The representation of age in Waterloo Road (S6 E6)

In this clip from an episode of Waterloo Road, a teacher is discussing drugs with her students. She is also giving them general advice and informing them that they can come to her with any issue they have. This puts the teacher in a position of less authority and makes her seem equal to the students, as she is trying to encourage them to trust her and confide in her, rather than instructing them (as teachers and people of higher authority usually do). This, however could also be implied as to enhance her authority as she is offering to advise them on situation, suggesting that the older you are, the wiser you are, therefore you can inform younger generations on how is best to live their lives (e.g. By not taking drugs etc.). The sound throughout this scene is digetic as everyone in the scene can hear what is being said e.g. There is not narration or background music that the characters cant hear. The lighting throughout the clip is high-key which allows the audience to see everything clearly, including the surrounding, which conveys that the scene is set in a classroom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXdfLVCu8wQ&feature=related 10:46 11:59

Camera: This is a slightly low-angel shot, which means that it makes the teacher seem more powerful then the students. Moreover, it is an over-the-shoulder shot, which positions the camera in a way that it looks to the audience as if they are sitting in the crowd of students, making them feel like one. This emphasises the authority of the teacher and encourages the audience to relate to the students by taking on and understanding the advice being given by the teacher. Mise-en-scene: The teacher is standing with her arms crossed which again, enhances the control and power she holds with the role of being a teacher, along with the fact that she is standing while the students are all seated.

Camera: This is a wide-angle, over-the-shoulder shot. The fact that it is a wide-angle shot allows the audience to see the relation between the students and the teacher in the setting of a classroom. This isnt a typical over-the-shoulder shot, as the camera is positioned at eye-level of the students, therefore behind the teachers back, rather than shoulders. This emphasises that the students have less authority than the teachers, as they are younger and therefore not as wise or mature. Mise-en-scene: The students are not wearing their uniform correctly, therefore, showing that they are older students in the school who usually rebel through their uniform. Their ties are not done up properly and the male student is wearing a leather jacket which we would assume, is not part if the uniform policy.

Camera: This is a close up of one of the students. Other students can be seen in the background but are in shallow focus, whereas the blonde girl in front is in deep focus. This suggests that the director wants the audience to focus on her facial expressions and emotions which depict that she is taking in the information being given to her and is contemplating whether to ask her teacher for advice on an issue she is experiencing. Mise-en-scene: The main character in this frame is sitting straight which suggests that she is interested in what is being said by the teacher. The student in the background, however is slouching in her chair, which gives the impression that she does not care for the advice she is being given.

Camera: This is a slightly high-angle shot and also a mid shot. The fact that it is slightly highangle means that the camera is looking down on the student, making him seem inferior to the teacher (whos perspective is being represented through the camera). The fact that the student is looking up, also suggests how he understands the authority of the staff in the school. The wide, mid-shot allows the audience to see the surroundings to make it clear that the child is a student who is sitting in the lesson. Mise-en-scene: The characters uniform allows audiences to understand that he is a student at Waterloo Road. The fact that his tie is not done properly represents how he is trying to rebel against the uniform, or possibly implies that to be cool you must not wear your uniform correctly emphasising the politics in a school environment.

Camera: this is a mid-close up of the teacher. She is looking down (presumably at a student). The fact that the camera is at eye level rather than a low-angle shot conveys how the teacher is trying to connect with the students in order to make them feel comfortable with confiding in her and trusting her to give them good advice on drugs and other issues. Mise-en-scene: The fact that she is looking down signifies how she still has power and authority over the students even though she wants them to be able to trust her. This puts the audience in a position of relating with the teacher and gives her character good credibility for trying to help the students.

Camera: This two-shot of the female students suggests that there is a relation between them. It also emphasises how the digetic sound of the teachers advice relates to a situation that they are in or have experienced. The fact that its a mid shot allows us to see part of their surroundings and other students, without taking the emphasis off of them and their relationship. Mise-en-scene: One of the students is looking towards the other with a worried look on her face, signifying that the issue being discussed somehow relates to their friendship. The other girl is sitting with her arms crossed which suggests that she is aware that her friend is looking at her with worry, but that she does not care about her friends feelings towards the situation.