Life on Mars (BBC drama)

Terms Definition A canted angle

A camera angle which is deliberately slanted to one side, sometimes used for dramatic effect to help portray unease, disorientation, frantic or desperate action, intoxication, madness, etc.This is used in Life on Mars when the man has been run over, and the camera angle is slated to one side.

A sound bridge

A type of sound editing that occurs when sound carries over a visual transition in a film. This can be sounds/effects. This type of editing provides a common transition in the continuity editing style because of the way in which it connects the mood, as suggested by the music, throughout multiple scenes. David Bowie’s ‘Life On Mars’, which is related to the title, plays loud for a long duration making the mans confusion more dramatic.

A montage A technique in film editing in which a series of short shots are edited into a sequence to condense space, time, and information.This is used in Life On Mars when the man has been run over, and it cuts to him led down, staring, then a shot to the trees, then to him etc. Also different voices were used in each montage shot, in which one indicates he’s in a hospital as we hear the word ‘CLEAR!’.

A Canted Angle.

A Montage.

A Sound Bridge.

VISUALS

A Close up.

The close up is important to the scene to show the mans facial expressions. He looks very sad, angry and confused.

With a close up, we see not only the emotion, but the characters actions. The man is led down, after he is knocked over.

A Wide Shot.

After the close up, the camera pans to a long view.

We then see the man looks even

more confused than before. This shows the emphasis of his emotion. This is a dramatic effect which leaves the audience curious.

Life on Mars playing – signifies the title.

Loud dramatic noises and sounds during the tense scenes.

Whilst Sam is in the car to find Maya, the music – David Bowies ‘Life On Mars’, gets louder and louder building suspense. We are confused as to why that specific song is playing, but then we shortly realise when Sam wakes up year sin the past.

EDITING – The question stays, ‘Is Sam Tyler dead, in a coma, or a time traveller?’

Audio

The montage of different clips of the voice shout ‘CLEAR!’ and the trees makes us wonder where he is and what has happened. It makes the viewer question this in which is a clever way the creators want to draw the audience in.