1. HOMEWORK
TV DRAMA
Representation of GENDER
LO: To analyse the representation of gender through
cinematography and editing
To understand editing techniques and their use
and connotations in TV Drama

2. Examiner’s Report
• Editing
• “ As with the January 2009 session, this
technical area proved to be the most
problematic for candidates and the one
technical area of analysis that was often
omitted in candidate’s answers.”

3. • What is editing?
• Put simply: it’s the way shots are put together…
• Most films use a system of editing known as
continuity editing
• Continuity editingmakes the action as fluid as
possible, so that we are not aware of the
construction process
• Therefore, you need to be especially aware to spot
the techniques of editing employed during a textual
analysis.

4. THE RULES OF EDITING
There arefive main criteria for evaluating a cut or deciding where to cut.
They are (in order of importance, most important first):
• emotion — Does the cut reflect what the editor believes the audience
should be feeling at that moment?
• story — Does the cut advance the story?
• rhythm — Does the cut occur "at a moment that is rhythmically
interesting and 'right'"?
• eye-trace — Does the cut pay respect to "the location and movement of
the audience's focus of interest within the frame" ?
• two-dimensional place of the screen — Does the cut respect the
180 degree rule?

5. Key Editing Techniques
• P – Pace
• A – Action
• S – Sequence
• T – Transition
Brain storm the terminology?

6. Watch this clip and comment on all the editing
techniques you spot:
Dr. Who
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJpMtam_TrM
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJpMtam_
TrM

7. Self Assess
• Give yourself a make every time you have
used this terminology

8. P – Pace: length of take
– literally count every time the camera cuts
– if you find yourself counting quickly then the pace
is quick
– If you count slowly pace is slow

9. P – Pace: length of take
“This is an example of fast paced editing”
“This is an example of slow paced editing”
“This is a long take”
“That was a short take”
How could pace of editing be related to gender?
Dominant character demand
more screen time

10. A – Action: ask yourself who is driving
the action?
– Which character does the audience follow?
– Who is dominating the reaction shots and eyeline
matches?
– Who is leading shot reverse-shots?
– Match-on-action whose action are we witnessing?
How could these techniques be related to
GENDER REP?

11. S – Sequence: is there any other action
going on at the same time as the main
sequence?
– Use of cross-cutting to suggest that there is other
action occurring at the same time
– Use of flashbacks to inform the audience of other
important information
How could these techniques be related to
GENDER REP?

12. T – Transition: does the transition
signify anything?
– Cut: always ask yourself why a cut has occurred
– Fade to colour: significance of colour
– Dissolve: slow transition from one image to
another, suggests a relationship between image
How could these techniques be related to
GENDER REP?

13. Watch this clip again and answer the question on the
next slide:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJpMtam_TrM

14. How does editing and cinematography
represent gender in this clip?
• Using the terminology you learnt last lesson
and your knowledge of cinematography, write
for 20 minute on how the micro elements
represent gender.
A level 3 response will contain:
3 P.E.E. at least onelinking editing to the representation of
gender
A level 4response will contain:
3 P.E.E. at least two linking editing to the representation of Click the image
gender to view the clip

15. G322 Key Media Concepts (TV Drama)
• Read the Student response to that clip
• What level would it receive?