TV Drama: My Boy Jack: Social Class Notes

My Boy Jack
Point of representation: Social Class

+Shows the importance of social class in 1914
+Costumes, dialogue and props all show the class of characters.
+Camera angles show social statuses and situations
+Dialogue and facial expressions show that being a writer is not seen as an upper class man's job
+Doesn't curse, respectable
+fade up on epensive, gold-encrusted watch - time is against someone, someone's late. We see later the watch belongs to the king - doesnt expect or like to be kept waiting
+Close up of wheel, sound bridge, shows speed, someone in a hurry
+Opportunities go to the wealthy
+Close up of watch - anxious
+Polished figure on car - wealth
+Fields - the wealthy have the freedom/space
+Facial expressions, close up, similarties to other characters
+Low angle of car, determination
+Parallel editing - two events at once
+Birds eye shot - costumes show no difference in class, suits and hair are similar, equal
+Hand held camera shot - encourages empathy to that character
+Unsteady camera - uncertainly
+Title 'My Boy Jack' in sky, the father has high hopes for his son
+Low angle - shows importance

TV Drama: My Boy Jack: Notes

Notes from the opening of 'My Boy Jack'

Camera:

+Establishing shot of fields/countryside and car - setting - wide shot

+Close ups of car - importance - money - social status

+Longs shots of car approaching - determination

+Close ups of characters faces - emotions

+Track shots - determination

+Over ther shoulder/ shot reverse shot/ mid shot - converstation

+Low angle of man -shows his importance

+View of the driver - mid shot - hand held - from characters point of view

+Birds eye shot of boys waiting and high angle shots- lower status - no authority in situation - under pressure

+Close up of characters face when reading letters - worry - shows audience this is a problem thats an important part of the story.

+Fades in
+Eyelevel shots of conversation and subjective points of view add realism

Characters Performance:

+Daniel Radcliffe and other actors are familiar
+Characters are well educate, rich and posh, respected but snobby towards each other
+White British
+Jack is seen as less important due to his fathers job
+Based on a true story - adds realism

Dialogue:

+Short, formal conversation
+Rehearsed
+Formal, SE, matches characters social class
+Use of last names and titles such as 'sir' show lack of close or strong relationships and a formal setting/situation
+Realistic

Audience:

+Primary audience - older - wartime themes - people can relate
+Big stars broaden audience to younger generations - higher production values, worth watching
+Represents change of values since 1914 - had to be born in a higher class to live a better life
+Discrimination - glasses/poor eyesight

Sound:

+Clock ticking at start (digetic)
+Sunny weather and happy music - matches
+Non-digetic sound - strings - reflects nerves

TV Drama:

+Genre - historical
+Clothing/costume and props
+Stereotypical - about war - male audience - daniel radcliffe would appeal to younger audience

Narrative Sequence:

+Clock ticking by - narrative time - you see time as they both experience it
+Clock appears twice to show realtime shots used aren't linked to each other

Backstory:

+Set in WW1 england 1914 - relationships, cars, told on transition screen, costumes
+High and low classes
+Rich familys, social class

Mise-En-Scene:

+Countryside and  Manor houses
+Realistic
+Props - watches are traditional to time period/era - upper class bright sunny day - representation mans mood (freedom)
+Boy is inside - smaller space - under pressure - nerves
+Boys is in a darker place - more serious
+Uniforms and suits show class and jobs

Editing:

+Close-ups of clock - times
+Car
+Credits
+Parallel editing, two things happening at the same time
+Black screen with white text - date and setting