Exam Preparation; Textual Analysis on 'LilyHammer'.

We looked at LilyHammer's Episode 1 from Series 1 and analysed the camera angles etc. Just like what we did with the other TV Dramas.


Camera Angle
Eye level is used throughout the conversation between the two men too show they are both as important. A bird's eye view is used to show the man in the coffin; this could imply he has been defeated as everything else is much higher than him.

Camera Shot
There are a lot of medium close ups, this makes the characters seem a lot more intimidating and seem a lot bigger. There are also wide shots to show and set the scene. Over the shoulder shots are used when the two main characters are talking, this is so we are only focusing at the one speaking.


Movement
Pan is used to move across the family members/other attendees of the funeral behind the two main characters. The fact the camera does not stop on any other character shows that they aren't of any importance.


Focus
Selective focus is used throughout the full scene. It focuses on one character to show who is more important at a certain time. Also it helps the audience focus on that one character and makes them seem more superior.


Colour
The colour Red is used throughout the opening scene, this has connotations of violence and even death, and because the scene is at a funeral, it is relevant to what is happening. Furthermore, Gold is used on some characters to show that they are superior and of a higher class.


Lighting
Ambient and artificial lighting is used in the scene. This is relevant to the situation and creates the right mood for a funeral. Also, it is still quite dull and there is little natural lighting which gives a gloomy feel to the scene.


Mise-en-scène
The man in the coffin was wearing a beaded bracelet, this could represent his background and religion. This is used as an iconography and to give the audience a bit of information about the characters without verbally saying it. Moreover, roses are spread around him. Roses often signify love but in this case it could signify anger with the situation going on between his partner and brother.


Proxemics
The two main characters stand quite closely together which could be seen as them being intimate but in this case, it gives of a sense of tension between the two characters.


If we were asked to comment on the gender within this scene, it would be said that the women are represented as being irrelevant. This is put forward because they are always in the background of the shot and the focus is always on the men. Furthermore, the camera stays with the men and only pans past the women. This gives the impression that they aren't important enough to be seen properly by others.