Waterloo Road: Age Representation.

In the clip from Waterloo Road age plays a big part in the order of the school. The adults are at the top of the hierarchy and are in charge of the students but are also there for advice. The clip focuses on multiple narratives in order to show the different situations the students and teachers face. The director positions the audience to relate the their relevant age group, offering a variety of narrative plots and characterisation. 

In the opening scene the teacher slowly walks up to the students. They used a close up and tracking shot to follow his footsteps, this suggests the boys should be cautious. It presents how the teacher has the authority. Shallow focus is used to emphasis the setting by blurring out the legs of the school chairs.  An insert shot is then used to focus on the broken camera. This shows the audience the reason why the boys are in trouble. Further on a two shot is used when presenting the conversation between the student and teacher this is to show the audience that a conversation is taking place and at this point the teacher and student are seen as equals. To show the location and the environment the pupils are in, a long shot is used. This shows the audience how everyday life is for the students. A close up of the girls face is used in the classroom when she talks about her news, this demonstrates her emotion and how what she is saying isn't what she actually means. An over the shoulder shot is being used towards the end of the clip when the girl aggressively grabs the boy. This is to convey her anger and show what she is doing but without making the viewer see from his perspective, this helps the audience understand the situation. 

A cut is used to switch between the scenes as there a multiple narratives in one story. A cut is also used to change location. This helps the audience follow the story line. Ellipsis was used when the girl drags off the boy into the classroom, this is because it was obvious to the audience what was happening. This also created more tension as even though the audience knew what was going on they didn't know exactly what happened. Fast pace editing is used to show panic and rush through a dramatic scene. 

Diegetic sound such as talking in corridors and the chatter amongst students just sets the scene and makes the clip seem more realistic. Another diegetic sound used is the footsteps at the beginning of the clip, when the teacher walks towards the boys. This creates tension and makes the audience feel the suspense of what is about to happen. The boy who is being insulted and hurt by the girl begins to have an asthma attack. This is presented through his heavy breathing and anxiety. This may show how he is much weaker and doesn't have as much power as he has to be helped by an adult. Another way age is presented through sound is the teacher uses a click of his fingers to enforce rules and this shows he is higher in the hierarchy and has the control. The use of the non-diegetic technique, background music, is used when drama suddenly occurs in the clip. It makes the audience understand that something important is about to take place and shows the everyday stressful situations the students at the school face. 

The clothing worn is one way of representing age. The older teacher at the beginning of the clip wears quite old fashioned clothing and a sweater vest, showing the audience how his clothing displays his age and formality. All the students wear school uniform showing they are all equal due to their age and not having their own choice. Clothes seem to be a key element in fitting in and presenting age. Towards the end of the clip a teacher tries on the younger generations clothes in order to fit in and to try impress a woman. This links to the stereotype that older people are old fashioned and outdated.