Capital: case study blog tasks

Reviews and features

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?

Positive = 
> The cast is diverse 

> Personal identity 

> Instantly recognisable 

> The mystery of whose sending the postcards and they could mean is very interesting 

> It's set in modern period (present) 

Negative = 
> There is no overarching storyline

> They don't answer questions that leaves the audience in shock.

2) In the Telegraph 'behind the scenes' article, what does the writer say about the London housing market?

The article states that the London housing market is a fierce market that continually increases and doesn't have an end as everything is seen to make a profit. This means that capital is seen as a snapshot of what is going one.



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 based around the housing market and the wealthy side of London but the underlying economic issues or social factors that are weighing it down.


Trailer analysis

Watch the trailer for Capital:




1) How does the drama use camerawork to capture London life?

The birds view of the main road and "prepy road" connotes that it will set there and the soundtrack being parallel to the camera shot gives enigma codes as to what it could mean. This shows the lavish roads and experience houses on this road. 



2) How does the trailer use mise-en-scene to capture the family element of the drama?

The family element of the tv series would be from Ahmed and his family which are a working class family from Pakistan and shows their experience and another family element would be roger and his family and how he would balance his work life with home life which is what they both are doing similarly but with differences. 

3) How does the trailer introduce narrative strands suggesting tension or enigma in the 40-second running time?

40 seconds into the trailer we are introduced to the postcards being sent to the residents of prepy road which causes tension and enigma codes as to who it may be and why they're sending out these mysterious messages. 



Watch the Episode 1 preview for Capital:



1) What does this preview clip suggest about the potential sub-genres for Capital?

The potential sub-genre may include family life as Ahmed's family is being targeted with these postcards however could suggest the comedic side of the show as they're finding is funny and making light headed jokes. 

2) What elements of the clip might suggest this is a 'state-of-the-nation' drama?

The location of the corner shop as they're everywhere in London and the diverse family. 

3) Analyse the mise-en-scene in this clip. How does this provide realism and familiarity for audiences?

The mise-en-scene is shown in this clip as you see Ahmed looking at the postcard which from his face could suggest he was fed up. The clothes he was wearing was atypical to what the stereotypes claim men of ethnic background would wear. The uniform of the police officer would be typical as that is what you'd expect of a officer would wearing on duty on London.


4) How is the audience positioned to respond to the different characters in this particular sequence?

The audience was positioned to respond from the cameras perspective as Ahmed brothers feels as if the police weren't going to anything with their claim as they were from a different background.


Watch the Episode 2 preview for Capital:




1) How does this clip represent upper-middle-class family life?

This clip represents upper middle class as not appreciative of eachother and only look to fix their houses and not their marriage. 


2) What narrative strands are suggested in this sequence?

The narrative strand that is suggested would be that Roger isn't a productive dad as he doesn't seem to make time for his children and his wife only cares for making their house look good. 

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 think that they way Roger is treating his kids but not making an effort is wrong and it's unhealthy as he is not making time for them as he cannot balance work and home life. 


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
The opening scene is about the home life before the influx in housing market and how life was valued with her husband and their daughter and the flashbacks is shot in a blurry but bright tone which shows the audience she felt happier in those times but now is just alone. 


Scene 2: work in the City 6.28 – 8.10
We are introduced to the work of Roger and the stock market. We are shown how he gets to work and what he does in the financial industry. This reinforced the idea that men are usually dominated in this industry and that all high places are given to white men. 


Scene 3: “Which of those isn’t absolutely essential?” 14.00 – 15.35
In this scene we are introduced to Roger and his wife talking about making extensions to their house and roger quotes " you'll be surprised as to what 1 million pounds could get you today" this connotes that their wealthy and that spending 1 million is pocket change to them. This reinforces the sub genre explored in capital as money and linking it to the houses plays a big role.


Scene 4: asylum 18.03 – 19.42 AND 31.10 – 32.40
In this scene the ticket warden is seen talking to her immigration lawyer about her asylum and what it means if she was forced to go back to her country. This connotes the black economy that refugees and asylum seekers must ho through in order to make money. This also shows the corruption going on in London. We as the audience are positioned to sympathize with her situation. The ticket warden also goes to church which relates to aspects of religion in capital. 

Scene 5: “What use is 30 grand?” 36.40 – 39.00
In this scene Roger is given his bouns from his work which is 30 grand and he loses it as he believes he deserves more than that it shows that he is money hungry and believes he's entitled to a big bonus. 


Scene 6: life at the corner shop 40.10 – 42.55



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?

Capital uses stereotypes to engage their audience and to bring light to those stereotypes as a form of subverting them such as the Pakistani family doing something that a modern family would be doing too and making a difference as they are just as important as the other characters. 



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?

The patent of the company Kudos would be Diederick Santer. 

2) What was the breakthrough show for Kudos in 2002?

The breakthrough show for Kudos in 2002 was the spy drama "spooks".  

3) Watch the showreel on the Kudos website. What other TV dramas have Kudos produced? What awards have they won?

1) Apple tree yard 
2) The boy with the top knot
3) The tunnel 
4) Gunpowder 
They've gotten many awards for production of their shows and have been acclaimed for many of them too. 

4) What audience pleasures does the showreel suggest Kudos productions offer? 

They offer a variety of genres for many different identities of media. They give an insight of the upper class of London for those who dont know. 


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 programme information is intriguing as they ask questions to the audience about capital that they can understand and learn from.

2) Why does the programme information mention the other shows that the director and producer have worked on?

It mentions that if audiences liked this show they would like the other shows Kudos produces as it contains the same element as capital. 

3) Who commissioned Capital for BBC?

Capital had been commissioned by Charlotte Moore and Ben Stephenson. 

4) Read the interview with Toby Jones. What does he say about the character of Roger?

Jones stated that Roger isn't a greedy or hard headed character but he just needs to run what matters most to him and then he will change.

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?

The problem that had been pointed out is that they Usman feels restricted in this community and that the Asian community is usually being preyed upon as targets. 


6) Read the interview with Shabana Azmi (page 12). What does she say about Asian representations in Britain? 

The Asian representations in Britain has been evolving as it means that shows like capital pave way for families of ethnic minorities that they are just as welcomed and are normal. 

7) Read the interview with Peter Bowker (who adapted Capital - page 14). What are his favourite scenes in the drama and why?

Bowler's favourite scene in capital was the Christmas eve one as he got see Roger get out of his comfort zone and understand what is going on. 

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?

Wax produced capital because is gives and insight if people's lives the good and bad and shows that London maybe a great city but also had his faults that need to be addressed. 




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?

On the DVD the quotes that states "from the makers of Human and Broadchurch" suggests that this tv show would be just as appealing to those who liked and watched these shows. 


2) What does the use of design and images suggest to the audience about the drama?

3) How are review quotes used on the cover and what do they suggest to the audience about sub-genre, narrative and audience pleasures?

4) What representation of London does the DVD packaging offer?

It offers the diverse casting and the difference in what it could mean.