How to analyse TV Drama - Joshua Crichlow

Section A• Shot types• Sound types• Mise-en-scène• Editing analysisThe exam will also be looking at an understanding of the following:• Gender• Ethnicity• Sexuality• Class, status and influence• Regional Background and Identity

Shot typesThere are various different types of shots in any TV Drama, such as:• Over-the-Shoulder Shot – Generally shows the two characters engaging in

dialogue, and is shown through the shot-reverse-shot editing technique.• Close-Up Shot – Focuses on a particular thing – an expression, an object, and an

action.• Master Shot – Establishes the confines of the scene, where

everything happens.• Establishing shot – also known as: Extreme Long Shot, establishes a location.• Medium Close-Up – From the waist up, generally for interviews.• Tracking Shot – A shot in which the camera follows the subject.• Panoramic Shot – A horizontal sweeping shot.• Tilt Shot – A vertical sweeping shot.• Super Close-Up – Made to focus on the details, more so than the Close-Up.• Long Shot – Literally just a shot taken from a far distance, and it helps to show

groups of people.• Medium Long Shot – The Medium Long Shot is used to show a few people,

particularly couples.

Sound types• Diegetic Sound• Diegetic sound is sound which is canon (i.e. part of the scene) and

thus ‘exists’ within the world of the video• Non Diegetic Sound• Non-Diegetic sound ‘does not exist’ by contrast, and a character

will never truly interact with it. These are things like background music, sound effects and so on.

• Asynchronous Sound• Asynchronous sound does not appear on screen, though it may or

may not be diegetic. It may come from a bird outside, or a car, etc.• Synchronous sound• Synchronous sound is a sound with an on-screen source. At the

same time, it may or may not be diegetic, sound effects being a perfect example of a synchronous non-diegetic sound.

Mise-en-scène

These are things in the scene that show what kind of world the characters are in. For example, a torn couch indicates that either the person lives a rough life, and that they may not be able to afford a new one. An iPhone may indicate that the person is pretty well off, and has no serious money problems. For example, in the picture below, Isaak’s wealth is implied by the watch on his wrist, as well as his attire and the couch he’s sat on.

Editing Analysis

There are several editing techniques that are used to swap shots and show more of the action.• Cut – The simplest of editing techniques used to change shots.

It literally just changes without any fades, warnings etc.

• Fade – This is used to create a softer change, mostly for scenes. Recently, the use of the fading between scenes has diminished, and now most film fades to black.

• Shot-reverse-shot – As aforementioned, it is used to quickly change between two shots, and is generally used with the over-the-shoulder shot type.