Location shoot

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Location shoot
We looked at possible suited locations for our movie openings. Our film comes under the gangster genre and when we researched different locations that have been used it is usually rough places and based on the streets and down lanes. We went on a location shoot and found places which would suit this genre. We also done some short filming when we were on our location shoot so that we knew possible places to position our camera when it come to our actual filming.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
When filming our preliminary task I didn't feel i knew much about the filming equipment and technology. When doing our preliminary we learnt the 180 degree rule which I never knew before and incorporated that into our task. But since doing our actual film opening I feel I have developed alot more technological skills which I didn't have before doing our filming. We used a handheld camera and tripod and we filmed our final media product in wide screen but when we were capturing our footage onto the editing machines, our editing machine wasn't set up for widescreen so our footage had been being squashed and stretched onto the screen and didn't look right. So we had a slight problem and had to restart our editing machine from scratch again, when we were almost finished! I  done GCSE media so knew how to use the editing machines, but I've never had to use an editing machine to make a film opening, only ever a music video. So it was alot different especially trying to meet the conventions of our genre through editing etc, but I learnt alot about technology constructing this product. We used freeze frames and so we learnt how to zoom in and make font appear over the top to introduce the character which I didn't know before I started filming our media product. We also leant how to import the film title from a website called 'da font' where we had to edit it in photoshop to change the writing from black to white and then import it into our opening scene. We also learnt new technological skills all around when it came to importing still pictures etc. From seeing the individual clips to when it has all been put together it shows me how much I have learnt during the duration of this project.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

In a questionnaire I done for people to answer, I asked them if they would be likely to watch a Gangster film. I asked the people within my class, and every single girl replied saying no, however the boys, aged 16-17 said they would. This showed me that the genre gangster was more directed at boys and didn’t interest girls as much. I only asked my class but if I wanted to get a more exact result I could have asked more people. However I know that my dad enjoys watching these films and others within my group said the same so we came to the conclusion that our target audience for our media product was aimed at males aged between 18- mid 40’s. I think males enjoy this type of genre because it is more cheeky and humorous and sneaky selling etc. which is why we included all these three conventions within our media product. I think the reason men appeal to this genre of film more than girls is because it’s more manly and rough, whereas a stereotypical comment would be that most girls prefer to watch romantic comedies and girly films. I think men feel manly watching this genre of film and the conventions are more suited to males then females. When asking my class my questionnaire the boys aged 16/17 said they enjoyed watching gangster films, however the typical conventions of a gangster genre is smoking, swearing and sometimes even violence and illegal things. For this reason we have had to make our target audience 18-40 instead of 15-40 because the age certificate would be eighteen. However 15 year olds would still be able to watch our film when out on DVD etc.

How did you attract/address your audience?

We attracted our audience by making the two minute opening quite comical and by including the action of the products that they’ve been stealing and all the dodgy dealing. We made it quite rough and manly so it would be more appealing to men. We included all the conventions included in the film openings that we researched so as to attract and address the audience that we were targeting. We included similar locations, costumes, characteristics etc. I used social networking sites such as Facebook to find out what people thought of our final media product. I want to find out different people’s opinions, but more importantly what my target audience thought of our final media product that we made to see if it met the conventions used in similar media products. We didn’t include violence or swearing however we attracted our audience by including smoking within our media product which is a typical convention used in gangster genre films.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

The scene opens on a close-up of a pair of expensive shoes, stubbing out a cigarette. It then cuts to a close-up of someone buttoning up their leather jacket. The clothes that they are wearing are quite expensive and they are dressed very smart. This is a traditional representation of a convention within a gangster genre film, even though it’s quite ironic that they’re bad people and get up to illegal things. This represents men to be quite expensive because they are able to afford nice clothes etc. so this could be a positive representation for men. However it is a modern/ negative representation for men because of how they have got that money to pay for it.

We included non-diegetic parallel music to play over the top of our two minute opening and the music is very fast and beaty and the music gives the impression that they’re up to something and really sneaky. Being sneaky is a modern representation of men because being sneaky is not a traditional representation of men or something you’d associate with them.

During our clip, the scenes aren’t very long and the cuts occur often between shots. This shows the pace of the action. Cross cuts are frequently used to show how fast the pace is and their journey to their location. The pace of the cuts match the music which is being played throughout. This suggests that men are fast and quite sporty, whereas girly music is normally quite soft and slower. This is a traditional representation of men because the music shows them to be sporty and active.

Two shots are used to show the relationship between characters and how they are a team together. The two characters are best friends and this is quite a traditional representation of men because they are thought to be popular and sociable, going out drinking with their mates etc. However it is quite a modern representation because a stereotype of men is that they’re individuals and the fact that a man relies on another and is best friends with him challenges this stereotype because they are not very independent and confident.

Evaluation

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In what ways does your media product, use, develop or challenge form and conventions of real media products?
We also researched music that is used within our genre. The music used in them is normally quite action related and fast and gives the impression that they're up to something mysterious and like our title is called they are 'Crafty'. We included this type of music in our film which can be the music found playing throughout the film.

Evaluation

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When researching our genre of film we were going to make our two minute opening on we noted what music they played for alot of different genres. We then decided to do a gangster genre opening scene and researched the music they used. It was quite beaty and sneaky, the music reminded us of action and as if they were up to something. When using music in our own film opening we wern't allowed to use well known music or songs if they were copyrighted (which were most of them). This limited us to what music we could use so we went on websites such as freesound.org and audiojungle.net. We came across this one song which opening didn't suit our genre of film and was not very relevent to our movie opening, however further into the song the music was perfect so when we imported the music into our film opening we cut the start of the song and so we only had the bit that we wanted. When I have uploaded my film to my blog, you will be able to hear the music that we used.

On our first day of filming we started filming down a lane because the start scene is going to be the two characters, Vinnie and Tommy, coming out of a lane. This is a still image we took of the two main characters down the lane in their costumes, just before filming. They are wearing leather jackets and shoes which fit the gangster genre so the costume is appropriate for the genre of film we are making.

I investigated different fonts for the production company title and also for the title of the film, Crafty. The ones which are circled are the ones we are going to use.

As a group we have already established our filming locations and where would be ideal for our genre we are doing. Most of the gangster genres we analysed were filmed on streets, such as Lock Stock and two smoking barrels and The football factory. So we went out with a camera and took some still images on the street of likely filming places so that we could get a better idea in our head of scripting ideas as well. While we were there we also tested different shot types and camera movements we could use within our locations to see if they'd be effective. So there shouldn't be any location issues during the production process. The actors used in gangster films are celebrities such as Jason Statham, Guy Ritchie etc. However we obviously can't use these people and have to use actors within our group, so this could impact production.

Vinnie (voiceover); Well here is Vinnie a young man, one hell of a grafter. This man could sell sand to the Arab’s, snow to the Eskimos and tax to the government he is so crafty. Yeah certainly brain of the operations.

(Shot changes to character Tommy)

Not like Tommy he is what we call a bit of a wet towel, completely and utterly useless but he is a smooth talker with the ladies. God knows why with a face like that (Freeze-frame photo of Tommy looking rough). We always reckon he was a mummy’s boy.

(On screen talking)

Vinnie; Tommy what do you see around here?

Tommy; Nothing much Vinnie, buildings, houses, streets

Vinnie; No Tommy, it is an ocean around here, and it is full of sharks Rule number 10 NEVER TRUST NO-ONE

Voiceover; Tommy is Vinnie’s best friend and Tommy looks up to Vinnie like an older brother but he would never cross him. Vinnie is teaching Tommy rules of the way.

Tommy; What was rule number nine again Vinnie

(Voiceover) like I said Vinnie is the brains of the operation.

When thinking of our company name, we came up with the idea of LRMC, this is the title of our film company because it is the first letter of our names within the group so we thought it was only fair to include all of our names as it is all of our contribution towards the film. We have decided to name the film Crafty, because that describes the characters personalities and the storyline behind the film. When doing our research, we looked at companies which have produced British gangster films, and one of them was SKA films. So this is the film company we are going to include, when showing titles etc.

Character Profile: Tommy
Tommy has never been the brightest of the bunch, but somehow always manages to charm the ladies with his smooth approach. Tommy is Vinnie's partner in crime, and trouble seems to follow Tommy around and he can never escape! Even though Tommy's talk with the ladies never dissapoints, unfortunately he isn't as good when it comes to selling stolen goods so he leaves Vinnie incharge and is just there for support! Tommy's characteristics and personality is a lot like the actor Jason Flemyng, Tommy is very dopey and quite the ladies man!

Character Profile: Vinnie

Vinnie is a salesman, he is the main man of the game but always relies on his right hand man Tommy to get him out of trouble when needed. If by looking at him you can't tell this already, nobody messes with Vinnie! He is the brains within the operation, as Tommy doesn't have any, so Vinnie collects the goods and sells them illegally at reasonable prices and is always on the run from the police! If Vinnie was to be compared to another famous gangster actor he is most like Danny Dyer, very respected and takes the role of the leader!

The Voki is what I imagine my target audience to be and look like. I think my target audience is from teenage males until 40 year olds who are just everyday city guys.

Actors

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We looked at different shot types and camera movements we could use when filming, taking into consideration possible locations for filming. The ones below are some of the location shoots we found.

Ideas (1)

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Green Street
Until the character's voice over, the genre is not very well established within the opening scene of Green Street. The clip opens on a close-up of the main character at an airport handing money over, we can tell he will be one of the main characters because all the cuts are of him and following him on his journey. As well as an aeroplane,  another form of transport used within the first two minutes is a train, this could suggest to the audience that this film is going to be about him running away and escaping/ hiding, which they could either associate with action/ adventure films or the gangster genre. It contradicts what we as an audience typically associate with a gangster film because bright lighting is used, when we think of conventions of a gangster film, we assume dark lighting will be used and dull lighted back streets. When he is walking through the airport it announces over the tannoy that the guy has arrived in Heathrow airport, he then also gets on the underground, from where this film has been chose to be set, we assume that it's going to be a British realist gangster genre. The guy pays money over the desk and then continues to walk through the airport, if the money was not an important factor within the film or didn't have any relation to the genre then they would have just filmed him boarding the plane, but because they have showed him handing money over, we as the audience jump to conclusions that money is going to be a major factor within this film or it contributes to the fact that we think it's a British realist gangster film.

Football Factory
Within the opening scene we are able to establish what genre this film is, this would come under the gangster genre. We can tell this through many different conventions, the fighting scene and uncalled for punching, their clothing, the location etc. The location at the start of this film is walking through dark streets and then they have a fight outside the pub. The location and clothing makes the audience believe it is a gangster styled film and the lighting is quite dark which is another convention of a gangster genre. In the first two minutes you can tell who the leaders of the group are and who will be the main characters because of how much the camera cuts back to them and that they are positioned at the front of the group. Even though he isn't one of the leaders, we think the guy who put the bomb under the door will be a main character because of how much the camera cuts back to him. After a passer by has shouted at them labeling them as 'animals' narration is played over the top, of a boy who's thinking, it's as if what is being said is what he's thinking. Sex references are used and he swears throughout this narration, this is a something that is associated with the gangster genre because they think they are rebellious.

Snatch
The opening scene of Snatch tells the audience that this film comes under the gangster genre. The conventions used to show us this is the props involved. A diamond is being examined when then title of the film Snatch appears and money is also shown within the first two minutes, this gives the audience the impression that robbery or stolen goods is going to be sold. The end of the opening clips closes on a man hiding the diamond within a briefcase and because of the name of the film 'Snatch' we assume that the diamond has been 'snatched' and think that it will play a massive part in the film. Dim lighting is used and non diegetic parallel music plays over the top of the action in the first two minutes. The music is quite fast paced and is music you'd associate with an action based film, and within the music a siren sounds which suggests it's going to be agangster film. The film opens on four guys taking off their disguises, which suggests robbery or something illegal because they were hiding their identity, which is what you associate with a gangster themed film. In the opening scene we are shown them gambling at a casino table which gives the impression that the film is about money and stealing, which relates back to the title.There is fighting and punching involved when introducing one of the characters, which is something we as the audience would associate with a gangster film. The locations that have been used is the back of a van, dimly lit backstreet's (which is used in similar genre films) and an office, which is not normally an aspect you would associate with the gangster genre but it gives the impression of dodgy business, because it is all done in secret and the money is chucked around. As well as Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch is a film directed by Guy Ritchie, who is known for making gangster films, which is another reason we as the audience believe that is the genre.

Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels
In the first two minutes we are able to establish that the genre of this film is going to be a British realist gangster film. A convention which shows the audience this is the location. The opening scene is filmed in back streets in a run down hidden road and men are selling stolen goods. The fact that within the first two minutes we are shown they are selling stolen goods, it suggests that is going to be the theme of the film, which is why it is a British realist gangster film. They then run from the police, which shows they're rebellious and that what they are doing is wrong, this is another convention of a British realist gangster genre. It is filmed in run down streets and the lighting used is very dark, which is something we would associate with this type of genre. Another point to back up why I believe the genre of this film is going to be a British realist gangster film is because of the accents the characters have. They have a heavy LONDON?! accent, supporting why I think this film comes under this genre. The main character talking has a witty humour and comes across as quite sarcastic, even though the characters are humorous this film would not fall under the comedy genre because the other conventions support why it is a British realist gangster film. Jason Statham, who is the main character we see in the beginning, has also starred in other British realist gangster films, so because he plays the role well in others suggests that Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels is going to be the same genre, because of the actor who is used. The director and writer of this film was Guy Ritchie, who directs British realist gangster films, so because it is a Guy Ritchie film, the audience assume it will be similar to his previous work. So because it's a Guy Ritchie film and the actors used, we as the audience, assume that the genre of this film is a British realist gangster film.

I done some research to find out what movie genres people like so that i'd know information people liked when it came to choosing my genre to film. I found this information out by doing a questionnaire. I found out that it was mainly people between the ages of 16-30. Not everyone's favorite genre of film was gangster, but when i asked if they did like gangster films, most people said that they did and it was only really girls who didn't really like gangster genre films and prefer romantic comedies. From this information i gathered that my target audience was going to be males between the ages of 16-30. I also found out what people would expect to see within the first two minutes of a film opening so that i know what to include when it comes to my own filming.

There's Something About Mary
From the first two minutes, the audience would assume that the genre of this film would be romance. We would think this because the man singing in the tree is like he's serenading someone, which can be interpreted as quite a romantic gesture. It could also suggest comedy because he is sat in a tree and is repeating some humerous lyrics. It is filmed in daytime so the lighting is quite bright which shows it isn't going to be a horror film and that the film will be a happier film. The lyrics of the song he is singing are 'there is something about Mary' which tells the audience Mary is going to be a main character, because she is the title of the film, her name is used within the song so we assume the lyrics is a clue to the genre being romance and that someone might think there is something about Mary. The font used is in red and pinks and the credits at the beginning of the film has hearts appearing, which supports the idea that we think the genre of this film is romantic comedy.

Arlington Road
The genre is not very well established to start off with, but from the blood, we assume that it is going to be a horror. The location is filmed within a nice estate full of big family houses, and a child is walking up the road cradling his arm which is gushing with blood. It is filmed in broad daylight which challenges the traditional horror/ thriller stereotypes because people normally assume it's going to be dark lighting, filmed at night etc. From the first two minutes, the audience would think that this film is a horror because of the blood and gore, but this film is actually a thriller, which is why the genre is not very well established at first! As the audience we also meet the protagonist in the first two minutes. You can tell he is the protagonist because he takes the injured boy to hospital. The first two minutes suggests that the protagonist and the boy are the main characters because shots mainly cut back to them. Because the film opens on a gory scene and shows us the injured child within the first two minutes, we assume it's going to be a crucial part within the film.

The Skeleton Key
The genre is not very established, but from the conventions used within the first two minutes you get the impression it could be a thriller/ adventure/ drama. Western music is playing, which suggests not entirely based in the city which is where the hospital is located, so perhaps a location more quiet. Also set in a hospital/ hospice, which suggests the film might involve deaths and the theme of loneliness. The lighting isn't dull which can be associated with deaths, it is natural lighting which is quite bright, which tells the audiece it isn't going to be gruesome deaths. Within the first two minutes the cuts are mainly to Kate Hudson, which shows the audience that she is going to be the main character. Kate Hudson is known for starring in romantic comedy films so for her to be starring in a film including death is a change for her, unless romance is brought into it. But within the first two minutes there are no indications that romance will be involved because there is no cross cuts to other characters to suggest romace is involved in this film. The audience finds out that loneliness and isolation is the theme within this film, they find this out by the cuts to the patients in the hospice who are lonely and on their own. When one of the patients cry, Kate Hudson takes their belongings out to the bin where there are three other boxes already in there. This shows that the previous people that have died have had no family there to claim it, so shows the theme of being isolated and unwanted.

Main task: The titles and opening of a new fiction film.

Pleminary exercise: Continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom he/ she then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on action, shot reverse shot and the 180 degree rule.