THEM.theatrical techniques

"It only looks that way!"

THEM.Investigation

Deceptive Theatrical Techniques

Introduction

Whether it is obvious or not, numerous, sometimes well-disguised theatrical techniques have become common place in the Marquess-produced The Bill.
Costuming, lighting and camera angles are all placed to give the characters you love their "evil side". Occasionally, these have (unfairly) changed the mood of entire events. THEM. will uncover the ones it knows about.

Chandler and Spears' appearance as made-up in Handford episode

Hardford episodes did not always obstain from the use of some of these techniques, probably being the director who called the shots on that one. Also, Marquess episodes have a hugely increased level of contrast, contributing to the vibrancy of skin tone (but not that much). However, they were never used to the extreme and some unbiased examples have been chosen (both in sunlight). Personally, I would say they are extremly similar in skintone, Chandler a shade "pinker".
Kate Spears' hair was lightened as well, to a more chocolate colour.
"Pancake" is a term for the type of makeup used on actors in drama and television.

Contrast increase VS Pancake
It would be a fair argument that maybe it's just Steven Hartley's skintone against certain lighting conditions that caused the "orange tinge". However, this seems not the case as in the zoomed-in pictures below.
	A closer look at the hairline, where the pancake certainally can't be filmed over, shows of a remarkible change in skintone back to the more ordinary, natural "pinker" tone.

Scene examples and techniques used
	"Heated discussion about race relations" Techniques: orange pancake The Bill's site's comment about Chandler's discussion with Meadows as, "Meadows and Chandler have a heated discussion over how to handle a race march through a heavily populated Asian area", which clearly sounds as if they're equals. But as the pancake (and the famous phrase borrowed from George Orwell's Animal Farm) dicatated, some are more equal than others. Chandler was deliberatly made to look the "bad guy" in this situation, prejudicing his arguments.
	Renezvous with Spears at Conway's Peril Techniques: blue light with dim frontal lighting, orange pancake Chandler and Spears' meeting on the night of Conway's death was made to look seedy deliberately. The blue light behind them harbours feelings of unease and detriment, this effect pushed further with the lack of frontal lighting, placing emphasis on the moblie phone (and gin and tonic). Chandler also seems unusually tinged, and as it seems, the orange pancake has struck again.
	Rape is about power... Techniques: camera angle, lighting, makeup When Jack Meadows brags about his research into Chandler's past, it seems the message of "rape is about power" extends to his present position at Sun Hill. Which is does, indeed, but in this instance a sickly white Superintendent looks overzealous in this regard. A shiny faced angle at someone's chin never appealed to anyone. Also notice how all the lines in his face "jump" out at you, compared to the above photos- nobody ages that quickly, not even in real life. The shiny pancake and white light has been set speically to deepen the age lines on Steven's face, giving him the appearance of being older, but more importantly, less attractive.

And wait for it...
	The Creme-de-la-creme: the "suicide" scene Techniques: costuming At least they had the decency to not making him orange this time. Step back for a second- a Superintendent of a station, in his office, holding his in labour wife at gunpoint, his uniform and hair looking more bedraggled as it goes along. Why? Who knows, gosh knows Debbie's ripping his clothes off at this point (ahem, memorial service). You can't seriously get that undressed witout undressing yourself, can you? (Credit to Steven Hartley though for what could have been the performance of his life)

Conclusion

Theatrical techniques can be used very effectively to harness viewer emotions. In Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge the use of colour and lighting, costuming and camera angles, the viewer was drawn further into the Melodramatic story.
However, the Marquess Bill's feeble attempts seem more like a disguise for mediocre and poorly-written scripts.
In conclusion, always take everything you see for what it is, don't let the bright lights and orange pancake blind you!

Last Updated: Thursday, 5 February, 2004 12:58 PM