoting danger and fear. The mask to cover their identity complements the red colour as they both connote evil and foreshadowing an incredibly horrible and vivid moment in the TV show. In the TV show, mostly low key lighting is used to create a very intermediating look for the characters. The people that are kept hostage, high key lighting is used to create a vulnerable look and to make them seem terrified by these terrorists. 

  

The trailer starts of really slow portraying a sign of relief as the main character has just left prison. The trailer is still really relaxed however, it does have some simple editing techniques such as match on action when the main character leaves the premises through the door. The trailer starts to pick up when he starts getting into his old habit which are committing crimes in the city for money. There is an 180 degrees shot of the man and woman sitting on the table. The woman is surprised how people act towards the main character as if hes some villain. During half way through the trailer, fast pace editing is used to enhance the juxtaposition of the man committing crimes whilst having scenes in between sitting with his parents, discussing how he has changed compared to the past.


3) Write a script for your TV drama scene. You'll find guidance for writing a script in the BBC Writers' Room (click on the Script Library to read real examples of professional TV scripts).
1.   Main protagonist is crying in his car and mourning for her best friend. “ No No No, this is all my fault if only I was here with her she wouldn’t have ( crying and wiping his tears)
2. Checks the papers of the suspects and sees him walking out of the restaurant.
3. (walks up to them)” Why her, why did you take her!”
4. “She was so innocent, never wanted to be a part of any trouble”
5. Jayden replies saying” I guess you don’t know her so well, she’s a crazy woman. Suffered from PTSD thinking that she lost her imaginary daughter( starts to giggle) so she begged me to end her life”  
6. Jack Daniels quotes in an aggressive tone “ you deserve to die both of you”


4) Write a shot list containing EVERY shot you plan to film AND additional shots to create flexibility when editing. These additional shots are often close-ups, cutaways, alternative angles or similar. I advise using a simple table on Microsoft Word to set out your shot list - you can find an example here. 

Shot List – Sightless

Shot No.	Shot	Filmed?
1	Close up of Jack Daniels crying while resting his head on a steering wheel
2	Big close up of his watery eyes
3	Medium/close up of him hitting the steering wheel
4	Medium shot of him wiping his tears away
5	Close up on the sheets of paper while Jack Daniels analyses them
6	Tracking shot moving away from the car to the carrier bag carried by the suspect
7	Medium shot of  the suspects having a conversation
8	Close up of the bag being snatched
9	Tracking shot following the movement of the bag
10	Tracking shot of the arm being twisted
11	180 degrees of the man being flipped over
12	Over the shoulder shot of him speaking
13	Reverse over the shoulder shot during the conversation
14	Long shot of them two speaking
15	Close up of the persons fingers being twisted
16	Medium shot of Jack Daniels in the car
17	Pan shot of the camera moving left to focus on the guy beside Jack Daniels.

5) Plan your mise-en-scene: what iconography are you including to ensure your audience understands the genre? Plan your cast, costume, make-up, props, lighting and setting. For this preliminary task, use just one location to keep it simple.

Costume: casual clothes, formal clothes 
Lighting: There will mostly be low key lighting to portray the main character as intimidating and sinister. For some scenes i will be adding high key lighting to show the suspects as fragile after being punished.
Props: Car and papers
Setting: Car park


6) Plan a shooting schedule that will ensure everything is filmed by the deadline. Include when, where, who is required and what shots you will complete at each time/location.
My shooting schedule will take place during the half term. The scene will be including three characters and vehicle. The scene will start during day light and move into the night. Hopefully that is constructed in one shot as it will be shot around 6pm to 8pm.