Television drama, otherwise known as "Dramatic Programming" is scripted and normally, fictional TV content. Excluding the news, sport and reality, TV drama includes a wide variety of genres such as medical drama, crime drama and period dramas.
I have chosen to analyse 3 opening sequences from the TV drama genre of Crime Drama; The Bill, Sherlock and CSI. I shall particularly be focusing upon the sequences initial use of Crime Drama conventions.
The Bill:
From the 2009-2010 opening sequence of Police Procedural (sub genre within crime drama) drama "The Bill", the first shot we see, after a blur of light, is an extreme long shot or, establishing shot, of an urban area; London. Immediately, the programme uses the genre convention or more over, location of an urban city. The urban location connotes a busy, fast pace, a hard, strong story line (from the concrete buildings) and finally, grit and crime.
This is then cut to a zoom in and travelling shot, where the audience are following a police car through London's busy streets. Specifically at 0.02, the shot attains somewhat of a grey scale, portraying a tracking device, often used by police.
Conventionally, as the pace of the music increases, as do the shots. After a slow corner turn, suiting the music, quick shots of the police car follow; the police car reflection, going into a tunnel, an over the shoulder shot in the police car, busy streets etc...
The urban location allows a crime drama to foreshadow it's conventions of confusion, morals and crime. For example, the tunnel in which the car drives into is dark, grim and unknown, much like urban crime. However, the car attains lights itself and is also bathed in light in the tunnel, connoting the "bills" hard work and good nature. Also, at 0.14, we see a blurred shot of horizontal bars; the cold steelwork of London foreshadows the bars in which the criminals will eventually, after an episode, be behind.
The audience are clearly established to who they should be focused upon and who is "good". This is concluded with the strong bold lettering of "The Bill"; two clean transitions in which the lettering is in capitals, capturing the attention of the audience as well as being white, signifying the good and trustworthy, against the dark black background.
Sherlock:
Within the opening sequence of Sherlock, under the sub-genre of private detective, the programme uses the convention, like The Bill, of an urban establishing shot; again, London.
The busy night scene, increased by the time lapse of the shot, connotes the fast pace of the show, in contrast to the fade in day shot of the Thames and London Eye. The daylight location, light buildings and introduction of the eponymous hero and programme title Sherlock, connotes a sense of revelation (due to the light) and security. This again, establishes Sherlock as a "good guy". The time lapse could also suggest Sherlock's intricate and detailed way of thinking, with everything moving double the normal speed, yet "just so".
Within this opening sequence, we see the use of close up shots to reveal clues and weapons, such as a picture and a gun. These conventional objects suggest that there is something to be solved and, that more characters are involved. The quick close ups add an uncomfortable tone, particularly at 0.11; a staggered close up shot of someone's face, which could possibly be a conventional character of a victim.
The sequence ends by zooming into blood, only to see hundreds of germs. Blood is conventional within a crime drama, as many of the crimes involve murder or injury or, for use of DNA. In this particular shot the ECU connotes complexity, detail and intensity within the plot or, of the characters (Linking to the clockwork time lapse of Sherlock).
CSI:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WseRJMQf1U
The forensics drama starts with extremely fast panning and travelling shots of America at night. The shots are enough to establish the audience on location but also, like the previous clips, connote the fast pace of the show.
Within this particular opening, we see a lot more objects such as the conventional gun and, the forensic equipment; specific to the sub-genre. Also, we are introduced to several potential characters who all look determined and focused; their job is a serious one, and so is the programme. However, some of the characters turn and smile at the camera, reassuring the audience that they are the "good guys" once again.
The conventional shots of blood reiterate the sub-genre of forensics, but also the grit and potential gore of a crime drama.
The quick shots are cut in time to the fast, upbeat song. With reference to the lyrics, "Who are you" foreshadows the convention of a question, enigma or, crime to be solved. Explosions are also seen on the beat of the music, creating high action drama.
The quick shots consist of close ups but also, slow motion shots, creating a sense of intensity and detail; within the crime drama, everything must be carefully searched for clues.
Finally, the opening sequence ends with white writing of "CSI; Crime Scene Investigation". The white colour not only stands out, but connotes that the CSI team our pure, good and trusted with solving a crime.
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