Coursework: Preliminary exercise

1) State the genre you have chosen for your TV drama - family or crime drama.

• I have chosen the crime genre 

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.

• money heist
• Use of colour- enigma codes (themes)
•  point of view shots 
• tracking shots- creates realism-- documentary hybrid?
• fast-paced editing ( convention)
• closeups 
• montage clips ( convention)
• slow motion 
• end credits
• contrapuntal sound at the beginning 
• the sound is fragmented with music and actual audio from the drama 
• parallel sound- fits with the genre: fast-paced and modern 
• Stumptown
• contrapuntal sound
• sound bridges 
• comedy
• fast-paced editing
• stunts
•  long shots 
• the slow-motion- dramatic effect
• text on screen
•  establishment and introduction to characters and character traits 
• situations form random parts in the drama- combined to form enigma 
• faster-paced editing towards the end - the build-up of tension 

peaky blinders

• focus on long shots- focus on location and significance of the location 
• channel name
• slow motion editing
• fade to blacks 
• superimposed editing 
• closeups
• end credits
• colours- warm to cool- fluctuation
• establishing of main characters and roles within the drama 
• trailer reflects the time period of which it is set in 

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).

Pre-limb exercise: climax within the drama ‘’

VEER: Listen, she is smart, she doesn’t wait for anyone.

(WE SEE SCENE OF RAJAS BOOTS WALKING – SOUND IS SIGNIFICANT)

VEER:  If she wants something done, she’ll do it herself!

(RAJAS FIGURE WALKING THROUGH AN OMINOUS WALKWAY, WALKING TOWARDS SOMETHING)

HARLOW: You are forgetting that we have 24-hour surveillance on her; she’s restricted to what she can do…

VEER: (ANGRY): You are also forgetting her level of intelligence! Remember the last time!? She practically slid through your fingers!

HARLOW: (STAYS SILENT, FOR SOME TIME, WITH A TIRED AND GUILTY EXPRESSION) (AS THIS LINE IS HEARD WE SEE THE CLOSEUP OF THE USB)
She won’t get that USB, we’ll catch her before ha—

VEER: HOW?!! SHE IS PROBABLY MAKING HER WAY TOWARDS IT RIGHT NOW

(PACING) IF SHE GETS THAT USB, SHE GETS THOSE FILES, WE CAN NOT LET THAT HAPPEN!

(SHOT OF HAND REACHING FOR USB)

HARLOW: How are you so sure she’s capable of doing something like that? What if she’s just trying to wind us up?

VEER: She’s my sister… I know exactly what she’s capable of…

( WE SEE RAJA WITH THE USB FEELING CONTENT AND SATISFIED)

END

 

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 shortlist - you can find an example here.

Shot List

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.

• the use of colour is going to be very important in distinguishing both raja and veer 
• raja- full of vibrant and bold colours such as black and red- makeup and clothing 
• Veer- androgyny- a contrast to Raja who has a femme fatale. 80's bollyowood actress aesthetic 
• 2 Locations with being seen in the scene - one being an office-like setting with investigator Harlow and Veer aswell as an underpass where Raja is seen going to collect a USB 

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.

• shooting in  and around Northolt Underpass  on 5/10/19- only Raja ( Tanisha Bangar)- During the daytime: 

1. 50mm, establishing shot of underpass
2. Tracking shot and a closeup of rajas boots
3. Wide shot of raja figure
4. The focus of USB- Close up
5. Extreme closeup of raja left eye
6. Extreme closeup of raja right eye
7. Extreme closeup of raja's mouth
8. The tilt of raja- boots to hair
9. Closeup of the hand reaching for USB
10. Sinister grin - medium shot, high perspective

• Shooting in an office-like room - BS06- 10/10/19, with Veer (Aman Kaur Nandra) and Harlow ( Julia Baginska)- During the day time : 

1. Match on action between Harlow and Veer
2. Medium shot of Harlow POV
3. Medium shot of Veer POV