TV DRAMARepresentation of GENDER

LO: To analyse the representation of gender through cinematography and editing

HOMEWORK

To understand editing techniques and their use and connotations in TV Drama

Examiner’s Report

• Editing• “ As with the January 2009 session, this

technical area proved to be the most problematic for candidates and the one technical area of analysis that was often omitted in candidate’s answers.”

• What is editing?

• Put simply: it’s the way shots are put together…

• Most films use a system of editing known as continuity editing

• Continuity editing makes the action as fluid as possible, so that we are not aware of the construction process

• Therefore, you need to be especially aware to spot the techniques of editing employed during a textual analysis.

THE RULES OF EDITINGThere are five main criteria for evaluating a cut or deciding where to cut. They are (in order of importance, most important first):

• emotion — Does the cut reflect what the editor believes the audience should be feeling at that moment?

• story — Does the cut advance the story? • rhythm — Does the cut occur "at a moment that is rhythmically

interesting and 'right'"? • eye-trace — Does the cut pay respect to "the location and movement of

the audience's focus of interest within the frame" ? • two-dimensional place of the screen — Does the cut respect the

180 degree rule?

Key Editing Techniques

• P – Pace• A – Action• S – Sequence • T – Transition

Brain storm the terminology?

Dr. Who

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJpMtam_TrM

Watch this clip and comment on all the editing techniques you spot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJpMtam_TrM

• Give yourself a make every time you have used this terminology

Self Assess

P – Pace: length of take

– literally count every time the camera cuts– if you find yourself counting quickly then the pace

is quick– If you count slowly pace is slow

P – Pace: length of take

“This is an example of fast paced editing”“This is an example of slow paced editing”“This is a long take”“That was a short take”

How could pace of editing be related to gender?Dominant character demand

more screen time

A – Action: ask yourself who is driving the action?

– Which character does the audience follow?– Who is dominating the reaction shots and eyeline

matches?– Who is leading shot reverse-shots?– Match-on-action whose action are we witnessing?

How could these techniques be related to GENDER REP?

S – Sequence: is there any other action going on at the same time as the main sequence?

– Use of cross-cutting to suggest that there is other action occurring at the same time

– Use of flashbacks to inform the audience of other important information

How could these techniques be related to GENDER REP?

T – Transition: does the transition signify anything?

– Cut: always ask yourself why a cut has occurred– Fade to colour: significance of colour– Dissolve: slow transition from one image to

another, suggests a relationship between image

How could these techniques be related to GENDER REP?

Watch this clip again and answer the question on the next slide:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJpMtam_TrM

How does editing and cinematography represent gender in this clip?

• Using the terminology you learnt last lesson and your knowledge of cinematography, write for 20 minute on how the micro elements represent gender.

A level 3 response will contain: 3 P.E.E. at least one linking editing to the representation of

genderA level 4response will contain:

3 P.E.E. at least two linking editing to the representation of gender

Click the image to view the clip

• Read the Student response to that clip• What level would it receive?

G322 Key Media Concepts (TV Drama)