Textual Analysis of Doctor Who
Cinematography
Cinematography is a key feature in doctor who. Firstly the low angle shot in the beginning makes the Villain look powerful because of the way he’s standing and were he’s standing. He’s standing on top of the stairs with Martha on the floor on her knees. However at the end of scene that all changes and the camera is in a high angle position making the Villain look venerable and scared.
When Martha walks into the spaceship there was a tracking shot with the camera following her into the room. This has been done for the audience to feel they are in the spaceship with Martha, which adds tension and it also shows Martha has no power. We don’t know exactly if the setting was in a spaceship however because of the interior we understand it is. Another clue which makes me feel that the setting is in a spaceship is because at one point the camera looks out of the window and it showed space and earth.
Close-up shots were used allot throughout the scenes to show facial expressions of how each actor was feeling at the time. This gives the audience a clear idea of how each actor is feeling. For example when Martha was on the floor, she was powerless.
There was a point of view shot when the man was looking at the timer. This adds tension because we know once the time has gone to 0 some trouble will occur, so the fact the villain keeps looking at the time makes the audience frustrated.
While Martha was talking the camera did a mid-shot to show her body language and how she was feeling at the time.
The maids are always shown together (two shot) this has been done to show how close they are together and how they do most stuff together however you don’t see two shots with two men because men are usually an individual not wanting help.
When Martha was talking to the villain there was an over the shoulder shot to show the two characters were talking to each over.
At one point in the scene they done an establishing shot of outside which looked like space and you could see earth.
A long shot was done to show the man’s body language as well as showing us were he was at the time (in the spaceship)
A tilt shot on the man was done to show he’s power. While he was standing on the stairs the camera slowly lifted from he’s feet to he’s face.
They both take the same amount of screen time (Martha &the villain) but we learn she actually she tricks him so now they have near enough the same power
The women in the red dress was the background prop to show she wasn’t really important in that scene. Another prop was the supersonic screw driver.
A Tracking shot shows Martha has no power and we feel like we’re going with her in the space ship, this was done write at the beginning.
Mise – en – scene
I feel the clothing part is a real big part in Mise –en-scene. This is because it gives the audience an idea of the villain’s personality. In this case the villain is wearing a suit telling us he has a big role to act and is in charge of something. Also he looks fairly confident because of the way he’s standing, on the same hand he’s standing at the top of the stair and everyone is below him showing amount of the power he has.
The two females who stood next to the door were both dressed in a maid outfits. With their clothing we instantly know they are cleaners and haven’t got as much power as the villain. They both do not speak throughout the scene and are very quiet.
Martha isn’t the ordinarily female type she tends to be an individual person such as what men would do. She’s extremely brave and bold. There were flashbacks when she went around the world telling people to say doctor to show us how brave she is.
The other female who was helping the villain played as a background female. She didn’t really speak but was just there. She wore a bright red dress which symbolises danger or something bad will happen.
We understand that at the door there were big tough male soldiers dressed in full body gear just in case anyone tried to escape. They had physical strength and they were also holding their guns out showing power.
All different races such as Asians, Black’s and white were all saying doctor at the same time around the world tell telling us every human is trying to work together.
There was a shot reverse shot when Martha is on her knees and we engage with the characters (couple of seconds) which shows rivalry between 2 characters. On the same hand they stick to the180 rule so the audience don’t get confused.
Cross cutting was used to show the power of the villain because we see a field of missiles and rockets, this is giving us a feeling of he’s power and an army feeling because of all the missiles.
An Eye line match was done when the villain looked at the timer. This was done several times.
It is easy to follow because there sticking to the 180 rule so the audience doesn’t get confused, also has a feeling continuity.
Throughout the scene the editing gets shorter and shorter to build up tension.
The fade of white has been done on the flash back, the reason so is because white is a positive colour and gives the audience information of the journey Martha had been through. On the same hand ellipsis editing had been done because Martha’s journey had been shown to us in a shorter amount of time, it compresses the time she had spent around the world. This is all comes to a point which is building up her power in the scene
As Martha walks into the spaceship there is an eye line match from her prospective and we understand she’s the most important because there is a point of view shot from her position looking around the place and everyone else was just staring at her while she walks into the spaceship.
The Slow motion editing tells the audience Martha’s struggle when she went around the world, She’s out of breathe and tired of the travelling we get this impression because of her body language and facial expression.
We keep going back to the timer looking at it, which builds tension (action match shot). This is reminding the audience us they are running out of time.
Visual effects which have been done in post production of the doctor changing. (god-like because he’s sort of arousing from the dead).
Low tone sounds were done to show slow pace which was building up tension
At one point when the doctor was arising Low choir sound was done suggesting funeral feeling.
The aliens have a mechanical sound and we understand how much technology the man has behind him.
Drum beat sound was used to build the place of the scene adding tension.
From the Choir the was a variety of high pitch and low pitch sounds.
The Steady drum beat representing how Martha is slowly taking in control.
Editing pace speeds up.
