Single Camera Texts
Soap Opera - Coronation Street:
Coronation Street is a hugely open narrative with over 50 years worth of narrative and history. It uses linear narrative structure, with no use of flashback sequences, each story continues to the next episode continuously creating an huge narrative structure based around the street. The scenes are shot all on a set, rarely escaping the boundaries of the street, focusing on areas such as the local pub, cafe and shop, creating relativity for the audience. The Editing and cuts are structured around dialect and conversation, for example, when two characters are arguing, the camera will be based behind each character, cutting to the character who is speaking, and will also cut to show reaction. Coronation Street doesn't use jump cuts, so to avoid showing characters walking to and from locations and to show transitions, the scene will just cut to either them already at the location or change to a separate set of characters entirely. There is no Non-Diagetic sound edited into Coronation Street and it uses only diagetic sound such as the radio playing in the background, this is to maintain the illusion of reality. The Lighting is mainly used for inside the built sets, such as the pub scenes they will use a yellow lighting to create a warm feeling commonly recognised by the audience.
Comedy - Scrubs:
Scrubs is an american created comedy based in a real life hospital, it uses the format of each episode the characters must overcome a problem with a non-diagetic monologue to conclude the episode, leaving the audience with a poetic meaning to each problem. It follows a overarching linear narrative, with flashbacks to add comedic sketches to each scene, the overarching narrative follows the lives of each character, but one mainly, Dr. John Dorian. The audience views the world through the eyes of JD and the characters around him and the obstacles he must confront. Cuts follow specific areas of interest, even when two characters are having a dialogue, the camera may drift off to investigate another area of interest seamlessly. Jump cuts are used to show transition between scenes to show travel and a passage time. The use of Non-diagetic sounds are used multiple times, these are used to create mood, with each soundtrack fitting each scene and used to create dramatic effect.
Crime Drama - Life on Mars:
Life on Mars follows a closed narrative as the narrative does have a finale, but has a overarching narrative which continues into the series Ashes to Ashes which is a continuance of Life on Mars. Life on Mars uses a series of Flash-forwards (hallucinations) to suggest towards the overarching narrative, whilst the current narrative plays out, as they solve crimes. Lighting is used to create mood and atmosphere, using low key to create a moody scene, to add effect and tension to a scene. There are Non Diagetic soundstracks added over specific scenes to create drama and tension, such as the Cortina vs Capri scene, where music is used to create drama and action to the scene. Jump cuts are used to show a passage of time, to show a transition of travel.
