Discuss how Being Human uses camera shots, sound, mise en scene, editing to construct representations of ethnicity

The introductory clip for Being Human is a summary of how the main characters had come to be supernatural beings. Mitchell walks through a forest where he discovers vampires, only to be turned into one himself. Annie becomes ghost after her unexpected death leaves her with unfinished business. And George, who was supposed to die, had discovered he would transform into a werewolf every month under the full moon.

There are many camera shots that create representations of ethnicity in the introductory clip of this episode. The first camera shot is a medium close up of Annie, laying on the floor. We see she has a blank expression, looking almost through the camera as though at a high angle shot, we look down on her, as she lays motionless. Annie is shown as vulnerable (considering she is dead). A Point of view shot is used to show Mitchell looking at three silhouetted figures. We cannot see their faces or ethnicity, but somehow we know they are different. A Close Up of one of these mysterious figures shows his face, making the viewer feel discomfort at the closeness of this shot. He then reveals he is a vampire as we see in the close up, his eyes turn black and fangs develop. Although he is a white man, he is a different being, almost of another race; Vampires. There is a panning shot of Mitchell ad George, as they sit in a hospital. They are two white nurses, showing they have professional jobs, perhaps representing the typical middle class white man, despite their supernatural nature. 

Silent Witness Ethnic Reps

Discussing How Ethnicity is Represented in the Introductory Clip of 'Silent Witness'

There are many camera shots and movements that represent the ethnicities different. One camera shot is a Close Up of a woman washing her hands with bottled water. This washing of the hands is a custom before praying among the muslim religion, and the ethnicity is displayed as respectful and cleansing. 

In contrast to this shot, there is an Extreme Long Shot of a group of policemen, all white british, in a police station preparing for something. All are shown in matching uniforms, giving a sense of unity among the ethnicity and sameness. They share the same culture, language and in this shot, clothing. 

Next is a Medium Shot of a swat team outside ready to raid a house, that is made to look like the house of the muslim lady praying. This makes the team look like a 'new race' as their faces are hidden and wearing the same outfit. 

A Long Shot of the muslim woman putting on her head scarf and laying out a carpet to pray on, demonstrates more religious customs and symbolizes respect and obedience towards the ethnic culture. ( there is also a medium shot that follows this of the woman praying) 

One final camera shot that represents ethnicity is a zooming in from Long Shot to Medium Shot of a white man looking through the eyepiece of rifle. this makes the man seem quite threatening and the zooming camera angle creates suspense and curiosity as to who he is aiming for. 

How are camera shots and movement used to represent a particular time and place in two trailers for period dramas?

(Desperate Romantics and Downton Abbey)

The trailer for Desperate Romantics shows a candle being blown out, which then leads on to Three men entering and walking through an art gallery consisting of exploding paintings. 

The trailer uses various camera shots to show the characters are bringing a new light to the time they live in. The trailer beings with an extreme close up of a candle flame being blown out, which then dissolves to a long shot facing the three men entering the art gallery, the light is behind them creating a silhouetted image of the characters. This makes them mysterious and quite intimidating to the audience ad reflects the idea that they bring a new light to the time period they live in. There is then a medium close up shots of their faces as they look to the paintings beside them. There is then a series of alternating shots- action and reaction shots, of the characters as they look at the paintings, one of which look confused; perhaps expressing his disgust at what people call 'art'. Within each of these close up shots are some close up viewpoint shots of the art pieces they are looking at. These are followed by close ups of the paintings exploding as the three men walk past. Close ups of the three men show their faces again, not looking at all concerned by the exploding paintings, which creates the impression they are there to cause havoc and bring a new insight to art. They are portrayed as rebels within their time period. Further shots such as extreme close ups of shattered glass makes us feel the men are breaking through the traditional ways and a close up of smoke blowing out the candles of an antique candelabra gives a sense the men will blow out the old and bring a new. A medium shot of a man emerging from the smoke creates a message that they are fresh, and moving past the old and into the new as they've just experienced the old being destroyed and not seeming at all bothered. There is also a low angle medium shot of the men as they walk away and past the camera through the art gallery, which ends the trailer with a sense of them moving on to new places, to cause havoc elsewhere, as though they are on a mission.

Young Peoples Rep

In this post, I will be talking about the representations of young people in one particular TV Drama of my choice. 

So don't worry, it'll be a good programme. No nonsense :)