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.

The trailer for Downton Abbey shows many characters within the drama all watching each other through open doors, windows and mirrors, followed by an increase in tension as events such as arguments, love and falling down occurs and constantly returning to a woman; possibly head of household.

The trailer begins with a two-shot of a man and woman at a dining table, suggesting a social and elegant event.  This is followed by a medium-shot of a woman watching someone through a door. we cannot see who she is looking at as the camera is facing her, making it seem as though she is watching us; the audience, but actually looking past us. The next shot is a close-up of a reflection of a man in the mirror, suggesting someone (but looks like we, the audience) are watching him through this mirror. There are more shots such as a tracking long shot of a woman walking past whilst observing a woman at a table, a close up of a man whose head and eyes follow someone entering a room, long shot of 2 people sneaking past a corridor, and medium shot of two women looking at each other - All of these shots make us believe that the drama is of people within the household being constantly watched and under surveillance, no privacy in the time period they live in. 

This is backed up by some dialogue 'Your secrets safe with me' which again indicates there is no sense of trust within the house, and people wish to keep secrets. Another piece of dialogue to demonstrate the lack of privacy is 'We all have chapters we would rather keep unpublished' The shots in this trailer suggest that privacy is not an option as more shots of people watching through windows and doors follow. 

Although the music, which is the song 'Ill be watching you- The Police' is quite relaxing and serene, it infact builds up as drama begins in the trailer, eg. People falling out of carriages, fights, man carrying an unconscious person, etc. and ending with a medium close up of a picture showing the reflection of somebody watching another person. The theme song and the remaining shots also show that people were being watched and had to hide parts of their lifestyles very carefully in order to keep secrets. 

Representation of Young People 

Click for Trailer1

From watching the trailer for the first ever series of The Inbetweeners, we get a small glimpse at the types of characters we expect to see. Will, being the narrator throughout the series, is displayed as a middle class private school student being thrown into the cockpit; or as we call it; public school. The other characters are shown as quite 'wild' and energetic as students are running about the school grounds. There is also a young lad that says "You're gonna die here Will" and another that is seen bullying Will, which suggests young people can be quite aggressive and intimidating towards others. Jay is shown in one clip jumping on a car, which suggests young people have no respect for other people's property.

Camera shots; There is a handheld camera shot of Will walking through the school looking insecure and nervous, and the shakiness of the camera makes the viewer feel uneasy, relating to Will's experience.

Theres an over the shoulder close up of Will being held up against the wall by bully, which highlights the angry expression of the bully's face and makes the viewer feel fear quite like Will. 

Comparing Series 1, 2 and 3

The trailer for series 1 focuses mainly on Will McKenzie as he tells the viewer about how he got to attend Rudge Park Comprehensive School sixth form. We get quick snapshots of the amusing events the series will show and the troubles Will may have to overcome. He is portrayed as weak and vulnerable, which could accurately represent the 'new kid at school'.

The trailer for series 2 is very amusing. Each character is highlighted and given their own identity; Simon = The Romantic, although he gets hit in the face by a football and falls into a muddy puddle. Neil = the Genius, although shown being cut out of the back of a chair. Jay = The Ladies Man, although not to his knowledge has a sign on his back reading 'I have no penis'. And finally Will = The Hero, as his trousers are pulled down yet he continues with his petition. Each of the nicknames could also accurately represent many characteristics of young people today.

The trailer for series 3 is my favourite, as the four characters are altogether, united as they've got to know each other and become good mates. Again, similar to the 2nd trailer, each character is highlighted and embarrassed. They drive up and get out of the car all confident and the shot of their feet walking makes them seem quite important, almost celebrity type status. However, this is not the case. They are either cussed, admired by the wrong person, ignored or assaulted with a water bomb!