1) Find one positive aspect and one criticism of Deutschland 83 in the reviews.
It’s a perfect moment in a near-perfect series. Deutschland 83’s first episode of eight was the most-watched foreign-language drama in UK history. With the least ambiguous title ever
2) Why does the second Guardian article suggest the Germans didn't like the show?
By focusing the story around Martin Rauch, a young East German border guard going undercover in the west, it doesn’t just make the viewer empathise with a Stasi agent on a human level – in the way The Lives of Others did – it makes us engage with the socialist regime’s worldview, in which a military exercise in West Germany poses a potentially existential threat.
3) Find three 'below the line' comments from either of the Guardian articles. What did the audience think of Deutschland 83? Do you agree with the comments?
-"As an East German I enjoyed it, however, the English translation was atrocious and left out important clues, like in the last episode when they gave away that Martin was the son of Schweppenstette and Ingrid, that was completely lost in translation. They translated "our boy" simply as "Martin"."
- "Loved it, and was amazed to find out how much was historically accurate. Having lived through that era, I felt it really captured the atmosphere of mutual paranoia that existed and blighted millions of lives. Giving the East German perspective on it gave it a distinctiveness it would not otherwise have had, and I found that very moving. They were just as frightened of us as we were of them! It illuminated the farcical aspect of the brinkmanship."
"I loved this series from start to finish. Watched it when it aired here in the US last summer and re-watched it recently via streaming. I'm surprised to see it didn't do well in Germany. And I'm really surprised to see people here saying the ending was bad. I thought it was fantastic." I agree with this person i liked the episode that we had watched in class and in the future i would like to finish it but i was very surprised that Germans didn't like it but i partly get their reason.
Promotional interview:
Channel 4 News: Matt Frei interviews Jonas Nay
1) What does Jonas Nay say about growing up in a united Germany?
He said he would live in west Germany and he is happy to have the mobility and freedom and values that a lot.
It reflects their remit of inspiring change and standing up for diversity.
3) Interviewer Matt Frei asks about the current political situation in Germany. Why might this interest the a Channel 4 audience?
This would interest Channel 4's audience as they would want to know how their politics might have changed and they would be curious to know what is going on now and if it was still the same as they showed us in the series.
Textual analysis: Audience pleasures and representations:
Scene 1: Garden/BBQ scenes (East & West Germany) 4.58 – 8.20 and 34.00 – 37.20
Technical codes – particularly mise-en-scene: 360 degree camera movement circling Martin when talking to Edel and his sister created sense that things are closing in on Martin. Contrast in East - camerawork seems to accompany Martin to his mum’s birthday party rather than threaten him. Several shots in the East German party of key characters shot over-the-shoulder or through other guests. Emphasises family and friends present and welcoming atmosphere. Huge contrast in mise-en-scene between East and West - two houses.
Representation of East & West Germany / Family / Gender - Western family (Edel family) is shown to be dysfunctional and unhappy. The BBQ scene feels awkward and forced. Strong contrast in the East German party scene with close family, friends enjoying themselves, relaxed atmosphere.
Scene 2: Martin/Moritz first sees the West German supermarket 14.30 – 20.25
Technical codes – particularly mise-en-scene - Mise-en-scene - use of colour and costume. Iconic Puma logo red T-shirt as a colourful contrast to the dull East. Supermarket shelves full of colour and stacked high. Almost an example of postmodern art and designed to emphasise the difference between East and West.
Audio codes – particularly music - Music - Sweet Dreams Are Made Of These. Diegetic sound but full of meaning to convey Martin’s first experience of the West. Dialogue on bench - emphasises the positives about the East and the dangers of the West. BUT this scene overall seems to present the West and capitalism in a more positive light.
Representation of East & West Germany / Communism & Capitalism / Historical accuracy - Shot of two policemen eating ice creams is symbolic of the difference between East and West. Several shots emphasise representation of East and West - close-up of chandelier, wide shot of luxurious bedroom etc
Audience pleasures - Historical reality - Blumler & Katz U&G theory - surveillance. Danger of WW3, reference to Pershing II missiles. Key elements of D83 based on historical fact. Music - 1980s references - nostalgia. Faithful reconstruction of Germany in the 1980s.
Scene 3: Training montage scene when Martin/Moritz learns how to be a spy 20.40 – 22.40
Technical codes – particularly camerawork and editing: Fast-paced editing including jump cuts, typical of montage sequence. Split screen / editing / graphics used to emphasise difference between East and West.
Audio codes: Music and SFX: Non-diegetic sound adds pace to the sequence Dialogue/voiceover - covers a lot of narrative.
Audience pleasures: German audience - nostalgia in terms of products and brands. International audience - surveillance (U&G theory) - learning about Germany, 80s gadgets etc. Genre pleasures - spy/thriller.
Intertextuality: Similar to a Bond sequence (particularly with the gadgets)
Scene 4: Briefcase scene when Martin/Moritz is stealing the NATO nuclear plans 31.13 – 33.30
Technical codes – particularly camerawork and editing: Close-ups of Martin while picking lock and photographing the documents. Close-ups of the documents themselves - words like highly classified, actual details of the missiles and Ronald Reagan’s signature. These are recreations of real documents from the time - emphasising the historical aspect of the show and the way it is based on real events; positions audience to be on Martin’s side. Shot from behind the blinds continues recurring motif of shots through windows or from behind objects. Creates voyeuristic pleasure and also fits the genre of spy thriller. Audience are given the experience of spying by continually using camera shots that give the impression of observing events from a distance.
Audio codes: Non-diegetic sound - music helps convey the tension of the scene and satisfy genre expectations of spy thriller. Diegetic sound - deliberately increased volume of Martin’s breathing, lock picking, turning pages in briefcase. Creates intensity, tension.
Representation of East & West Germany: Reality - this is a key scene in establishing D83 as a show based on real events. The close-ups of actual documents from the time help to blur the boundaries between historical fact/real events and fiction. East v West - presents West as threat to world security, nuclear war.
Production and industry contexts
Deutschland 83 was produced by German production company UFA Fiction and distributed internationally by Fremantle International. It was broadcast on RTL (Germany), SundanceTV (US) and Channel 4 (UK) as well as many other broadcasters around the world.
1) What kind of company is UFA Fiction and what shows have they produced?
UFA Fiction is a German award winning film and television Company and a unique leader in the German film and television market, offering a remarkable portfolio of films and series which have strongly influenced the German production landscape. Many productions were not only great successes with audiences, but also won numerous German and international TV and film awards, including two International Emmy Awards. Produced shows like - Liebeskummer, Ekstraklasa, Charolette link.
2) What kind of company is Freemantle and what do they produce?
It is a British multinational television production and distribution company based in London. The company was founded as Pearson Television in 1993 when publishing and education company Pearson acquired the former British ITV franchisee Thames Television. A proudly independent group of content creators, we're one of the world's largest and most successful producers and distributors of entertainment, drama, film, and documentaries.
3) How does Deutschland 83 reflect the international nature of television production?
Deutschland 83 reflects the international nature of television production, being produced by a company with global subsidiaries and the inclusion of americanisation and postmodern ideologies to appeal to global audiences, capturing its international nature and appeal.
Walter Presents
Watch this Channel 4 trailer for their Walter Presents international drama:
1) How does Channel 4 introduce 'Walter'?
Walter Presents is a brand new on-demand service showcasing the world’s best foreign-language drama. The service will be exclusively available free in the UK, via Channel 4’s new digital hub, All 4.
Channel 4 introduces 'Walter' as being all about gritty international drama filled with action and tension.
2) What audience are Channel 4 trying to appeal to with the 'Walter Presents' series?
Channel 4 are appealing to an audience that has an interest in TV drama and also want to consume more foreign language media.
3) How does the 'Walter Presents' series reflect the changing nature of television in the digital age?
Through the globalizing effect of the Internet, foreign language dramas that would have been dismissed by British audiences 10 years ago are now gaining popularity on a mass scale comparable to British dramas. Walter Presents, therefore, provides something different in the current global TV landscape by shunning global trends of producing TV that is globally exportable, and focusing instead on these distinctive local and national idiosyncrasies that are less well-known or well-travelled.
Marketing and promotion
Trailer
1) What audience pleasures are suggested by the trailer? Think about Uses & Gratifications theory (Blumler and Katz).
-Diversion: The trailer promises action and nostalgia for the 80s that provides escapism for audiences and a new experience watching foreign language dramas.
-Personal identification: Trailer shows young protagonist (Martin) which can connect with a younger audience, and features 80s music which can
-Personal relationships: Trailer shows popular stars such as Jonas Nay that the audience may want to keep up with by watching the show
-Surveillance: Trailer shows historical footage of the Cold War
2) How does the trailer use action and enigma codes (Barthes) to encourage the audience to watch the show?
-Action codes: Chase scenes and explosions to make viewers feel more excited by building up tension during the drama.
-Enigma codes: Making the audience question Martin's mission of being a spy and whether he will be caught or not.
3) The only words heard in the trailer are in English. Why do you think the UK trailer avoided subtitles or German dialogue?
Many members of a British audience might not find the show as appealing if it is perceived as too foreign or it will just be unappealing to an audience that doesn't speak German.
1) How did she use the historical context and real-life events to create a successful drama?
Thomas Lovegrove, a British military historian who worked with us on Deutschland 83, first called our attention to Abel Archer, the NATO manoeuvres in the autumn of 1983 that was misunderstood by the East as a real attack. The Russians prepared to retaliate but came to their senses last minute. At the time that we were developing the show, it was exactly 30 years after it happened, so the first information about Able Archer had just been declassified. There was still a lot of mystery around it, which is great for historical drama. We fictionalised the whole thing and used it as the backdrop for the climax of the series.
2) Anna Winger discusses the use of music. Why might the soundtrack attract an audience?
Music will attract an audience that is familiar with it or fans of and in the case of the 80s it will be those people experiencing the nostalgia of listening to that song in that time, nostalgia is a great seller for any product especially a TV drama that may not exactly be relatable if you didn't live in Germany during the 80s.
1) List the key statistics concerning audience figures. Why was it considered the most successful foreign language drama?
Deutschland 83 had 2.5 million views on its first episode and is considered the most successful as it has overtaken shows like 'The Returned', which had previously held the record for most views on launch at 2.2 million.
2) How does the press release describe Deutschland 83?
Set against the real events, culture wars and political realities of Germany in the 1980s, Deutschland 83 is a stylish coming of age story, framed within a suspenseful thriller. Season 1 culminates with the true story of a nuclear stand-off in late 1983, caused by a NATO war game and botched intelligence on the East German side. Created by husband and wife team Anna and Jörg Winger, Deutschland 83 is the first German- speaking drama to play on a mainstream US cable network. Walter Presents will eventually host more than 600 hours of drama that will be available for box-set. “It’s only January but let’s call it already: coolest show of the year.”
International marketing
Look at these two different marketing campaigns - the UK DVD release (left) and the American Sundance TV advert (right).
1) How does the UK DVD cover communicate the sub-genre of the drama?
The UK DVD cover features a wall behind Martin with a black and white drawing of Marx and Engels on one half and a painting of a man and woman kissing on the other half, with the text "Over the wall under cover". This clearly alludes to the Berlin Wall, letting audiences it is a historical drama.
2) How do these use font, colour and graphics to appeal to an audience?
The UK cover uses a sans serif bold font coloured in bright yellow. This colour is usually associated with sunshine and warmth whereas it can also symbolise caution as well as danger, illustrating the difference between the East and West, where Martin will have to survive in Germany. In the US poster, the font is bold as well but in black and pink, replicating a graffiti style. These bright pop colours, that contrast the background of blue, stand out to viewers
3) Why might the distributors Freemantle International have used different marketing campaigns in different countries?
The campaign may be different in each country in order to get the target audience they desire. The UK cover is a lot more realistic and quite plain to reinforce social realism which is seen in most British TV and is enjoyed by most British people. On the other hand, the USA one is a lot more vibrant to stand out to the viewers as they prefer something that is eye catching and praising towards action.
Background reading and production research Read the following interviews and features on Blinded By The Light: 1) What is the story behind the production of the film? Adapted from a book called Greetings From Bury Park by Sarfraz Manzoor (a play on 'Greetings From Asbury Park' - a Bruce Springsteen album). The memoir outlined his experiences growing up in Luton in the 1980s and discovering the music of Springsteen. 2) What was the audience reaction to the film? common reactions is that people say they were touched by the depiction of the friendship of Javed and Roops," to the extent that people now tweet me to tell of the friend who was “their Roops” – the one who introduced them to a life-changing musician or band. My mate has become a noun." said Sarfraz Manzoor 3) Why is the Sundance Film Festival such an important part of the film industry - particularly for lower budget films? The goal of the festival was to showcase American-made films, highlight the potentia
1) Research the BBFC in more detail: what is the institution responsible for? How is it funded? What link does it have to government? This history of the BBFC page may help. It is an independent, non-governmental body funded through charged fees. This means film distributors have always paid a fee to have their works rated and it is responsible for the national classification and censorship of films exhibited at cinemas and video works 2) Read this BBFC guide to how films are rated. Summarise the process in 50 words. All classification decisions are based on the BBFC’s published and regularly updated Guidelines. The Guidelines are the product of extensive public consultation, research and the accumulated experience of the BBFC over many years. They reflect current views on film, DVD and video game regulation. 3) Read this BBFC section on landmark decisions. Why did The Dark Knight generate a large amount of media coverage regarding its certificate? Do you agree with the 12A certificat
1) Type up your feedback in full (you don't need to write the mark and grade if you want to keep this confidential). WWW: This is a really strong assessment perfection for Q1 and 2! EBI: Q3clearly shows plenty of revision and knowledge of the CSP but it needs a little more organisation and question focus. You also need some discussion of the Hesmondhalgh for top marks so that may be one to revise. 2) Read the mark scheme for this assessment carefully. Write down the number of marks you achieved for the three questions: _/3; _/6; _/9. If you didn't achieve full marks in a question, write a bullet point on what you may have missed. Q1- 3/3 Q2-6/6 Q3- 6/9 Some industry figures suggested the film was released too closely to Yesterday – another British comedy featuring popular music that was far more successful at the box office. New technology is opening new ways to distribute films and Blinded By The Light now has an extended slot on Amazon Prime which will bring in some of the
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