Representation in 90210 – Annie/the Wilsons

This new series of 90210 focuses on the ups and downs of the Wilson family, who relocate from small-town USA (Kansas) and head to the glitz and glamour of Beverly Hills. This further complicates the lives of the kids, the theatrical, innocent Annie and her adopted brother Dixon. They both struggle with their new lives in California. This emphasises the differences between lives of people in California compared to where they moved from, and soon all the Wilson's are struggling to adapt to life in 90210. The Wilson's must cope with the pressures of life in a new town; the beautiful people, the social backstabbing, the relationships and jealousies of 90210.

The main theme is Kansas vs. Hollywood, especially in the first episode.
The series focuses quite a lot on Annie’s journey through this transition and trying to fit in, but at the same time she’s got a strong sense of self that she came with, and she won’t let go of that.

Episode 1 – Summary:
We’re Not in Kansas Anymore
Harry Wilson, new principal of West Beverly Hills High School, returns from Kansas to his childhood home of Beverly Hills with his wife Debbie, their daughter Annie and adopted son Dixon, to care for Harry's mother, former television star Tabitha Wilson. On their first day at West Bev, Annie and Dixon encounter Ethan, the star lacrosse player she met a few summers ago; Naomi, the spoiled rich girl whose sole focus is her Sweet Sixteen party; Silver, the free-spirited girl who later gossips about Annie on her blog, and Navid, editor of Blaze News. When Naomi fails to complete an assignment, English teacher Ryan Matthews and guidance counselor Kelly Taylor, bring the problem to Harry, who quickly realises that keeping secrets about his past is going to be impossible.

In the first episode we are immediately shown the strong differences between the Wilson family and people in Beverley Hills. It’s a huge culture shock for them. From the first scene we are instantly shown that they are different. The first episode starts with short shots of different aspects of Beverley Hills including a main feature which is expensive cars. The music is lively; Coldplay – Viva La Vida, and reflects the exciting atmosphere and the new prospect of joining this city for the family. It then cuts to a shot over the Hollywood sign and hills, an area always associated with money and glamour and we then see a shot of a car driving. This red car is placed in centre of frame so the audience knows to concentrate on it, but we can also see that it is so different compared to the cars that we have just seen. This car, containing the Wilsons, is a faded red, old, dirty family car, immediately contrasting with the cars surrounding it.

In a few minutes into the first episode, it is a shot of Annie and Dixon Wilson by/in their pool. They are discussing their own worries about moving to a new place and having to start over. Dixon talks about his adoption story and Annie reveals her worries about having to make new friends “aren’t you a little freaked out starting over?” This conversation shows just how close this brother and sister are and we gradually begin to see more of this throughout the series. The actors were pleased about this as they said it was good that they weren’t stereotypical brother and sister, fighting all the time, and this showed the good side to close family life. It also emphasised just how different family life was back in Kansas compared to families here in Beverley Hills.

The next scene is where Annie and Dixon first arrive at school:
Costume:
Annie - ordinary girl from small town USA, can see this through her costume.
Plain pink and white stripy tank top – doesn’t look particularly expensive.
Denim skirt – again doesn’t look very expensive but does show that she does have confidence and is trying to make an effort. We find out that she was in fact the “pretty, cool, and popular” one back in Kansas where she was a big fish in a small pond. Here everyone’s like that and she tries her hardest to fit in.
Doesn’t stand out here, blends into the background.
Later Naomi says to Annie - “But you’re gonna need new clothes so we’ll go shopping after school.” Annie looks down at her clothes and seems quite puzzled about what’s wrong with them. This shows how she really doesn’t know how different life is here in Beverley Hills for teenage girls.
“She’s def cute, but – I mean her clothes...”
“She’s probably poor, her dads the principal.” - Annie becomes more fashionable and puts more effort in to what she wears as she becomes more accustomed to life in Beverly Hills.
Dixon – normal, plain red polo t-shirt, cargo trousers – emphasizes their ordinariness, came from a small town to Hollywood.
White, middle/upper class area, Dixon stands out.

Location:
Outside the school – we know this because camera zooms into the school name – West Beverley Hills High.
Busy – everyone gathering before school starts.
Rich area - not run down.
Modern building.
Clean, well looked after.
Greenery – trees and bushes all well groomed.
Bright, sunny – not dark and gloomy – reflects the atmosphere; everyone’s excited to see each other.
Middle/Upper class area

Props:
Expensive cars - show offs, rich, spoilt
Everyone is carrying bags – this shows that they are definitely at school as they are school bags.
The girls are typically carrying handbags – emphasizes they’re girlyness and shows they all have money as they buy expensive bags. The boys are all carrying rucksacks – a typical sign of attending school and more practical than the girls.

Music:
Upbeat music reflects mood and atmosphere in this area.
MGMT - Time to Pretend – first line of the song - I'm feeling rough, I'm feeling raw, I'm in the prime of my life. This represents the age that they are at now; the teenagers believe they are at the best part of their life, despite the fact that they haven't had much experience - more physically than mentally.
The music then changes when its between Ethan and Annie to a more embarrassed and shocked tone to reflect their feelings.

Dialogue:
Dixon and Annie both have completely different reactions to everyone at Beverley Hills High.
Annie: “Oh my God, will you look at this place? It's like the Oscars and everyone is Scarlet Johansson.”
Dixon [checking out the girls]: “You say that like it's a bad thing.”
Annie is shocked and Dixon likes the idea of getting to know these girls.

Sound:
Background sound of girls greeting each other and talking excitedly.
Engines of cars revving.
Sounds of car doors opening and closing.
People saying hi.

Action:
Girls in the background greeting each other with a kiss on the cheek but in a really exaggerated way.
Annie then recognises her summer fling from two years prior; however she catches him in his car with another girl, cheating on his girlfriend Naomi. – Annie is shocked, this would have never happened back in Kansas.

Camerawork:
Camera pans the surroundings to give a clear idea to the audience of just how different it is. It then reaches a two shot of Annie and Dixon walking to school – both are shocked.
The camera tracks backwards so that it can follow them both.
The camera is at an angle slightly to the left so that the audience can still see everything around them, whilst also concentrating on Annie and Dixon.
There is then a medium close-up of Dixon as he reacts to everything. It then cuts back to the two shot.
When they stop walking (Annie notices Ethan), there is a medium shot of Ethan to establish who he is.
The camera then goes back to the two shot of Annie and Dixon, but Dixon decides to go into school. Annie waits so that she can go and talk to Ethan. The camera pans to follow Dixon and shows how he reacts to the girls around him. The audience concentrates on him, whilst also looking at the people around him.
It then cuts back to Annie and moves into a close-up so that the audience can see her expression clearly, especially when she realises Ethan is with a girl in his car.

Editing:
Frequent cuts at start of different shots around the area of Beverley Hills High School. Creates a montage effect. This emphasizes the exciting atmosphere and exaggerated action of everyone.
Then cuts to the two main characters Annie and Dixon so the audience concentrates on them. This emphasizes how ordinary they are, they look different, act differently and are walking to school, a complete contrast to the people around them. This prepares us for the problems that they will face trying to fit in. it cuts to a few different shots of the two characters so that we can see them clearly, and this is a use of invisible editing so that the scene flows and we concentrate on them. There are uses of shot-reverse-shots between Annie and Ethan when she notices him, and this mainly helps the audience see what Annie is reacting too (no dialogue is exchanged.)

The school is one big culture shock for Annie. She is 16 and desires to be popular and on top of things. This strong desire to be accepted tends to override her own internal desires because she's trying to impress and be accepted by others. Sje tries to gain her own place in the in-crowd, but will have to start from scratch in the social pressure cooker that is West Beverly Hills High. As an audience, we can see through Annie’s eyes into this world and can therefore empathise with her. Annie and the Wilsons represent the majority of us that don’t live this lifestyle and we can therefore relate with them. This representation of people outside of Hollywood emphasises the stark differences between lifestyles, however the show highlights that they do still share many of the same problems.