Holby City Titles Analysis

The titles begin with a close up of a pair of scissors, and as the camera moves, a heartbeat sound starts up, and with every 'heartbeat', it cuts to a close up of something different- a dial, a drip bag, and hospital lights on a ceiling. From these images, I can connote that this TV Drama has the genre of hospitals. The heartbeat is obviously associated with the human body and also hospitals, and the sound of it brings tension and drama to the opening, giving you a feel of the show. The heartbeat sound is the cue for every cut, making it feel more like a heartbeat because of the rhythm and everytime it sounds, the shot suddenly changes. The BBC logo is shown for the first two cuts but then disappears. On the fourth cut, a character is introduced and the actresses name. The running theme of the heartbeat and cuts continues, with more close ups of a heart rate machine, operating equipment, body scans, pregnancy scans and needles. This use of mise en scene make it clear that it is a hospital drama, and throughout, thirteen characters are introduced with short clips shown in a blue/green saturation, both colours loosely associated with hospitals and safety and also ambulances. The main colours in the titles are black and there is a running theme of what looks to be orange and red light strips, connoting prehaps wires, blood, tubes etc. The music speeds up a little after the first four cuts and it sounds mysterious and quite serious. It is not happy music and in the majority of the actors/actresses clips they look serious and dramatic. The last cut shows the recognised logo of the show. The words 'HOLBY CITY' and the 'T' has been changed to a + sign, commonly used to represent first aid, also linking in to the hospital theme. There are 26 cuts throughout and the titles last for about 38 seconds.