We filmed the preliminary task in school. We decided to keep in the the British gangster theme to match our opening sequence.
We then uploaded the filom onto youtube and this is the URL to watch it.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=EDU8z99Fzs0
Thursday, 20 November 2008
Location Reccie: Elliot
We have decided to film our opening sequence in London. We have access to a flat in East london and also we want to film the area of westferry. We took a few photos of the area that we want to film in.
- We took a picture of Canary Warf tube station as this would be a good location. The only trouble with this is that there are often quite a few people and they may not like being filmed. We may not use this location but it is an option.
- Also a photo of westferry green close to the river would be a prime location. It is possible to get a 'Thames Clipper' boat and take some shots whilst on the river. This would fit in well with the business like gangsters.
- There is also a picture of a bridge over the river. This would be a very good location to film as it is a very run-down urban area. This ties in nicely with the British gagster theme.
Friday, 7 November 2008
Evaluation Of The Pitch Elliot
Our pitch went reasonably well. It helped that we had set up a good presentation containing everything that we needed to speak about.
There were a couple of things that we could have improved to make the pitch slightly better.
We did'nt have time to take a trip to London in order to take proper photos of the areas we want to use. We did find some photos of the areas around Westferry where we plan to shoot but photos found ourself would have been better.
Also we should have talked about our plans and plot in more detail so that when presenting the pitch we could have both talked in depth about what we want to do. Although we both seem to come up with the same ideas and this didn't hinder us too much.
We also could have commented more on the props and costumes that we intend to use however we hadnt decided completely on what we wanted to use.
Everything else that we commented on we feel went well such as the results of our questionnaire and the treatment decribing our plot. We came up with a good one liner and also our quick quips helped us to win over the audience.
We learned that our production has to be planned in a great deal of detail as there are so many different things to include. The pitch made us realise that there is a lot to prepare and decide before we can even start filming.
There were a couple of things that we could have improved to make the pitch slightly better.
We did'nt have time to take a trip to London in order to take proper photos of the areas we want to use. We did find some photos of the areas around Westferry where we plan to shoot but photos found ourself would have been better.
Also we should have talked about our plans and plot in more detail so that when presenting the pitch we could have both talked in depth about what we want to do. Although we both seem to come up with the same ideas and this didn't hinder us too much.
We also could have commented more on the props and costumes that we intend to use however we hadnt decided completely on what we wanted to use.
Everything else that we commented on we feel went well such as the results of our questionnaire and the treatment decribing our plot. We came up with a good one liner and also our quick quips helped us to win over the audience.
We learned that our production has to be planned in a great deal of detail as there are so many different things to include. The pitch made us realise that there is a lot to prepare and decide before we can even start filming.
Monday, 3 November 2008
Costume, Props & Lighting Elliot
We plan to use an office as a main location for the opening sequence of the film so we believe that the props, lighting and costumes should be related to office workers. We intend to use a suitcase, a conventional prop, in order to make a delivery within the office and a car/london cab as our main props. Obviously all other equiptment and stationary within the office would also be props but not brought ourselves.
Our costumes will be smart casual. Suit trousers with a shirt, no tie and perhaps a duffel coat. Many of the British gangster films we have studied the characters seem to dress smartly with expensive clothing.
The lighting we use will mainly be natural. We want to film during the day and therefore we should have light however as it seems to get dark quite early it may be that we have to use lamps to light up the scenes and show the characters in their 'true light.' However many of the best British gangster films are quite dark as the crime is often carried out at night and hiden. We may find that the dark will be useful for what we are planning.
Our costumes will be smart casual. Suit trousers with a shirt, no tie and perhaps a duffel coat. Many of the British gangster films we have studied the characters seem to dress smartly with expensive clothing.
The lighting we use will mainly be natural. We want to film during the day and therefore we should have light however as it seems to get dark quite early it may be that we have to use lamps to light up the scenes and show the characters in their 'true light.' However many of the best British gangster films are quite dark as the crime is often carried out at night and hiden. We may find that the dark will be useful for what we are planning.
Audience Research Elliot
The questionnaire that we created contained questions that we thought were related specifically to the British gangster genre.
We used a survey to find out what it was that the audience wanted particularly.
We gave the questionnaire to our target audience which was males between 16 and 35. This was due to the fact that the British gangster genre is more appealing to younger males.
We used a survey to find out what it was that the audience wanted particularly.
We gave the questionnaire to our target audience which was males between 16 and 35. This was due to the fact that the British gangster genre is more appealing to younger males.
What gender do you expect the main character to be?
The response was that almost every wanted to see a male lead character. This is conventional of British gangster films.
What are the most important themes of a gangster film?
It seems that most people wanted to see organised crime and violence throughout the film. These themes are often seen in most British gangster texts and we shall try to include them within our opening.
Which locations would you expect to see during a British gangster film?
The answers seemed to be that nearlly everybody wanted to see the backstreets of London within our film. We will try to base our film within London as we have good locations to work with.
These seem to be the three main questions that we will focus on we also had other questions about characteristics of the characters and the narration however the answers seemed to vary somewhat and so we are able to chose which features suit us better.
Group Roles Elliot
Joe
- Producer
- Director
- Writor
Elliot
- Producer
- Editor
- Writor
As Joe is going to direct the film he will set up most of the shots and tell the actors what to do, where to be and how to act. The director usually works with theproducer to make the idea into something that can be filmed. They often help to sell the ideas for a film to a production company and are very important to secure financialbacking for the films. We ourselves may take part in some of the acting and so whilst Joe directs I will either help to film the shot or act within the scene myself.
The other difference that Joe and myself have is that I will do most of the editing making the final cuts how we want them and making sure all the sound fits in. An editor's job is to collect all the footage and make sure it all fits together. They usually follow a storyboard which is what I intend to do. Whilst i am doing this Joe will help me slightly with decisions about where we want each shot to be and will use the storyboard to keep them in order.
Film Analysis
Played (Stanek, 2006)
Genre
Played is a British gangster film starring a couple of American actors. The film is based in London full of crime and gangster mentality. It is obvious from the first minutes that the film is deep set with crime as a man on the phone is bleeding with another character dead in his swimming pool. This would imply that some sort of crime has taken place and when told that the house should be burnt down, the audience would come to the conclusion that the film contains a great deal of crime.
The audience watching the film would believe that they were watching a British gangster text with crime and violence riddled throughout, with Vinnie Jones as a star. The opening sequence of the film would fulfil their expectations as there is obviously some sort of violence with the crime of what would seem murder. However like many other films the star does not participate in the first few minutes of the film and the location is America. This may challenge the audience’s view of the text and they may be somewhat surprised that a British gangster film is not set in the conventional back alleys of London.
Although the opening of the film does not contain all of the conventions of a British gangster, being in America, it without doubt conforms perfectly to the genre chosen to theme the text.
Film Language
The mise-en-scene used in the opening sequence of the film help to portray the gangster activity. The props used are ones that would suggest some sort of crime or violence. A gun is lying on the arm of a sofa and a bag in the middle of the floor would all help to give the understanding that some sort of crime has taken place. The gun would symbolise and represent violence and so often a bag is used to transport around goods related with crime. Also the injured character, Ray, is wearing a suit. British gangster films often use suits for costumes. It shows their professionalism as the crime is usually a job that they do. It seems to be a very British thing to wear a suit especially in the gangster industry.
Although these two elements of mise-en-scene relate and convey meaning in the opening sequence, the lighting and location of the beginning seems to be unconventional. Usually British gangster films would be very dark using the back streets of London or a city in England, however the first few minutes of this text are set in America during broad daylight. The darkness often used shows that the crime is undercover and a very dark activity, but with the bright light used in the opening of Played, this is not the case. Perhaps the light shows the brutality of the violence as it is plain and clear for everybody to see.
The camera shots used at the beginning of the film play a big part in relating the images to the audience. There are a large number of close up shots showing injured Ray sweating and bleeding struggling to speak and keep himself alive. By using a close up the audience can see the struggle on his face and the pain that he is going through, although mid-shots are also use for the same reason as then it is possible to see the sheer amount of blood over his chest. However the close-ups are used for both characters in the opening sequence as the show off particularly well their expressions. The camera also uses a zoom obviously hand held shot as the camera is moving around a lot jogging the image. This creates tension, while moving in on the shocked expression of Dylan. The audience may wonder perhaps what exactly is happening and the camera shots would help to create interest in the audience. Also close up shots looking upwards slightly at the gun would show the gun as important and authoritative. The gun is obviously a very dangerous weapon and probably been used to inflict pain upon one of the characters and by showing it as a large demanding object it shows the sheer power that it holds.
The sound used in a film often helps to anchor the images being shown as is the case with Played. As Ray is on the phone clearly in pain it is possible to hear his heavy breathing which would help to enhance the sort of pain that he seems to be in. Also as the conversation ends, between what would seem two criminals, sirens are heard as Dylan looks over his shoulder. With a man bleeding it would seem that some crime has taken place and by inserting police sirens it proves to the audience that this is no doubt the case. Also as the sense of urgency looms large upon the audience sounds of a car revving its engine and screeching to a halt it fits perfectly with the fast moving camera shots adding to the urgency.
The audience finds out a small amount about only two characters in the first few minutes of the film as all the dialogue is based around one situation. We learn that through his actions of going to collect an unknown injured man without any force, Dylan seems to be a very respectful, kind, heroic character. However as he speaks about ‘burn the f***er down, its cleaner that way’ it seems that he also has a villainous side to him. But also this one sentence would also create the idea that he is a professional as keeping a cool head in such a situation would be very difficult unless experienced before. The audience learns very little about Ray from the dialogue in the opening as there is a very limited amount of dialogue for him slumped on the passenger seat of a car. Although from the narrative over the last few seconds, ‘never work with a crooked cop,’ the audience would see that he obviously has a great deal to do with crime, although quite what his personality holds is a mystery.
Narrative
The narrative is very short and only used at the very end of the opening to the film. It seems to be structured as if Ray is thinking to himself and the words spoken are what is running through his mind.
The audience get are in a privileged position as they get an insight to the film slightly quicker than the rest of the characters. Only they can understand the narrative and it helps them to understand the plot of the film as without the narrative it would take much longer to see Ray’s problem.
The narrative only seems to convey one theme, that of crime and crooked cops. British gangster films very often have a member of society such as a policeman with a respectful job that also takes part in the criminal activity. As the narration is very short it is difficult to fit in more than one theme.
Representation & Ideology
There seems to be very little representation of social groups during the opening sequence mainly because of the use of only two characters. One character seems to be a smartly dressed middle aged businessman with a life of crime and the other a casual criminal with a heroic personality. Businessmen are often represented by British gangster films as the crime is usually organised and seen as a business to many of the participants.
There seems to be only a couple of values present as ‘Played’ opens and possibly the main one would be comradeship for fellow men. Dylan saves the life of a male he does not know and has never had any contact with for what seems no reason what-so-ever. Often the British gangster genre conveys respect as a theme and value throughout the texts and perhaps respect is the reason that the saving of a life takes place. Clearly without respect this sort of action would not take place.
The characters used at the start of ‘Played’ are stock characters and very conventional to that of the British gangster genre. Two males involved in crime and violence are represented and what seems like the usual conventional businessman is present.
All the happenings shown during the first few minutes of the film fit with the genre chosen to be represented by the film. The crime and violence partnered by respect and the anti-hero create the exact actions that would be expected of a British gangster film.
Media Audiences
The target audience would be the younger generation of males. The younger generation often have a lust for action and crime and women are usually poorly represented in texts of this genre. The certificate is that of 18 year olds and so therefore would seem to be targeted at people just above this age.
The preferred reading of the text would be that the crime present in the film is wrong and such actions and participation in this type of lifestyle would not be suitable for an upstanding citizen. However it is very exciting and often it would be that the audience may wish to be able to lead such an exciting life.
The negotiated reading may be that the preferred reading is understood however some of the representation of beliefs throughout the film are completely unjust and wrong.
From a personal view I find the lifestyle very exciting and one that I think would be enjoyable to live. However I know that the gangster lifestyle is not as it is represented in films and not one that I could even consider taking up. I understand that all crime is wrong and obviously I would not participate in such events. I think that being brought up living in London for much of my childhood has shown me that there are many types of people who do lead such lives. I think by being a male and understanding that these people exist it interests me more as it is not often that a criminal can be seen as a heroic figurehead. If I were a female I believe that this genre would not interest me as such as the women are not often fairly represented and views can be very sexist.
Institutional Context
The film uses a well known loved actor and footballer to star in the text. Vinnie Jones is known by millions of people for his footballing prowess and ‘hard man’ personality. He started to act in films and has starred in some big films of the same and different genres including Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Mean Machine. By using a star it would help to attract audiences and inevitably make money for the producers. However he may also have been chosen for such a role as he is well known for his capability to perform well as very similar characters.
Simdale Pictures produced the film and it was an industrial film. The budget would have been larger and often stars are more attracted to such roles as they can see the money is obviously to their advantage.
They promoted the film by using ‘taglines,’ posters and a trailer to good effect.
Genre
Played is a British gangster film starring a couple of American actors. The film is based in London full of crime and gangster mentality. It is obvious from the first minutes that the film is deep set with crime as a man on the phone is bleeding with another character dead in his swimming pool. This would imply that some sort of crime has taken place and when told that the house should be burnt down, the audience would come to the conclusion that the film contains a great deal of crime.
The audience watching the film would believe that they were watching a British gangster text with crime and violence riddled throughout, with Vinnie Jones as a star. The opening sequence of the film would fulfil their expectations as there is obviously some sort of violence with the crime of what would seem murder. However like many other films the star does not participate in the first few minutes of the film and the location is America. This may challenge the audience’s view of the text and they may be somewhat surprised that a British gangster film is not set in the conventional back alleys of London.
Although the opening of the film does not contain all of the conventions of a British gangster, being in America, it without doubt conforms perfectly to the genre chosen to theme the text.
Film Language
The mise-en-scene used in the opening sequence of the film help to portray the gangster activity. The props used are ones that would suggest some sort of crime or violence. A gun is lying on the arm of a sofa and a bag in the middle of the floor would all help to give the understanding that some sort of crime has taken place. The gun would symbolise and represent violence and so often a bag is used to transport around goods related with crime. Also the injured character, Ray, is wearing a suit. British gangster films often use suits for costumes. It shows their professionalism as the crime is usually a job that they do. It seems to be a very British thing to wear a suit especially in the gangster industry.
Although these two elements of mise-en-scene relate and convey meaning in the opening sequence, the lighting and location of the beginning seems to be unconventional. Usually British gangster films would be very dark using the back streets of London or a city in England, however the first few minutes of this text are set in America during broad daylight. The darkness often used shows that the crime is undercover and a very dark activity, but with the bright light used in the opening of Played, this is not the case. Perhaps the light shows the brutality of the violence as it is plain and clear for everybody to see.
The camera shots used at the beginning of the film play a big part in relating the images to the audience. There are a large number of close up shots showing injured Ray sweating and bleeding struggling to speak and keep himself alive. By using a close up the audience can see the struggle on his face and the pain that he is going through, although mid-shots are also use for the same reason as then it is possible to see the sheer amount of blood over his chest. However the close-ups are used for both characters in the opening sequence as the show off particularly well their expressions. The camera also uses a zoom obviously hand held shot as the camera is moving around a lot jogging the image. This creates tension, while moving in on the shocked expression of Dylan. The audience may wonder perhaps what exactly is happening and the camera shots would help to create interest in the audience. Also close up shots looking upwards slightly at the gun would show the gun as important and authoritative. The gun is obviously a very dangerous weapon and probably been used to inflict pain upon one of the characters and by showing it as a large demanding object it shows the sheer power that it holds.
The sound used in a film often helps to anchor the images being shown as is the case with Played. As Ray is on the phone clearly in pain it is possible to hear his heavy breathing which would help to enhance the sort of pain that he seems to be in. Also as the conversation ends, between what would seem two criminals, sirens are heard as Dylan looks over his shoulder. With a man bleeding it would seem that some crime has taken place and by inserting police sirens it proves to the audience that this is no doubt the case. Also as the sense of urgency looms large upon the audience sounds of a car revving its engine and screeching to a halt it fits perfectly with the fast moving camera shots adding to the urgency.
The audience finds out a small amount about only two characters in the first few minutes of the film as all the dialogue is based around one situation. We learn that through his actions of going to collect an unknown injured man without any force, Dylan seems to be a very respectful, kind, heroic character. However as he speaks about ‘burn the f***er down, its cleaner that way’ it seems that he also has a villainous side to him. But also this one sentence would also create the idea that he is a professional as keeping a cool head in such a situation would be very difficult unless experienced before. The audience learns very little about Ray from the dialogue in the opening as there is a very limited amount of dialogue for him slumped on the passenger seat of a car. Although from the narrative over the last few seconds, ‘never work with a crooked cop,’ the audience would see that he obviously has a great deal to do with crime, although quite what his personality holds is a mystery.
Narrative
The narrative is very short and only used at the very end of the opening to the film. It seems to be structured as if Ray is thinking to himself and the words spoken are what is running through his mind.
The audience get are in a privileged position as they get an insight to the film slightly quicker than the rest of the characters. Only they can understand the narrative and it helps them to understand the plot of the film as without the narrative it would take much longer to see Ray’s problem.
The narrative only seems to convey one theme, that of crime and crooked cops. British gangster films very often have a member of society such as a policeman with a respectful job that also takes part in the criminal activity. As the narration is very short it is difficult to fit in more than one theme.
Representation & Ideology
There seems to be very little representation of social groups during the opening sequence mainly because of the use of only two characters. One character seems to be a smartly dressed middle aged businessman with a life of crime and the other a casual criminal with a heroic personality. Businessmen are often represented by British gangster films as the crime is usually organised and seen as a business to many of the participants.
There seems to be only a couple of values present as ‘Played’ opens and possibly the main one would be comradeship for fellow men. Dylan saves the life of a male he does not know and has never had any contact with for what seems no reason what-so-ever. Often the British gangster genre conveys respect as a theme and value throughout the texts and perhaps respect is the reason that the saving of a life takes place. Clearly without respect this sort of action would not take place.
The characters used at the start of ‘Played’ are stock characters and very conventional to that of the British gangster genre. Two males involved in crime and violence are represented and what seems like the usual conventional businessman is present.
All the happenings shown during the first few minutes of the film fit with the genre chosen to be represented by the film. The crime and violence partnered by respect and the anti-hero create the exact actions that would be expected of a British gangster film.
Media Audiences
The target audience would be the younger generation of males. The younger generation often have a lust for action and crime and women are usually poorly represented in texts of this genre. The certificate is that of 18 year olds and so therefore would seem to be targeted at people just above this age.
The preferred reading of the text would be that the crime present in the film is wrong and such actions and participation in this type of lifestyle would not be suitable for an upstanding citizen. However it is very exciting and often it would be that the audience may wish to be able to lead such an exciting life.
The negotiated reading may be that the preferred reading is understood however some of the representation of beliefs throughout the film are completely unjust and wrong.
From a personal view I find the lifestyle very exciting and one that I think would be enjoyable to live. However I know that the gangster lifestyle is not as it is represented in films and not one that I could even consider taking up. I understand that all crime is wrong and obviously I would not participate in such events. I think that being brought up living in London for much of my childhood has shown me that there are many types of people who do lead such lives. I think by being a male and understanding that these people exist it interests me more as it is not often that a criminal can be seen as a heroic figurehead. If I were a female I believe that this genre would not interest me as such as the women are not often fairly represented and views can be very sexist.
Institutional Context
The film uses a well known loved actor and footballer to star in the text. Vinnie Jones is known by millions of people for his footballing prowess and ‘hard man’ personality. He started to act in films and has starred in some big films of the same and different genres including Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Mean Machine. By using a star it would help to attract audiences and inevitably make money for the producers. However he may also have been chosen for such a role as he is well known for his capability to perform well as very similar characters.
Simdale Pictures produced the film and it was an industrial film. The budget would have been larger and often stars are more attracted to such roles as they can see the money is obviously to their advantage.
They promoted the film by using ‘taglines,’ posters and a trailer to good effect.
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
Joe's Analysis
Film Analysis – Sexy Beast
GENRE
Sexy beast belongs to the genre British gangster. Watching the opening 5 minuets of this film it is somewhat evident that the generic conventions of this type of Genre are fulfilled. The main thing that gives you an impression of the British gangster epic is mainly down to the main character played by Ray Winstone and the way he is portrayed in the introduction. In the opening credits most of the footage is of him sunbathing in the sun describing his current situation in his classic east London accent. His accent is the main giveaway when linking the start of this film to British gangster films. His accent is classic and used in nearly all of the big budget Gangster films. The opening sequence gives the impression that Ray Winstone’s character “Gal” the image of a retired gangster living out the rest of his days up in the hills of a hot Mediterranean country away from crime and his former life as a safecracker. The way he is shot in the opening sequence also gives his British nationality away he has obviously been lying in the sun for far too long and is red all over, it is a well known fact that most British people are unable to judge how long they should stay in the sun for and how much sun is good for them thus shooting him almost cooking in the heat. I think that this text treats the characteristics of the genre playfully and there are many things used to show some humour within the first 5 minuets. For example the fact that he is only dressed in skimpy yellow Speedos which show his whole package is somewhat amusing as he is far to old to be wearing that type of swimwear. The types of words he uses also adds humour when describing how hot he is words like “roasting”, “you could fry an egg on my stomach” and “fan dabby dosey – tastic” are all funny ways he uses to let the audience know just how hot and how much he is enjoying himself. But it is also quite ironic that a former gangster has fled abroad to get away from all the crime when you would expect him to be deeply involved in it. Nevertheless he is beside his pool at his villa, surrounded by his fags, beer, and wearing flash sunglasses, all characteristics you would expect to find in a British gangster film.
Film Language
Mise-en-scene is very important when conveying meaning in the opening sequence of Sexy Beast. The setting for example when a retired gangster is thinking of somewhere to retire to it usually involves a place in the sun. Sexy Beast does not challenge this stereotype the opening sequence is shot in a very hot Mediterranean country overlooking the sea, in a villa up in the hills. “Gal” is relaxing by his pool drinking beer with his cigarettes by his side. All of these things are very important when taking into consideration the Mise-en-scene of the British gangster film. What he is wearing is also very important when setting the scene in the opening sequence. His tight yellow Speedos are accompanied with massive black sunglasses and lots of silver ‘bling’. Most gangster films involve lots of jewellery as it shows great wealth and the more jewellery u are seen to be wearing even when sunbathing at home shows the vast wealth that u posses. But his bling does not seem to complement his yellow trunks very well, they maybe are used mainly to ad humour to the text.
The camera shots used in this film are very useful when trying to describe the meaning of the opening sequence. For example there is a long birds eye shot looking down on Gal when he is describing his situation. This shot for example gives you a good look at him in all his glory as you get 2 see he is a slightly overweight man in his 40’s talking to himself. Another shot which I think is used very well is shot from the angle of a boulder rolling down the hill the camera is placed in such a way that you would think it was imbedded within the boulder this shows how fast the boulder is rolling down the hill and how close it was to hitting gal in the head. This shot adds drama and excitement to the shot as you are willing the boulder to miss him and land somewhere else.
The soundtrack used in this film I think is probably one of the contributing factors which makes this opening sequence such a good piece of film making. The song which is used is called ‘Peaches’ and was written by the Stranglers this song is a very British song and I think accompanies this opening sequence very well and this is for many different reasons. Firstly this song was probably released at the time in which Gal was in his prime of his crime career, so anchors the film in time very well. Secondly the tempo of the song is very up beat and chilled out which accompanies the mood in which Ray Winstones character is in at the start of the film. And lastly the lyrics of the song are very cheeky and slightly rude which if you are making a British gangster film are important qualities to uphold in your characters and plot.
The dialogue used in the film is very much of what you would expect of a British person it’s very quick witted and fast in its delivery. The non-verbal language used is mainly do describe how relaxed he is just lounging around beside his pool there are lots of sighs of relief and oh yea’s which show how contented he is. He stands as if he is utterly relaxed also and moves slowly as he has nowhere important to go apart from his chair to the pool.
The only other visual techniques the director uses is when he shows how bright the sun is everything seems slightly brighter than normal this is probably due to the filter used on the camera lens this is effective when showing the suns intensity.
Narrative
Narrative is used in this film when the main character Gal is talking to himself beside the pool. His accent is important in this narrative as he speaks with a very convincing London cockney lad tone. This choice of style is essential when convincing the audience that this man is part of the criminal underworld and one of London’s finest. The audience is positioned in such a way that they are looking down on him whilst he is talking to himself this gives the impression that we hare taking a sneaky peak into his life. Major themes in the narrative are very simple, he describes how hot he is by using an array of different words he then goes on to describe how much he enjoys being in the situation he is in. Tension is created in one way when the narrative appears on screen you wonder why he is there and how he got there. Gal is your typical Londoner so you are interested to find out what has caused him to flee London and move to Spain.
Representation and ideology
There are very few different social groups represented in the beginning of sexy beast. The main Social group would have to be the one played by Ray Winstone and his character Gal. This is the 40+ category; Ray plays the role of a retired Gangster living out the rest of his days in the sun somewhere in Spain. He has seen everything and done so much in his life he is loving the period of relaxation now his life has calmed down. There are only two other characters evident during the opening sequence and these include the pool boy and Gals wife but both of these characters play very small parts at the start of the film and you don’t learn a lot about them.
There is only one main belief evident from the opening sequence and that is one shown by Gal. this is of that he is thoroughly enjoying his life at the moment and he would never give it up, this becomes ironic later on in the film. His belief is highlighted when he says “wouldn’t trade it for anything”.
Gals character is treated very playfully and from what I have seen is not to be taken too seriously. There is one still shot of him in his yellow Speedos stretching over a chair, then the title name flashes up SEXY BEAST this is ironic because he is not the picture of beauty but his ads humour to his character and makes the audience laugh. This then automatically gives you your Anti- hero and someone to like and root for in the film.
Media audiences
The target audience of this film is most likely aimed at young males from the age of about 17 to middle aged men up to the age of 45 who are seeking a bit of action. This is probably due to who is in the film and what they get up to. The main theme of this film is Gang violence and so immediately shoots the target audience towards men who are more interested in this type of film. There is slot of money to be made from the age demographic as they are the people who buy the DVDs and go and watch the films many times.
The most probable way this text is read is one of interest. I think normal people are interested to find out what goes on in the criminal world and what old Gangsters get up to when they retire and move abroad in this case.
I as a male British teenager really enjoy watching this type of film for many reasons. One is because in my everyday life I never see the criminal underworld very much and it is interesting to me to see what they get up to every day. This probably has something to do with my age. At my age I am very interested in all the violence and things that make me laugh and this film hits all those targets. It is more interesting than my everyday life so it is nice to be entertained like this by watching a film. Because things like this are happening all the time all over the world this gives more a real feel to the film.
Institutional context
Yes a star has been used in this film Ray Winstone has been used in many films just like this, as he is perfect to play the cockney role in any film because of his accent. This is a very important quality to poses when being cast for a British Gangster epic. His accent is very important when making this film he plays these types of roles very well and gives credibility to the character.
A major film company called Film Four produced this film and it is an industrial film. I think this film was mainly promoted in England as it includes mainly British actors and it deals with very British themes and problems in society. This suggests that not a lot of international advertising has been done, as other nationalities will not be able to relate with in the same way with the characters and what is going on.
GENRE
Sexy beast belongs to the genre British gangster. Watching the opening 5 minuets of this film it is somewhat evident that the generic conventions of this type of Genre are fulfilled. The main thing that gives you an impression of the British gangster epic is mainly down to the main character played by Ray Winstone and the way he is portrayed in the introduction. In the opening credits most of the footage is of him sunbathing in the sun describing his current situation in his classic east London accent. His accent is the main giveaway when linking the start of this film to British gangster films. His accent is classic and used in nearly all of the big budget Gangster films. The opening sequence gives the impression that Ray Winstone’s character “Gal” the image of a retired gangster living out the rest of his days up in the hills of a hot Mediterranean country away from crime and his former life as a safecracker. The way he is shot in the opening sequence also gives his British nationality away he has obviously been lying in the sun for far too long and is red all over, it is a well known fact that most British people are unable to judge how long they should stay in the sun for and how much sun is good for them thus shooting him almost cooking in the heat. I think that this text treats the characteristics of the genre playfully and there are many things used to show some humour within the first 5 minuets. For example the fact that he is only dressed in skimpy yellow Speedos which show his whole package is somewhat amusing as he is far to old to be wearing that type of swimwear. The types of words he uses also adds humour when describing how hot he is words like “roasting”, “you could fry an egg on my stomach” and “fan dabby dosey – tastic” are all funny ways he uses to let the audience know just how hot and how much he is enjoying himself. But it is also quite ironic that a former gangster has fled abroad to get away from all the crime when you would expect him to be deeply involved in it. Nevertheless he is beside his pool at his villa, surrounded by his fags, beer, and wearing flash sunglasses, all characteristics you would expect to find in a British gangster film.
Film Language
Mise-en-scene is very important when conveying meaning in the opening sequence of Sexy Beast. The setting for example when a retired gangster is thinking of somewhere to retire to it usually involves a place in the sun. Sexy Beast does not challenge this stereotype the opening sequence is shot in a very hot Mediterranean country overlooking the sea, in a villa up in the hills. “Gal” is relaxing by his pool drinking beer with his cigarettes by his side. All of these things are very important when taking into consideration the Mise-en-scene of the British gangster film. What he is wearing is also very important when setting the scene in the opening sequence. His tight yellow Speedos are accompanied with massive black sunglasses and lots of silver ‘bling’. Most gangster films involve lots of jewellery as it shows great wealth and the more jewellery u are seen to be wearing even when sunbathing at home shows the vast wealth that u posses. But his bling does not seem to complement his yellow trunks very well, they maybe are used mainly to ad humour to the text.
The camera shots used in this film are very useful when trying to describe the meaning of the opening sequence. For example there is a long birds eye shot looking down on Gal when he is describing his situation. This shot for example gives you a good look at him in all his glory as you get 2 see he is a slightly overweight man in his 40’s talking to himself. Another shot which I think is used very well is shot from the angle of a boulder rolling down the hill the camera is placed in such a way that you would think it was imbedded within the boulder this shows how fast the boulder is rolling down the hill and how close it was to hitting gal in the head. This shot adds drama and excitement to the shot as you are willing the boulder to miss him and land somewhere else.
The soundtrack used in this film I think is probably one of the contributing factors which makes this opening sequence such a good piece of film making. The song which is used is called ‘Peaches’ and was written by the Stranglers this song is a very British song and I think accompanies this opening sequence very well and this is for many different reasons. Firstly this song was probably released at the time in which Gal was in his prime of his crime career, so anchors the film in time very well. Secondly the tempo of the song is very up beat and chilled out which accompanies the mood in which Ray Winstones character is in at the start of the film. And lastly the lyrics of the song are very cheeky and slightly rude which if you are making a British gangster film are important qualities to uphold in your characters and plot.
The dialogue used in the film is very much of what you would expect of a British person it’s very quick witted and fast in its delivery. The non-verbal language used is mainly do describe how relaxed he is just lounging around beside his pool there are lots of sighs of relief and oh yea’s which show how contented he is. He stands as if he is utterly relaxed also and moves slowly as he has nowhere important to go apart from his chair to the pool.
The only other visual techniques the director uses is when he shows how bright the sun is everything seems slightly brighter than normal this is probably due to the filter used on the camera lens this is effective when showing the suns intensity.
Narrative
Narrative is used in this film when the main character Gal is talking to himself beside the pool. His accent is important in this narrative as he speaks with a very convincing London cockney lad tone. This choice of style is essential when convincing the audience that this man is part of the criminal underworld and one of London’s finest. The audience is positioned in such a way that they are looking down on him whilst he is talking to himself this gives the impression that we hare taking a sneaky peak into his life. Major themes in the narrative are very simple, he describes how hot he is by using an array of different words he then goes on to describe how much he enjoys being in the situation he is in. Tension is created in one way when the narrative appears on screen you wonder why he is there and how he got there. Gal is your typical Londoner so you are interested to find out what has caused him to flee London and move to Spain.
Representation and ideology
There are very few different social groups represented in the beginning of sexy beast. The main Social group would have to be the one played by Ray Winstone and his character Gal. This is the 40+ category; Ray plays the role of a retired Gangster living out the rest of his days in the sun somewhere in Spain. He has seen everything and done so much in his life he is loving the period of relaxation now his life has calmed down. There are only two other characters evident during the opening sequence and these include the pool boy and Gals wife but both of these characters play very small parts at the start of the film and you don’t learn a lot about them.
There is only one main belief evident from the opening sequence and that is one shown by Gal. this is of that he is thoroughly enjoying his life at the moment and he would never give it up, this becomes ironic later on in the film. His belief is highlighted when he says “wouldn’t trade it for anything”.
Gals character is treated very playfully and from what I have seen is not to be taken too seriously. There is one still shot of him in his yellow Speedos stretching over a chair, then the title name flashes up SEXY BEAST this is ironic because he is not the picture of beauty but his ads humour to his character and makes the audience laugh. This then automatically gives you your Anti- hero and someone to like and root for in the film.
Media audiences
The target audience of this film is most likely aimed at young males from the age of about 17 to middle aged men up to the age of 45 who are seeking a bit of action. This is probably due to who is in the film and what they get up to. The main theme of this film is Gang violence and so immediately shoots the target audience towards men who are more interested in this type of film. There is slot of money to be made from the age demographic as they are the people who buy the DVDs and go and watch the films many times.
The most probable way this text is read is one of interest. I think normal people are interested to find out what goes on in the criminal world and what old Gangsters get up to when they retire and move abroad in this case.
I as a male British teenager really enjoy watching this type of film for many reasons. One is because in my everyday life I never see the criminal underworld very much and it is interesting to me to see what they get up to every day. This probably has something to do with my age. At my age I am very interested in all the violence and things that make me laugh and this film hits all those targets. It is more interesting than my everyday life so it is nice to be entertained like this by watching a film. Because things like this are happening all the time all over the world this gives more a real feel to the film.
Institutional context
Yes a star has been used in this film Ray Winstone has been used in many films just like this, as he is perfect to play the cockney role in any film because of his accent. This is a very important quality to poses when being cast for a British Gangster epic. His accent is very important when making this film he plays these types of roles very well and gives credibility to the character.
A major film company called Film Four produced this film and it is an industrial film. I think this film was mainly promoted in England as it includes mainly British actors and it deals with very British themes and problems in society. This suggests that not a lot of international advertising has been done, as other nationalities will not be able to relate with in the same way with the characters and what is going on.
Monday, 20 October 2008
Evaluation of preliminary conversation Joe
Performance: when filming both me and elliot were actors when we were shooting our conversation. I feel that we both were very sensible and efficiant when acting and got all of the shots wen needed the first time we started shooting and did not need to re film anything. We found it easy to act out our story infront of each other because we are god m8s.
Story-pre-production: Before we even started filming we had to come up with a story for our conversation. we decided on the story of a person meeting his boss and dropping of a delivery 'the wallet' in this situation. The conversation which followed was very brief a matter of a few sentences and we thought this would link in well to our British Gangster genre and if we start with our ideas now then it will be easier when we start filming the real thing. We decided on this storyline ery quickly as we both agreeed we should do something linking into our films opening sequence.
Storyboarding: When storyboarding we knew what types of shots we wanted to film so I decided to do the Storyboard on my own to save time and as i am the more artistic member of our group it would be easier for me to do this quickly. Elliot was happy with what i came up with and we then started filming.
Filming: When we stared filming we achieved many interesting shots which took some time in setting up but the end product was very good and we were pleased with the outcome. we took it in turns to film each other ensuring that both of us god a good ammount of air time and so the converstion looked effective and professional. We both enjoyed the filming aspect oft his task and i think this is evident from our end product.
Editing:The editing portion of this preliminary task was mainly done by elliot he is better at computer work and the more technical things. He spent alot of time and effort in putting all the shots we achived together in a quality way. we added lots of effects and editing tricks to make our short film look alot better. We also added a soundtrack to out film which fitted in with our genre very well.
Story-pre-production: Before we even started filming we had to come up with a story for our conversation. we decided on the story of a person meeting his boss and dropping of a delivery 'the wallet' in this situation. The conversation which followed was very brief a matter of a few sentences and we thought this would link in well to our British Gangster genre and if we start with our ideas now then it will be easier when we start filming the real thing. We decided on this storyline ery quickly as we both agreeed we should do something linking into our films opening sequence.
Storyboarding: When storyboarding we knew what types of shots we wanted to film so I decided to do the Storyboard on my own to save time and as i am the more artistic member of our group it would be easier for me to do this quickly. Elliot was happy with what i came up with and we then started filming.
Filming: When we stared filming we achieved many interesting shots which took some time in setting up but the end product was very good and we were pleased with the outcome. we took it in turns to film each other ensuring that both of us god a good ammount of air time and so the converstion looked effective and professional. We both enjoyed the filming aspect oft his task and i think this is evident from our end product.
Editing:The editing portion of this preliminary task was mainly done by elliot he is better at computer work and the more technical things. He spent alot of time and effort in putting all the shots we achived together in a quality way. we added lots of effects and editing tricks to make our short film look alot better. We also added a soundtrack to out film which fitted in with our genre very well.
Thursday, 16 October 2008
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
Joe jordan Product Analysis
Analysing an opening sequence: football factory
Genre
Football factory belongs to the genre British gangster/ football violence. When watching this film it is evident within the first 5 minuets that nearly all the generic conventions expected when watching a film like this film are fulfilled. Violence is probably the most evident within the opening sequence, lots of old footage of football riots and police confrontations are shown from the start of the credits and this immediately shows the viewer what they are going to be expecting when they delve into the life of violent firms in London. Lots of images of violence from CCTV footage and stills with suspect hooligans circled show us these men are dangerous and wanted by the law. These images and video clips are played quickly and overlapping with other “stories” of crimes committed by football thugs which show us it is a regular occurrence and topical in the news at the time. The opening sequence also introduces us to our hero, Danny dyer or “Tommy Johnson” as he is known in the film. The first time we meet him he is on his back covered in blood being beaten up, this is a flash forward a vision of what is in store for our main man, and that he is deep in the confrontations of the firms. He comes across as a normal bloke, typical of the sort of person involved in these football fights. His character is very loud, cheeky, violent and mouthy, but this is expected from a normal Londoner. He describes himself as “ a normal bored bloke approaching 30” just looking for something to liven up his otherwise dull lifestyle. Fighting is a release for him he gets a “buzz” from beating people senseless which he cant find anywhere else other than in his Firm, on a Saturday, going to a football match. He talks of this type of behaviour as a normal occurrence its just what he does he has done it from a young age and its his life. These types of activities to the average person would be appalling but because he gives his reasons for his actions and some of them are believable he becomes an anti-hero and immediately liked from the start.
Film language
The mise-en-scene is very important when making a film like this and it is crucial in the way Football Factory is shot. The clothes that Tommy Johnson wears are important when fixing him in place within the gang/firm world. He is dressed up in jeans all of the time with flash shoes and ladled t-shirts and coats, mostly from a footballers fans favourite shop stone island, Henri Lloyd and Burberry. The setting of a film like this is important to improve validity and how real it looks. This film is shot from the streets in and around the Football stadium which the Chelsea firm are visiting. In this case a pub and surrounding streets of Tottenham hotspurs ground. Not a lot of props are used in the opening sequence of this film apart from the mobile phone. The firm use this to keep organised and to keep in touch with each other when organising a fight.
When we first meet Tommy a slow mo headshot is used to give us a good look at him (walking towards the camera) and what he is wearing but also at the time of this his narrative is being spoken so the slow mo makes us concentrate on what he is saying, as there is not a lot happening in the shot. Other important shots are done when Tommy is meeting up with his firm. This is done by the use of mobiles. When each person speaks the camera switches to a fast panning shot following the group of men walking down the road, this shows urgency. A CCTV shot is also used when following Tommy’s gang down the road. This grainy blurry shot is effective showing the dangerous nature of these men and that they are being watched by the police, this also adds suspense.
Other camera shots that I think are important are those used in the first fight scene. The movement of the camera is successful when it zooms in on a big punch or kick during a fight to give the viewer a better look at what is going on. Other shots like the birds eye view are used to give an overall look on the whole fight and to see just how many grown men there are scrapping for no reason. Slow mo is again used on Tommy during the fight to show when he gets punched as he is a main character any punch on him is worth seeing.
Sound is very important in this film especially at the beginning when the old footage of previous riots and police fights are being shown. The type of music used to accompany these pictures is fast dance music almost rave. This type of adrenaline filled music goes well with a film about fighting because dangerous situations get the blood flowing and the adrenaline pumping. Throughout this music there is the odd shout from an angry man, which helps to anchor the images.
I have learned a lot about the gang members through the non-verbal language they use. For example they walk with a hard man swagger with an almost arrogant expression on their faces like they are not scared by anything, which gives the whole group a menacing look.
Narrative
Genre
Football factory belongs to the genre British gangster/ football violence. When watching this film it is evident within the first 5 minuets that nearly all the generic conventions expected when watching a film like this film are fulfilled. Violence is probably the most evident within the opening sequence, lots of old footage of football riots and police confrontations are shown from the start of the credits and this immediately shows the viewer what they are going to be expecting when they delve into the life of violent firms in London. Lots of images of violence from CCTV footage and stills with suspect hooligans circled show us these men are dangerous and wanted by the law. These images and video clips are played quickly and overlapping with other “stories” of crimes committed by football thugs which show us it is a regular occurrence and topical in the news at the time. The opening sequence also introduces us to our hero, Danny dyer or “Tommy Johnson” as he is known in the film. The first time we meet him he is on his back covered in blood being beaten up, this is a flash forward a vision of what is in store for our main man, and that he is deep in the confrontations of the firms. He comes across as a normal bloke, typical of the sort of person involved in these football fights. His character is very loud, cheeky, violent and mouthy, but this is expected from a normal Londoner. He describes himself as “ a normal bored bloke approaching 30” just looking for something to liven up his otherwise dull lifestyle. Fighting is a release for him he gets a “buzz” from beating people senseless which he cant find anywhere else other than in his Firm, on a Saturday, going to a football match. He talks of this type of behaviour as a normal occurrence its just what he does he has done it from a young age and its his life. These types of activities to the average person would be appalling but because he gives his reasons for his actions and some of them are believable he becomes an anti-hero and immediately liked from the start.
Film language
The mise-en-scene is very important when making a film like this and it is crucial in the way Football Factory is shot. The clothes that Tommy Johnson wears are important when fixing him in place within the gang/firm world. He is dressed up in jeans all of the time with flash shoes and ladled t-shirts and coats, mostly from a footballers fans favourite shop stone island, Henri Lloyd and Burberry. The setting of a film like this is important to improve validity and how real it looks. This film is shot from the streets in and around the Football stadium which the Chelsea firm are visiting. In this case a pub and surrounding streets of Tottenham hotspurs ground. Not a lot of props are used in the opening sequence of this film apart from the mobile phone. The firm use this to keep organised and to keep in touch with each other when organising a fight.
When we first meet Tommy a slow mo headshot is used to give us a good look at him (walking towards the camera) and what he is wearing but also at the time of this his narrative is being spoken so the slow mo makes us concentrate on what he is saying, as there is not a lot happening in the shot. Other important shots are done when Tommy is meeting up with his firm. This is done by the use of mobiles. When each person speaks the camera switches to a fast panning shot following the group of men walking down the road, this shows urgency. A CCTV shot is also used when following Tommy’s gang down the road. This grainy blurry shot is effective showing the dangerous nature of these men and that they are being watched by the police, this also adds suspense.
Other camera shots that I think are important are those used in the first fight scene. The movement of the camera is successful when it zooms in on a big punch or kick during a fight to give the viewer a better look at what is going on. Other shots like the birds eye view are used to give an overall look on the whole fight and to see just how many grown men there are scrapping for no reason. Slow mo is again used on Tommy during the fight to show when he gets punched as he is a main character any punch on him is worth seeing.
Sound is very important in this film especially at the beginning when the old footage of previous riots and police fights are being shown. The type of music used to accompany these pictures is fast dance music almost rave. This type of adrenaline filled music goes well with a film about fighting because dangerous situations get the blood flowing and the adrenaline pumping. Throughout this music there is the odd shout from an angry man, which helps to anchor the images.
I have learned a lot about the gang members through the non-verbal language they use. For example they walk with a hard man swagger with an almost arrogant expression on their faces like they are not scared by anything, which gives the whole group a menacing look.
Narrative
Narrative is used in this film firstly when discussing Danny Dyers character and why he is involved in this type of gang. His accent is important in this narrative as he speaks with a very convincing London cockney lad tone. This choice of style is essential when convincing the audience that this man is part of the Chelsea Firm. In relation to the narrative is positioned as if the audience was an innocent onlooker just watching this man as he walks around or on the sidelines as he takes part in a fight. This gives the impression that the public are stopping to watch these events unfold in horror. When the main character is describing himself it gives a sense of excitement to the film as you cant wait for him to do the things he describes himself as enjoying and taking part in.
Representation & ideology
There are many different social groups represented in the beginning of this film. There are the top men who have been in the game for a long time like the “major” the leader of the firm, these men are early to late 40’s and hard as nails. Then there are the mid 20’s to late 30’s age group, which out hero Tommy is in. this section make up the main bulk of the firm and are always involved in the drug dealing/taking and the scraps which they find themselves in. then finally there are the up and coming youth of the firm. This portion of the group are always trying to prove themselves to the older members, showing they have what it takes to be in their Firm. This section are also the runners who do all the stealing and scout out the perimeters for cops.
There is only one main belief when dealing with men like this and with our main character Tommy. This is do what you have to do to make your life as exciting and worth living as possible, and if this means you have to go around looking to smash someone’s face in then so be it. As he says Tottenham away, love it”. He’s not looking forward to the match; it’s the fight, which really gives him that buzz which he is looking for.
The characteristics of Tommy are treated very playfully. He comes across as the original cheeky chappy who has the gift of the gab and very popular with women. This immediately makes us like him as he makes us laugh, with his quick one-liners and brash exterior.
Media audiences
The target audience of this film is most probably aimed at young males aged between 16 and 25 who are of the thrill seeking nature. This is mainly due to the films thuggish nature, and that males of this age group are impressed by football, fighting and drugs. Those of a slightly older or younger generation will find different things more appealing. There is a lot of money to be made from this age group and that is probably why it is aimed at them. They are the ones who will go and watch the films more than once, and buy it when it comes out on DVD. There is more of a profit to be made of this age group than any other.
The most probable way this text is read is of the view that this is a world someone can easily be sucked into, as it is a real story and so it is interesting to see how other people live their lives, and how they “enjoy” themselves on a Saturday.
I as a British male teenager really enjoy watching this type of film for many reasons. One is because I really love football and to see into the British gangster side of some football fans is something that I would enjoy to watch. This is mostly due to my age. At my age things that I want to watch over and over are things that make me laugh and grab my attention away from the boring things in life, like writing essays and push me straight into a world which is far more exciting, like that of these gangsters. My background is also a factor; I am being brought up in a very middle class, middle of the road type of way, with no real problems or excitement. It is nice to see what else goes on around the world and especially somewhere so close like London. Because this is based on real events it is even more interesting as these things actually happened.
Institutional context
Yes a star has been used in this film; Danny Dyer has been used in many films just like this, as he is perfect to play a British Londoner involved in dodgy dealings. He has been in films like “The business” which is also deals with British Gangsters. His accent is important when making this film he plays these types or roles very well and gives credibility to the film.
This film was produced by momentum pictures an industrial film making company. I think this film was mainly aimed at a very British audience because of the nature of where it is and what it revolves around. Football. This is a very British sport and so British people will find this film more appealing. This suggests that not a lot of international advertising would have been done as audiences from other countries will not be able to understand its meaning.
Sunday, 12 October 2008
Friday, 10 October 2008
First Product Analysis Elliot
The Italian Job (Collinson, 1969)
Genre
The Italian Job is a film that falls under a few genres; action, comedy but predominantly British gangster. It is not the conventional British gangster film include drugs, guns, violence and crime, but it does have elements of crime and very little violence.
The opening sequence of the film starts slowly and from just the first two minutes the audience wouldn’t be able to tell its genre. As all that is seen is a car driving through the rocky mountains of Italy. But just after the title has been shown, still part of the intro, one short sequence of events would give the audience a clear idea of the violence and gangster mentality that will be shown throughout the film.
The Italian Job although seeming to be a British gangster film proving the conventions of many other texts of this genre, it seems to handle the themes differently. The crime that links the storyline together is very organised and perfectly executed giving the desired effect in one large ‘Job’ whereas many other British gangster films would have different parts of crime all linked together with a few problems along the way in which they find themselves lucky to get out of. It is simple to see that from the first few minutes of the film the crime would be very well organised and executed with pure perfection.
Film Language
The mise-en-scene used in the opening few minutes of the film shows the audience subtly the meaning conveyed throughout the film. The costumes used at the end of the intro fit perfectly with the gangster genre and the props used help to enhance their feelings towards the actions. For example a reef is rolled to show respect for the person that they have just killed. Respect is a main convention and theme that runs throughout the majority, if not all, British gangster films. By using a reef for a prop in the opening sequence the audience will understand the respect that is being shown and also the black costumes help to derive this information as well. Also the lighting in the opening minutes of the film seems to convey some meaning. The light is very bright to begin with, showing the sun and clear view of the road ahead. Then just before the crime takes place, the driver of the car starts into a tunnel. Obviously things are dark and this is what leads to the ‘accident.’ Although the dark lighting could have been used to show the darkness of death and crime, as the two are often linked. However not all of the mise-en-scene conveys meaning in the opening of The Italian Job, for example the location of the scene. It seems to be set in the mountains of Italy with the sun shining. These are not the sort of scenes usually seen in British gangster texts, however being set in Italy it could be seen as putting emphasis on the title of the film, perhaps giving the title a true meaning.
The camera techniques used at the beginning of The Italian Job vary significantly from tilts to close ups. Each one is used in a certain way that seems to convey a sense of meaning to what the images show. For example; the extreme long shot tilting downwards shows the vast landscape and the deserted area of the up and coming scene. This gives the audience an idea that the man driving the car in the opening is quite insignificant and all alone, with the freedom to do what he wishes. But it also can seem as if the murder is hidden from reality and nobody will see it as the enormity of the landscape is not filled with habitants. Therefore nobody will notice the insignificant ‘accident’ that takes place. Another shot that seems to be quite important is the close up. There is a large focus on the man driving the car all the way up the mountain. He seems to be a ‘cool’ character with his sunglasses and driving a sports car. Although the audience never learn the characters name and so using close ups to show his face would lead to intrigue for the audience. By showing his face it would seem that he is of some importance and the audience would want to find out who he was.
The sound used within the first few minutes of the film play an important role in sending the audience the right message. A soft mellow song being sung by a male’s deep voice is played throughout the intro and this seems to be somewhat relevant. Being no narrative or any form of dialogue to start with the music is a main feature of the sound. The music gives the feeling of freedom and happiness with its mellow pleasant sound and it fits perfectly with the beautiful landscape and bright sunshine shown with long shot camera techniques. However, this is not the only sound that plays an important role in anchoring the images. The powerful roar of the cars engine creates the effect that it is powerful and important. The close up shots of the chassis are anchored by the roaring of the car due to both the importance of a close up and the dominating sound.
There is no dialogue in the opening sequence of the text but through non-verbal actions there is a lot to learn about the characters. The ‘cool’ man driving the Italian sports car acts as if there are very little cares in the world and he shows his passion for driving and ‘the good life.’ It could be interpreted that he gives of a sense of arrogance as his actions seem like he is the most important person. He drives quickly through the mountains not slowing for passing cars and obviously with the sports car he has quite a lot of money. These things may make the audience envisage what type of person he really is. The only other characters seen in the intro of the film are the gangster’s that are involved with the murder. From the black costumes and the reef the audience can see that these characters have a respect for humanity. They also take their hats off as the car is shunted off the road and the reef is thrown afterwards, showing respect. However the fact that they have just murdered an innocent man, or so it seems, there is a slight contradiction of actions. So the audience understands that they are gangsters and they lead a life of crime but at the same time it may just be a job and that they do actually have respect for people and their actions.
Representation & Ideology
There are two main social groups that are represented in the opening sequence of The Italian Job; the middle class wealthy sporty male, and the British gangster working class violent males. The middle class man is represented by the driver of the sports car he is clearly well off as he can afford to buy a nice car that would be very expensive at the time of the film. The working class men are represented by the British gangsters. From their actions it can be understood that they are just doing a job for their leading man. Their choice of business may be wrong and unjust however it is making them money just like any other working class man. There is no representation of females in the opening sequence which would give the impression of it being a male’s film.
The beliefs and values in The Italian Job are difficult to understand. One of the most obvious values that are present in many British Gangster texts is respect. It is almost a convention of gangsters. Again through the same actions as touched on before by removing hats and throwing a reef respect is shown. Another belief that is present is the belief that comeuppance is given for bad actions. Also being present at the very end of the film, the first three or four minutes shows the same thing. The wealthy man driving the nice car in a sunny country is killed by British gangsters. They clearly would have had a motive to kill him and make it look like an accident but what it is the audience does not find out. However driving a ‘swanky’ car in a hot country quickly would give the impression that he does not deserve the car and that some sort of crime has taken place for him to have to take a new lifestyle. Therefore comeuppance for his actions would be his death. This belief is present all the way through the film especially at the end.
The Italian Job uses the characteristics and conventions of the British gangster genre although it applies them in a different way to most other gangster texts. The crime is slightly different as it is planned out down to the last ‘T’ whereas many other gangster films the criminals don’t often have the intelligence to do so. There isn’t a great deal of violence which many British gangster films spread all throughout the whole text. Also a lot of emphasis is on the cars and driving aspects that make this film what it is which are not usual conventions of British gangster films. However the film is quite a serious film and it does not seem to mock any of the gangster conventions that it uses. The opening sequence sets the serious mood of the film with an early death which proves that the film is not one filled with irony.
Media Audiences
The target audience of The Italian Job seems to be all ages of males. Mainly probably the younger generation that are interested in cars and all the conventions that come with a British gangster film. It wouldn’t appeal much to a female audience as British gangster texts often show a sexist view towards women and there is little representation of women at all in The Italian Job.
The preferred reading of the audience would probably be that the crime represented in the film is wrong however it is brave and cunning of the characters to pull off such a ‘job.’ The audience may feel a sense of comradeship with the characters as they would enjoy being in their situation but, knowing that it is wrong and would not happen.
The negotiated reading would be that the audience understand the preferred meaning, however perhaps believing that all crime is completely unjust and wrong and therefore not understand fully the plot and the characters mentality.
From a personal opinion I understand that crime is wrong but I am fascinated by cars and I am passionate for cars and their importance and ability in everyday life. I also would very much enjoy being part of a gang living life on the edge taking risks and having a bit of fun with an unusual job. However I know it will not be something that I would ever consider actually doing. This may be because I have been brought up to know that crime is not a good way of life. But I have also been lucky enough to grow up in a wealthy family surrounded by people interested in cars owning nice luxurious, quick cars and I think I have inherited my passion for cars and action from my father. And naturally being a male this film would interest me more than if I were a female.
Institutional Context
Michael Caine is the main star and character featured in the film. Before the film was created he starred in a few films one of the most significant being Alfie (Gilbert, 1966). The main reason for films using stars to feature in them is to attract audiences. People will want to see a star as they know of their work and like other films that they have been in. If the film starred an actor that people were not aware of it may give the impression that the film is not going to be very good.
Oakhurst productions produced the film and it was an industrial made film. This gave the director opportunity to experiment with scenes as the funds were quite large. It also helps to attract big stars to the roles and promotion of the film was easier.
The main way in which the film was marketed and promoted was through posters. Large posters showing the star Michael Caine with the three different coloured mini coopers in the centre. As the film was released in 1969 it was not common to use a trailer for people to see on television. However another form of promotion used were taglines for example ‘You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off.’ People would hear the sayings and be intrigued to watch the film.
The film itself was quite a ground breaking production as it had never really been seen before. It was one of the first car chases to take place and be shown on screen and therefore it seems that it perhaps built up the institutional context of the production.
Genre
The Italian Job is a film that falls under a few genres; action, comedy but predominantly British gangster. It is not the conventional British gangster film include drugs, guns, violence and crime, but it does have elements of crime and very little violence.
The opening sequence of the film starts slowly and from just the first two minutes the audience wouldn’t be able to tell its genre. As all that is seen is a car driving through the rocky mountains of Italy. But just after the title has been shown, still part of the intro, one short sequence of events would give the audience a clear idea of the violence and gangster mentality that will be shown throughout the film.
The Italian Job although seeming to be a British gangster film proving the conventions of many other texts of this genre, it seems to handle the themes differently. The crime that links the storyline together is very organised and perfectly executed giving the desired effect in one large ‘Job’ whereas many other British gangster films would have different parts of crime all linked together with a few problems along the way in which they find themselves lucky to get out of. It is simple to see that from the first few minutes of the film the crime would be very well organised and executed with pure perfection.
Film Language
The mise-en-scene used in the opening few minutes of the film shows the audience subtly the meaning conveyed throughout the film. The costumes used at the end of the intro fit perfectly with the gangster genre and the props used help to enhance their feelings towards the actions. For example a reef is rolled to show respect for the person that they have just killed. Respect is a main convention and theme that runs throughout the majority, if not all, British gangster films. By using a reef for a prop in the opening sequence the audience will understand the respect that is being shown and also the black costumes help to derive this information as well. Also the lighting in the opening minutes of the film seems to convey some meaning. The light is very bright to begin with, showing the sun and clear view of the road ahead. Then just before the crime takes place, the driver of the car starts into a tunnel. Obviously things are dark and this is what leads to the ‘accident.’ Although the dark lighting could have been used to show the darkness of death and crime, as the two are often linked. However not all of the mise-en-scene conveys meaning in the opening of The Italian Job, for example the location of the scene. It seems to be set in the mountains of Italy with the sun shining. These are not the sort of scenes usually seen in British gangster texts, however being set in Italy it could be seen as putting emphasis on the title of the film, perhaps giving the title a true meaning.
The camera techniques used at the beginning of The Italian Job vary significantly from tilts to close ups. Each one is used in a certain way that seems to convey a sense of meaning to what the images show. For example; the extreme long shot tilting downwards shows the vast landscape and the deserted area of the up and coming scene. This gives the audience an idea that the man driving the car in the opening is quite insignificant and all alone, with the freedom to do what he wishes. But it also can seem as if the murder is hidden from reality and nobody will see it as the enormity of the landscape is not filled with habitants. Therefore nobody will notice the insignificant ‘accident’ that takes place. Another shot that seems to be quite important is the close up. There is a large focus on the man driving the car all the way up the mountain. He seems to be a ‘cool’ character with his sunglasses and driving a sports car. Although the audience never learn the characters name and so using close ups to show his face would lead to intrigue for the audience. By showing his face it would seem that he is of some importance and the audience would want to find out who he was.
The sound used within the first few minutes of the film play an important role in sending the audience the right message. A soft mellow song being sung by a male’s deep voice is played throughout the intro and this seems to be somewhat relevant. Being no narrative or any form of dialogue to start with the music is a main feature of the sound. The music gives the feeling of freedom and happiness with its mellow pleasant sound and it fits perfectly with the beautiful landscape and bright sunshine shown with long shot camera techniques. However, this is not the only sound that plays an important role in anchoring the images. The powerful roar of the cars engine creates the effect that it is powerful and important. The close up shots of the chassis are anchored by the roaring of the car due to both the importance of a close up and the dominating sound.
There is no dialogue in the opening sequence of the text but through non-verbal actions there is a lot to learn about the characters. The ‘cool’ man driving the Italian sports car acts as if there are very little cares in the world and he shows his passion for driving and ‘the good life.’ It could be interpreted that he gives of a sense of arrogance as his actions seem like he is the most important person. He drives quickly through the mountains not slowing for passing cars and obviously with the sports car he has quite a lot of money. These things may make the audience envisage what type of person he really is. The only other characters seen in the intro of the film are the gangster’s that are involved with the murder. From the black costumes and the reef the audience can see that these characters have a respect for humanity. They also take their hats off as the car is shunted off the road and the reef is thrown afterwards, showing respect. However the fact that they have just murdered an innocent man, or so it seems, there is a slight contradiction of actions. So the audience understands that they are gangsters and they lead a life of crime but at the same time it may just be a job and that they do actually have respect for people and their actions.
Representation & Ideology
There are two main social groups that are represented in the opening sequence of The Italian Job; the middle class wealthy sporty male, and the British gangster working class violent males. The middle class man is represented by the driver of the sports car he is clearly well off as he can afford to buy a nice car that would be very expensive at the time of the film. The working class men are represented by the British gangsters. From their actions it can be understood that they are just doing a job for their leading man. Their choice of business may be wrong and unjust however it is making them money just like any other working class man. There is no representation of females in the opening sequence which would give the impression of it being a male’s film.
The beliefs and values in The Italian Job are difficult to understand. One of the most obvious values that are present in many British Gangster texts is respect. It is almost a convention of gangsters. Again through the same actions as touched on before by removing hats and throwing a reef respect is shown. Another belief that is present is the belief that comeuppance is given for bad actions. Also being present at the very end of the film, the first three or four minutes shows the same thing. The wealthy man driving the nice car in a sunny country is killed by British gangsters. They clearly would have had a motive to kill him and make it look like an accident but what it is the audience does not find out. However driving a ‘swanky’ car in a hot country quickly would give the impression that he does not deserve the car and that some sort of crime has taken place for him to have to take a new lifestyle. Therefore comeuppance for his actions would be his death. This belief is present all the way through the film especially at the end.
The Italian Job uses the characteristics and conventions of the British gangster genre although it applies them in a different way to most other gangster texts. The crime is slightly different as it is planned out down to the last ‘T’ whereas many other gangster films the criminals don’t often have the intelligence to do so. There isn’t a great deal of violence which many British gangster films spread all throughout the whole text. Also a lot of emphasis is on the cars and driving aspects that make this film what it is which are not usual conventions of British gangster films. However the film is quite a serious film and it does not seem to mock any of the gangster conventions that it uses. The opening sequence sets the serious mood of the film with an early death which proves that the film is not one filled with irony.
Media Audiences
The target audience of The Italian Job seems to be all ages of males. Mainly probably the younger generation that are interested in cars and all the conventions that come with a British gangster film. It wouldn’t appeal much to a female audience as British gangster texts often show a sexist view towards women and there is little representation of women at all in The Italian Job.
The preferred reading of the audience would probably be that the crime represented in the film is wrong however it is brave and cunning of the characters to pull off such a ‘job.’ The audience may feel a sense of comradeship with the characters as they would enjoy being in their situation but, knowing that it is wrong and would not happen.
The negotiated reading would be that the audience understand the preferred meaning, however perhaps believing that all crime is completely unjust and wrong and therefore not understand fully the plot and the characters mentality.
From a personal opinion I understand that crime is wrong but I am fascinated by cars and I am passionate for cars and their importance and ability in everyday life. I also would very much enjoy being part of a gang living life on the edge taking risks and having a bit of fun with an unusual job. However I know it will not be something that I would ever consider actually doing. This may be because I have been brought up to know that crime is not a good way of life. But I have also been lucky enough to grow up in a wealthy family surrounded by people interested in cars owning nice luxurious, quick cars and I think I have inherited my passion for cars and action from my father. And naturally being a male this film would interest me more than if I were a female.
Institutional Context
Michael Caine is the main star and character featured in the film. Before the film was created he starred in a few films one of the most significant being Alfie (Gilbert, 1966). The main reason for films using stars to feature in them is to attract audiences. People will want to see a star as they know of their work and like other films that they have been in. If the film starred an actor that people were not aware of it may give the impression that the film is not going to be very good.
Oakhurst productions produced the film and it was an industrial made film. This gave the director opportunity to experiment with scenes as the funds were quite large. It also helps to attract big stars to the roles and promotion of the film was easier.
The main way in which the film was marketed and promoted was through posters. Large posters showing the star Michael Caine with the three different coloured mini coopers in the centre. As the film was released in 1969 it was not common to use a trailer for people to see on television. However another form of promotion used were taglines for example ‘You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off.’ People would hear the sayings and be intrigued to watch the film.
The film itself was quite a ground breaking production as it had never really been seen before. It was one of the first car chases to take place and be shown on screen and therefore it seems that it perhaps built up the institutional context of the production.
Thursday, 2 October 2008
Mood Board Elliot & Joe
We have decided to create the opening sequence to a Biritsh Gangster film. It was the genre that interested us the most and we felt there was a chance to be creative with the genre that we Joe and I know so well. Being a 16 year old male its a genre that we enjoy watching.
By creating a mood board it is possible to gather ideas and themes that are constantly related to the theme of Brithish Gangster. These include: crime, drugs and violence.
The mood board, made up of film posters and images seen in gangster films, conveys all of the themes of a gangster film and help us to have a clearer image of what to include when filming the begining of our film.
We know that a convention of any film is to have credits at the beginning. These will briefly introduce the characters and the actors playing them perhaps and of course the title of the film. We plan for the opening credits to have an effect that makes the audience want to watch the rest of the film. If the opening credits are dull, too short or hard to see, it could stop the audience watching and it would set the tone for what would be the rest of the film.
Usually the start of a Birtish Gangster film would include a set of themes that are going to be represented throughout. An example of these would be; violence, crime and drugs. It would usually set up the storyline for the film by either creating a disaster or introducing the reasons for actions taken through the film. Another convention often popular with British Gangster films is a narration introducing characters and their feelings or personalities. This sets the tone and plot for the rest of the film and can often be effective in hooking the audience.
We have thought about how the opening to the film should look and come up with a few ideas. We believe that it may be useful to include a narrative to explain the situation but also perhaps not to have any dialogue what so ever.
An idea to make the credits stand out, especially the characters names, is to stop the action mid flow and use a soundtrack to bring attention to the picture.
We have thought about location and due to living in east London we have decided that it would be a good location for a British Gangster film. These are the main points we have thought about and the plot is still in the process of being created.
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