Period Dramas

By Dan and Dan

What is a Period Drama ?

A period drama (also known as a costume

drama) is a piece of TV or Film in which
complex costumes and sets are featured
in order to create a historical time period
(e.g The 19th Century, 1910s or 1940s)

Locations for period dramas

Mise en scene
Mise en scene is incredibly important for a
costume drama, they allow the director to
clearly show the audience the time and location
in which the drama is set. The costumes that
the characters have got to fit the time period
that the drama is set in, the clothes that the
characters wear will be relevant to the time
period that they are set in, for example if they
are set during WWI then you would see a lot of
people wearing army uniforms, the costume is
needed to hint to the audience about what the
drama is about, and where it is set
Another thing that is often big that is a big mise
en scene element that is used in a costume
drama is props and their positioning. They are a
very good way of showing the time period in
which the drama is made in. By including
vintage and older items the scene is given the
effect of being filmed in the time period that the
director wanted. For example the women in the
scene are holding umbrellas which would have
been used a long time ago as a sun blocker, so
it gives the impression that its set in the past.

Camera Work / Editing

Camerawork and editing for costume
dramas are very similar or identical to
that of any other generic TV show. Of
course normally there are no special scifi effects as it is set in the past, however
there are a few rare occurrences where
this happens when they link present day
to the past (e.g Goodnight Sweetheart).

Additionally (depending on the era of

the film setting) editors may add
filters to change the image so the
video appears to have been
recorded from the time in which it
was set.

Where did they Originate

Costume dramas really have been going on for as long
as cinema has, but in the 30s and 40s when sound
was introduced is when the roll call for Costume
dramas hit its peak for re-creating cinematic
representations of novels, including works from
Shakespeare and Jane Eyre

The First Costume Drama

The first costume drama in

records is the film The Birth of
a Nation which was released on
8th Feb 1915. This specific
costume / period drama is set in
the Mid-Late 1800s (Victorian
Era)

Watch it online at home: bit.ly/thebirthofanation

Typical plot lines

The plot lines in in a costume drama are typically are more
complexes and involve the characters emotions and feelings.
Most of the earlier period dramas where based on an
adaptation on literature such as Shakespeare. Which are
normally intensely romantic or feature great tragic trauma.
Another example is the TV drama Emma, which again is based
around love.

EXAMPLES

Goodnight Sweetheart
Goodnight Sweetheart is a 1990s costume drama set in the present day (or
recording) and the Second World War. It is about Gary Sparrow, a tv repair man
who accidentally stumbles into war torn london on his way out to a job.
In this war torn london it is evident that the typical representations apply, this is
evident as Phoebe (the pub owners daughter) must stay at home and work for
her old aged father who runs the pub, whilst her husband goes out to help fight
in the war.

https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=s6reV91FbIU&f
eature=youtu.be

Robin Hood
Robin hood is a good example of two young characters who are blinded by
love for each other. This is Robin Hood and Maid Marian. Even though it is bad
for them to be with each other they dont care. So they are taking risk.

How were groups represented ?

Men VS Women
MEN
In a costume dramas men are portrayed as the gender that goes out
to work and provides for the family. They are the head of the family.
This shows that the family would be completely dependent on the
father so. This shows that in costume drama they men where the
people incharge. If there is a war in the drama then its only men
who are fighting. This shows that men are considered as strong,
brave people in costume dramas.

Women vs Men
Women
In costume dramas women would normally be looking after the
children and the household. This shows that in a costume drama
the job of women is at home and to do the jobs around the house.
Such as the cleaning, cooking and child care. This would mean
that they are completely dependant on the husband.

Ability Vs Disability
Usually in Period Dramas the group of ability vs disability is
rarely shown, this is because back in the times in which most
costume dramas are set people with disability were normally
ignored, or sent to an institution as people believed it was the
Right place for people who were different. However if they
were not at an institution, the disabled were normally isolated
in their own homes and had to take care of themselves or from
someone who was better of.

INCURABLES - Unable to be cured suggests disabilities.

Young VS Old
In costume drama the role of older people is that they are normally taken
care of by their family. They would often give the other characters advise
and help them through problems. This shows that old people in costume
dramas are wise and helpful towards others. Additonally they could also take
a similar role to the female character (if possible) and take care of the
home.
Younger people in costume drama main focus is love, and there is normally a
side story about love for younger characters running through costume
dramas.