In season 4 of the television series 'Skins', there is an episode called 'Freddie'. The opening scene to this is a scene which I think is one i really like, however it is not on Youtube so i couldn't copy a link into my blog. However, I will analyse it without it.
The scene begins with very dark lighting. It has a very cold mood to the scene with the blue toned lighting. The first shot is of the characters (Effy and Freddie) hands, over a sink as they fill a plastic bottle up with drugs. The idea behind the scene is that the couple have gotten themselves into a toxic life style full of drugs and sex. They don't go to their college and are staying at Effy's house whilst her mum is away. The two are damaged from their home lives and find comfort in one another, as well as drugs. 
The next shot is of the two still in the same place but now bent over the sink taking it in turns to take the drugs. This shot is taken from the back of the couple and the blue lighting outlines the two. The outfits of the two are very basic; Effy wears an oversized T-shirt, which we presume if Freddie's as he wears only trousers. From an outsiders point of view the two seem to be living a very sad life, however they are very caught up in it as well as each other. This shot is very eerie as you only see the window and two figures, the rest of the room is black. 
The scene then changes to Effy's bedroom, where it looks like the two have been up all night taking drugs. This shot is of Effy, who doesn't look particularly happy. She holds a touch and shines in to a disco ball. This action seems very odd for her to do, but for someone on drugs all the lights would be very stimulating and fascinating. Even though Effy should be content at this point, she looks sad. This is the beginning of Effy's Psychotic depression which she later develops. The lighing in the shop is through the blinds and she looks like she is looking up at something. 
The shot then goes on to look at Freddie, who is looking a lot more happier. Freddie is stood in front of the window which is the only source of light in the room. The light outlines Freddie and makes him look like an angel. He was what Effy was looking up at. After she looks at him her face, which before had no emotion, turns into a smile. Its almost as though she looks for her happiness in him. The shot itself could be a point of view shot as its at a low angle looking up at him and also seems slightly unfocused which could show her drugged up state. 
As said in the last shot, the camera pans round to Effy again who's face is in admiration of Freddie. She smiles almost in ore of Freddie. The two are obsessed with each other. The lighting of this shot is very warm on Effy's face. Around her face is very dark and there is nothing in the background. The shot itself is an extreme close up of Effy's face and shows her expression. It is very focused on her eyes and the whites of her eyes. She does look almost sinister in the shot, as though they control each other. This could be inferred as a love going toxic. 
The next shot is of the two exchanging pills. The shot here is of Freddie giving a pill to Effy. The shot has a blurred background and a clear outline of Effy's nose and mouth, with Freddie's finger with a pill. The background are warm colours and the front image is very dark. the contrast makes the outline of the two figures more clear so that they stand out more. This makes what is going on clearer. The fat that the two are taken it in turns to feed each other pills shows that they are just as bad as each other. Its a mutual choice. This follows the idea of their love being toxic.
After the extreme close up shots of the two feeding each other pills, the camera takes a close up shot of the two kissing. The fact that they are kissing, shows that they are actually in love. Although what they are doing seems to be a very unhealthy life style and something quite dangerous, they do love each other and this is how they express it. The close up shot shows light lighting in the background and dark lighting over the two faces. This is similar to the previous shot in that it creates a contrast between the two lightings, making the front outline stand out. 
The scene then goes to the two in the streets outside Effy's house, throwing water balloons at each other. They still wear the same sort of outfits and they seem to be enjoy themselves and each other a lot. The shot is an establishing shot of the street. The lighting is warm but dark and the only source of light is the street light to the right. The two can hardly be made out in this image but they follow one another through the centre of the street. There is no one in the street, which follows the idea set throughout the scene of it only being them two.
The two are then inside again and going up the stairs after their water fight. They are giggling and seem very loved up. Freddie follows Effy, he now has a shirt on but she still wear similar attire. She shows her shoulder and her clothes are falling off of her, representing their current life of sex and drugs. The shot itself is a medium shot of the two from the waist upwards. After all the intense scenes and shots before, this shot seems a lot more mellow, soft and loving.
As they continue walking up the stairs the stairs, the two stop to start kissing. This reinforces the loved up moment, as well as Freddie tell Effy how much he loves her and she responds. After this the two begin to have sex on the stairs. It is a very loved up scene with no reference to drugs or their previous intensity.
In conclusion to my analysis of this Skins scene, I think that the lighting and narrative is something which I would like to use in my own project. I really like the idea of a love which only is seen as toxic from an outsiders point of view, but the insiders are too loved up to realise. The dark but warm lighting creates a very grungy feel to the scene, which is something I like. The whole scene is highly representative of how in love they are; nothing in the world matters (apart from drugs). Analysing this scene is something I have found very helpful and its provided me with a clearer idea of what I want to do for my project.
In conclusion to my analysis of this Skins scene, I think that the lighting and narrative is something which I would like to use in my own project. I really like the idea of a love which only is seen as toxic from an outsiders point of view, but the insiders are too loved up to realise. The dark but warm lighting creates a very grungy feel to the scene, which is something I like. The whole scene is highly representative of how in love they are; nothing in the world matters (apart from drugs). Analysing this scene is something I have found very helpful and its provided me with a clearer idea of what I want to do for my project.
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