Read the following interviews, reviews and features on Capital:
Guardian review by Sam Wollaston
Telegraph review by Ben Lawrence
London Evening Standard: five things you need to know about Capital
Behind the scenes filming Capital from the Daily Telegraph
1) What positive points do the reviews pick out about Capital? What criticisms are made - either of the TV drama or the original novel?
Brilliant cast
Modern Setting
Narrative will have you hooked
Doesn't represent everyone in London
2) In the Telegraph 'behind the scenes' article, what does the writer say about the London housing market?
It's continuing to increase.
3) 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?
Capital is a snapshot of a property boom that no one can comprehend. “For better or worse the economy and therefore our lives – not only in London, although it’s exaggerated in London – is defined by property and our strange relationship to property,”
Trailer analysis
Watch the trailer for Capital:
1) How does the drama use camerawork to capture London life?
The medium close ups of the many characters allow the viewer to connect with them and get a closer look into their diverse multitude of life styles in a short space of time. The camera also pans along when the characters are moving, as well as having hand-held movements in the chaotic or mysterious scenes. This encapsulates London life as quite busy and packed with individual stories.
2) How does the trailer use mise-en-scene to capture the family element of the drama?
The costume of the characters shows a diverse range of age, class and job whilst making the characters fit together in the familiar settings.
3) How does the trailer introduce narrative strands suggesting tension or enigma in the 40-second running time?
The suggestion of the post cards create enigma through how other characters refer to them as some sort of threat. They're a predominant focus of the trailer, connoting to the audience that this is a larger narrative arc that will be explored in the drama. There is also a bitter atmosphere between the husband and wife at times, suggesting tension. The policewoman is seen as joyous at the beginning of the trailer, however she's locked up by the end of it. This is also a narrative strand that creates enigma as the audience questions as to how and why she got locked up.
Watch the Episode 1 preview for Capital:
1) What does this preview clip suggest about the potential sub-genres for Capital?
Crime, Mystery
2) What elements of the clip might suggest this is a 'state-of-the-nation' drama?
It touches on issues such as Islamophobia and white privilege
3) Analyse the mise-en-scene in this clip. How does this provide realism and familiarity for audiences?
The familiar setting of the inside of a shop, including one character re-stocking, creates a sense that this is a lived in world.
4) What audience pleasures are provided by this scene?
The character archetypes in this scene may be characters the audience can relate to or sympathise with.
5) How is the audience positioned to respond to the different characters in this particular sequence?
The audience will empathise with the family due to the unsettling situation they're going through. Non-white audiences may also relate to the suggestion of white privilege and the struggles faced as a person of colour in London.
Watch the Episode 2 preview for Capital:
1) How does this clip represent upper-middle-class family life?
They're presented as wealthy and privileged, as Roger is living in a massive house with a beautiful kitchen and can afford to hire a nanny.
2) What narrative strands are suggested in this sequence?
It's suggested that Roger hired somebody to help out around the house as his wife has left.
3) How is the audience positioned to respond to Roger Yount, the main character (banker and father to the two boys)?
The audience is positioned to dislike Roger due to him putting on a front for the nanny about caring a lot for his kids as he sings along with them.
Representations: close-textual analysis
Capital offers a range of fascinating representations - from London and asylum seekers to capitalism 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, capitalism, 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: opening sequence 00:30 – 4.49
>Lighting creates enigma
>Sense of community w/ establishing ariel shot and introduction to characters.
>Issues regarding aging; presented as lonely. Flashbacks use high key lighting and brighter colours to communicate that the past was better. The flashback has no dialogue and 1960's music but life of old woman is communicated visually.
Scene 2: work in the City 6.28 – 8.10
>London presented as busy and not very fun. The souless and miserable underground is an unappealing journey to work.
> Sort of stereotypical in that regard
> Quick cuts = fast pace
> Workplace is huge, exaggerated high angle shots create sense of wealth and high profile
Scene 3: “Which of those isn’t absolutely essential?” 14.00 – 15.35
> Woman is subjected to male gaze
> Typical gender roles; Man is breadwinner and wife spends it.
> He sort of felt entitled to sex due to the bonus he predicts himself to earn
> "You'd be surprised how little a million pounds covers these days" = issues of wealth
Scene 4: asylum 18.03 – 19.42 AND 31.10 – 32.40
> Immigration, inequality
> Harassed by man who lets her work; misogyny and sexual exploitation
> Shows the corrupt side of London
Scene 5: “What use is 30 grand?” 36.40 – 39.00
Scene 6: life at the corner shop 40.10 – 42.55
You can choose which aspects to focus on for each scene: e.g. London, family, gender, ethnicity, religion, immigration, asylum, inequality, wealth, aging 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?
The white middle class husband and wife are definitely complete stereotypes. They have it way too good.
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?
Endemol Shine Group
2) What was the breakthrough show for Kudos in 2002?
Spooks
3) Watch the showreel on the Kudos website. What other TV dramas have Kudos produced? What awards have they won?
Broadchurch
Gunpowder
Tin Star
Troy
Humans
2013
Peabody Award for Broadchurch
2013
Peabody Award for Broadchurch
2009
Broadcast Magazine Supplement, The Indies – peer poll
Televisual Bulldog Award – Best Indie
Broadcast Magazine Supplement, The Indies – peer poll
Televisual Bulldog Award – Best Indie
2008
Televisual Bulldog Award – Best Indie
Televisual Bulldog Award – Best Indie
2007
Broadcast Magazine Supplement, The Indies – peer poll
Broadcast Awards – Best Independent Production Company
4) What audience pleasures does the showreel suggest Kudos productions offer?
Gripping story lines and attachment to the cast and story.
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?
The mention of enigma and mystery is immediately interesting to an audience.
2) Why does the programme information mention the other shows that the director and producer have worked on?
In order to showcase that the director and producer are capable and critically acclaimed creators and so their new series won't disappoint.
3) Who commissioned Capital for BBC?
Charlotte Moore and Ben Stephenson
4) Read the interview with Toby Jones. What does he say about the character of Roger?
He’s become used to a certain way of life and has a self-imposed pressure to live that way. He's used to spending money on expensive things and it's normal to him. He isn't an evil banker, he just has no way of expressing that or even understanding it himself.
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?
He says it’s an example of what is happening on a lot of roads in London and Britain. It looks at the idea of a community, and what it means to belong to the community from whatever background you’re from.
6) Read the interview with Shabana Azmi (page 12). What does she say about Asian representations in Britain?
We are absorbing cultures and trying to understand them, and so there's an awareness of the mix of culture.
7) Read the interview with Peter Bowker (who adapted Capital - page 14). What are his favourite scenes in the drama and why?
Christmas morning where Roger has been abandoned and left to look after his two children and Kamals’ chaotic family meals as they're handled comedically yet gloriously.
8) Read the interview with Derek Wax, the Executive Producer for Kudos (page 16). Why did he produce Capital and what does it say about the way we live now?
Derek Wax produced Capital as it represents Britain in it's current state. He loved the book's sense of the big, expensive panorama of life as well as the small detail of human behaviour.
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?
It says "From the makers of Humans and Broadchurch" at the top. By using critically acclaimed dramas on the packaging, they can draw in the audiences of those shows.
2) What does the use of design and images suggest to the audience about the drama?
The arrangement of the different character portraits are boxed together like windows on a building, hinting at the expensive house prices of London being a central theme of the drama.
There is also a vast array of characters of different walks of life from diverse backgrounds united through the black silhouette, clearly meant to represent the capital city of London.
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 reviews can suggest mystery and display the series as a compelling drama that will hook you as an audience.
4) What representation of London does the DVD packaging offer?
A diverse and powerful city that many people would be grateful to live in.
Broadcast Magazine Supplement, The Indies – peer poll
Broadcast Awards – Best Independent Production Company
4) What audience pleasures does the showreel suggest Kudos productions offer?
Gripping story lines and attachment to the cast and story.
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?
The mention of enigma and mystery is immediately interesting to an audience.
2) Why does the programme information mention the other shows that the director and producer have worked on?
In order to showcase that the director and producer are capable and critically acclaimed creators and so their new series won't disappoint.
3) Who commissioned Capital for BBC?
Charlotte Moore and Ben Stephenson
4) Read the interview with Toby Jones. What does he say about the character of Roger?
He’s become used to a certain way of life and has a self-imposed pressure to live that way. He's used to spending money on expensive things and it's normal to him. He isn't an evil banker, he just has no way of expressing that or even understanding it himself.
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?
He says it’s an example of what is happening on a lot of roads in London and Britain. It looks at the idea of a community, and what it means to belong to the community from whatever background you’re from.
6) Read the interview with Shabana Azmi (page 12). What does she say about Asian representations in Britain?
We are absorbing cultures and trying to understand them, and so there's an awareness of the mix of culture.
7) Read the interview with Peter Bowker (who adapted Capital - page 14). What are his favourite scenes in the drama and why?
Christmas morning where Roger has been abandoned and left to look after his two children and Kamals’ chaotic family meals as they're handled comedically yet gloriously.
8) Read the interview with Derek Wax, the Executive Producer for Kudos (page 16). Why did he produce Capital and what does it say about the way we live now?
Derek Wax produced Capital as it represents Britain in it's current state. He loved the book's sense of the big, expensive panorama of life as well as the small detail of human behaviour.
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?
It says "From the makers of Humans and Broadchurch" at the top. By using critically acclaimed dramas on the packaging, they can draw in the audiences of those shows.
2) What does the use of design and images suggest to the audience about the drama?
The arrangement of the different character portraits are boxed together like windows on a building, hinting at the expensive house prices of London being a central theme of the drama.
There is also a vast array of characters of different walks of life from diverse backgrounds united through the black silhouette, clearly meant to represent the capital city of London.
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 reviews can suggest mystery and display the series as a compelling drama that will hook you as an audience.
4) What representation of London does the DVD packaging offer?
A diverse and powerful city that many people would be grateful to live in.
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