Tuesday, 9 November 2010

How are camera shots and movement used in each trailer to represent the characters and the period

When watching the trailer for "desperate romantics" I found it easy to identify what kind of show it was from the different camera shots and angles that took place. The contrast of the brief close-up shots of exploding paintings with the slow-motion medium close -up shots of the three main protagonists (deliberately looking over-the-top) lends the trailer a sense of humour which leads us to assume that this program is supposed to be a self-mocking period piece this is also supported by the combination of high-angle and point-of-view shots. because the camera is so overreactive it seems funny. Also because of these unconventional camera angles we get the impression that this is a period-piece that goes for a modern tone (like A knights tale etc.)

the trailer for Downton Abbey was far more fast-paced.and with the fleeting close-ups of many different characters faces we can realise that this is a huge cast and that the staff at this abbey is indeed large. Also important are the reflected shots of certain characters through mirrors which signify secrecy. We can also distinguish the more prominent cast-members as they have more shots than others or in two cases lines of dialogue. Maggie Smith is visibly the most important character or at least the character they are most determined to highlight as she at one point has two medium close-ups of herself edited into one another. Also the great sweeping tracking shots and camera pans of fields,horses and the abbey itself remind us of what period we are in.   

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