Holyoaks case study

http://www.channel4.com/catchup-player/player.htm?brandId=hollyoaks&contractId=44579&episodeId=194

The clip I selected is from an episode of holyoaks which is about a teenager who becomes pregnaant to her sisters ex-boyfriend. The main story line goes into the problems he faces in becomming a father. This is the more serious part, the more light-hearted part is about a teen goth and his relationship with his father, It is quite comical at times.

The clip I selected runs from 3:45-7:40

The more serious scene comes first and contains a worried mother arguin and advising her pregnant teenage daughter. The serious scene and light hearted scene are not directly one after the other. Immediately after the argument It gives us a quick view of the gothic teen. Then it skips to a friendly conversation among friends which lasts around 45 seconds and then it jumps to the light hearted scene which contains a father trying to cheer up his son with dancing and activities(trips out) The immediate quick close up shot of the teen lets the viewer know what the next scene will be about. The conversation which bridges the two scene gives us a little break between the two scenes and lets us relax a bit and get a view of the 'normal' day in work.

In the first, more serious scene there alot of close-ups of each character. There are also alot of over the shoulder shots and point of view shots as the characters are continually talking (shouting) at each other so it is continually jumping from one character to another. The cross cut is also used effectively here as the camera jumps from character to character.The backround is very quiet which creates tension between the two characters.

The lighter hearted scene immediately begins with music and also involves music from a radio during the scene also.Both scenes contain non-diegetic sound, this is the only sound holyoaks uses,this involves narrator's commentry, sound effects and mood music wheras diegetic sound comes from characters voices, sounds made by objects and music from instruments.

the less serious scene contains more two shots and medium shots. It also in this case contains three characters rather than two. The camera also pans across the room. the first shot of this scene is a medium shot and the camera tilts up and the second shot in the first scene is a close up which shows the teenager being depressed.