House

I was recently watching an episode of House entitled “Role Model.” The show uses lots of film techniques to add to the excitement and drama. House is characterized as a bitter, self-centered, drug abusing doctor who is only put up with because of his unique brilliance. In one scene, it shows Dr. House’s team kindly helping a patient while reassuring him he is not very ill. The team is placed right next to the patient, and they seem to really care about him. In contrast, Dr. House walks into the room with having to inform his patient that he has AIDS. Before he even tells his patient of his illness, House begins conversation by questioning the patient’s integrity and career, as a politician. House’s actions are juxtaposed with the actions of his team. Where his team is right there standing by him sincerely helping the man, House is sitting across the room shouting insults. Camera work is also extensively used. House’s team and the patient are often shown in a medium or long shot, making them appear together. House is often shown with a close-up of just him in the shot while he speaks, presenting him as alone and unsympathic. When House finally delivers the news, the camera is using a medium shot with his team while the patient is framed by a window in the middle of everyone. You can clearly see the shock in their faces, and the frame adds to the attention of the patient himself. The use of film techniques add to the emotion of the episode and the characterized of its actors.