Preliminary Exercise - Family Scene

FINAL VIDEO

State the genre you have chosen for your TV drama - family or crime drama.

• Family

Choose three TV dramas similar to your concept and watch the trailer and one scene from each. 

• Euphoria:  Clear use of lighting, a juxtaposition of close up and medium shots for effect, the 'power shot' uses dark lighting and mise-en-scene to capture the character, as well as the music fitting the atmosphere of the scene. The use of colour and 'background noise' as a way to create atmosphere allows the trailer to capture the cinematic potential as well as the realistic themes of the show. 
• Marvel's Runaways: Close up shots, as well as narration and the use of sound bridges allows the juxtaposition between scenes to be far more subtle. The costume/makeup allows the actress to look young but still conforms to the idea that teenagers have to look older/more attractive for lack of a better phrase in order to make teen dramas more profitable
• Umbrella Academy:  The aerial shot allows sub textual meanings about barriers, boundaries and entrapment to be communicated as well as framing the characters in the middle of the staircases being a clear artistic choice. The mise-en-scne accurately communicates the genre whereas the sound establishes the narrative and the atmosphere for the show itself. The lighting, similar to the above two, is very natural- if not unnaturally so with the shadows and highlights being clearly exaggerated.

Write a script for your TV drama scene.

• Script

Write a shot list containing EVERY shot you plan to film AND additional shots to create flexibility when editing. 

• Shot List and Schedule

Plan your mise-en-scene: 

• RIVER: Blue T-shirt and Pyjama trousers, No makeup but there's signs of eyeshadow, and foundation on their hand suggesting they'd been playing around with it. The lighting is natural however there is a soft blue tone to it, the bed is unmade and the room is slightly messy- obviously lived in. River's cat lies on the bed and Alannah Myles' 'Lover of Mine' plays almost inaudibly in the background as River speaks on the phone. River moves around a lot on the phone, from swapping positions to cleaning up, I will need a phone, clothes, school textbooks, books, a cat, as well as makeup and a radio/device to play the music from.
• FLEUR: Dungarees, and button down shirt, natural makeup but bright yellow eyeliner- that calls the cameras attention. Natural lighting, the route she walks allows shadows to show up on her face and figure regularly. Props needed are a phone, a school bag, a necklace, a lollipop. It will be filmed in various outdoor locations, with typical outdoor noise and traffic noises acting as background music for Fleur's conversation with River. Fleur is obviously dazed as she walks, and takes various shortcuts as well as moving fluidity and carelessly. She has notes scribbled on the back of her hand and after she hangs up the phone, she puts in/on headphones.