Analysing a UK TV drama extract

We were asked to analyse a UK TV drama and I chose EastEnders, we had comment on the shot types, transitions, camera movement and sound. I don't really watch EastEnders so I have no idea on the current plot, characters or scenes currently going on within the soap.

EastEnders like all TV programs starts with their opening credits. They use this as a master shot to show where it is located the audience can clearly see that it is set in London by various land marks such as the Millennium Dome and the Thames River. The camera turns 180 degrees while zooming out, whilst EastEnders fades into the middle of the screen in white lettering.

EastEnders is a typical British shop showing on the majority of the days of the week - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. As it is shown nearly every day and is a soap it is very realistic and easy to relate back to real life problems, although they might be a bit over exaggerated in the name of entertainment. The most common things to happen in EastEnders are the most common things that happen in real life, such as relationships, arguments and work. The main stories in EastEnders focus around these. This also means a vast cast is needed to keep the show refreshing and entertaining and also a big set to allow for high levels of realism. In the particular episode, areas around the square where used such as the pub, the market, the shop, peoples houses and the park. In the majority of the scenes there where characters talking, they often used a fairly linear template of someone speaking, reaction shot, then into a two shot, to show both characters reactions. Practically all the scenes where shot at eye level because if they weren't it would detract from the realism of the soap.

Match on action also known as a matched cut I believe was used in all the scenes, this acts a visual bridge linking all the cuts together into one seamless scene. A standard cut was used most often as this is fast and simple and doesn't attract audience attention such as some other cuts, like a fade or a star wipe.

All the sound in EastEnders was diegetic, such as people talking, or background noise. no non-diegetic sound was added as this would detract from the realism of the soap, apart from the opening and ending credits.