Spooks Analysis! Woo!

Here is the scene of spooks that I was given to analyse for my homework. Comment and let me know what you think! :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq9bK9YeTsI

In this extract of Spooks close up’s and extreme close up’s are used quite frequently. For example there is a close up of the male spy sat at the table, also a close up of the female spy talking to the Iraqi. These close ups are used to show the emotions on the characters faces, the spy’s do not look scared or frightened but look quite calm and prepared for what may happen to them. On the other hand an extreme close up is used of the other man holding them captive, this is showing the character as very angry with the two spy’s. This is telling the audience that the two spy’s have annoyed the Iraqi man because they have tortured his people and ruined his country. Another extreme close up is used when the photograph gets put down infront of the spy’s, this is an extreme close up so that the audience can see the man in the photograph and clearly see he has been hurt. This emphasizes that a lot of people are hurt during the process of what the spy’s are trying to do.

Long shots have been used in this extract, for example at the beginning of the clip there is a high angle, extreme long shot. This shot is used so that the audience can see the setting and realise that the two spy’s have been captured and that there is no one there to save them. Medium shots are also used, for example when the man is walking whilst talking to the spy’s. This medium shot is used so that the audience can see the character close enough to establish what type of man he is by his body language; he is angry at the spy’s for ruining his country.

Over the shoulder shots are used, when the female spy is talking to the Iraqi man you can see the male spy.This is used so that you can see the reaction on his face as you can hear what the woman is saying. A shaky cam is used during parts of this extract, for example when the Iraqi man is walking around, and also when the camera moves from the camera in this scene to the man standing behind it. Shaky cam is used slowly to create a tense atmosphere for the audience but also to create a sense that somebody is watching them.

A Pull focus is used twice in this extract, for example when the female spy is sat in the chair and talking to the camera. The shot starts by focuses on the woman, and then pulls to focus on the camera previewer. Pull focuses are used in this extract to allow the audience to see what the viewers of the camera tape will see. It gets across to the audience the tensity of what she is saying into the camera.

The editing in this extract involves slow cuts from clip to clip. At the start of the extract slow cuts are used, this is allowing the audience to feel the tensity but to not feel scared that something violent will happen. This is giving the view that the ethnic group of Iraqi’s are not about violence but care for their country. Towards the end of the extract faster cuts are starting to be used, this is because the characters are starting to get worried at what might happen to them as they have seen the photograph of their fellow spy. The faster cuts gets the audience feeling more scared along with the characters.

Cut away’s are used also, for example a cut away is used when the camera goes to the man with the mask holding the gun. This cut away is reinforcing to the audience that their is danger and violence involved in this captive of the spy’s. There is another cut away of when the male spy has a knife held up to his throat, this again is reinforcing violence and creates a sense of worry for the audience of the characters well being. When the photograph is put down on the table a flash effect is used. A white flash occurs and then the photograph is more zoomed in. This flash effect symbolises the sudden rush of worry that the characters feel as they realise that they could be in more danger than they first thought. The audience feel this as they see the flash and focus on the photograph. Also eyeline matches are used, for example when the female spy is taken away to the other part of the room, you see the male spy looking at where she has gone. Then the camera focuses on her sitting down on the chair. This eyeline match emphasises to the audience that the spy is worried at what will happen to his collegue and wants to watch her every move.

Throughout this extract of spooks, there is a dialogue between the characters. This dialogue helps the audience to understand what is going on in the scenes. The score in this extract is very mysterious, it is very deep and slow. The mysterious score helps to emphasise the fact that non of the characters know what is going to happen to them and what the Iraqi man’s intentions are. The score helps the audience feel the emotions of the characters. The score levels change and get louder as the pace of the action starts to get faster. For example when the man is getting angry and starts to raise his voice at the male spy the score gets louder. The changing of different levels of score allows the audience to realise that something bad might happen, it creates more tensity for the audience as they watch.

Amplified sounds are used, for example when the photograph is being put down on the table the man slams it down. This is amplified to make it seem more important that the spy’s know the man There is also ambient sounds used, for example at the end of the clip when you hear the door handle go on the door, this is letting the audience know that the characters are now alone, it creates a tension.

Throughout this extract of spooks there has been use of camerawork, editing and sound and music that have all help represent the ethnicity in this Tv Drama. The ethnicity of the Iraqi men have come across that they are violent, intimidating and dangerous. This is all through the fast pace camerawork, the mysterious sound and the effects used. They have all contributed to allowing the audience to make an assumption of what these ethnic characters are like.