Evaluation

My main objective for this project was to create an analysis of the

cinematic and dramatic representation of drug induced states within
a variety of television dramas. I have met my goals but with a
different approach to the methods I originally set out to do so. In the
beginning of the project I collected secondary background data on
the characters involved in each production as well as the certain
scenes I will be analysing then created a rough comparison between
each text (Skins, Glue and Breaking Bad). I wanted this research to
personally help me with my web drama project in which I will be
creating memories of an induced state then proceeding into a
darker atmosphere as the twisted tale begins. My secondary data
has helped dramatically because the interviews I watched helped
me gain a deeper insight into the codes and conventions in which
my actor/actors should be conveying. From this I gathered that slow
speech and well as elaborated facial expressions help to generate
the correct atmosphere, then with carefully collaborated levels of
diegetic and non-diegetic sounds, I can create a scene that grips the
audience.
To gain primary data, I showed my class and tutors the scenes I was
analysing, which meant I could ask certain questions entitling
feedback to help my essay as well as my production. Almost like a
questionnaire, but there can be problems from this primary method
because I might not be asking the correct or meaningful
questions, but I felt like the feedback I gained did help my
progression. I also enhanced my primary data by testing certain
shots to view different atmospheric techniques, so I could gain a
visual experience for myself (as well as practice). Usually I tend to
rely on primary data as my main focus, but within this project, I had
to focus more on the historical factors of drugs and analysing these
scenes was more personally about looking between the lines to
create my own auteur style. The trip to the BFI Library was my main
element of progression for my research I thought. I was able to
gather information from books from different backgrounds ranging
from theorists of masculinity to historical texts of drugs.
The research collected for this essay focused a lot on secondary
data, specifically within books. I felt this was a good skill to have
achieved because you cant trust every article on the Internet and I
wanted to keep an even balance between books and web-based
material. Comparing this essay to previous essays, I believe I took a
deeper interest in the topics raised, as well as the texts Id chosen
because they are my favourite television series, which provided me
with deeper connection. Micro-analysing a scene can some times be
daunting because you might not necessarily know the background
of the piece, which is what my spectators for my primary data had
trouble with. I felt like this essay was more of a personal piece of

creative writing to help me gain the right effects for my web drama,
therefore I was writing this essay more for myself than an audience.
The secondary data helped me develop production ideas and
analyse the texts. Of course, I could have had more primary data,
but if I was to present a historical question for my essay, I would
need to focus on artifacts instead of opinions.
I definitely felt like this project was clearly correlated with my web
drama as it should have been and helped me gain a better outcome
for my production. This project has increased my capability to
collect research from library sources, as well as generate a more indepth textual analysis for my own film to create a stronger message
behind my shots. I can also adapt the shots Ive analysed and use
the style of cinematography as my own. To improve I believe I
should focus on the messages in which the director is trying to
portray and micro analyse further into the scenes I have chosen to
help me gain a clearer insight to their work. More theorists could be
an option for my next assignment to provide wider contextual
knowledge.
In conclusion, the question I presented appealed to me and I felt like
I wanted to know more about the topic, so I found myself
researching historical aspects of drugs use, older drug induced
scenes as well as watching older films, like Trainspotting (Danny
Boyle) and Human Traffic (Justin Kerrigan).