Cyberbully (2015) Channel 4 Directed by Ben Chanan

1. Cyber bully
Channel 4 (2015) directed by Ben Chanan
Format: One off/single drama
Genre: Docu-drama thriller
Narrative Structure: Set in a linear fashion as the storyline to this story is between two
characters. One of which we meet and the other in unknown to the audience and also the
girl in the story. This story is fixed in with modern age where technology is the main focus
and in this story it is a character in itself. However this story is also a warning that technology
is now such a focus in day to day that these events and ones like them happen more and
more. This story begins all with a tweet that looked like it was sent by Casey’s ex-boyfriend
however it is later revealed to come from the hacker who remains unknown throughout the
film. Because the film is filmed in Casey’s room and as the camera doesn't leave the room it
makes the viewer believe that the film is truly happening, which helps make the audience
aware of the real risks in using the internet.
Notes:
● The set, speech, equipment and clothing all show the time period of which this film is
set.
● By using modern language it allows the audience of which many are from that age to
understand what is going on but also allows the audience to connect to the character
of Casey.
● Sound perspective on the keyboard sounds along with the sounds of messages
coming through Casey’s computer and phone.
● Some sound is diegetic, like the music playing in Casey’s room with Casey singing
along to it. To add tension to the film and to add tension in the beginning of the film
which also gives a hint to the audience that something is going to happen when the
music keeps on stopping and changing track which starts to annoy Casey. By doing
this, the audience is introduced to two more characters and key hints to what is
happening, one of which is a hacker and as later on that the real hacker uses this
character’s name to hid links in with the fact that more young people are getting
better at hacking computers showing that technology is key thing in the lives of young
people.
● Cutaways from Casey and the computer as she answers a message that she is
getting. These cuts allow the audience to see what is being said and also allows the
audience to see Casey’s reaction.
● Eyeline between Casey and the computer match in every scene to make the film
more realist to the audience.

2. ● The mixture of the camera in the room to the computer webcam adds a more realist
to the audience as the footage from the webcam is also more grainy than the other
footage from the camera in the room but this setting helps to show from the hacker’s
point of view on the scene.
● By using a birds eye view of Casey’s room it shows the world that this film happens
but also creates a world to which is commonly used by young people to use the
internet away from the view of their parents. It is also where events like the events in
the film happen.
● Along with the the footage with from the computer webcam and the main camera,
footage from vines and blog posted videos are key in this story like the videos from
Jennifer Li.
● By using the videos from Jennifer Li, it created a small back story about what Casey
has done as her online pseudonym ‘Chronic Youth’. This showed how Casey’s
hurtful comment created a cyberbullying effect that became so painful for Jennifer
that she ended up killing herself.
● In the beginning of Casey’s communication with the hacker when he/she starts to
threaten her it makes the audience believe that she is the victim however as time
moves on it appears that Casey is not as innocent as she was made to look at first.
This is done by withholding and providing information from the audience.
● Extreme Closeup with shallow focus is to capture the emotional reactions to what is
going on in that moment.
● The camera angle changes between low and high angle only slightly to show who
has the control in that moment of time. It also makes the audience think who is in true
control in the events that is happening.
● The over the shoulder angles as she looks in the mirror makes the audience believe
that she is in a way noticing that she is not innocent as she thinks and also makes
her look at her own reflection and what she has done in the past.
● Throughout the whole film the room is set in low key lighting to show how dark the
mood is and as she opens the door she is flooded by bright light showing how dark
using the internet too much can be but also it is like she has final seen the light and
can start to heal both online and in herself