After doing some initial research into the various genres available for me to choose from i decided to work within the gangster genre. Some more famous gangster films are 'Scar Face', 'Angels with Dirty Faces' and 'The departed' all of which contain some generic formulas which remain consistent through out all of these films, this includes things like the main villain (who the camera follows around through out the whole film), is usually attempting to follow the 'American dream'. You will also usually find that the main character is from a poor immigrant family causing them to search for wealth, power and respect. This allows the audience to follow the character as they rise and fall in there pursuit. You will also usually find that the power of the main character ends up corrupting and destroying them. A lot of the props used within these films involve dark nightclubs or streets with neon signs, fast cars, piles of cash, sleazy bars, poor living quarters or rooming houses. Even though we know the character is doomed to failure and possible death we feel attached to them and feel that there being portraid as a victim. These films are usually produced by big production companies like universal studios and Warner bros giving them big budgets for large gun fights and big gun chases within big cities, with a big and well known cast.
My target audience in which I'm aiming my film at is young adults aged between 18 - 21 and more than likely male. Demographically i would feel that there occupations would be C2 as they would probably still be at college and university as well as having a part time job. Also photographically they would be more rebelish whilst at the same time being quite aspirational because of the fact that there still in education. To asses my audience in more detail i would say that they live in accommodated flats on site at there university's, they quite often visit the cinema in there spare time or just stay at home watching films or crime dramas on TV like CSI. I think they would enjoy listening to more rock music whilst at the same time they enjoy a bit of rap a RaB. i think that they would be spending most of there money upon the latest fashionable clothes leaving them with little money to spend on foosd causing them to shop at lidl, but at the same time there quite well educated as they are at university but at the same time there rebelious in the way in which they go out at weekends to cocerts and clubs.
Monday, 26 January 2009
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
Video - film Openings : Narrative and Genre
In order to make the research into film openings more thorough i analysed and studied the beginning to the film 'Dog Soldiers'. From it i learnt how even from the first 2 minutes your able to tell a lot from the narrative and what conventions we should be expecting through out the rest of the film. But i learned from the bit that i watched that the film belongs to the horror/action genre Hollywood film in which it's sub divided into a werewolf category of horror. From this genre we immediately have various expectations of what conventions we should be seeing through out the film e.g Blood, death, violence, hidden villain, guns and explosions. We have also established the Proppian narrative of characters for example, the main character will aim to protect his troops from any dangers they face in order for them to survive. One of the villains will probably have to rely upon the main character for help. The other villains will attempt to disrupt the situation, and the donar is the girl friend who presents the dangling cause of the film in the form of a silver knife.
With the help of this research i will be able to use these conventions to create a narrative and as well as structures within my own gangster film.
With the help of this research i will be able to use these conventions to create a narrative and as well as structures within my own gangster film.
Monday, 19 January 2009
Video - Film Openings: Initial research, Institution
You will more than likely find that within a large main stream genre film that you will find there produced and distributed by a large corporate company like 'Universal Studios' and 'Warner brothers Studio'. These companies are usually multinational in there distribution, and the films involve a generic narrative with a large budget and well known and highly paid stars.
On the other hand we have Social realist films which are on the other end of the spectrum, meaning they usually consist of a low budget with a less well known cast and production/ distribution company. The narrative structure of these films is less formulaic and is usually about more serious and relatable issues around a certain period of time. These films attract a smaller audience but can still make it's money back, usually from DVD sales.
Then there's art house films which again have little input by large production and distribution company with tiny budgets and new actors.The films narratives are usually unique and personal, causing them to attract a less main streamed audience, and more of a upper middle class and news paper reviewer audience. This usually leads to a loss of money and in worse case scenario companies have to shut down due to less demand of more art house films.
An audience usually makes there choices of what film they wish to see depending upon the films Production/ distribution company, as they have expectations of what that company and genre of film will have.
On the other hand we have Social realist films which are on the other end of the spectrum, meaning they usually consist of a low budget with a less well known cast and production/ distribution company. The narrative structure of these films is less formulaic and is usually about more serious and relatable issues around a certain period of time. These films attract a smaller audience but can still make it's money back, usually from DVD sales.
Then there's art house films which again have little input by large production and distribution company with tiny budgets and new actors.The films narratives are usually unique and personal, causing them to attract a less main streamed audience, and more of a upper middle class and news paper reviewer audience. This usually leads to a loss of money and in worse case scenario companies have to shut down due to less demand of more art house films.
An audience usually makes there choices of what film they wish to see depending upon the films Production/ distribution company, as they have expectations of what that company and genre of film will have.
Video - Film Openings: Initial research
I have decided to go with the video task rather than print, this will involve me creating a 2 minute opening sequence to a film of my choice. I have decided to do a film within the genre of a Gangster film targeted at a main stream audience and possibly are well known production and distribution company.
In order to find out what forms and narrative i should use within my own video production, i did some research into the main classed films such as Hollywood films, Social Realist films and Art House films. This way i will find out the typical generic conventions within the films and the key conventions tied within them.
The main generic and multi national films are usually classed as Hollywood films, So through the research of gangster films (like 'Scar Face','Angels with Dirty Faces'and 'The Departed') i found that there conventions and narrative structures all very similar. They usually have a storyline where the main character of the film begins life off in the slums of a major city and dreams of one day being respected by all, but to do so they delve into the realm of imprisonment and the dealing of drugs and stolen goods. They usually consist of guns, robbery's, dealing in things they shouldn't, death and respect.
Social realist films however are aimed at a working classed audience meaning there narratives are structured in order for the audience to be able to relate to the issues, making there subject matter more detailed and complexed, with a not so happy ending. So Films like 'Burning an Illusion','This is England' and 'The Full Monty' all consist of characters from a slum area of a main city, who are attempting to cope through issues like Relationships, politics, unemployment and racism.
Art house films are similar to social realist in there complex and detailed narrative, but within an Art house film there usually more personal with difficult subject matter, This attracts a more sophisticated and middle classed audience. So when researching into films like 'Inland Empire', 'Funny Ha Ha' and 'Morvern Callar'
that they usually have a narrative in which your following a character on a journey, either through there life or through a situation in which they need to overcome. These conventions seem to attract a more middle classed audience
In order to find out what forms and narrative i should use within my own video production, i did some research into the main classed films such as Hollywood films, Social Realist films and Art House films. This way i will find out the typical generic conventions within the films and the key conventions tied within them.
The main generic and multi national films are usually classed as Hollywood films, So through the research of gangster films (like 'Scar Face','Angels with Dirty Faces'and 'The Departed') i found that there conventions and narrative structures all very similar. They usually have a storyline where the main character of the film begins life off in the slums of a major city and dreams of one day being respected by all, but to do so they delve into the realm of imprisonment and the dealing of drugs and stolen goods. They usually consist of guns, robbery's, dealing in things they shouldn't, death and respect.
Social realist films however are aimed at a working classed audience meaning there narratives are structured in order for the audience to be able to relate to the issues, making there subject matter more detailed and complexed, with a not so happy ending. So Films like 'Burning an Illusion','This is England' and 'The Full Monty' all consist of characters from a slum area of a main city, who are attempting to cope through issues like Relationships, politics, unemployment and racism.
Art house films are similar to social realist in there complex and detailed narrative, but within an Art house film there usually more personal with difficult subject matter, This attracts a more sophisticated and middle classed audience. So when researching into films like 'Inland Empire', 'Funny Ha Ha' and 'Morvern Callar'
that they usually have a narrative in which your following a character on a journey, either through there life or through a situation in which they need to overcome. These conventions seem to attract a more middle classed audience
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