TV: The rise of foreign-language television

 

Meet Walter promo clip

Channel 4 created a short introductory video for ‘Walter Presents’. Watch the clip and think about the following:

• How is Walter introduced?
• What target audience is this aiming at? 
• What audience pleasures are suggested from the promo?
• What does Walter say about TV drama? 

The rise of foreign-language TV: Blog tasks

To continue our work on Deutschland 83, we need to read a range of articles on the foreign-language TV phenomenon. When answering the questions, consider the issues from both an audience and industry perspective.

Independent: British viewers can't get enough of foreign-language dramas

Read this Independent feature on foreign-language dramas. It features an in-depth interview with Walter Iuzzolino who curates Channel 4's Walter Presents programming. Answer the questions below:

1) What does the article suggest regarding the traditional audience for foreign-language subtitled media?

"you'd have been quietly declared pretentious, dull and, possibly, a little odd."

2) What does Walter Iuzzolino suggest is the key appeal of his 'Walter Presents' shows?

"We all love getting that insight into a different culture," says Deeks. "The unfamiliar setting gives a freshness to genre pieces."

"the houses, the people, what they wear, what their voices sound like, the language, is one of the biggest appeals."
3) The article makes an interesting claim for the popularity of subtitles in the multi-screen age. What does it suggest?

WhatsApp, subtitles are a welcome enforcement for us to focus. "When you read subtitles, you have to be glued to the screen," says Deeks. "That concentration gives a particular intensity to the viewing experience. You just can't multitask when you're watching a foreign-language drama."

This shows that subtitles provide a better viewing experience for people watching shows. It can also reveal how audiences now are more technology based as they feel the need to be glued to a screen.4) What are the other audiences pleasures of foreign TV drama suggested by the article?

Iuzzolino agrees. "You develop a love for the distant world because while you're watching, you're in Sweden,"
Now look at the bonus article - on Sherlock and how viewers are steering their favourite shows.

5) What examples are provided of how TV companies are increasingly using audiences to inform the production process?


Film School Rejects: The foreign TV dramas you're missing out on

Now read this Film School Rejects feature on the foreign TV dramas you're missing out on. This contains some particularly useful background on Deutschland 83's reception internationally. If the website is blocked, you can access the article text here. Answer the following questions:

1) What does the article tell us about Deutschland 83's release schedule?

Premiering on AMC Network’s Sundance TV in June 2015, the show was the first German-language TV series to premiere on a US network. The fact Germany’s commercial RTL channel received Deutschland ’83 five months after the US both signifies the series’ global appeal as well as foreshadows where the German crime thriller was (and is) to find its audience.
2) The article contains important statistics on viewing figures in different countries. What were the German viewing figures for the first and last episode? What were Channel's 4's viewing figures for Deutschland 83?

the German premiere had 3.19 million viewers. Each new episode saw that figure drop, and by the series’ conclusion the figures had fallen down to 1.63 million — it’s lowest figure.

3) Who are the two production and distribution companies behind Deutschland 83 and what did they announce in October?
Sundance TV and FremantleMedia announced in that there will be a second season of Deutschland 83 and will be called Deutschland 86.

4) What does the article suggest was the driving force behind the series being renewed for a new season (and possibly two new seasons)?
The article suggests that the record breaking viewing figures in the US and the UK is what gave it the strength to be renewed for a second season.

5) How does Walter Iuzzolino use social media to engage audiences in new international TV dramas? How does he suggest this has changed the reception of foreign productions in the UK?
He put up a new "Weekend Pick" for people on his facebook and twitter account so that people have a new show to watch. He suggests that this had made these dramas more readily available.

IndieWire: The rise of international television

Now look at this IndieWire feature on the rise of international television. If the website is blocked, you can access the text from the article here. Answer the questions below:

1) What does the article suggest regarding the difference between TV and film?
TV tends to feel culturally specific, tailored to domestic tastes. It also states that foreign  language films are more of an arthouse genre.

2) What cultural differences are highlighted in the article - for example in turning 'Prisoners of War' into 'Homeland' when remade in the US?
"The original series focused on the experiences of and the idea of POWs, which he called an "Open wound in Israeli society," but that for the U.S the emphasis was on the agent investigating the returned soldier, on a more American issues of distrusting the government and of a fears of agents among us."
3) Why do you think Deutschland 83 was able to rise above these cultural differences to be successful in the US and UK? Did this inadvertently make the drama fail in Germany?
I think Deutschland 83 was able to disregard the cultural differences because of the idea of the main character being so oblivious to life on the other side of Berlin. This creates cinematography and editing which makes the audience feel as if they too are coming to West Germany for the first time.
4) What does the article suggest about subtitling?
That people pay attention to it more as with english TV dramas the mass audience will understand the language, and therefore not need them overall, but because it is a foreign language they can't have their attention averted, or they will risk missing something.

5) What does Sopranos actor Steven Van Zandt suggest is the appeal in foreign television drama?
The appeal is in learning about other peoples cultures as well as how people from there behave, compared to the country that the viewer is in.
The Guardian: How tech is changing television

Finally, read this Guardian feature on how tech is changing television. This has some particularly useful aspects from an industry perspective - how TV is made, the different formats of TV drama and more. Answer the following questions:

1) What are the traditional lengths for TV drama and what dictated these programme formats?
The traditional lengths are: 15 minutes, 30 minutes and 60 minutes, including advert breaks. These timings are used to utilize an easy to follow grid of times as to when shows start, making the start times easier to remember.

2) How have streaming services such as Netflix or Amazon Prime changed the way TV drama narratives are constructed?
Amazon is working on 'choose your own adventure' shows and it is an example how technology is changing storytelling. 

Netflix makes it so that all of the shows of a box set/series is available and include recaps so that people can remember what had happened in a previous episode. 
3) Why has the rise in streaming led to more complex storylines and an increase in cliffhangers?
This is so that people are more likley to return to the next installment next weel, or whenever, to help increase the appeal and demand to see the next episode, further increasing the usage of that service.
4) How have the "economics of production" kept TV drama largely sticking to the 45- or 60-minute episode format?
TV dramas are usually shot in blocks, in order to reduce costs of actors and crew, meaning that whilst one block is being filmed, the next block is being prepared, allowing for less time to be wasted and more money to be saved.

5) How has "permanent 24/7 connectivity" changed both the production and consumption of TV drama?
This allows live discussions and criticisms, a downside of this is that if people search for a specific term they get an isolated opinion, rather than the truth of the masses.

Marxism & hegemony: blog tasks

Marxism & hegemony

1) Re-read the Mail Online review of Capital. Why does it suggest that Capital features a left-wing ideology?

I think that it suggests that capital features left wing ideology, simply for the reason that it does. The show clearly shows left wing opinions and sides with everything which we think to be a left wing opinion. For example immigration, Quintina is represented to be a hard working individual who is being exploited and is not claiming any benefits and is only doing this for her survival as she knows if she goes back to her country she will be killed and even mocks that she will be lucky if she is just raped. The other immigrants which are shown at the Pakistani family, the Kamals and they are also represented in a very positive and sympathetic way, and appear to have integrated into the British culture as they show some of what we consider to be British banter and seem to respect the culture. This shows two very positive left wing opinions of immigrants and although I believe that they have made some valid points which make sense, they failed to notice the positives of the TV show and how it showed diversity for example.

2) Choose three quotes from the review that are particularly critical of Capital and paste them into your blog post. Do you agree with the criticisms? Why?

- "With a fizzle like a firework on a wet night, Capital (BBC1) dribbled to a soggy ending."
- "Everything British came in for a dose of loathing."
- "But that concept went nowhere. The residents were bemused, but not scared."
I think that all of these criticisms are very crucial as it will dictate how people view the program and what they think about it. I feel like this review is very important as they don't say a lot of good things about the TV show and a lot of things which they say are very relatable and that people will agree with a lot of the statements which have been said. To answer the question I do agree with a lot of the statements which have been said in the article as they have said a lot of things which have been said. With the critical things which I have chosen to speak about are all very true. I agree that there could have been a much better end and was very anti-climactic due to the amazing concept which the show had which may not have reached its full potential which it could have. I feel like there were a few things which showed British culture to be good, for example, Petunia is a sweet old lady who is just confused about the ethnicity of the Pakistani family and how the Pakistani family want to adopt the British banter, however does show some negatives, for example that people may be working too hard but I don't really think that this is an offensive statement.
3) What scenes or characters from Capital could be read as promoting left-wing ideology?

I think that the main character who promotes left wing ideology is Petunia as the rest of the characters which promote left wing ideology are either majorly impacted by it or impacted by it first hand, however Petunia is an old white woman and this group of older white people is thought to be the more racist, less accepting group of people as they are not used to the situation of multiculturalism and so much diversity and we can see that she has been left behind in this matter as she makes the mistake of confusing the Pakistani family as Indians, however is shown to be very apologetic and doesn't seem to be partial or rude to anyone who may have moved to the country through immigration. Although it may not be as important to show that she has left wing ideologies, but Quintina is clearly shown to have left wing ideologies as she has moved to the country as an immigrant, however we are still shown to sympathise with her as she is shown to be an immigrant who is working hard and is forced to get less money then she would if she was working legally and would be able to pay taxes and contribute too if the government allowed her too and isn't shown to be taking advantage of the government.

4) What about the other side of the argument - are there any aspects of Capital that reinforce the status quo in capitalist London?

There are many aspects in Capital which reinforce the status quo in capitalist London, for example Roger Youte who had a large amount of money in the beginning of the series and was expecting more money was shown to become a bit lazy through his years and was beginning to be replaced by a younger more hard working man, which suggests that the busy city of London doesn't wait for anyone. It may also be showing that the elite in London for example Roger and his family will always remain wealthy as even if they become lazy and stop doing work, may not receive as money as they has hoped such as a million will still receive money like 30K simply for a bonus as they are now in that position and will be sad and fight over that much money although his bonus is larger then the average wage in the UK. Another thing being that Quintina is such a hard worker and will still only be able to earn such a small amount of money with such a struggle because of her status and suggests that even the area in which she works constantly surrounds her with wealth and reminds her of poverty as the same time.

Media Magazine feature on BBC drama The Casual Vacancy and ideology

1) Why did the Daily Mail suggest The Casual Vacancy promoted a left-wing ideology?

It mocked and shamed wealthier residents when they planned to sell of the local food bank.

2) How does the article suggest characters, narrative and setting are used to promote a left-wing ideology?

The show suggests that the characters and narrative are used to promote a left wing ideology as it shows the food bank closing to be an extremely negative thing and shows the disgust of some of the characters when they close it down. It suggests that the right wing opinion of closing food banks is the correct decision as it would reduce the rate of taxes which means the people who are working will receive more money, however this also means that the very wealthy are not supporting the poor.

3) What research is quoted regarding BBC bias and what did it find? Do you think the BBC is biased?

"BBC is too cosy with J.K.Rowling" is quoted as the bias of the BBC and we know that the BBC is known and reported to have left wing ideologies and this may show a connection to J.K.Rowling as she is also known to have left wing views. I do think that the BBC is mainly fair and represents both views equally, however there are obviously their own opinions on what is right and wrong which may become apparent.

4) Gramsci's theory of hegemony suggests people are kept under control through active consent - the control of 'common sense'. How could you apply the Daily Mail or the BBC to the idea of hegemony and dominant ideologies in the UK media?

I think that the Daily Mail or the BBC are extremely popular due to the fact that they show things which are obviously seen to be common sense and even suggest certain views and opinions and know that these things will be popular and agreed with. I think that sometimes they can makes statements which will be the opinion of the people as this is more likely to bring attention to their programme. Although the BBC is funding based and should therefore theoretically be more fair, it may simply give the public what they want as this will give good reviews and attention to the show and is more likely to keep them as the public service broadcaster of the country. The daily mail of course hints to the fact that they are in fact right wing and have very specific views, however they are of course careful to ensure that they are not obviously denying left wing opinions as this would really restrict their potential audience.

Deutschland 83 close-textual analysis

Scene 1: Garden/BBQ  East & West Germany

4.58 – 8.20 and 34.00 – 37.20

• mise en scene-west Germany wears formal clothing whereas east are seen in more casual wear, to show the visible difference between east and west.
• East is shown to be warmer and more tight knit as a family than west
•  Clear difference in music between East and West Germany, this emphasises the clear divide between the two.

Scene 2: Martin/Moritz West German supermarket 

14.30 – 20.25

• Fast paced editing, showing action, reinforcing the excitement of a spy drama.
• Martin has a big change in costume when entering the west, he is more modernised which shows how West Germany is more advanced.
• The supermarket in West Germany is unnaturally colourful and bright which may suggest that life in the west is better.

Deutschland 83 case study

Reviews and features

Read the following reviews and features on Deutschland 83:

The Guardian - Your next box set: Deutschland 83
Daily Telegraph review
The Guardian - Deutschland 83 Pity the Germans don't like it

1) What positive aspects of Deutschland 83 are highlighted in the reviews?

"This Eighties-set German espionage drama might occasionally lack drama but it's rich in period detail", says Harry Mount. (Daily Telegraph review)

"Deutschland 83 is rich in little details of life behind the Iron Curtain", Daily Telegraph

2) What criticisms are made of the show?

"This is a period drama that sometimes lacks drama"

3) Why did the Telegraph suggest that Deutschland 83 did the 'period' aspect of 'period drama' so well?

"That everyday nature of evil was cleverly captured in Deutschland 83. The Stasi baddies spoke the same language as the goodies in West Germany; they wore less fashionable versions of the same kind of clothes."

The period feel was heightened with snatches of news footage of Erich Honecker, the East German leader. Most gripping of all was a televised excerpt from Ronald Reagan's "Evil Empire" speech in 1983. In it, Reagan quoted from CS Lewis's Screwtape Letters, where Lewis wrote that the greatest evil is ordered: "by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice".

4) Find three 'below the line' comments from either of the Guardian articles. What did the audience think of Deutschland 83? Do you agree with the comments?

"Loved this series. I was in West Germany in the summer of 1983 and I thought the programme makers captured the mood of the time perfectly. East Germany was much less well done (and more cartoonish) but it didn't really matter." - I agree with this statement as they are correct about east germany being not done as well as west Germany.

"you get tired of watching someone perpetually on the verge of getting caught, but then not getting caught, which is basically the plot of every episode."- Another statement I agree with, the show was repetitive at times

Interviews and behind-the-scenes video features

Channel 4 News: Matt Frei interviews Jonas Nay

 

1) What does Jonas Nay say about growing up in a united Germany? 

-When he was at school learned about the cold war and the second world war
-The people in east Germany were constrained

2) The Channel 4 News interview is conducted in German with English subtitles. How does this reflect Channel 4's remit as a public service broadcaster and their target audience? (Clue: revise your work on Channel 4 and Public Service Broadcasting here!)

This shows that Channel 4 wants to give their audience an authentic interview as they allow the main character to speak in German as he did in the show, channel 4 added English subtitles because the audience is mainly British.

3) Interviewer Matt Frei asks about the current political situation in Germany. Why might this interest the Channel 4 News audience?

This may give the news audience a different perspective and more insight into politics in Germany.Behind the scenes clips

The All4 website has a range of clips from behind the scenes of Deutschland 83. Watch the following:

Making Of: Why Should You Watch Deutschland 83
Watch this short promotional clip for Deutschland 83.

1) Why should audiences watch Deutschland 83 - what does the clip offer viewers?

This clip shows that viewers will have a look into someone's life during the cold war. Also, it shows the exciting visceral pleasures you can get from watching a spy drama.

2) Why is history an important aspect of the appeal of the show?

Because the show is set in an important time period being the cold war. This gives audiences a lot of pleasure as they get insight into life during that period.

3) What technical aspects are highlighted in the video?

The costume and the fast-paced editing revealed how the show was set in a different era and that the show was exciting.

Making Of: Set Design
Watch this interview with Production designer Lars Lange.

1) Why were the set design, costume and props so important for Deutschland 83?

These aspects were important because the show was set in a real period, therefore, it was essential that Deutschland 83 was accurate with what they presented to the audience.

2) How historically accurate was the setting, costume and props?

The show was very accurate in terms of setting, costume, and props as they made it genuinely seem like the show was filmed in the cold war.

3) Why were the props, costumes and music such a key audience pleasure for Deutschland 83?

Because these aspects provided an escape to a different time period for the audience, very rarely does an audience get an accurate depiction of a different time.

Textual analysis: trailer

 

1) The opening of the trailer uses sound and editing to draw the audience in. Explain why this is effective.

In this trailer we can hear Reagan famous speech in the background which can interest viewers as they will feel the so show has a good sense of realism, also the editing is very fast paced which connotes drama, action, and excitement.
2) What audience pleasures are suggested by the trailer? Think about Uses & Gratifications theory (Blumler and Katz).

we can clearly see diversion bein used in the trailer in many ways such as; Explosion, guns, spy theme. These offer many pleasures for the audience as it gives them an escape from they're regular lives. Also, quite clearly this also offers surveillance as it is made very clear in this teaser that the show is set in the cold war period meaning we are bound to learn something.
3) How does the trailer use action and enigma codes (Barthes) to encourage the audience to watch the show?

We can see a gun being pulled in the trailer which is an action code that can immensely excite the audience.

4) Pick three shots/scenes from the trailer that capture the spy thriller sub-genre. Why might this appeal to an audience? Try and apply Neale's genre theory 'repetition and difference' (the original notes on genre theory are here).

0.09, shows the comparison between an east german soldier Martin and an undercover spy Martin, this comparison strongly supports the spy theme.

0.22, Martin is shown picking a lock which is a classical spy act.

0.43, This chase can also show the action-packed parts of a spy theme

5) Pick three examples of mise-en-scene from the trailer that capture the 1983 setting the confirm the sub-genre of period drama. Why might this appeal to an audience? 

Clearly, the uniforms the soldiers wear highlight the cold war time period which can provide an escape for the audience as opposed to a regular modern show or film.

The Ronald Reagan speech reinforced the 1980s time period, this added realism to the show which audiences may have liked.



6) The trailer uses the song 'Two Tribes' by Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Why did the producers select this soundtrack for the trailer?

This song was made in the 80s, they may have chosen this song as it goes with the 80s time period of the show.

7) The only words heard in the trailer are in English. Why do you think the UK trailer avoided subtitles or German dialogue?

Audiences may have been put off by the German dialogue.Production and industry context

Deutschland 83 was produced by German production company UFA Fiction and distributed internationally by FremantleMedia International. It was broadcast on RTL (Germany), SundanceTV (US) and Channel 4 (UK) as well as many other broadcasters around teh world.

1) Read this Freemantle Media press release on the worldwide success of Deutschland 83. How is the drama described by the distributor? Why was it considered such an international success?
Deutschland 83 is a suspenseful coming-of-age story and Martin Rauch is hiding in plain sight in the West German Army gathering secfrets of NATO military.

2) Read this Freemantle Media press release on Deutschland 83 becoming Channel 4's highest rated foreign drama. What was the consolidated viewing figure for Episode 1 of Deutschland 83? What praise for Deutschland 83 is included in the press release?
It had 2.5 million viewers, it's the best show of the year as it is so interesting and "gripping"."This is the next subtitled sensation"

3) How does the press release promote the Channel 4 'Walter Presents' collection of international TV drama?
Walter Presents are going to offer over 600 hours of drama that can be downloaded as well since Deutschland 83 forms Walter Presents new on demand service.  
Watch this Channel 4 trailer for their Walter Presents international drama.

1) How does Channel 4 introduce 'Walter'?

They introduce Walter as a man that does nothing but watch drama series in order to find the best ones. Walter is seen to dedicate a lot of his time to drama shows who is providing a personal view and seems to be a trustworthy person who is very educated and watching these shows very critically.

2) What audience are Channel 4 trying to appeal to with the 'Walter Presents' series?

They are trying to appeal to people who like the drama genre and possibly people who spend a lot of time watching new series, the audience can trust these reviews.

3) How does the 'Walter Presents' series reflect the changing nature of television in the digital age?

All of Walter Presents shows are going to be available for box sets for free that can be downloaded and watched anywhere.They tell the audience that box sets are available online.
Marketing and promotion

Look at the online Channel 4 press pack for Deutschland 83.

1) Read the programme information from the press pack. How does the programme information seek to interest a reader from the first paragraph?

The first paragraph creates tension and introduces the audience to the character as well as setting that Martin who is in during these series of events and it creates many questions in the readers mind like why was Martin picked

2) What does the programme information suggest the main strengths of the programme are?

The suggested strengths are that this tv show is gripping and fast paced.

3) Read the press pack interview with writer Anna Winger. How did she use the historical context and real-life events to create a successful drama?

Anna Winger discusses the use of music
. 
4)Why might the soundtrack attract an audience?

Using the top songs of 1983 means it creates nostalgia which is an audience pleasure and it was a year where pop culture was thriving so it would stick in your head.

International marketing


1) How does the UK DVD cover communicate the sub-genre of the drama?

The UK DVD cover communicated a sub genre of the drama by making the audience question what the show is about as it shows two sides of the wall on either side of him and there is one side which is very bland and boring and one side which has a lot of colour and character. There is also the question of why it says at the bottom of the DVD "A gripping cold war thriller" and has the image of a man in uniform smiling, however we would expect to see people during the war to be more serious and worried for their life, which already suggests this is going to be different to all the other shows. It also shows a walk-man which suggests that it is using the nostalgia of this time period when many of their target audiences would have been very young and interested in what actually happened.

2) Analyse the mise-en-scene in the UK DVD cover. What does it communicate to the audience?

By watching the first episode we know Martin Rauch has a girlfriend in the East, however, the West side of the wall shows a couple kissing which could be hinting at the fact Martin Rauch may fall in love with someone from the West. The missiles also tell the audience that this will be action packed, which is a genre that attracts a young audience.

3) How does the American branding use font, colour and graphics to appeal to an audience?
The colours used are quite vibrant and stand out which would immediately grab the attention of viewers.

4) Why might the distributors Freemantle Media International have used different marketing campaigns in different countries? 

They may have done this as different cultures get appeal from different types of things.

TV: Applying Marxism

1) What does Marxism suggest regarding power in society?

Marxism suggests that power is held by a minority (the elite). They use their power and money to generate more wealth. The majority of the population (proletariat) had only their labour to help them make a living. The elite were the only ones who had access to the means of production. Without the ability to produce for themselves, the mass were dependent on the elite for survival. To maximise profits, the elite needed to get as much labour from the mass for as little cost as possible.

2) Why is The Apprentice a good example of the media reinforcing capitalist values and ideologies?

Alan Sugar has all the power and is in a superior position. The contestants are dependent on him and they are competitive with each other while being challenged to complete tasks in the world of business. There is a false consciousness that they have to have this character trait to make it in the world of business but they are actually conforming to these ideals to be apart of the mass.

3) Come up with three examples of media texts (e.g. TV programmes, newspapers etc.) that either fetishise working class life (e.g. EastEnders presents quite a harmonious East End community which probably doesn't accurately reflect East London life) or demonise working class life or poor people (e.g. The Daily Mail and The Sun newspapers regularly demonise people living on benefits with headlines referring to 'scroungers'.)

• 'Only Fools and Horses' - A show which focuses on two brothers and their granddad who live a working class life, they are seen to struggle but their humour and attitude towards it is seen as quite likeable and makes people want to have a much more positive attitude towards issues like that. 
• 'Rich House Poor House' - Channel 5 show where a poor family swaps houses and lives with a rich family and vice versa. It highlights the struggle the poor family goes through and makes some people crave a better lifestyle. 
• 'Benefits Britain: Life on the Dole' - Another channel 5 documentary that focuses on working class people on benefits. Exposes the harsh reality of what it's like to live on benefits and how tough having a working class background can be for some people.

5) Look at the bullet points on page 4 of the fact-sheet:

When making a Marxist reading of a text, look out for representations that:

• show the values of the power elite as beneficial to the mass

Roger's hefty bonus is contributing to the economy. This makes the house prices go up,therefore benefiting the mass. 

• show queries or challenges to the base as meaningless, foolish or anti-social via ‘failed revolt’

The banksy painters assistant puts the last of the postcards through the door, was arrested for the harassment caused. 

• show the subdominant position of the masses as a naturalised idea

The banker having some power or influence in the market is non-existent. His assistant putting the money in the stocks trying to help the mass and the banks fails as the stocks go down.

• show the values of the power elite as ‘natural’ or ‘right’

The banker leaves his bonus with his bosses who control a lot of things, they are the elite. This is natural to him as he has always done this.

• show that being a member of the mass is a good thing

The people leave the power with the banks, this makes the house prices go up keeping them better off.

• show the masses accepting the values of the power elite

Everywhere the banker commutes there is no trouble, no ones causing problems on the train as they are all going to work. They are following the rules to maintain order which is what the elite want to maintain control of the masses.

• show the values of the power elite as being ‘for the good of the masses’ (even when unpleasant)

Quentina has to wait for her letter to see if shes being deported or not, the austerity cuts and the pressure the councils are under may overlook her case. The cuts are put in place so debt could be payed off.

Capital TV casestudy

1) What positive points do the reviews pick out about Capital?

There are many positive points that the reviews pick out about Capital. One of the main positive things is that it shows the diverse side of London and I think that it shows the reality of London in present day as I think that most streets do tend to have a very diverse group of people who live in the same area and there are often groups who you would expect not to get along, to actually get along very well and vise versa.

2) What criticisms are made - either of the TV drama or the original novel?

"Yet it was a disappointment. This was no Dickensian bird’s-eye view, but an overly schematic tangle of under-developed plotlines populated by underwritten characters." 

There was also no overarching storyline and didn't head in one complete direction that connected everyone together.

3) How does the TV drama change the time period and location for the story in comparison to the original novel?

The novel was originally set during the 2008 financial crisis but the TV drama updates it to 2015 and changes the location slightly (Clapham to Balham)

4) In the Telegraph 'behind the scenes' article, what does the writer say about the London housing market?

"Capital is a snapshot of property boom that no one can comprehend".  House prices are becoming so high in London and it is becoming very difficult for people to join the housing ladder is it is simply unaffordable for young people or even people who have been saving up for a long time and has created a situation where the rich are simply becoming richer.

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?

It succeeds extremely well in capturing the audiences attention through the daily lives of the characters in the show which are relatable to the audience. It also shows that capital is attempting to portray how diverse London is and the issues which the people of the nation are facing. 


TEXTUAL ANALYSIS 

1) How does the drama use camerawork to capture London life?

At the very beginning of the series there is a birds eye view of London, which the audiences will be familiar with and recognise, therefore instantly knowing where it will be set and begin to relate with the show and characters. The show also tends to have montages of London and different shots to perhaps show different views of the same place.

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.

The first shot which shows London which is a birds eye view shows London before the camera angle changes and moves from character to character as we are introduced to them.

3) How does the trailer use mise-en-scene to capture the family element of the drama?

The trailer shows the children of the banker, Roger and the Pakistani family being shown together shows a family setting along side a clip of the family having dinner also shows a sense of family.

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?

Bastille's song is upbeat and doesn't suggest that there is any reason for disequilibrium in the TV show, however since we have already seen the first episode of the TV drama we know this is not the case, so we may think it is suggesting that the people who live on the street may be going to fight against who ever is targeting them. It is interesting that even though the show was set in 2008 the Bastille band, which is a British band formed in 2010 which means that that the newer generations are more likely to recognise it.

5) How does the trailer introduce narrative strands suggesting tension or enigma in the 40-second running time?

There are many clips and shots of the card which says "we want what you have", which is very threatening even without any context we can see that this is a very likely reason to be the main issue within the film and causes a lot of tension instantly. Even if the audience don't take notice of this cue and dismiss it, there are multiple shots within the trailer which consumes a lot of the time of the trailer so we know that it is a key element to the TV drama.

EP 1 PREIVEW

1) What does this preview clip suggest about the potential sub-genres for Capital?

Some of the possible sub-genres presented in this clip are family, crime and mystery due to  post cards that they have been receiving. 

2) What elements of the clip might suggest this is a 'state-of-the-nation' drama?

The clip contains characters of different ethnicity and it is set in a familiar location to many Londoners which is a corner shop.

3) Analyse the mise-en-scene in this clip. How does this provide realism and familiarity for audiences?

There are a lot of shots which show a London setting and typical London households, although you may not think that general houses on a street do not necessarily show a London setting, I think that Londoners would recognise the setting and be able to relate to it. It creates realism as in some of the shots an unclean house hold is shown and this may be relate able for a lot of us as we may often not have the most clean households and leave mess and audiences may like to see other people who are similar to them.

4) 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.


EP 2 PREVIEW 
1) How does this clip represent upper-middle-class family life?

The clip represents upper middle class as it shows a large kitchen with modern designs, which I would still consider to be very modern although this was a few years ago which may mean that they had paid a large amount of money to have this done.

2) What narrative strands are suggested in this sequence?

It suggests that the banker(Roger) has an interest and is attracted to the younger babysitter rather then his wife and we begin to see that there are many issues between their family even though they seem to have a very large amount of money available to them and may lead to jealousy between them and may create tension between them and may cause one of them to cheat on the other.

3) How is the audience positioned to respond to Roger Yount, the main character (banker and father to the two boys)?

The audience are positioned to begin to sympathise with the character as they can see that he has never been left in such a position with so much responsibility and that the wife has left him. Although the audience also feel like he should have some of those responsibilities and be able to take care of them we also understand that he has to work to keep their high expenses up and the home running.

1) Who is the parent company for Kudos?

Endemol Shine Group, 21st Century Fox, Apollo Global Management

2) What was the breakthrough show for Kudos in 2002?

"Spooks"

3) Watch the showreel on the Kudos website. What other TV dramas have Kudos produced? What awards have they won?

'Broadchurch', 'River', 'Flowers', 'Capital', 'Grantchester' 'Humans'
Winner of 4 BAFTA awards


4) What audience pleasures does the showreel suggest Kudos productions offer? 

They include some actors which the audiences may recognise and be intrigued in watching as they want to see what the character has to bring to the TV drama. There also seems to be a lot of tension and suspense included in the showreel which instantly attracts viewers and makes them want to find out what the rest of these shows are about.


1) How does the programme information on page 3 make Capital sound interesting to audiences?

It goes through each of the characters and states there background and their situation until they have to face the issues which they have. The fact that they go through all the characters and they have such a wide range if characters means that a lot of people who read this may be interested as they may be able to relate to a lot of the characters and be intrigued. 

2) Why does the programme information mention the other shows that the director and producer have worked on?

The programme information mentions other shows that the director and producer have worked on as they may enjoy the work which they had seen in the TV drama and may interest them in watching other TV dramas which are similar.

3) Who commissioned Capital for BBC?

Charlotte Moore and Ben Stephenson

4) Read the interview with Toby Jones. What does he say about the character of Roger?

"Roger isn’t an evil banker, he’s a slightly complacent banker. He’s become used to a certain way of life and has a self-imposed pressure to live that way. He spends a lot of money on things that other people don’t spend money on – for example fixtures and fittings - but that is normal to him and his wife. He is not totally in charge of his life or his work. "

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?

"It looks at the idea of a community, and what it means to belong to the community from whatever background you’re from. One of the problems is that some people within a community, such as 11 Ahmed’s brother Usman, feel ostracised from it. They feel like they don’t belong and are on the outside looking in. Capital looks at that concept and also that they are all part of something bigger than themselves."

6) Read the interview with Shabana Azmi (page 12). What does she say about Asian representations in Britain? 

"If you look at the subject of Capital, and the number of communities that are being represented, there’s awareness that the world is shrinking, and becoming a global village. We are absorbing cultures, and understanding them, or at least trying to understand them within their own paradigms."

7) Read the interview with Peter Bowker (who adapted Capital - page 14). What are his favourite scenes in the drama and why?

' have a few favourite moments in the book which I wanted to make sure stayed as favourites in the adaptation. Christmas morning where Roger has been abandoned and left to look after his two 15 children is one that Euros (Director) has done brilliantly. Roger realises that his life is changing but it’s done with such comedy! It is one of those glorious Basil Fawlty moments where the farce is working at one level and the emotional farce is working at another.
I also love the Kamals’ chaotic family meals. They are quintessentially archetypal family scenes that everybody lives through, but played with great comedic panache.
And when Bogdan the Polish builder talks to Matya the Hungarian nanny about the affluent Londoners they are working for, it’s fascinating. Capital has a wonderful scale but is all about the minute observations of human nature' 
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 novel really spoke to me as it has a sweeping Dickensian ambition to it, all life in one street. I loved the sense of this big, expansive panorama of life as well as the small details of human behaviour. The whole of London seen through the microcosm of one street.It definitely speaks to me about where London and the country is now. The obsession with property, the fact that London house prices have risen extraordinarily, has only intensified the sense of a society of haves and have-nots. Everyone’s connection to money is explored but then the novel expands to ask what life’s real value is, and it does this with a very deft, light touch. I’d say the novel is profound but never overtly polemical. '

1) How does the packaging use other critically acclaimed TV dramas to promote Capital?

Family

London skyline

Ensemble cast

Makers of humans and broad church

2) What does the use of design and images suggest to the audience about the drama?

There are many images of families which obviously relate able for most people and therefore it is likely to be a successful selling technique, it shows a large range of people such as the Pakistani family and although they may not be the target audience it may interest them in watching the film and as it doesn't state that they are Pakistani so it may interest other Asian viewers such as Indians as they may feel as if it is also relateable.

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 may suggest what kind of TV show it is as it is rated by professionals and they know that it is likely to be an unbiased review and may suggest the genre and theme of the TV show.

4) What representation of London does the DVD packaging offer?

It may suggest that it is a state of the nation drama as it shows the London skyline and may suggest that the issues are being recognised as there is an Asian family which audiences may assume are referring and discussing immigration in the country.