Single Camera Production Analysis: Undeclared episode 7 season 1 -Unit 22

Here is my analysis of Undeclared, an American sitcom single camera production which has perfect examples of camera movements, sound techniques, camera angle and shot types.

Camera Angles

I'm going to start with the simplest to analyse which is camera angles. At the beginning of episode 1, season 1 the character Dave has been filmed constantly on a low angle which i think depicts his role in this episode. Dave is the character who completes assignments for college students which denotes the use of low angle as he's obviously smarter than the other characters, he's more superior, their grades depends on Dave. The other characters (Rachel, Steven and Lizzie) are mostly at eye level which I think the producer has intentionally done to show how they feel that their work is not done and the fear they had in the scene where Lizzie and Rachel met Dave. The audience should feel the same way or empathise.

Another scene for Analysis is the scene where Steven's dad is proud of Steven as he achieved a good grade , the use of over the shoulder helps the audience understand the subject in depth; how Steven feels that he didn't actually do the work, where this is taking place and the way he reacts to what his father is saying, "..all the tuition is paying off", Steven raises his eyebrows to show how disappointed he is with himself. The camera also switches making Steven's dad the subject over Steven's shoulders which puts the audience in Stevens shoes; the heavy excitement coming from his father is drowning him and conscience pricks him.

17 minutes in to the episode, an example of a high angle has been shown with Dave being the subject  on the floor with the camera. Which obviously shows inferiority and how deluded Dave was thinking he was still in a video game. The camera being at high angle meant that's how Steven and Rachel were looking at the subject which shows that at the time they were more sane and right than whatever state Dave was in.

Sound techniques 

The obvious sound I can refer to in this episode is dialogue as the characters have American accents due to the  constant background "r" which gives you an insight of where this single camera production was set. Undeclared was filmed at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA. I think this sets a foundation in the audience heads in terms of stereotypes that American students are reckless and what is happening in this episode fully supports the stereotypes as they are actually being rebels and getting somebody else to do their work. 

Let's use the scene where Stevens Dad was showing enthusiasm of his sons grade. He had a happy/appreciative tone and at a high pitch which I think matches what is going on in the subject and is different to how he was at equilibrium (in other episodes).




Another sound technique that I noticed the Score from 2 minutes into the episode where Rachel, Steven, Lizzie and the other characters were running,  having fun and joking about. On IMBD it says that the score was produced by Joey Santiago and Michael Andrews. Joey Santiago is a Filipino-American guitarist and composer hence why in most of the scenes where the scores are you can hear guitars. I think the use of the guitar scores for a American teenage sitcom like this is wise to add emphasis to the stereotype and the characters youthful behaviour. The soundtrack used in the middle scene where the three: Rachel, Steven and Lizzie were in the school field also playing about which worked very well.

Camera Shots 

There is a scene where the camera is long shot to show where the character is and give and idea of what is going on. For example, Marshall was at the ATM  cashing out money. The long shot makes it possible for audience to know what is going on. Another camera shot i can find an idea for in Undeclared is where the camera was held at medium close up while Marshall and Steven spoke. This allows the audience to know how the characters feel and to put themselves in the shoes of the characters. This is the impact it had on me. Marshall was pleasing Stevens eyes with the money he just withdrawal-ed however he was just pleasing Marshall he was also pleasing the audience (me). The producers of this production have great ways to engage the audience as Cut-in's have been used in most scenes, an example of this was in the scene where Lizzie and Rachel were doing there work, the camera has been set up to show the girls closely highlighting text in textbooks. It was to show their frustration of having to do school work and being completely clueless about what was going on.  The idea being portrayed can be informing for student audiences as they could empathise and could teach that is you actually do your own work and you wouldn't struggle.

Camera Movements

The various camera techniques that have been used in Undeclared also adds to the morals and helps the audience know what is going on. In the scene where Marshall and Steven were walking down the hall way. The camera has been made to track both of them walking with the addition of panning to add emphasis to how the conversation of the two characters is running whilst walking. This engages the audience. This same camera movement has been shown in other scenes too like in when the students were out in the dark trying to get into Dave's house near the end of the episode. This was used to show the confusion of the characters at that point in time. This was very understandable. Another camera movement is the pedestal where the camera has either been lowered or put higher to show either the difference between tom characters height or just to show how tall somebody is and how intimidating they could be to other characters. An example of a scene which shows that is the same one where Marshall and Steven were by the cash machine and were opposite each other. The camera had been made to pedestal.