The TV Drama that I will be basing my analysis on is the opening
scene of the Channel 4 teenage drama ‘Skins’. The programme is aimed at
teenagers above 16 to 19 and often covers the many issues and problems the
audience may feel or be associated with.
The opening scene begins with big close up of a characters
fist which shows the cuts and scars that have been placed on them. The shot is also
supported by the use of low key lighting to make it difficult for the audience
to focus on anything other than the fist in the shot and also accentuates the
dark atmosphere in the shot setting a depressing tone. The music during this
shot is also fast paced and up beat connoting the aggressiveness and anger that
may have been caused with association with the fist portraying youths as violent
and careless about their health or actions.
The shot then changes to a low angle shot of a male
character wearing a ripped t-shirt and tracksuit bottom, with the camera
zooming in towards him. This therefore underlines the importance of this characters
role within the TV drama as well as the stereotypical dress sense this
character complies with signifying the association with the term ‘chav’. The
characters face is also turning away from the shot which symbolises that he is
in a deep thought raising the possibility that youths are paranoid. This shot also
uses high-key lighting with a bright light focusing on the characters strained
face and body making this visible by the audience, and the surroundings dimmed
out expressing that the male character is the dominant in the shot. The
characters costume in the shot is supported by the high key lighting allowing
the audience to see the dirt and ripped t-shirt representing youths as being unhygienic
and lazy when taking care of themselves.
The shot cuts and proceeds to a low angle shot where another
character enters in the foreground allowing them to be seen as superior and
important. This character however is blurred out, yet the rear side of the male
character in still the main focus of the shot where his appearance is visible
and clear. The use of high key lighting is used again within this shot and
supports the contrast between both characters. The character in the foreground
is submerged with bright lighting accentuating the good character they are, yet
the male character is still in the low key lighting highlighting the gloomy and
dull attitude British youths are considered to have.
The following shot is an establishing shot at eye level
which shows the audience the current setting of the scene. The shot has a high
density as the black metal bars in the fore ground, the blue and white wall
colours and costume of the second character all is all considered by the audience
to express the setting as a prison ward. The bright lighting supports the
density as it allows the audience to clearly view all of these items. The male
character again is the more dominant as the colour of his t-shirt is different
compared to the other bold colours in the shot which therefore focus our
attention on him. This represents the male character as dangerous and negligent
of their behaviour and lifestyle.
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