Capital: case study

 Reviews and features

1) What positive points does the review pick out about Capital? What criticisms are made - either of the TV drama or the original novel?

"It's all so instantly recognisable" - the similarities of Capital and the real life capital, London, are so much alike, including the house prices, the types of people etc. It was praised by critics as it is disappointingly relevant to even this decade.

2) What references can you find in the reviews and feature to the idea Capital is a 'state-of-the-nation' drama? How does it capture modern-day London?

It shows how house prices are very high and how the "economy effects us all". It also talks about immigrants and how there were a lot who migrated from southern Asian areas, and also immigrants who came illegally and who get deported. 

Trailer analysis

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

The use of the drone shots capture the whole of London and the Pepys road. The medium shots introduce the characters and show the different types of characters there are and the jobs that they have.

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

Showing Roger and Arabella in their room wearing their gowns and towel shows their relationship - husband and wife. The Kamal brothers sitting closely eating their dinner, watching their mother on video call and laughing, and the use of family drama through Roger and Arabella. 

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

The Quotes "There's no reason that the bonus might not be closer to £2 m than 1.", someone who's face is not shown is taking pictures and the police having to get involved and near the end where Arabella shouts "What are we going to do?!"

Representations: close-textual analysis

1) Write an analysis of the representations in each of the key scenes from episode 1 we studied in the lesson:

Scene 1: opening sequence 00:30 – 4.49

• London - diversity of London, immigration. house prices increasing "£2.75 million". "Usman isn't going anywhere. He gets Vertigo going north of the river" - present Kamal family as proper Londoners, showing immigrants integrated into London Life 
• Family & Gender - representation of working class British family. Contrast of Petunia's family who is very distant to the Kamal family who is very close knit.
• Ethnicity & Religion - "volunteering for Syria" - presenting Islamic extremism.
• Issues - Gentrification of London. Loneliness of aging e.g. Petunia. Immigration - "Albert didn't much like change"

Scene 2: work in the City 6.28 – 8.10

• Issues - Capitalism - "Bonus Season" - £75 million profit emphasises the crazy money in banking and also the inequality in the heart of London. Work - "No need to go too heavy on the terminology Mark" represents how the finances industry are out of control.  

Scene 3: “Which of those isn’t absolutely essential?” 14.00 – 15.35

• Gender - reinforced male stereotypes of how they are the breadwinners of the family - Roger, and that females spend the money - Arabella.
• Issues - "You'd be surprised at how little £1 million covers these days" "name one of those which isn't absolutely essential"

Scene 4: asylum 18.03 – 19.42 AND 31.10 – 32.40

• London - Quentina shows opposite side of London to what is shown with Roger.
• Gender - Black female lawyer, subverting stereotypes.
• Ethnicity - Contrast of the life for Black people and White people 
• Work & inequality - Quentina earns £300 - "I worked overtime" but only gets given £200
• Asylum - "if I go home I will be killed"

Scene 5: “What use is 30 grand?” 36.40 – 39.00 

• Issues - Roger furious at his bonus "What use is 30 grand" Technical codes build up tension, zoom on his handing tapping, the jump cuts to the future and to present creates confusion.

Scene 6: life at the corner shop 40.10 – 42.55

• London - Arabella in the shop, Ahmed didn't know she lived on the same street - shows a disconnect London. 
• Family - Closeness of the Kamal family in contrast to Roger and his family. The mise-en-scene of the small table and how they are tightly packed and on a video call to the mother in Pakistan - shows warmth. 
• Issues - social class - Arabella doesn't know how to react to Ahmed giving coriander for free - emphasises negative representation of the rich. " Maybe then you would know the responsibility of providing food"

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 show how the characters are unique and have a different understanding of what is around them. Some characters reinforce and subvert stereotypes e.g. Quentina who is a black character is an immigrant and is working when she is not meant to be - reinforces that immigrats are distruptive and do not obey the law, howvere she works as she wants to pay for her own way and no rely on benefits, this subverts stereotypes as she is a hard worker. The Kamal family have a corner shop which reinforce stereotypes that Asian people all own shops. Roger and Arabella own many houses and are rich, this reinforces stereotypes of posh upper-class white people.

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?

Banijay UK

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

Spooks - BBC One

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

• Two weeks to live - winner 2021 Venice TV best comedy, nominee rose d'or 2020 comedy drama and sitcom.
• Then you run
• SAS rogue heroes - "THE PERFORMANCES ARE TOP DRAWER"
• Grantchester
• Deep water
• Responsible child - nominee BAFTA TV awards best single drama, winner 2 international EMMY awards best TV movie/mini series & best performance by an actor,  nominee BAFTA TV craft breakthrough talent Sean Buckley
• Deadwater Fell - nominee RTS craft 2020 music original score Natalie Holt, nominee 2020 British academy director fiction Lynsey Miller Television scripted.

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

Personal relationships - you create a bond with these characters and want to see what happens to them e.g. one review on Grantchester "I wouldn't mind if Grantchester went on forever" - The Telegraph

Diversion - the shows take them away from real life and take them to different settings e.g. SAS rogue heroes set as a war time show.

Marketing and promotion

1) How does the programme information on page 3 make Capital sound interesting to audiences?

The use of having a cast/characters which represents many backgrounds, and the mysterious letters and what the person could possibly want. Also the £1 million bonus is interesting as it isn't something you see all the time, very rare.

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

It shows the experienced and professional crew that was used to produce Capital, gaining more popularity.

3) Who commissioned Capital for BBC?

Charlotte Moore - controller of the BBC and Ben Stephenson - controller of the BBC drama.

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

Jones says the Roger's character is one who is intellectual but also someonthat doesn't have control of his own life. He is lost and "directionlessness".

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?

Akhtar says that due to the time and the context we are living in Pepys Road is an example ("manifestation"), of what is happening to many roads across London and Britain.

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

Azmi states that the way Asian's are represented in Capital are true. That different communities are understanding and joining in with the cultures around them, and adopting them.

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

When Roger is left on Christmas morning, with his two kids, he realises his life is changing - this becomes more comedic as it reflects Basil Fawlty from Fawlty Towers. The madness at the Kamal's dinner table. Bogdan talking to Matya about the "affluent Londoners" they are working for. 

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?

It told a story from one street which reflected the whole of Britain/London and how believable the characters are. It talks about where London and the country is now, with house prices increasing. This is explored through the different characters such as Bogdan living in a bedsit, Petunia's home which has not been touched in 60 years and Roger and Arabella with their multiple houses and never-ending refurbishments.  

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?

It mentions other Dramas made by the same people, which were popular so they can bring over those fanbases to watch this.

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

The collage design of the photos creates a suspicion of all the characters, especially the use of direct-mode-of-address.

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

The review quotes tell the audiences that the narrative is very interesting and revolves about what is contextually happening on London/Britain.

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

The DVD package represents the city side of London, showing different buildings. This shows where most of the story is taking place.