Weekly Review 5 - Inspector Morse

Plot

Steven Parnell, an accused murderer of a number young girls the previous summer, is killed while in prison awaiting trial. Morse, the protagonist, had not been involved in the case as he was on leave during most of the investigation. What interests inspector Morse is that one of the victims, Karen Anderson, was never found and it is assumed that her body was dumped in a nearby lake but Parnell confessed to his priest when on his deathbed that he wasn't responsible for that particular murder. When one of the witnesses in the case, George Daly, is murdered, Morse and Lewis try to find some connection to Karen Anderson's disappearance. They also wonder why Anderson's camera (she was a photographer) wasn't found. What they came across was a group of middle-aged men whose hobby is taking so-called glamour photos. The case takes an interesting twist when the body they find in the woods is a middle-aged male rather than Karen Anderson's. Morse then realises that he was wrong and the cause for murder is elsewhere.

Iconography

There are several set pieces used which are typical of crime dramas and regular in most crime series, one being the interrogation scene. However in Inspector Morse, as it is set in the countryside and is more old fashioned, the interrogation scene appears much calmer, in a home rather than a police station. Also, the crime scene featured in this episode doesn't involve any gore and isn't dramatic - the facts are stated and investigators are calm and gentle about the crime. Inspector Morse himself comes across as a friendly character, who is dedicated to his job and allows his work to be all-consuming, as well as working very much alongside the law as he believes that the truth should always be revealed, even when, (as in this case) the case isn't even his to investigate. When in a dramatic scene, alike most crime dramas, music is used to build tension for the audience. However in Inspector Morse, a band of classical music is used which isn't common amongst usual crime drama. I enjoy Inspector Morse for its simplicity as it doesn't try to sugar coat crime; it isn't flash, but more down to the point.

Settings

Most crime dramas attract audiences that can relate to settings e.g. if they live there, somewhere similar, or have experienced similar happenings in or around their hometown. For example, Luther is set in the suburbs of working class London, in estates - a location which the average viewer may relate to, as there is no glitz and glamour within this setting. This setting gives Luther a more gritty effect, maybe gripping the audience with its realistic feel. CSI: Miami, on the other hand, uses Miami to glamourise the crime and make it seem more like a fantasy, with upper class citizens committing or being victims of crime, making it more shocking than perhaps realistic. We associate Miami with wealth, immaculate beaches, sunshine - a holiday destination rather than somewhere you would fear. This allows them to play on the paradise look of Miami and contradict our view of Miami with the gory crimes involved. Also, in Luther, we are able to see crimes happen which we also see on the news - things like gang crime amongst estates, with teenagers.

Narrative

Give examples of opening teasers in the shows you've seen
In CSI: Miami the crime scene is usually revealed, being investigated, in the very first scene before the opening titles are shown, to entice the audience straight away. This ensures that viewers won't get bored as soon as it starts and change the channel to something else, it gives action to excite them as soon as they turn it on.
What examples of enigmas have you seen?
How would you describe the 'quests' of the key protagonists of crime drama?
How have shows you've seen use either open or closed narratives?

Weekly Review 4 - The Professionals

The Professionals differs from most other crime dramas that I have watched as it is a lot less modern than others, filmed in the late 70s. The fact that it's older gives a calmer approach to the drama as there is no glitz and glamour, the setting is basic and more toned down than some crime dramas. Some of the typical scenes are still there, though. For example in this episode there are scenes of crime taking place, interrogation, chase, and investigation. The chase scene is far more basic than one in, for example, CSI, although they still use tension building music to create a mood for the audience to get gripped into. Mild humour is used amongst investigative characters which is typical of most crime dramas - to have some form of teamwork within a group of characters, who each have personalities that resemble different typical crime drama characters. Cowley presents this well, as he is the boss of Bodie and Doyle. Previously a major in the British Army, Cowley is a confident and experienced character, who is able to defend himself against physical attacks.

Set Pieces

• What typically happens in the scene?
• What part does it play in the narrative?
• What iconography is used?
• What audience pleasures arise from the scene?
• What language may be used?

Laboratory scene

• usually evidence of blood or fibre is investigated
• it progresses the narrative as it helps investigators to cancel out certain suspects, or arise suspicion for others
• scientific equipment, gloves, goggles, white coats
• supplies the audience with extra information about pieces of evidence and what they represent, as well as possibly giving outside information on the science in the programme, making the audience feel intelligent
• fibre length, dye, ink, sample

Interrogation

• police or investigators stand outside and watch through a window, whilst a suspect is interrogated by an officer
• a prime suspect for the committed crime is either excluded from the narrative after the interrogation scene or the investigators are more convinced that they're guilty
• empty room, tape recorder, glass of water
• interrogation scenes are usually very tense, and the audience become enticed in the drama, causing them to be more gripped for future scenes
• set up

Eureka moment

• an investigator has a moment of intelligence as something comes to mind which explains something related to the crime or some important information is uncovered
• in the narrative, it reaches a climax of excitement as the solving of the crime is either finished, or a big step closer to this
• facial expressions are noticable as surprised or excited
• this may be a point at which the audience are proved correct, if you had already predicted the result then the solving of the crime could clarify this for you, making the audience feel involved and intelligent

Crime scene investigation

• the scene of the crime is investigated as police, investigators, forensics etc. gather to collect evidence of the crime taking place
• gives background information for the narrative of the crime
• police tape, dead body, blood, ambulance
• the audience are given an opportunity to notice details as the characters do, and are given information on how the crime was committed, who the victim was etc.
• vocab - killer, victim, specialist jargon

Crime flashback

• a flashback or montage is used to show the crime taking place, usually placed after or during a conversation about where or how the crime was committed
• clarification - gives proof of who, how or where the crime was committed in the narrative
• usually dark and dingy as the flashbacks show scenes of violence or crime
• this scene might cause fear amongst the audience, allowing them to witness the crime themselves

Chase/Dash

• the investigators or police are usually chasing a suspect
• builds tension within the narrative, is the moment that causes the audience to consider will they/won't they catch them
• city streets, cars, street lights, buildings, pathways, alleyways etc.
• gets the audience excited for what happens next in the narrative

Notification of kin

• tends to be quite quiet as an investigator gives family or spouse information about the death of their relative

Autopsy
Press conference

• cameras, microphones, reporters, audience

Sherlock Case Study

TV CRIME DRAMA: CASE STUDY

 Sherlock

Production Details: Episode Name - A Study In Pink Actors - Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Rupert Graves, Andrew Scott etc. Creator – Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat Writer – Steven Moffat Year – 2010 Channel – BBC1 Director – Paul McGuigan

Slow                 1          2          3         4         5         Quick

Technology      1          2          3         4         5         Mind

Narrative          1          2          3         4         5         Action

City                  1          2          3         4         5         Rural

Stylish              1          2          3         4         5         Gritty

Sexy                  1         2          3         4         5         Ordinary

Extreme Crime             1          2          3         4         5         Petty Crime

Humorous        1          2          3         4         5         Sombre

Details of the Narrative John Watson, an ex-army doctor injured in the war in Afghanistan, meets Sherlock Holmes through a mutual friend. They become flatmates, sharing rooms at 221B Baker Street owned by landlady Mrs. Hudson. There have been a strange series of deaths which Inspector Lestrade believes to be serial suicides. Sherlock looks at the latest crime scene, which is of a woman wearing pink. Sherlock deduces that the woman is a serial adulterer with an unhappy marriage. Unlike other victims, she left a note, clawing ‘Rache’ into the floor. Sherlock ignores the suggestion of the forensic expert, Anderson, that it is the German word for revenge and settles on ‘Rachel’, explaining that the victim died before finishing the scrawl. Sherlock finds splashes of mud on the woman's leg, thrown up by the wheel of a suitcase, and deduces that she is from out of town. The police found no suitcase on the premises, but Sherlock searches for it, later finding it in a nearby garbage container. Meanwhile, John receives a call from a public phone and is taken by a stranger’s car to an empty warehouse. There, he meets a man who claims to be Sherlock's arch-enemy. The man offers money in return for information about Sherlock's activities, but John refuses. When John returns to 221B, Sherlock asks him to send a text message to the phone of the fourth victim. At a local restaurant, Sherlock notices a cab and gives chase, using his extensive knowledge of London's streets and alleys to outpace it on foot. However, when he and John catch up with the cab, they find that the passenger is a newly arrived American: a perfect alibi. Suspecting that Sherlock had withheld evidence, Scotland Yard executes a drug bust on his apartment so that they can search it. Sherlock guesses that "Rachel" was the victim's mail address password and that the victim had planted her mobile phone on the murderer so that he could be traced by GPS. At the same time that John finds that the signal is coming from 221B, Mrs. Hudson tells Sherlock that there is a cabbie waiting for him downstairs. Sherlock leaves the apartment and enters the cab. The cabbie confesses, but proclaims that he doesn't kill; instead, he speaks to his victims and they kill themselves. He challenges Sherlock to solve his puzzle. They arrive at a school building, and the cabbie pulls out a gun and two bottles. He claims that one contains a harmless pill and the other a poisonous pill. Sherlock realises that the cabbie is dying, and calls his bluff on the gun, which is actually a novelty cigarette lighter. He walks off, but the cabbie challenges him again to choose a pill and see if he can solve the puzzle. Meanwhile, John has traced the GPS signal from the victim's phone and followed Sherlock. Through a window in the adjacent building, John sees Sherlock about to take one of the pills, and shoots the cabbie. Sherlock questions the dying cabbie, first about whether he got the pill game right, and then about his "fan" that the cabbie had mentioned. Finally, the cabbie reveals a name: ‘Moriarty’. Outside, Scotland Yard has surrounded the perimeter. Sherlock starts to make some deductions about the shooter before realizing it must be John. Sherlock feigns shock to cover for John, telling Lestrade to ignore everything he has just said. Sherlock and John leave the scene but run into the man who had abducted John earlier, who turns out to be Sherlock's elder brother Mycroft. Mycroft instructs his secretary to increase their surveillance status, while Sherlock and John return to Baker Street.

Protagonists: Sherlock is tall with dark hair and bright eyes, and he is dressed in a smart and tidy way, as well as a long coat to add to his mysterious character. Instead of accumulating friends, Sherlock is known for only having enemies. Many investigators know of Sherlock; however he doesn’t work alongside the law and instead disobeys orders from people with police power.

                                                                                                                         

Key CHARACTER indicators of Crime Drama: Characters with professions in forensic science, detectives, police officers. Sherlock always works against the law and tends to disobey the orders of the powerful, keeping vital information & clues to himself rather than letting the police know, and trying to solve the crime alone.

Key VISUAL/AUDIO Indicators of Crime Drama Settings- Sherlock is set in central London which gives the perfect setting for a TV crime drama, as there are many backstreets and alleyways - ideal for chase scenes which are stereotypical of a crime drama. Also, the crime scenes are set in old, mysterious houses to add to the tension being provoked for the audience. Montage- Throughout the programme, montages are used to show how or where murders took place, as well as who committed the crime. Flashbacks- Flashbacks are used throughout the episode to show how Sherlock thinks throughout crime investigation, as his functions of thinking as a character are faster than the average person. Props- The majority of props used within this episode are included as evidence, e.g. a suitcase carried by the victim. Also there are police related props such as police taps, equipment and guns. In a different setting of the laboratory, there are props such as microscopes, test tubes and DNA testing equipment. Costumes- Sherlock continuously wears a long, dark coloured jacket which ever since the novels, he has always been associated with- however the rest of his outfits and also other characters outfits are now modernised. E.g. - police jackets are a florescent yellow. Camera- The camera angles mainly are constantly moving and vary from long shots, close ups and midshots. When at the murder scene, it tends to be a wide/long shot to ensure the audience can see everything, however, before a flashback or whilst Sherlock is thinking, it tended to be a very close up of his face. Music- Non diegetic sounds such as music is used to create tension within the episode and also cause a build up to a big moment.

Key NARRATIVE Indicators of Crime Drama ·         Multiple suspects are involved to keep the audience thinking throughout the episode ·         Ambiguous meanings to pieces of evidence found ·         A twist during the plot line ·         Chase scenes, flashbacks and montages ·         Various different motives for each suspect

Key THEMATIC Indicators of Crime Drama Sherlock’s character uses only his mind to solve crime, as he is a cunning and intelligent character who is always up to date with what’s going on. The protagonists rarely use technology to solve any part of the crime, and when they do it is combined with logical thinking by Sherlock.

Audience Pleasures: The audience may enjoy viewing Sherlock as he is a likeable character to viewers, but not as much to the characters within the programme, which becomes amusing. The pace at which Sherlock’s mind works can mesmerise characters as they try to follow his thoughts and investigate, as if alongside him to solve the crime. The audience can make guesses at who they think committed the crime, which can be exiting whether they stand corrected or come to find out that they got it right.

CSI Case Study

TV CRIME DRAMA: CASE STUDY

 CSI: Miami

Production Details: Episode Name – Stoned Cold Actors – David Caruso, Emily Procter, Jonathan Togo, Rex Linn, Eva LaRue, Omar Benson Miller, Adam Rodriguez, Christian Clemenson, Erin Sanders, Eric Lange, Leven Rambin, Jean Louisa Kelly, Brett DelBuono, Susan Santiago, Wendy Benson-Landes Creator – Anthony E. Zuiker, Carol Mendelsohn, Ann Donahue Writer – Tamara Jaron Year – 2011 Channel – Channel 5 Director – Allison Liddi

Slow                 1          2          3         4         5         Quick

Technology      1          2          3         4         5         Mind

Narrative          1          2          3         4         5         Action

City                  1          2          3         4         5         Rural

Stylish              1          2          3         4         5         Gritty

Sexy                  1         2          3         4         5         Ordinary

Extreme Crime             1          2          3         4         5         Petty Crime

Humorous        1          2          3         4         5         Sombre

Details of the Narrative A popular “mean girl” is found stoned to death in the middle of her high school’s football stadium, following the unknown events of a high school house party. The CSI team tries to figure out who would want her dead, which turns out to be pretty much everyone. The girl, Blaine, had a whole host of students across her school who hated her guts, and each for a valid reason. The CSI team is investigating whose hatred turned murderous out of all their suspects, when the most unexpected suspects are found guilty – the parents of Blaine’s ‘victims’.

Protagonists: Each member of the CSI team is presented to be intelligent but also attractive, as the women wear their hair down but wore long white lab coats to stay in character. Presenting female characters like this will attract certain audiences. All of the CSI team are within a close group and they all get on very well, to ensure their jobs are made easier and more bearable.

Key CHARACTER indicators of Crime Drama: The main profession within the CSI team is crime scene investigators, as this is the basis of the programme. These work alongside the law and help the police officers to solve crimes. The CSI team work in partnership with the law and policing by collecting DNA and evidence legally, and sharing all information they collect with the police force.

Key VISUAL/AUDIO Indicators of Crime Drama Settings- Main setting throughout the episodes is either the laboratory or the crime scene. In ‘Stoned Cold’ it is a high school football pitch meaning no CCTV is used, so it’s harder for the CSI team to find pieces of evidence. Montages- Similarly to Sherlock, at the beginning of the episode, there is a short clip of murders and images of the victim’s body. Flashbacks- Flashbacks are used throughout the episode giving the audience an insight to the murderer and how the crime was committed. Props- the majority of the props are used as evidence such as, the basket full of stones covered in blood, a walkman with headphones, a slightly broken CD. There are also many props within the laboratory to emphasise the setting e.g. - microscopes, goggles, different solutions & computer technology. Costumes- All of the CSI team wear long white coats where as extras wore normal clothes, to play the roles of high school teenagers. Music- heavy rock music was used at times to make the situation a bit less tense and enjoyable for the audience, and to highlight that it is based around an average high school. Camera- the camera movements were all very fast and snappy and majority of the camera shots were at midshot.

Key NARRATIVE Indicators of Crime Drama Multiple suspects are involved, but the guilty suspect is usually who the audience didn’t expect to commit the crime (e.g. – in ‘Stoned Cold’, the parents of peers the victim treated badly are found guilty of the teen’s murder). Lots of evidence is found, which confuses the CSI team as they are sometimes unaware of what to pay attention to and what to ignore.

Key THEMATIC Indicators of Crime Drama The CSI team use technology to solve crimes – collecting fingerprints and blood samples to take their investigations further. In the episode ‘Stoned Cold’ the team find it hard to come up with suspects as the victim also victimised others, before her death.

Audience Pleasures: Audiences of a younger age may enjoy watching the CSI:Miami series as at least some of the episodes contain teenage characters, situations that viewers could have come across in real life. On the other hand, the audience may perceive CSI to be an escape from their own lives, as the crimes involved are dramatic and grip the audience – if you start watching it then the probability is that you will follow through with the episode, and possibly watch the next one due to the shocking atmosphere about the programme.