Gina Gohil AS Media: 'My Boy Jack' Notes

The TV Drama Genre

Set during World War One.
Historical genre.
Music, costumes, and props are old-fashioned so it's clear that the TV drama is part of the historical genre.
Suitable for adults as well as adolescents as the star of the show is Daniel Radcliffe so it appeals to a wide audience.
However, because it's a war film, it could be mainly targeted at males (stereotypical view).

Characters and Performance

Realistic style of performance.
Assume that the people are posh, educated, well-behaved, and that they are all mainly upper-class young adults who are British.
In the particular sequence shown there are only men, but no women.

Editing

Time is important to context - against them - fade to close-up of the watch suggests this idea.
To highlight the father's rush, fast cuts are used.
A tense, slow mood is portrayed through long cuts of the main character.
Clear conversation is shown through the use of the shot reverse shot in the room.
Continuity editing portrays a chronological order, showing that time is passing.
Experience protagonist's view through the eyeline match when he's reading the letters.
Superimpose is used when the main character is looking at the letters - experience his view and the audience are informed of his weak eyesight and at the start in the credits as well to set the scene (1914).
Two different events are shown through parallel editing.
Cutaway shot of the watch again - isn't really necessary but highlights that time is still important.
Ellipsis - father isn't portrayed walking around - action is sped up.
Parallel editing of the father in the car and his son in the medical room portrays their relationship.
Close-up shots of the cars indicate the time when the story is set.

Mise-En-Scene

Setting - countryside, medical room, and mansion.
Formal clothes - upper-class.
Soldiers in the navy - military-style uniform.
Body language - father is speed-walking which shows that he's in a rush.
Lighting outdoors - sunny, bright.
Lighting in medical room - dimly lit.
Mansion - light gets darker as the camera goes inwards - spotlight.
Colours - bright and vibrant outside which contrasts with the dull colours used in the medical room.
Old-fashioned costumes.
Fingers on the steering wheel show that the character is nervous and anxious.
The first thing noticed about the main character is that he's wearing spectacles.

Sound

Diegetic sound is used when the clock is ticking.
Noise of the car - asynchronous sound, sound which is indigenous to the action but not precisely synchronized with the action (foreshadowing).
Jolly music is used which relates to the sunny weather.
String instruments are used to portray that the characters are nervous and anxious.
Non-diegetic sound is used too.
When there is more dialogue the music goes quieter.
Sound bridge - whoever clock belongs to - waiting for person in next scene.
Adventurous music - rich.

Narrative Sequence

Background Information

One-off production drama.
Daniel Radcliffe stars in it so the drama must have had a high budget.
Set in 1914 - World War One.
The father in the drama is a writer which suggests that he's well-known and famous.

Audience

Mostly for the older generation as it's a war film.
Daniel Radcliffe stars in the drama so appeals to a mass audience - pulls in a younger audience because of the big star - higher budget = better quality.
The message conveyed is that if you're not born into the correct family with good physical conditions it's hard to get a high-rank job.

Camera Angles and Shots

Close-ups of the clock ticking.
High angle shot of the whole room - high authority.
Close-up of letters.
Mid angle shots - realism.
Point-of-view shots.
Low angle shots - importance of characters and authority.
Over-the-shoulder shots - conversation, point-of-view.
Extreme close-up of the second-hand on the watch - time is going.
Close-up of wheels turning on car - speed and time.
Close-up of facial expression of the character in the car portrays their emotions - he also has glasses on like Daniel Radcliffe.
Low angle shot - speed of car - determination - not going to let things get in the way.
High angle shot of the three boys looking down on the papers.
Hand-held shot of when the man is collecting the forms - we are further down - our eyeline is in line with Daniel Radcliffe's eyeline so we are empathising with him. Daniel Radcliffe's form is folded - opposition - meticulous (particular).
Close-up of Radcliffe - wearing glasses too - links to the shot before of his father and his glasses.
Unsteady camera = uncertainty.

Dialogue

Representation of Social Class

Formal language and accent - posh.
Formal dress.
Dialogue - father is a writer - lower-class? An over-the-shoulder shot is used to see the other character's reaction to Racliffe's character's job - snobbery.
Fade-up on expensive, golden-crusted watch - time is against them - late. Watch belongs to the King who is waiting for a visit from Rudyard Kipling.
Aristocracy - King doesn't like to be kept waiting.
Wealthy - polished Rolls Royce car.
Open green fields - freedom, space.
Costumes of the three boys don't show a difference in class as they are dressed similarly - equality.
Low panning shot - wealth, power.
Title screen portrays the grand estate - class.

Gina Gohil AS Media