Conventions of Long Form TV Drama

Conventions of long form TV drama

What are some of the common features found in a long form TV drama episode? What does a long form TV drama look like?

Before we look in more detail at our set products for the unit, a useful place to start is by identifying the common features or ‘conventions’ of a long form TV drama, regardless of the genre of drama being watched.

Task 1: Analysis of conventions

·         Watch the opening extracts from a number of different long form TV dramas.

·         For each, make notes to complete the grid below.

Name of drama	How does the opening to the drama start? What can I see/what can I hear?	Are title credits used? How are they integrated into the sequence? Can I see the drama’s title, who produced and owns the drama?	What and who are we introduced to? Characters, locations and settings? Are these recognisable? Do they feel ‘real’?	What themes are introduced? Family, friendship, love, money, revenge, community etc…?	Is a story or plot set up in the opening episode? What do I understand is happening and how do I know?	What does the drama look like? Frequent camera, editing, sound and mise-en-scène devices used?

Task 2: Making conclusions – Summary of conventions in long form TV dramas

Complete the following statements about the formal conventions we expect to see in a long form TV drama:

The opening to a long form TV drama series usually begins with

The title credits used in long form TV drama series usually

The characters introduced in long form TV dramas are usually

Common locations and settings introduced in long form TV dramas are

Common themes introduced in long form TV dramas include

Storylines in long form TV dramas are usually introduced by

Task 3: Making conclusions – Summary of technical conventions (media language) in long form TV dramas

Complete the following statements about the formal conventions we expect to see in a long form TV drama:

Camera (e.g. shot distance/angles/movement/framing)	Editing (e.g. cuts/ transitions/special effects/motion/graphics and captions/pace)
Mise-en-scène (e.g. location/setting/costume/make-up/props/performance/ lighting)	Sound Diegetic/Non-Diegetic (e.g. musical score, incidental sound, sound effects/ sound bridge/wild sound/Foley)