CONVENTIONS OF A COMPLETE NARRATIVE

A couple wake up and go downstairs to breakfast. They do not realise they are being watched by terrorists. A terrorist catches the lady of the couple and keep her in a room with one of her colleagues threatening to kill her whilst another terrorist is taking care of the male of the couple - ordering him to do exactly what they tell him to do. He somehow gets onto the good side of the terrorist and manages to find out where his girlfriend is. He rescues her just before they set her on fire.

-Todorovs classic narrative theory . equilibrium, disruption, equilibrium/ Beginning, middle, end.
Equilibrium - The couple making coffee
Disruption - The girl getting kidnapped
Equilibrium - The boyfriend getting her back again

Levi-Strauss's binary opposites such as good and evil. The couple are the good characters of the serial and the terrorists represent the evil.

Most stories end happily to fulfill audience expectations and desires. If the main character is killed in the series this may lead to viewers switching away. Some stories however, end with a cliffhanger. This creates enigma and gives the audience a reason to watch the next series.

In 'Spooks' the episode starts with a couple going downstairs for breakfast. This is a standard way of beginning a narrative so that the audience don't get too confused and can follow what is happening. They can establish the mood of the episode. Starting with an equilibirum often makes the disruption even more disturbing as it brings out the contrasts.
The audience automatically side with the good characters as they can relate to them more, and emptathise with their feelings.

Other binary opposites could be the two couples. The male and female terrorist against the male and female couple. and also between the norm and the disruption, which can also be seen as the norm being good and the disruption as being bad.

Single Drama/film: Margeret
This drama usually uses Todorov's narrative structure, equilibrium ; disruption ; equilibrium during every episode/film and would contain many binary opposites throughout.

Two nighter: Trial & Retribution
This also uses Todorov's theory; equilibrium ; disruption ; equilibrium and is usually with a cliffhanger at the end of the first episode to make the audience want to watch the next episode. Most binary opposites would be made clear in the first episode.

Soap: Eastenders
The audience are usually introduced to the character when there is a disruption, and the end equilibrium, if there is one as a lot of storylines don't end happily, does not happen till a lot later on, taking many episodes to resolve. The binary are always present with more being introduced as different characters join/leave.

Serial: Bleak House
The series ends with either an equilibrium or a cliffhanger.

Anthology Series: Skins
This type of series uses the narrative pattern equilibrium ; disruption ; equilibrium mostly in each episode but also with an underlying storyline across the series which eventually gets resolved in the last episode. The binary opposites are introduced in the first episode but more may be introduced in later episodes when even more characters are introduced.

Long – form Series Drama: Lost
There is usually an underlying narrative which carries on throughout the series, also with different narratives in single episodes which can take about two or three episodes to resolve.

Long – Form Series Drama with Some Narrative Experimentation: 24
With this form of drama the narrative pattern it spread across the series, with the the disruption being resolved at the end. There are also smaller disruptions throughout the series which can get resolved in an episode or over a few. The binary opposites tend to be introduced at the beginning and may be introduced throughout.

Freddie is the black sheep of his family, and seen as a waste of space. He is forced to encourage his sister to win the 'sexbomb' competition but is completely against the idea of his sister using their dead mother as a facade of being so upset so that the audience vote for her simply out of sympathy. If this wasn't bad enough, living in the shadow of the reckless Cook is doing his head in. Being deeply in love with Effy, he finally kisses her expecting she would know how he feels for her. However, his heart is shattered when he sees Effy and Cook both in Effy's room that evening.

APPEARANCE

Freddie has tanned skin and brown hair. He seems to be the more attractive out of him Cook and JJ, however doesn't get the girls because he is always living in Cooks shadow.
He is shown to have a scar on his chin - implying he is a rough skateboarder. He has a good dress sense and his hair is usually straight and neat which reflects his mature personality. He walks with his hands in his pocket - bringing out his confident personality.

PERSONALITY -
Freddie is shown to have a caring personality. When Cook tells Effy to 'fuck out of the shed' Freddie goes to get her again.
He cries when he looks at the smashed copy of the family photo - signifying he wears his heart on his sleeves.

DIALOGUE
Freddie is a polite boy who respects everyone around him. When he sees Effy sitting in his front yard he says 'Hello, you're in my garden' rather than spitting abusive language and wondering why anyone should be in his garden. When Effy asks to see his shed, he is more than happy to show her.

CAMERA WORK
As soon as Freddies dad slaps him across his face because of the unsuitable manner he spoke to his sister in, the camera zooms into Freddies reaction. From this, the audience can see just how shocked and upset Freddie is.
When Cook and JJ come to Freddies house, the audience are taken to an over the shoulder show of Cook and JJ. Freddie is standing on the doorstep, he is towering over Cook and JJ as he says 'I'm not going anywhere.' Cook and JJ are looking up to Freddie making them look less powerful. At this point, the audience see that Freddie has finally come out of constantly living in Cooks shadow.

MUSIC
In the opening of the episode Freddie is shown skateboarding by himself with a slow, miserable minor soundtrack. This tells the audience he is upset about something.

The same soundtrack is played later on in the episode when Freddie comes from Effys house. He attempts skateboarding again, yet everything that has just happened takes control of him and prevents him from focusing. He falls numerous times and ends up badly scratching his arm.

First day at college - All the new characters are introduced. The crew are: Effy, Freddie, Cook, JJ, Pandora, Naomi, Katy and Emily.

CHARACTERISATION OF PANDORA

APPEARANCE
Pandora has her blonde hair which she ties in two high bunchies with non-matching bobbles. This hairstyle makes mer look very young, immature and naïve. Her bright yellow nailvanish, large yellow shoes and green glittery make-up simply add to her immaturity. She is shown as less academic in comparison to the rest of the characters as she is wearing a beautifical outfit. She is also lacking general knowledge as she had to ask Effy what 'surf and turf' and 'inexplicable' meant.

DIALOGUE
Pandora's speech and high pitched voice simply adds to her character.
'Bliming heck' and 'Maybe my toes will stop throbbing.' Her lack of voilent language and swear words causes the audience to beleive she is naive and immature.
She tends to ramble an awful amount, making her seem to be a background distraction rather than a main issue or topic.

CAMERA WORK
On the first day of college, Pandora is off on one of her rambles again. However, the camera doesn't focus on her once - signifying the lack of importance in her character. We are taken into Effys mind set as she stares at the twins and blocks out anything Pandora seems to be saying.

MUSIC
Whilst she is running through the corridor after escaping her manicure class a soundtrack is played - Mets Tons/Dominique - the dreamy, light-hearted mood of the song reflects Pandoras quirky personality.

TV DRAMA WORKING DEFINITION

TV drama is scripted and fictional. Each series will usually consist of 10-24 one hour episodes that are aired on TV once a week.
A TV drama is a television content that is scripted and (normally) fictional but can still be based on real life events. There is an on going storyline through each series aswell as subplot within each episode. TV dramas do not usuall return to equilibrium at the end of an episode. It ends with a cliffhanger, creating enigma and giving the audience a reason to watch the next episode.

TELEVISION DRAMA

MY TELEVISION DRAMA CHOICE

SKINS, E4,

series

Skins is a British comedy teen drama that follows a group of teenagers from Bristol as they experience love, family, and growing up. I thought this would be an interesting TV drama to base my work around because its representation of characters and schools are completely different to the students and schools I've studied at! I've just started watching it out of choice before this task was given to us, and because I think Freddie (played by Luke) is rather good looking!

The show was created by father and son television writers Bryan Elsley and Jamie Brittain for Company Picutes, and premiered on E4 on 25 January 2007.

HOVIS ADVERT

THE BREAD SHOP
A young boy walks out a bread shop wearing a brown coat, brown scarf, brown baker boy hat and brown shorts c arryinga loaf of bread in his hand. 'There you go lad' the baker man says to the boy as he gives him the loaf- old fashioned speaking

CART
He then runs into a horse and cart which a man is riding down a narrow cobbled stret. He is also wearing a brown bowlers hat and smart clothing. Along this side are small houses with clothing hanging outside shops and titanic posters The horse neighs and the boy runs out of the horses way through a door where he loses his hat and his shirt changes showing the change in time.

WOMANS' MARCH
Walking into the women's marching protest. Suffragets: all women wearing shirts or blazers with a long skirt and a hat. The protest is for women rights to vote. Women march down a main road (no cars) with posters in their hands fighting for their rights. Policemen arresting a woman violently and men in moustauches and top hats.

SOLDIERS
He then runs through marching soldiers, all dressed in green army suits with guns held against their shoulders, chased by a young girl in a frock and a hat. One of the soldiers salute to the young boy and is welcomed with a salute in return. Cobbled streets, yet larger houses in the background.

STREET WITH CARS
As he runs through another road we are introduced to three more peple. Two men in suits and a woman in a dress, who are leaning against an old fahsioned maroon motor car with a petit white dog.

THE WAR
Houses are destroyed, wooden planks is all that's left of them. The classic Winston Churchills speech is heard in the background as we see audience walking to a new destination with all their belongings. Old fashioned radio is playing the news; the only sort of technology they had in this period. Music dies down as the enginge of the fighter jet overpowers as it flies low as boy runs to the next period. He is not wearing shorts, a sweater vest and a brown blazer

STREET PARTY
Party on the street; a completely different atmosphere. Roads are made of tarmac - seperated from the pavements. The colour theme is white and red - celebrating the end of the war in England. A boy siting on the chair dressed as a pirate:wearing an eye patch, a scarf around his head and a striped jumper. Old women dressed in long dresses lay the table.

GIRL/FOOTBALL PLAYERS
Girls wearing mini skirts, handbags and cardigans with big hair and alice bands. Streets lined with terraced housing and narrow roads; much more vehicles about. A modern car drives past with England flags sticking out of it. People are happy and celebrating. Boys wearing brown jacket and trousers. Football fans cheer for 'Tottenham'

STREET WITH ASIANS
Boy wearing a chequered shirt and brown leather jacket. Asian couple walk on the pavement, (showing the diverse ethnicity in England) past a TV shop, lady dressed in a sari and man dressed in a beige coat.

PROTEST
Boy wearin a brown shirt and a striped brown leather jacket. Protesters are wearing jeans and tops (modern day clothing). Boy runs in to the protest where they are shouting 'Cole not dole' A protestor shouts out 'Ey Lad, isn't it past your bed time'

FIREWORKS
Boy runs through a park at midnight- climbing past park benches as fireworks are visibile in the background - celebrating the turn of the century. He is in the same outift.

HOME
It is now daylight and two children are hanging around on the street, the bomber jacket has changed to a brown hoody - portraying the fashion of the new century. He arrives at home and sits on the kitchen table. The taps are made of metal, and the load of bread is now wrapped in a brown 'Hovis bag' Mum says "Is that you home love?" with a northern acccent. He replies with a "yeah" and smirks. The bread is sliced on a bread board and is shown on a light pink background with a tag line - "As good today as it's always been"

SOUND
The music throughout the advert is dominating, changings loundness as other sounds and dialogues are played and the there is diegetic sound. The music changes as different events take place - it adds to the mood of the time - Whilst the boy runs through the war period the music slows down and enters the minor key to make the mood more serious and tense. However when the walks past the football fans and the girls music enters a majoy key and becomes much more jolly. At the end the piece finishes with a piano - setting a calm atmosphere after the anti - climax he has just been through. Overall there is some dialogue, on screen and offscreen for the radio.

NARRATIVE
The advert portrays how hovis has lived through many periods - starting in the Victorian times around the 1880 and ends on the present day, 2008. The boy is the milestone of the advert which the camera follows from scene to scene until he gets home. The advert anchors the tag line at the end ' As good as it's always been'