TV DRAMA ANALYSIS
HUSTLE
The initial establishing shot presents a high end dress shop which initially introduces the audience to three actors, a male shop assistant, a higher class woman and a women who we discover is unable to pay for her chosen item as it's out of her price limit. The female characters contrast each other in the way of which one customer seems to fit in perfectly, picking out a luxurious dress and dressed in fancy clothes, however the other is made to feel less important and uncomfortable, due to being unable to purchase an item. The high angle shot used when meeting the first women, looks down on her, making her look smaller and less important, and highlighting her shabby, untidy appearance. The audience are able to gain an understanding that she doesn't below there and isn't a common customer. This contrasts against the other female, whose clothes are pristine and from the high end, and hair and makeup immaculate, making her out to be from the middle to upper class. Her character matches the shop assistants presentation, being smart and agile.
The dialogue between the shop assistant and the first women discuss the pricing of a dress, and allow the audience to construct an idea of each character and the way in which they are treated defines their status. His hands are kept behind his back whilst talking to her, and nose stuck up in a patronising manner. The dialogue between this women and the higher class women is significantly obvious. This is evident in the way he initially doesn't mention the actual price of the garment to the first women, instead offers her a lower deal due to her appearance and less wealthy manner, unlike the second women who asks for a specific brand- which may be due to her previously buying something from the brand. We are also able to identify her as quite spoilt and wealthy through the hand gestures used when trying on the dress, flexing the bright diamond ring on her hand. Furthermore, the use of her hand gestures and excitement in the fitting room presents her as childish and giddy. The directors use tilt pan terminology from foot to head of the wealthy customer trying on the expensive new evening dress which is done purposefully to construct her as the sort of client that the shop assistant wants to impress as she is slim and makes the dress look beautiful; by ending the camera movement on her face, the audience sees her vain reaction to her image in the mirror which furthermore presents her character and arrogance.
The scene is then switched to a gentlemen's club, where we are introduced to more characters, two elderly men and a younger man, who we discover is trying to become employed by the elders, to participate in their mischievous plans. The room is glamorous and filled with expensive items such as glass cups and silk table cloths, and the men and all dressed in deluxe suits with shiny cufflinks and pristine handkerchiefs folded in their pockets. The elder men are seen to be interviewing the younger man, and impressing them with glasses of whisky and serious conversation, in order to hopefully recruit him in their mischievous plans. The two shot camera angles are used to show the exchange conversation between the client and interviewer. When this is happening, mirroring is used to show what they both have in common, and present the fact they're on board with the discussion. The camera is then flashed back to the shop scene, where the wealthy women creates a dramatic scene about losing her diamond ring which she explains her husband brought her. She rushes off and clarifies that if the shop assistant or anyone in the shop finds her ring, they'll get £5000. The audience later discover this is all a planned out scheme which results in her work partner finding the ring and getting paid money by the shop assistant in return for handing him the found ring. The audience become instantly engaged when this is discovered and become eager to find out more about this business and their devious plans.
