UNIT 22 - Technical features

Unit 22 - Assignment 1

Technical Features - Camera shots/angles

In the single camera production Eastenders there are many camera shots/movement angles used within the soap. This has an effect on the audience in the following ways.

One camera shot used in this production is a close-up. An example of this shot was when one character (Phil) was talking to another (Shirley). The camera had cut to a closer shot on the characters face. this showed the emotion and expression coming from Phil in reaction to what Shirley had said. This shows to the audience the severity of the current situation which creates a dramatic effect on the audience. The audience would feel worried because of this which creates an engagement in the production which then leads to an interest in what would happen next. The audience would be able get some escapism in a way as they are focused on this current dilemma therefore distracting them form any stress they might have in their own personal life.

Another shot which was used in Eastenders was a Mid-shot. A Mid-shot is when we can see the character from the waist upwards and most of their surroundings. This gives us (the audience) a better insight of the characters body language for example a movement in arms when talking or an action they might be doing. In Eastenders one of the characters (Jay) had received bad news, the camera cut to a Mid-Shot which then showed him throwing a letter and putting his hands on his head. This shows the emotion coming from the character and the audience will see that he is angry form the body language he has presented. Audiences would feel some sympathy for the character or even empathy from this one scene this enables the uses and gratification theory to come into place as some people may feel some Personal Identification. 

A type of camera movement used within this production was a Crane-Shot. This shot is a lifted camera view which allows the audience to see a higher view of the characters surroundings. A crane shot would usually focus not only on the character but on a the scenery around the character. This makes the audience see the world that this character is in. This could lead to the audience feeling some escapism as they see the world that this character is living in. An example of this within Eastenders was when the character Peggy was leaving Albert Square and the camera was a Crane-Shot showing the entire surroundings that she was seeing when she was leaving. This shows what she isn leaving behind and makes it more emotional as it then focused on the Queen Vic which was the pub she owned. This makes the audience feel sad as she was a very known character.

Furthermore, another camera type of camera shot is an 'Over The Shoulder' shot. This shot is basically what is sounds like, when the camera is focused on something from a over the characters shoulder. This gives a perspective on what the character is seeing and some escapism to the audience as they can imagine what the character is seeing and going through in that moment in time. This will bring the audience closer to the production as they could imagine what the feelings would've been for the characters instead of worrying about what problems they might have or just to escape from the world that they are living in reality. An example of this in Eastenders was when the character Patrick was in the kitchen with another character called Pat. They were talking on the table and patrick had heard some bad news form Pat in a conversation the were just having. Whilst this conversation was going on the camera was switching to both characters in the over the shoulder angle. This might make the audience feel what Patrick might be feeling as the character has enabled us to see things from his position, again mentioning the uses and gratification theory this will probably introduce some escapism.

Technical Features - Sound Features

In the trailer 'Creed' it consisted of many sound features. This film is based on an aspiring boxer who comes from a ghetto neighbourhood and a sad childhood full of stress and hard times.

The trailer starts off on a small room where the audience and character can hear a muffled echoing noise of the crowd cheering. When the audience and characters can hear the sound going on this is known as diegetic sound. This has the effect that the audience and character are hearing the same thing therefore making the audience feel as if they are with the character at that point in time. This introduces the uses and gratifications theory of Escapism. The audience can get away from their stress if they have any or they can just imagine themselves within the film and get away from reality. This sound technique enables that audiences enjoy and feel as if they are sharing the same feelings as the charcater within  the production.

Furthermore, another sound feature which was in this trailer was dialogue. This is the most common type of sound feature as it is just the characters within a production talking to one and other or just a narrators voice. This dialogue can differ from the way the characters talk with tone and pitch. It can set a mood or just contradict a scene. There are many types of dialogue as mentioned all of which cover the talking of specific people within a scene. In the specific trailer of creed there was dialogue explaining the back story of the character and what he has gone through to get to the point he is at now. This is said in a serious tone to show the emotion it took to get to his position. These emotions consist of anger, annoyance and pride (in my opinion).