Why we need more writing like Broadchurch...

So this Monday was the last ever episode of Broadchurch. Now I don't necessarily want to talk about whether the ending was satisfying or not (for me, it mostly was). What I want to focus on is why we need more writing like Broadchurch.

(Disclaimer, I am in no way a writing expert, a TV expert,a series expert or an anything expert so please please please don't take anything I say as solid word on this; this is purely my own thoughts and opinions on it all.)

So let's begin. (There may be spoilers so please only read if you've seen all three series)

Firstly, it passes the Bechdel test, which if you didn't know, means that the series has at least two named female characters who talk to each other (have solid back and forth dialogue), about something other than a man. It's usually applied to films and believe me you'd be amazed at how many fail the test...Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Pt 2? The entire Lord of the Rings trilogy? The oh so beloved Original Star Wars trilogy? You see where I'm going with this.

This leads nicely onto my second point. Across the whole of the three series all of the characters we meet, although some are shrouded in mystery, are well rounded and fully developed and they are all flawed human beings. Each character serves a purpose. They're all believable as real people in a small seaside village. You develop some kind of connection with every character, you're either rooting for them or hate them or laugh at them or feel sympathy, and you don't get that with two dimensional characters. It's what makes the series so interesting, because as well as being invested in the plot, you're invested in the lives of completely fictional characters. 

Along with that, the relationship dynamics between the characters are so well written. You've got the contrast between Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller, the moody DI and the chirpy DS at base level, the characters work together brilliantly because their dynamic creates a low level of conflict, they both have the same end goal but different reactions to case developments and different ways of tackling things, just like real people do. They develop an odd sort of friendship which feels very genuine. You really see their working relationship grow and the dynamic changes as the case goes on (in the first series) and continuously develops through the second and third series. 

Then you have the Latimers', a family dynamic which is strained after the murder of their son in series one. We get to see the effect this has on a marriage, a mother daughter/father daughter relationship and it all feels very real. They band together, they become volatile, there are explosions of emotion littered throughout each series. The beauty of Broadchurch is that it doesn't just drop the relationships into black and white territory, it's incredibly rare that the characters have straight up opposing view points, they all have their own complex reasoning and motives behind everything they do. 

In the third series we see how the Latimers' are coming to terms, in different ways, with Danny's death and the fact that Joe Miller was found not guilty despite his initial confession. We see the effect this has had on their relationship, Beth and Chlo are trying to move on with their lives, while Mark is stuck focusing on the loss of Danny and is trapped in his own guilt and grief as a father. We watch the turmoil they all go through, each in their own unique way, and how this essentially tears the family apart. Beth and Mark still care for each other deeply but it's clear the emotional damage of losing a child and the way they each deal with that has had an impact on their relationship. 

Broadchurch doesn't shy away from not giving the viewers what the want. 

In an ideal world the heartbreak would have of course brought them closer together, and in some ways, it has, but ultimately it spells the end of a marriage and the breakdown of a father to the point of attempting suicide. 

I could write for days about the complexity of the plots in each series, but I think all I need to say is, that guessing who killed Danny, will Joe get off, and who raped Trish, has been the main topic of conversation in many a work place and in many a coffee shop. There are enough twists and turns to keep you interested but not so many that you can't follow what is happening. The array of characters has you constantly speculating. Just like all good TV drama should. 

The show is unlike most detective 'who dunnit' shows on TV for one main reason. It focuses on the people, the raw human reaction to the crime that has taken place. It focuses on the emotion that atrocities such as murder and rape draw out of people. It picks apart the volatile nature of the court of public opinion. It tackles irresponsible journalism and the dark turn it can take. Ultimately it highlights, interrogates and forgives the fundamental flaws of human nature.  

AND THAT IS WHY WE NEED MORE WRITING LIKE BROADCHURCH.

It's the light

Most people have something about themselves that they don't like. Whether it's a weight thing, or a face thing, or a hair thing, or something entirely different, most people will have something they're not totally comfortable with. Their own personal kryptonite if you like. Most days you can just get on with it and not really give too much of a shit about that bit that you don't absolutely love, you ignore it and go out and have a great time.

Yesterday was not one of those days.

I woke up in a great mood, had a shower, got dressed, did some work. Then I decided I wanted to go out. Now at the minute I'm trying to give my skin a bit of a break from makeup; I'll still fill in my eyebrows and do eyeliner, mascara and lipstick and maybe add a bit of eye shadow if I'm feeling it, but that's it. So I did what I usually do. Except I hated it. To me, my skin looked awful, it was grey and creased and dotty, and I felt like my makeup just highlighted that. My brows looked too dark and uneven, my eyeliner wasn't how I wanted it to be and I felt like I looked like shit. It was all I could see when I looked in the mirror. So I took it all off. 

I started again, except this time, despite my whole trying to feel comfortable with my skin and giving it a break blah blah blah thing, I started with foundation. I thought it would make me feel better, and spoiler, it did...until I did my eyebrows again and I felt like every little dent in my face was screaming at me. So I added some concealer, there we go, sorted, skin's looking okay. So I did the rest of my makeup, complete with contour, blush and a fuck tonne of highlight because oh yes if I'm ruining my skin with foundation may as well go the whole hog and achieve that ethereal insta-perfect glow.

So I thought I looked alright, I was actually quite happy with myself. Then I stepped out of the bathroom and caught my reflection in the full length mirror that stands opposite my wardrobe. Fuck I looked like shit. My blush was too bright, my lipstick wasn't totally perfect, my eyebrows weren't as 'on fleek' as I wanted them to be. I almost took it all back off again. Almost.
Instead I stood in front of my window and opened instagram front camera, highlight on point, eyeliner as even as it was ever going to be, hell I even quite liked how my skin looked. I moved back to my full length mirror and just like that it all looked too much, and I hated it. I went back into the bathroom and it switched again, I was so bloody happy with how my eye shadow has blended.

So I took some snapchats, I took some selfies. (Just, in front of the window, not the mirror) 

And I went out.

Because, I'm not going to let not looking good from every angle or in every space stop me from having a nice day.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that everyone has days where they don't particularly like how they look (yes, even those perfect beyond words insta queens) and that's okay, in fact, it's completely normal, it's part of being human!

And even if you think you look shit,

it's not you, you're just standing in the wrong light.

Creativity

Creativity can be hard.

(It's a long one, you might want to grab a cuppa☕)

Since coming to uni I've never felt less creative, which is odd considering I'm studying a subject I have so much passion for.

It's been incredibly hard to stay motivated with my degree this year, and I hate to say it but I think that's largely to do with my lecturers. With the exception of my creative writing lecturer, (who has been an absolute dream this year and the only thing that has kept me on the course this long), and my physical theatre tutor, none of them seem to have any passion for what they're teaching; and when they have no passion it's so uninspiring.

I go to an actor training workshop knowing that we'll probably only scratch the surface of an exercise that should be studied for weeks, even months. You do the reading on the exercise and practitioner and see that it has so many more levels. You find that in the space of 20 minutes you've skipped straight from step 1 to step 20 having gained no real understanding of what it is that you're supposed to have achieved. It's frustrating. Everything seems rushed and half arsed. 

When showing work for feedback we were told not to criticize. But that's what I want. That's what we all need. Constructive criticism. I want to be told ''no that's not good enough, do it again, try it like this.'' We're first years and nothing is going to be perfect. It's all well and good being polite and kind and saying ''I really like that bit when....'' but it wont get you anywhere. 

You won't develop as a performer. And that's what we're paying tuition fees for right...? 

TO DEVELOP AS PERFORMERS!

I would rather be told a performance was absolute shit in the rehearsal stage to avoid the embarrassment of presenting a shit scene for my assessment. Yes it might dent your ego a little if you've worked hard on something; but in the real world people will give you the straight up truth in reviews, in person, on social media. If what you do isn't good enough, audiences will let you know. And I know not everyone can handle criticism, so okay yes, give some praise to soften the blow if you must; but if you can't handle the critique (which only serves to help you improve) at university level then I don't think you're looking to head into the right industry; where everything you do will be scrutinized and torn apart by anyone and everyone, often in a very public way.

Quite honestly I don't know if I've gained any skills at all from my actor training lessons this year. I feel like I've left on exactly the same level as when I started.

Creative writing, however, has been an absolute blessing this year. I have never felt more inspired or pushed do something impressive than I have in these seminars. We've covered everything; from monologues, to screen plays, to novels, to poetry, to play writing; the list is endless. I feel like I've gained so many new skills and so much knowledge. I am leaving this year so much more comfortably a writer. 

We've explored how to take your own life experiences (you're not as boring as you think, trust me) and turn them into something creative, and then disguise the fact that they even belong to you. The lessons have constantly been thought-provoking, with open class discussion and sharing of work. Everyone has been so supportive, giving praise and improvements in equal measure. Our tutor has picked apart our work to make it the best it can be, and none of the changes made to your writing ever dent your oh so precious ego, because it's incredibly obvious that he is always working in your best interest. 

I've learnt so much about film and psychology and the way all mediums of art and expression fit together. I never expected to explore human psychology on a drama degree, or examine the way colour and music are integral to a film - especially in the first 10 seconds. We've looked at pitching a TV series and how to keep an audience interested in what they're viewing. There have been so many things I never expected to come across on this degree. 

I feel so lucky to have had a tutor with so much passion and life experience and genuine enthusiasm for the subject and helping students develop their skills and passions. I'm glad I chose this course, purely for the three hours of enlightenment a week in the form of creative writing. 

If nothing else this year has given me a whole new range of skills and ideas to keep working on and developing as I go on to study elsewhere.

I think the main thing I've taken from this is that ALL ART IS VALID, so you should always create whatever it is that you want to create. People will always find meaning in things, even if that meaning is different to what you intended.

So I'm trying to get back into being creative, it's taking me a while, but I think I'm getting there.