Capital

1) What positive points do the reviews pick out about Capital?

There is a good portrayal of London in the show it shows the richer parts of London as well as the poor parts for example we are introduce to the Pakistani family who are very nice to everyone around them and treat them with respect.

2) What criticisms are made - either of the TV drama or the original novel?

The different views on London for example in some of the show they show London as being a very nice place and has very nice buildings. However it also shows the parts of London that no one really speaks about which is the public transport.

3) How does the TV drama change the time period and location for the story in comparison to the original novel?

The TV drama change of the time period and location in comparison to the original novel ‘ Capital offers a view of london life it shows life for rich people and it shows the life of less rich people.

4) In the Telegraph 'behind the scenes' article, what does the writer say about the London housing market?

The writer says ‘Snapshot of a property boom that no one can comprehend. “ For better or worse the economy and therefore our lives”’.


5) What references can you find in these reviews and features to the idea Capital is a 'state-of-the-nation' drama? How does it capture modern-day London?




Textual analysis

Watch the trailer for Capital:

 



1) How does the drama use camerawork to capture London life?

There are many shots from a birds eye view which allows us to see the beauty of london and see all the tall buildings which gives London a professional and really good look.
2) What does the camera movement when characters are initially introduced suggest about the drama and its London setting? Pick out one or two shots in particular.

There is a medium shot shown when Mr kamal is interested and that shows how he is trying to mind his own business as he is putting fruit onto the shelf. Also their is a long shot when Rodger is introduced this is to show his suit so we can see that he is very professional with his work.

3) How does the trailer use mise-en-scene to capture the family element of the drama?


The trailer uses mise en scene to create a narrative and a story for example there is the scene where the family is sitting down at the table and speaking.

4) Bastille's 'These Streets' is used as the soundtrack for the trailer. What does this communicate to the audience and why is it effective?

The TV series is not at all heavy and is actually very light.

5) How does the trailer introduce narrative strands suggesting tension or enigma in the 40-second running time?


The trailer builds tension and enigma because there is a scene where Rodgers wife is screaming and this builds narrative because it makes us think about what might end up happening.
Watch the Episode 1 preview for Capital:

 

1) What does this preview clip suggest about the potential sub-genres for Capital?


The clip suggests that there will be mystery because everyone is receiving these mysterious pictures of themselves and no one knows where they are coming from 

2) What elements of the clip might suggest this is a 'state-of-the-nation' drama?

The story line between the officer and the pakistani family is created and shown and it keeps un interested because we want to find out what will happen between the two because the son was accusing the officer of being racists because he says that if they were white he would come a lot quicker.


3) Analyse the mise-en-scene in this clip. How does this provide realism and familiarity for audiences?


This shows realism between the families because it shows the struggles that they may go through for example they have a corner shop and sometimes it may be harder for them to make money especially becasue their family is a bit large.

4) What audience pleasures are provided by this scene?

There is personal pleasure becasuse people will be able to see that the Pakistani family is really nice to everyone and they would want them to be treated with respect and the same as everyone around them

5) How is the audience positioned to respond to the different characters in this particular sequence?
Watch the Episode 2 preview for Capital:


The audience is supposed to respond by having remorse for the Pakistani family because they may not be given the same rights as other people white people in privilege because they lie in a place dominated largely by white people.

 


1) How does this clip represent upper-middle-class family life?

This shows that they are living well they have a nice big house and are able to hire a babysitter for when they are not free, this also shows that they may not be spending enough time with their children as they should be and they are able to do that because they have money to spend on a babysitter.

2) What narrative strands are suggested in this sequence?


The narrative strands in this commercial are that Rodgers wife is angry with him and we are left wondering how the argument may affect their family as a whole and the relationship with the children as well.

3) How is the audience positioned to respond to Roger Yount, the main character (banker and father to the two boys)?

The audience is made to respond to him as a father who doesn't really have time for his children because he is too busywith all of his work and being too focused on making his money. 


Representations: close-textual analysis

Capital offers a range of fascinating representations - from London and Islam to the issues of asylum seekers and inequality. You need to be able to confidently discuss these issues in the context of 2015 London - with reference to key scenes from episode 1. Representations include: London, family, gender, ethnicity, religion, immigration, asylum, inequality, wealth, aging and more.

1) Write an analysis of the representations in each of the key scenes from episode 1 we studied in class:


Scene 1:


In this scene London is seen as being mysterious because they're are only a few lights on. The city is huge as this is shown through the birds eye view. The 'CAPITAL', all of the letter are in capital shows the significance. We are introduced to the family here all the different people in the show we are also shown the life of the elderly lady from when she was married to her old age

Scene 2: work in the City 6.28 – 8.10

Work in the city this shows rodger s he is going to work on his public transport it shows the traditional view that men have to do work whereas women must stay at home and take care of the children, for the middle class family they open up their shop for their business.

Scene 3: “Which of those isn’t absolutely essential?” 14.00 – 15.35

This is the scene when Rodger is talking to his wife about his bonus and that it may be as high as two million she gets really excited and starts to list off all the things that she wants, this shows that Rodgers wife is only their for the money and doesn't really love him Rodger replied with the fact that the money goes quick as it comes and his wife gets angry over it.

Scene 4: asylum 18.03 – 19.42 AND 31.10 – 32.40

There is an immigrant who is living in London and is working because she is an immigrant she cannot cash her own check-ques so she must get someone else to do it therefore she goes to someone to get it done he uses the fact that she needs him to his advantage and he harasses her by telling her to kiss him on his cheeks before she can leave.

Scene 5: “What use is 30 grand?” 36.40 – 39.00 

When Rodger doesn't get the money that he gets he gets very furious and says what use is 30 grand this shows that he is use to living lavish because many other people would do anything for that kind of money. He starts to throw up and get nauseous which tells us that him not having money has a really bad affect on him, also when his wife finds out she leaves him and goes somewhere which tells us that she is 100% only after the money.

Scene 6: life at the corner shop 40.10 – 42.55

Life at the corner shop talks us through how it it for Pakistanis to live in an area like that and they are really nice people which makes us sympathise with them if someone was to make a rude comment towards them. We see that as a family they have a very strong bond together as they are all brothers and they are in the country for education however the oldest brother runs the shop.

You can choose which aspects to focus on for each scene: e.g. London, family, gender, ethnicity, religion, immigration, asylum, inequality, wealth, ageing etc.

2) How does Capital use stereotypes? Do the characters and issues represented in Capital reinforce or subvert the stereotypes we typically see in the media?




Industries and production context 

Capital was produced by independent production company Kudos for the BBC. Look at the Kudos website and also read the Kudos Wikipedia page.

1) Who is the parent company for Kudos?


The parent company for Kudos is 21st Century Fox.

2) What was the breakthrough show for Kudos in 2002?


The best breakthrough show forkudos was a show named spook

3) Watch the showreel on the Kudos websiteWhat other TV dramas have Kudos produced? What awards have they won?


The other TV dramas Kudos produced was River and tunnel of grunchester  They have won Television bulldog award.

4) What audience pleasures does the showreel suggest Kudos productions offer? 



Personal relationship

Marketing and promotion

Read the BBC Press Pack for Capital.

1) How does the programme information on page 3 make Capital sound interesting to audiences?


Some of the actors are very well known therefore that will help to attract a lot of the audiences from different shows.

2) Why does the programme information mention the other shows that the director and producer have worked on?


If the directors are well known having their names on the front will also help to attract some audiences and get a wider audience.

3) Who commissioned Capital for BBC?


Charlotte Moore commissioned capital 

4) Read the interview with Toby Jones. What does he say about the character of Roger?

The banker is evil and cares a lot about money and keeping his wife happy even though she doesn't love him.

5) Read the interview with Adeel Akhtar (page 10). What does he suggest Capital says about the fictional Pepys Road and the sense of community (or lack of it) in London?


Some people just don't feel like they belong there 

6) Read the interview with Shabana Azmi (page 12). What does she say about Asian representations in Britain? 


Asians are being represented more and people are getting more used to seeing their faces on screens.

7) Read the interview with Peter Bowker (who adapted Capital - page 14). What are his favourite scenes in the drama and why?


Peter Bowker's favourite scene was when Rodger is left alone on Christmas morning with his kids.





DVD packaging

Look at the DVD packaging for Capital. There are many marketing techniques employed here.

1) How does the packaging use other critically acclaimed TV dramas to promote Capital?


The packaging has an outline of London on it and it shows all of the rich people who are in the show  and it also shows the 

2) What does the use of design and images suggest to the audience about the drama?

The wallpaper shows that the rich people are on top and the middle class are at the bottom which suggests thatb rich people are always on top.

3) How are review quotes used on the cover and what do they suggest to the audience about sub-genre, narrative and audience pleasures?


The review quotes on the cover suggest that the show is very good and many people like it which may make you want to watch it.

4) What representation of London does the DVD packaging offer?


That London is a place that has a very high status and is a very important place.

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