Single drama analysis

By Lydia Gill

‘Missed’‘Missed’ is a 5 minute single drama based in London, made by Guy Ducker. ‘Missed’ is a linear drama as all the events take place in chronological order, is a realist drama as it is naturally lit giving it a normal and realistic feel to it, and it contains long scenes with few cuts so the audience can able to focus on the dialogue easier. The ending is closed as the story is brought together when we discover Emma isn’t actually alive.This drama appeals to all as the realistic feel can reach everyone as it’s about the loss of a loved one and how easily they can disappear. However I would say its aimed more at adults of either sex about 30-40 as this is similar to the actors age and it’s based around business/office workers, who have their own jobs and problems helping audiences relate and sympathise with them.

Link to ‘Missed’ on the BBC film Network - http://www.bbc.co.uk/filmnetwork/films/p004rs17 Or on YouTube - www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqaVKFxwmhc

Technical structures

Lots of different techniques are used within ‘Missed’ this helps keep audiences entertained and keeps them from loosing interest. The beginning establishing shot allows the audiences to gather where the story is set and the type of people involved. We can see its work related as everyone within the first scene is wearing a suit, busy street is shown and a train passes which is typical of London. Mid-shots are used to show the main character and give some detail into his life, we see he wears a suit, has a laptop so we know he’ll most likely work in this area as he looks very relaxed and at home doing work in this environment. Once his colleague (Greg) enters the café another mid-shot is used to show similarities between the two men, as they both wear suits. Throughout their convocation a range of camera shots are used; eye level shots are used so we the audience feel as if we’re watching and involved in the story, which helps us to sympathise with the characters. Point of view shots are used, again to help us sympathise and get a feel of the story from the main character’s (Will) eyes. No close ups/extreme close ups are used which I feel would be a good idea for this drama as emotions play a heavy part. However only close mid-shots are used to portray the characters emotions. The 180 degree rule is used through all the time we see Will and Emma talking which makes sure the audiences attention isn't thrown and it kept on the convocation, however these long shots are kept interesting by the use of camera panning around the characters to create an idea of unsteadiness with the characters and the relationship between the two, it also bring focus to their convocation as they’re at the centre of the shot. Towards the end of their convocation the characters are shown in frame by themselves creating a distance between them. After these shots a wide shot is used to show Will sat by him self, facing an empty chair portraying that he’s still coming to terms with the loss of Emma and the chair left out from the table could symbolise he’s waiting for her to come back.

Camera techniques

Mise en sceneThe mise en scene within the frames relates to the work/business man story, making the main characters look average and normal so audiences find it easier to relate to them. All the shots are somewhere were audiences will be easy to associate with such as city environment and the café.

The three main characters all show visual relations such as they all wear very similar clothing (suits black and white) However the next day (when we see Emma) Will wears all black which has connotations of death and loss.

Emma is shown to have bought a drink from the café making her seem more realistic and believable. The 2nd picture of the ‘two shot’ shows how the window frame creates a barrier between the characters, perhaps showing a living/dead difference.

LightingThe beginning establishing shot (1st photo)uses ambient lighting, meaning the light that is all ready present before filming took place. This creates a sense of realism, the scene is dim showing its going to be a realism drama, for example the shot hasn’t been edited to look brighter and happier as that would not fit with the conventions of realist films.

The lighting within this drama stays rather steady and similar throughout (due to it being natural lighting again creating this feel of realism). When we see the shot of Will and Emma sat together Will appears to have more of a shadow cast on his face (2nd picture) this has connotations of sadness and perhaps deeper feelings like regret as Will learns its too late. This the scene also uses slightly lower key lighting, showing a subtle change which not all audiences will pick up on, making it more mysterious for those who don’t. This low-key lighting remains after Emma has gone showing that there has been a change and the story has taken a new closing direction, whilst other (background) characters are shown to be happily continuing their lives while Will struggles to do so with his.

SoundThe opening establishing shot opens with the noise of a train and café noises (stirring drinks and coffee machine) which easily allows the audience to grasp where the following events will take place.

Interruptions within the first few lines of dialogue help show that the story, the characters lives and the lives of the audiences will all have interruptions which we have to deal with. When the news of Emma’s death reaches Will sad/sympathetic music is played (non-diegetic) this helps us understand how the main character is feeling and how he felt about Emma.

There is a fade which contains a ‘sound bridge’ into the next scene helping to link the two. This scene opens with similar train and café noises to the original opening of the drama.

Mysterious music is played when Will sees Emma, showing this isn’t reality and something is wrong. When we see the two characters out side together the mysterious music is still being played and we don’t hear all of their dialogue, we hear key words such as “What?” and “Died?” showing the story is mainly based on disbelief and death.

The ambient sounds of traffic and café noises are heard throughout this drama, they’re left in rather than being edited out to help reinforce the dramas realistic feel. Audiences will without knowing, expect these noises to be present, so they feel more comfortable and can easily relate.

EditingContinuity editing is used in ‘Missed’ to almost seamlessly move from one scene to other without the story being interrupted, this is difficult for short films like ‘Missed’ as it set in a location that has lots of ambient sounds to take into consideration (traffic a few meters away and café noises)

Shot Reverse Shot (SRS) is one of the most common editing techniques used in ‘Missed’ since there is a lot of dialogue and SRS is the best way to portray it, as we are able to see characters faces as they’re speaking and being spoke to which allows the audience to capture their emotions, helping with the storyline.

The 180 degree rule is stuck to during the whole short film, as whenever we see Will /Will and Emma the camera never leaves the 180 radius. However when we see Greg the camera is on the other side of the 180 degrees but Greg has his own individual shots so it still works when he has a convocation with Will as the 180 line is pushed back.

Fades to Black is used multiple times in ‘missed’ it has connotations of loss, death or something coming to an end. It’s used after Will finds out about Emma’s death, helping the audience to realise she’s gone.