In Episode 1, Series 6 of Waterloo Road, Gender is represented in many ways through camera, editing, sound and mise en scene. Firstly, camera angles; the hand-held camera in the classroom creates a hyperactive atmosphere of the boys' classroom, emphasising their misbehaviour. Another shot in that scene shows the viewer as an outsider of the class, looking through the blinds of the classroom. This makes the user feel the same way as the boys; the boys are misbehaving behind their teacher's back and us as the viewer are watching the boys from a hidden position. However this mood changes when we enter the girls' classroom where a slow dolly movement creates a calm, focussed atmosphere with a high angle shot showing the orderly arrangement and behaviour of the other sex.
The editing has a similar affect on emphasising the misbehaviour of the boys; jump cuts make the scene more chaotic and give it a fast-paced feel. Reverse shots in conversation show the boys misbehaving behind the teacher's back, giving an outsiders view into the situation. The lack of editing in the girls classroom emphasises the calm effect provided by the dolly movement.
In the boys' classroom, their is a fast soundtrack that gives the scene a quick-paced feel. The ambience of the boys talking shows more misbehaviour and lack of concentration. Similar to editing; the lack of sound in the girls' classroom gives a more academic and focussed feel.
The main aspect of mise en scene is that the boys are learning a more stereotypical feminine subject; home skills, whereas the girls are undertaking a debate, a role-reversal has occurred. In the girls' classroom they are all answering the questions correctly, and in the boys', they are all throwing the food pre-measured for them (which has been done because the teacher know that they need guidance). Outside of the boys' classroom, the female teacher rebels against the male teacher in charge, a role-reversal to what is happening in the classroom behind her.
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