The next shot opens with some music and graphics that can be linked to Sky News, a news broadcast channel on Sky television, this manipulates intertextuality. The news reporter and the graphics used are used from the actual channel but the text is original to the storyline in the programme. This, through another source, introduces blatant confirmation of the techniques used in the previous scene. The camera then zooms out of the shot as though the scene is being watched by someone. The scene then becomes present on a television screen where characters continue to add to the narrative. Then another element of realism is encountered, the presenter of the news forward to an external broadcast, this is realised by the audience and respected more for this element. Characters from previous shot go to room which had previously been introduced in the opening scene; the room is the one that the protest is based around. The camera angle follows the two into the room and slowly focuses on a ‘handy cam,’ no-one appears to be present in the room. The camera changes in between the two characters in the same motion, whilst circling around the table. Then the camera finally reveals an extra body in the room, on the floor – unconscious. The audience presumes the worst, as it is a natural intention to think the worse has happened in such situations.
The footage then changes to the opening title sequence. The footage of the opening title sequence are all ideological items that can be related to football. The location (stadium), coin and referee, the fans, manager and scenes of the substitute’s bench. There are also quick, short and sharp images of a woman taking off her top, people appearing to be well-dressed, player signing autographs, scenes of agony and a goal. Then the name of the programme appears, ‘Dream Team’. The ideology of football is summed up with all of the opening title sequence. The woman taking off her top could introduce the stereotype that all footballers go for the ‘loose women.’ Well dressed people show the glamour and royalty that is; Being a footballer. A player signing an autograph, only assuming that it is a player. There is no element to say otherwise, but players are always being asked for their autograph, as is any other celebrity. The agony is shown through a player with his head in his hands, showing there are bad times in football. Then the shot of the ball going into the back of the net is a sign that there are good times in football. Then there is shown the title of the programme. The sequence is shown in the form of quick, short and sharp, edited footage to fit the tempo of the music being played. There is a small border around the picture and the footage is shown as almost translucent. The colour scheme is purple, this colour is specifically used to link to the colour of the clubs kit.
The use of key features that relate to a specific location or place is imminent in the footage, as the ‘slow motion’ effects add a sense of anxiety throughout. The ambulance and paramedics have initiated where the patient is heading towards. The slow motion is used to good effect as the footage is edited into a collage from various different angles. The music used adds to the atmosphere and fits with the tempo of the footage. The music is from the opera genre and could be deemed as religious. Due to the actions in the previous scene the patience could be dead, so the music plays on this expectation. The next scene is continuing the same theme. The camera angle is high up and is looking down; this in its self gives the impression that the subject is venerable and weak. The high angle shot that introduces us with the new location is filmed with an obstruction in the way. The location is an operating theatre; therefore the most common link that can be found with such a location is the light that hangs over where the patient is situated. This brings a sense of seriousness, as well as presenting the audience with a key to link to the location.
Other camera angles are used to link one scene with another. This is most commonly done to link the two associations together. The camera is side on so that the two people taking can be seen as being present. Then the character with facing most of the camera turns as the other character leaves, then the camera zooms into an over the shoulder camera angle, leaving the camera facing into the background on the subject of the previous conversation.
The stereotypical journalist is then applied to good effect, as the character asks short and effective questions (whilst speaking very quickly), carries a Dictaphone and is closely followed by cameramen and similar people surrounding.
The medium then refers back to the intertextuality of ‘Sky News’. The relevance of it is to add further realism and follow the story as breaking news, just as the audience of ‘Sky News’ would. It is also used to help guide the narrative towards a different character in a different location. This is initiated by the camera zooming back, to give the effect that the footage is on a television screen. Then, the camera makes further progress away from the television screen and a character would enter and continue the narrative in any way possible. The realism is furthered more when the newsreader refers to an ‘Outside broadcast’. Then an interview and conversation with one of the characters is pursued by a renowned news reporter from Sky News. This furthers the intertextuality and in effect is promoting the news channel to the audience. It is being represented to a different audience in a way that makes it look knowledgeable about the subject. By representing the channel in this way, real football supporters will hopefully tune into the channel increasing viewing figures and reputation.
The atmosphere in the scenes with specific intensity is measured by the genre and tempo of the music that is played in its duration. The ‘Opera’ music played in earlier scenes indicated a certain importance and depression; where as a more up beat ‘Hard house’ song would indicate a happier and more eventful scene.
The ‘Match Day’ is introduced by ideological elements that are linked to football. The fans wearing the clubs merchandise (Kit, scarf…), masses of fans walking to the ground together, singing and chanting, hotdog stalls, people buying the official Match Day programme, people entering the turnstiles and finding their seats. All of these elements combined with the voice over of the commentator puts the audience in good stead for the match. The ‘Pre-match’ team talk is a necessity within the football industry. These are used to good effect and add to the atmosphere that is produced by all the elements.
The footage of the game is a copy of another Sky™ Channel, Sky Sports™. The graphic and the commentator are both renowned for their participation on the channel. The graphics are altered slightly due to the Image rights from the channels ‘Graphics assistance’ company. This is used so that the audience feel as though they are watching an actual game and are not just watching amateur footage.
The footage of the match is not original to ‘Dream Team’ the footage was primarily filmed on location by Sky Sports™. This footage has been altered to make one of the teams look like Harchester United. This is done by altering the contrast of the original footage, portraying a colour as a different one. In this case the Blue from the original footage has been ‘shadowed’ to purple. This allows all of the blue in the footage turns to purple, the colour of Harchester United. So when the audience are watching the footage of the game, they are thinking they are watching Harchester versus West Ham United, but they are really watching Chelsea versus West Ham United. The close ups of the Harchester players wearing the kit on the pitch is original footage and it edited in to give the effect that what is being shown is being shown live. The stadium can be recognised by most fans as Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea Football Club. All of the special effects, primary and secondary source footage are edited together to produce a feature presentation of the games. Along with the commentary and analysis this is used to good effect.
The end of the programme is finalised by taking a look of short, sharp, edited footage of the next episode in the series. The best parts and the most ironic scenes are picked out to forward to the audience so that they want to see more and watch the show next time. This is done so that the viewing figures for the next episode either increase of stay at a similar level, a massive reduction could lead to the programme being axed by the channel.
The irony in story lines in summed up by body language, camera angle, length of shot and the way the text is presented.
The target audience for the programme is people in the age bracket of 15 to 30. This is due to the ironic and sometimes predictable storylines and the age of the characters in it. The main target area is the people who watch football and understand the football industry.
