Safina Shaukat

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How is meaning created through mise-en-scene in the episode of Life on Mars?

Life on Mars tells the story of Sam Tyler, a police officer in service with the Greater Manchester Police. After being hit by a car in 2006, Tyler wakes up thirty-three years in the past to 1973 finding himself working as the predecessor of the GMP; the same station as before. Bharat Nalluri was the director of this episode and used mise-en-scene to illustrate the transition from the twenty-first century back to the 1970s.

The scene starts with an extreme close up of a tyre of a car (I couldnt see clearly what make it was) which would not have existed back in the 70s. The location is modern with clean streets and new, architectural buildings and houses. Despite the council estate location, there is dustbins yet is not as badly cared for as in the past. There is also a police car back in the distance with lots of backup. Tylers costume consists of a crisp, ironed suit with a tie. It is also noticeable that there is a woman on duty with the rest of the team depicting to the audience her high status and the equality in the workplace.

The camera then cuts to a formal interview being conducted whilst it is being recorded on CCTV camera. It is in a large and airy office with a long desk from which Tyler sits opposite Raimes and his defence lawyers. The group of people are from different races and gender which would have been quite unusual in the past. There is real evidence from photographs of previous victims and files which contain information and photo copies of the suspects belongings-diary. All items are concealed in packets for protection; the laptop provides an ID picture of the suspect which fits Raimes face portraying the advance in technology which presents an accurate picture of a person. Raimess defence lawyer interrupts Tyler to falsify his claims which depict the immense knowledge and records they keep of a person. There are also screens placed above Raimes and his team recording Raimess reactions and facial expressions constantly.

The advance in technology allows Tyler to do a close up of Raimess hands from which he discovers synthetic fibres. The station is organised and in a working environment with lights, seats, desks, filing cabinets, lamps, computers. This conveys that the station is a very ordered and structured place to be working with men and women working together as we can see from the background. Mobile phones mean that a person can be in constant contact with another if something should happen therefore a quicker response with the backup team can be arranged for than in the past. Here we see Sam trying to separate his personal life with his professional emphasising the seriousness of work in this time. The camera then cuts to Satchmore Road with the site being preserved and Police officers taking account from witnesses and writing everything down. An emotional Tyler is then shown in a jeep before he meets with the accident.

From the mise-en-scene demonstrated so far, the audience gather that we are in the twenty-first century due to the professional and equal opportunities granted in the workplace. The costumes are formal and practical with the advanced technology assisting the modern look.

The soundbridge of the life on mars song makes it evident to the audience that we are in the same location with Tyler waking up in an industrial site which is soon to be the Manchester Highway- where Tyler had the accident. His costume has now transformed from formal to a leather jacket with a gold, open collared shirt and wide brown trousers. There are no mobile phones and his jeep has turned into an old blue car (I didnt know what make it was) with a tape system stored inside which differs to his iPod generated system in his jeep. The Police Officer he meets is dressed in black with police hat on and questions Tylers ideas of jeep thinking it to be a military jeep and does not understand the concept of a mobile phone. This police officers costume is very different to how Tyler and his workforce dressed in the future and Tyler is somewhat shocked to see it. The location is very dirty and the audience can tell it is in need of development. Women are dressed in long coats and there is vast amount of brickwork and development going on. The cars are also much smaller than the BMWs or Mercedes in the future displaying an accurate picture of the era in the audiences mind.

The camera then cuts to Tyler finding his way back to the station and the audience notice that the officers are riding on bicycles rather than the normal police vehicles. The station that Tyler walks into is very different from his one as it is dull and dark with very dim lighting and staff dressed in dissimilar clothes whereas in 2006, the code of uniform is almost robotic and similar. The slow motion used emphasises how Tyler is slowly adjusting to the new surroundings and also creates the stark contrast in the past and the future. No advanced technology is seen: mobile phones, computers, new telephones rather we see the ancient, large telephones. There is no woman in any position of real authority which correlates the sexist atmosphere dwelling inside the station. The environment is informal, unprofessional, cluttered, unorganised, with staff members eating, drinking, smoking and reading GAME magazine, a porn magazine highlighting the vast difference in the past and future working conditions. Sexist jokes are made which would in 2006 be seen as inappropriate due to the equality at work Acts enforced by the Law. Women are seen in secretarial, low status jobs and are patronised throughout the episode which Tyler finds alarming. The T.Vs are much smaller and only a few of them are in colour.

That time period shows that things were recorded far less than in the future with no reference to preserving the sight, dusting the body, taking statements from witnesses. Tyler is also told that they should hear from Scotland Yard near a fortnight which shocks him as things were done much quicker in the future. The response rate and the time dedicated to each case was structured and completed in a short span of time than in the past as Tyler soon finds out. There are WANTED posters stuck on the walls with papers and files placed everywhere depicting the informal environment. Annie. The secretary/ first aider does not actually know how to treat an injured person showing portraying the careless time of the past. The interview is conducted in the lost and found room with no recorders and to Tylers surprise; it is more violent and unprofessional. The room itself is very dark and has little air and windows.

The scene in which Tyler is taken to his room showcases the difference in style and tastes from the past to the future. The wallpaper is a dull yellow/gold and the room runs parallel with the same theme. The bed is made of metal and the T.V is small. All in all the room is small and compact and even claustrophobic.

The character of Gene Hunt is similar to the future Tyler in the sense that they both dress smartly but their mannerism and tone of talking differ. Hunt is very violent and does not take any nonsense whilst on the other hand Tyler is more patient. Hunt is a keen alcoholic even whilst on duty alongside the rest of the officers which is totally prohibited in the future.

Overall, meaning is created through mise-en-scene showcasing the difference in both time periods. The modern and professional twenty-first century versus the practical and no-nonsense 1970s is displayed through Hunts character and the different locations the audience sees. The Industrial location runs in correlation with the rough, violent and messy 1970s era and the advanced technology conveys the formal and law abiding era of 2006.