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
"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.
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