Derren Brown: The Gameshow advert deconstruction

Derren Brown: The Gameshow

• In the programme, Derren Brown turns himself into a game show host and investigates whether we all have the capacity for evil and whether or not being part of a group affects our sense of right and wrong. 

• The programme proves that humanity is a dangerous weapon when encouraged. This is what Derren Brown wanted us to realise and see, that when we "mob up" and become a group we're a danger to ourselves and others.

Camera Angles

•  This is a long shot of the audience in their seats putting on their masks. It shows how many people are present and shows that the effect of changing personalities and the ‘inner-evil’ will not just happen to one individual, but can happen to everyone. 

•  A close up shot of hands typing on a computer keyboard and an over-the-shoulder shot of a man looking at a computer screen is used to focus in on how the power of the internet can affect every individual.
• It adds to the idea of people being ‘faceless’ and anonymous when their personalities change for the wrong reasons. They are hiding behind a computer screen while writing on the internet what they might not say in real life scenarios, therefore, the computer is their 'mask'. 
• It supports what Derren Brown describes as ‘turning perfectly nice people into internet bullies, hooligans or rioters’.

Mise en Scene

•  This shot shows many people in the audience being involved in the game show. It suggests that the same ‘anonymous evil’ effect can happen to anyone, not just one individual. 
•  Every individual in the audience is wearing a white mask covering their faces. This adds to what Derren Brown suggested as ‘faceless’ and ‘anonymous’. It could also suggest that they are hiding their identity with a persona that they want to use but don’t want to be known as or get caught being.
• The white masks have connotations of angelic and innocence which juxtaposes the real reason they are wearing them (to hide their negative personalities).
• The black and blue colour scheme lighting has connotations of evil and danger whilst also giving a sense of mystery/enigma which relates to the idea of the ‘inner evil’ in every individual whilst asking the question of what negative extremes can a person lead to if they were ever in this situation.

• The masked audience are showed again later on in the advert but this time showed in the colour red. This suggests that danger, death and destruction have occurred that the audience has been in control of. 
• It automatically makes the viewers see that these masked people are dangerous and should be wary. 

• The white masks are shown again later on in the advert, but this time, we see ‘hooligans’ in the streets rioting and causing havoc and chaos. This suggests that the people in the audience wearing the masks all have the same chance and potential of being this negative type of person too. Every individual will always have the sense of be tempted to violate rules and society.
• The ‘hooligans’ are shown to wear black hoodies, which give the stereotypical look of gang members in the streets who carry knives and are dangerous. Black has connotations of danger, death, power, and enigma which is exactly the stereotypical look that is coming across to the audience.

• This side angle shot tells the audience that the people with the masks on are the ‘remote control’ over the video they will be watching. This has some psychological effects and suggests that anyone can be in control of others lives and destinies.
• The colour scheme is dark blue/purples which has an ‘alien-like’ and ‘supernatural’ effect which suggests that the audience, who are shown in the blue tinted lighting, are the ones with the dark personalities and have an ‘evil’ side.
• The ‘Remote Control’ text shown on the projected screen is shown in red, yellow and pink sort of explosion. These colours together give a fire effect which may suggest that the words have an evil description to them in the programme and that whoever is the ‘controller’ is the side of evil. 

Sound

• Non-diegetic dialogue from Derren Brown himself saying ‘Some psychologists call it Deindividuation’ and ‘It’s time to play remote control’ which give an insight into what the programme is going to be about and the dominating effects it can have on others.
• Derren also states ‘turning perfectly nice people into internet bullies, hooligans or rioters’. This is played while showing moving images of these three things giving the viewers an insight into what sort of people he is talking about and giving the message that anyone can be one.
•  The non-diegetic running commentary dialogue used gives an in-depth response so that the audience can understand what and why he is undertaking this ‘experiment’ while showing what is most-likely to occur.
• At the beginning, a moderato non-diegetic beat played by a piano is heard but then there is a sudden transition of a muffled version of the same beat which suggests that as the sound is changing, the personalities change and run parallel to it. 
• As the beat continues, a non-diegetic drum bass beat is introduced which picks up the volume and suspense when the audience puts on their masks.
• Subliminal diegetic sounds of police sirens and fire alarms are heard while moving images of rioters are played which adds to the danger, havoc and suspense of the scene.
• Subliminal diegetic sounds of a CCTV camera turning and different CCTV shots being switched are heard which suggest that this person that is on the screen is being watched 24/7 which adds to the suspense and enigma of the scene.
• The diegetic sound of a prison gate closing is heard and immediately cuts off the soundtrack. A couple of seconds of silence is heard and then the non-diegetic music begins again. This could suggest that the gate closing is the ‘end of the road’ for the trouble that is going to be caused.

Editing

•  The transition of the words fade and are changed in an ‘alien-like’ and ‘supernatural’ way giving the sense of enigma and wariness to the audience on what is about to occur in the advert. 
• The bold, capitalised letters are separated by gaps to allow the audience to understand and take in what it is trying to say. This also gives a supernatural and psychological feel along with the dull shades of blue.

• Items falling and crashing against the floor, shattering into smaller pieces are shown in slow motion which makes the audience focus on this while sending a message that personalities could change and crash while causing mayhem and havoc.
• Layering of overlapping images are shown whilst the crashing items are being played. This allows the audience to relate the images shown with the crashing item, therefore portraying that the images are negative and psychological.
• It could also suggest that the overlapping images are the causes for the crashing items. The overlapping images include a ‘psychological brain in half’, the words ‘Group behaviour’ and ‘deindividuation’.

• CCTV images are shown with a layered image of a CCTV camera itself shows what the audience in the game show are watching and how they will control the person on the screens every move.
• This has a psychological effect on the audience as they may feel they are watching something that is not real just as if they are playing a video game with the person on the screen being targeted. 

•       CGI background shows a sort of galaxy like image with floating masks. This suggests and that the masks are in your own mind and that you can be whoever you want to be. This gives a psychological effect on the viewer while Derren Brown is talking to the audience under ‘hypnosis’ and ‘illusion’.
•       Again, the blues and purples shown in the background add to the effect of the supernatural and alien-like tendencies.