1) What positive points do the reviews pick out about Capital?
Capital demostrates a lot of aspects of real diverse London life and the actors very well depict 'the loneliness of London life'.
2) What criticisms are made - either of the TV drama or the original novel?
The characters were underdeveloped, with too much happening before we now the characters equilibrium enough to empathize with them.
3) How does the TV drama change the time period and location for the story in comparison to the original novel?
They move location to suit the written characters more because of the gentrification of the original location.
4) In the Telegraph 'behind the scenes' article, what does the writer say about the London housing market?
Housing prices are on the rise and currently show no sign of plateau or decrease.
5) What references can you find in these reviews and features to the idea Capital is a 'state-of-the-nation' drama? How does it capture modern-day London?
All the articles speak about it 'capturing' real life people struggling to keep up with being millionaires (property wise) and rich to working class.
Textual analysis
Watch the trailer for Capital:
1) How does the drama use camerawork to capture London life?
The camerawork includes crane shots and wide shots from high angles to display the London setting letting the viewer know where its set and helps the audience match the characters to the location they are in.
2) What does the camera movement when characters are initially introduced suggest about the drama and its London setting? Pick out one or two shots in particular.
3) How does the trailer use mise-en-scene to capture the family element of the drama?
There is a lot of shots that include a modern household, with general mess around to emphasize the type of lifestyle the drama is based around and shows that life in london is stressful and not in orginised. The different families are shown with each of their problems in a matter of seconds which represents what might happen (foreshadowing).
4) Bastille's 'These Streets' is used as the soundtrack for the trailer. What does this communicate to the audience and why is it effective?
despite the show being set at one particular street the song is upbeat which suggests the lives of the people are happy and not worried. during the trailer we don't see any disequilibrium in the trailer only the equilibrium is portrayed- this is evidently done through the song.
5) How does the trailer introduce narrative strands suggesting tension or enigma in the 40-second running time?
Different families are shown in a good stages of their lives- for example, the black woman kissing her boyfriend, or the white banker talking about his £2 million bonus. This is followed by a scene of the woman being locked in a cell, and the bankers wife losing her temper. This suggests how things can change no matter what you do in life whether your rich or poor there's always a problem.
Watch the Episode 1 preview for Capital:
1) What does this preview clip suggest about the potential sub-genres for Capital?
It is suggested from the use of the detective that there is an element of mystery and crime.
2) What elements of the clip might suggest this is a 'state-of-the-nation' drama?
The younger characters address the very current issue of white supremacy/privilege and how police favour white people and sympathise their issues more than minority groups in Britain.
3) Analyse the mise-en-scene in this clip. How does this provide realism and familiarity for audiences?
There is an element of realism for the audience in the very typical looking corner shop: cluttered, but with every kind of convenience you could need at any time of day. The natural daylight coming through the window also aids the realism as it seems as if they are on a real street corner and people can just walk in from outside.
4) What audience pleasures are provided by this scene?
5) How is the audience positioned to respond to the different characters in this particular sequence?
The audience is forced to address the issue of white privilege in the policing system which in this case is proven undeniable. All audiences watching are positioned against the detective because they can't tell whether to trust his judgement or not.
Watch the Episode 2 preview for Capital:
1) How does this clip represent upper-middle-class family life?
The mise-en-scene in this clip include a large, open kitchen that looks recently renovated or extended- this suggests their wealth isn't like winning the lottery but it is a part of their lifestyle. They own a dishwasher which not many people on the street would, reiterating the fact that their wealth is a natural thing that doesn't particularly excite them; they use their money for practical living things. The wife enters looking for her mobile which again suggests that she needs this expensive piece of technology to function.
2) What narrative strands are suggested in this sequence?
It is suggested that the husband finds more interest in talking to the younger, more approachable nanny, which consequently will lead the wife to create a narrative of jealousy and broken marriage.
3) How is the audience positioned to respond to Roger Yount, the main character (banker and father to the two boys)?
To feel disgusted as he is an older gentleman asking her personal question to a woman who is looking after his two kids that he has with his wife.
Production and industry context
1) Who is the parent company for Kudos?
The company was created by Shine Group but is now owned by 21st Century Fox and Endemil Shine Group as a 50/50 joint venture.
2) What was the breakthrough show for Kudos in 2002?
The show had a breakthrough with the show Spooks which became so successful it got a movie in 2015.3) Watch the showreel on the Kudos website. What other TV dramas have Kudos produced? What awards have they won?
Broadchurch, Humans, The Tunnel, Tin Star and more.4) What audience pleasures does the showreel suggest Kudos productions offer?
It conveys drama, Family Lifestyle, Affairs and some suspense.
Marketing and promotion
1) How does the programme information on page 3 make Capital sound interesting to audiences?
This gives audiences a background of the cast and due to starring such popular stars, the audience will recognize the cast from other shows and movies and this may intrigue them to watch the show, also the programme information also features a summary of the plot/synopsis of the show allowing audiences to bulid up an expectation of what the show is about.
2) Why does the programme information mention the other shows that the director and producer have worked on?
This is to allow audiences that may be familiar with previous shows to be interested in Capital.
3) Who commissioned Capital for BBC?
The show was " Commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Controller of BBC One and Ben Stephenson, Controller of BBC Drama."
4) Read the interview with Toby Jones. What does he say about the character of Roger?
He mentions how he does not wish his character to be seen as evil just out of place, he also say's how Roger is a rich person but does not have it all as it may seem as his incompatible ability to self-reflect and look after his family conveys the cracks in this character.
5) Read the interview with Adeel Akhtar (page 10). What does he suggest Capital says about the fictional Pepys Road and the sense of community (or lack of it) in London?
The interview suggests that working on the show was a very realistic approach to the lifestyle of real-life Londoners, also he mentions how the script is the may reason of this due to having such manageable and relatable. He also mentions how the times are changing in relation to when the show was filmed and that the Raod itself is a manifestation of this.
6) Read the interview with Shabana Azmi (page 12). What does she say about Asian representations in Britain?
She agrees with the representation given to the Asian family due to referencing to the modern day and the show in parallel with the road having som many people of different class and race and the fact that in real life race is a much more diverse thing as it may have been in the past so more people are accepted of certain views.
7) Read the interview with Peter Bowker (who adapted Capital - page 14). What are his favourite scenes in the drama and why?
He mentions the Christmas morning scene in the first episode where Roger has given in on the heft of parenting and the great deals it comes with, this is due to the sense of realism it holds in the real world with parenting.
8) Read the interview with Derek Wax, the Executive Producer for Kudos (page 16). Why did he produce Capital and what does it say about the way we live now?
The producer mentions how the relation if real house prices and how they are represented is directly realistic due to being so high and that the diversity amoung people with keeping homes the same or renovating homes like the elderly woman and the banker.DVD packaging
Look at the DVD packaging for Capital. There are many marketing techniques employed here.
1) How does the packaging use other critically acclaimed TV dramas to promote Capital?
The packaging uses shows such as Humans and Broad church to promote their show Capital as the shows are produced by the same company, this is used to create a sense idea for people who may have watched these shows to see them as similar.
2) What does the use of design and images suggest to the audience about the drama?
That the drama is situated around different people in different class but due to the setting are from the same location, this may also show that the show revolves around different families due to the cast be secluded in their own box (home).
3) How are review quotes used on the cover and what do they suggest to the audience about sub-genre, narrative and audience pleasures?
The review quotes suggest the show is about a mystery along with a sense of a thriller with the quote "suspense". This allows audiences to seek these pleasures and possibly watch the show.
4) What representation of London does the DVD packaging offer?
The representation of London is a New York skyline type of appeal with British building being displayed in sihloette, also it allows some recognition with the name capital and building found in the capital of London.
Comments
Post a Comment