Unit 22 Single Camera Techniques: Lo1

Mystery
Genre:
In the mystery genre, the storyline is when there is an
investigation of a crime. The storyline has three phases in the
story. The storyline initially starts off finding out about a crime,
but has the criminals identity as unknown at this point. This is
the first phase in the storyline which is usually known as the who
did it? phase. The storyline then usually develops to the why they
did it? phase. This is when the criminals reasoning behind the
crime is the main focus of the storyline. The criminals identity
may be revealed in this phase of the story. The final phase of the
storyline is the how to catch them? phase. This is when the
detective or investigator catches the criminal, and the criminals
identity is revealed when they are caught if the detective or
investigator did not find out before. At this point any missing gaps
in the storyline are filled in by either the investigator or
criminal.
Conventions:
The conventions of the mystery genre are that the protagonist is
always attempting to solve a crime, whether it is a detective,
private investigator or civilian. The storyline usually consists of
the protagonist trying to unravel the crime or situation by piecing
together clues. The mystery genre also consists of finding evidence,
interrogating either witnesses or the criminal, and tracking down
the criminal. There is also usually an office where the protagonist
is able to piece together the mystery using all of the information
that has been collected.
Narrative:
The mystery genre predominantly uses linear narratives. This is
because although the crime/murder is committed at the start of the
program, the rest of the program follows the detective/investigator
trying to figure out how and why it happened, who caused it and
eventually capturing them. While if it was a non-linear narrative
then it would have the crime/murder be committed at the start of the
program, then the program would follow the person who committed this
and you would find out why and how this happened by watching all the
events that led up the crime/murder, but usually from the culprits
point of view.
Flashbacks are sometimes used in the narrative, usually when and if
the culprit confesses how the crime/murder happened. So it will show
the audience how the crime/murder was committed.
The mystery genre predominantly uses a realist narrative as they are
usually based on crimes/murders/situations that can happen in the
real world, with a real world setting. Although having said this,
the mystery genre can still have an anti-realist narrative. This
will be by having the story based in a fictional/fantasy setting.
The mystery genre can easily have an open ending or a closed ending
to the narrative. It could have a closed ending by having the
protagonist solving all of the mysteries in that story, and leaving
no gaps in the storyline. This way the audience will get to know the
full story off how everything happened, but it does not leave a room
to continue the story on in a sequel. If an open ending is chosen
then the protagonist will solve the main mystery in the storyline,
but there will be some secondary mysteries unsolved, so that there
is a chance of a sequel occurring, continuing on with the story,
possibly making the program into a series.
Format:
The mystery genre has programs in a series format, or a single
drama. The mystery genre predominantly comes in a series format;
with each series predominantly having a backstory running
throughout; such as finding the grandmaster behind all of the
murders/crimes. Separate storylines are then used for each episode
that possibly links into the backstory; such as a new crime/murder
that may lead the protagonist to being a step closer to finding the
antagonist in the overall backstory of the series. The mystery genre
is also sometimes made in a single drama format. This is when the
storyline is too short to be put into a series format, so it is put
into a single drama instead.
Sherlock:
This clip is from the TV series Sherlock. You are able to tell that
this is from a mystery genre, as the narrative of the clip shows a
detective finding and capturing a criminal. Some other aspects of
the clip that shows that it is from the mystery genre, is that it
shows the detective interrogating the criminal.
Person Of Interest:
This clip is from the TV series Person Of Interest. You are able to
tell that this is from the mystery genre, as the clip shows some
investigators have a conversation about how the criminal confessed
when they started to interrogate him; which is a convention of the
mystery genre. The investigators also try and recruit a freelance
investigator into their team.
Adventure
Genre:
In the adventure genre, the action scenes are preferably used to
display and explore exotic locations in a dynamic way. The main
storyline for the adventure genre is a character/set of characters
set out on an adventure, and they then take it upon themselves to go
on a quest that includes a lot of risk and danger. The adventure
genre is usually set in a period background allowing the story to be
loosely based around historical events or stories; such as Robin
Hood and the Robin Hood fictional story or Merlin and the lore
surrounding king Arthur.
Conventions:
The main conventions used in the adventure genre are quests for lost
locations, being based in a jungle/desert location, having
characters hunt for treasure or valuable artefacts, or having
characters perform heroic journeys through the unknown.
Narrative:
The adventure genre only uses linear narratives. This is because all
the storylines used for the adventure genre has a character, or set
of characters going out on quests, whether to perform a particular
task, find and reach a lost and forgotten location, or hunt for
treasure. This all has a simple begging, middle and end sequential
storyline, making them linear narratives.
Flashbacks are generally not used in the adventure genre. The only
time a flashback would be used, was if the characters were referring
to a past event in the storyline and the audience would need
reminding of this to make the characters discussion clearer, to the
viewer.
The adventure genre mainly uses an anti-realist narrative, as the
storyline is predominantly fictional or fantasy based. This is
usually from characters having to fight mythical creatures and
monsters during their various quests.
The adventure genre can easily have a closed ending narrative or an
open ended narrative. It could have a closed ending narrative if a
short storyline was used and so was a smaller quest that did not
need anything to follow on after it. While it could also be open
ended if there was a longer storyline which showed smaller separate
adventures which posed as steps for the main quest storyline; in
which case each episode would need to be open ended to carry on with
the overall storyline.
Format:
The format predominantly used for adventure genres is the series
format. This is mainly because it allows the characters to have
multiple smaller adventures while on the path for their main quest.
Game Of Thrones:
The clip is from the TV series Game Of Thrones. You are able to tell
that this is from the adventure genre, as it shows a prince and a
king journeying somewhere but have the people turn on them, so have
to escape back to the keep. This is an adventure convention as it
shows characters journeying somewhere while having to overcome
various obstacles and events along the way. It is also set in more
of a desert environment which is a fairly common adventure
convention.
Merlin:
The clip is from the TV series Merlin. You are able to tell that
this is from the adventure genre, as one of the main characters is
able to use magic; which is one of the typical conventions of the
adventure genre. It also show the two characters journey through the
woods before hearing a womans scream from nearby, and have to go
and check it out. This is also a convention of the adventure genre
as it is showing the characters performing heroic journeys.
Sitcom
Genre:
A sitcom is a situation comedy which has a storyline and on-going
characters in it. The comedic situation is usually derived from that
of a family, workplace or a group of friends that is put through a
series of comical sequences. The humour used in sitcoms is usually
character driven. Running gags are also usually used in sitcoms as
well, that plays on a characters specific trait making them more
memorable.
Conventions:
The main conventions used in sitcoms are: running gags, the comic
trap; which is the situation that the characters are stuck in, the
one-liner; which is the one sentence joke that is said straight
after a humours event has occurred, the laugh track, parodies or
spoofs, irony or sarcasm.
Narrative:
The sitcom genre only uses the linear narrative. This is because the
characters are put into
Format:
Sitcoms are made in a series format so that they are able to follow
the set characters. This would not be able to happen in a single
drama. There is also not enough planning time for it to be in a
serial format.
Outnumbered:
This clip is from the TV series Outnumbered. You are able to tell
that this is from the sitcom genre as it uses the comic trap; it
draws the comic events and conversation out from the situation that
the characters are in. It also shows the characters use sarcasm as
well. Both of these are conventions of the sitcom genre.
Not Going Out:
This clip is from the TV series Not Going Out. You are able to tell
that this is from the sitcom genre as it one of the characters use
sarcasm during some parts of the clip. The clip also uses the comic
trap as the comical events and conversation are drawn out from the
situation that they are in.