Project Log - Week 4

Lesson 1: This lesson was spent finishing off a task that was set last week - Sound Analysis Of an Opening Sequence. I had to pick a British Social Realist film and explain what the sounds connote about the characters, the narrative and what relevance/ how does it appeal to the British target audience. I chose to analyse Trainspotting because the sounds used were unique and gave many hints to the audience about the characters disposition and what the narrative may be about. For example, there is a voice over of Renton. He uses foul language, like 'fucxing', which connotes his character s being wild and rebellious. Furthermore, he talks in a strong northern British accent, therefore the audience can relate to him and understand him, since they too are British. Lastly, the voice over gives the audience the back story and makes them feel more comfortable with Renton. Also, they will take more of a liking in him and side with him, since he is given a lot of talking time, establishing his dominance in the film.

Task - Sound Analysis Of an Opening Sequence: Trainspotting

Lesson 2: The lesson focused around audience research for British Social Realism films. I was introduced to four ways in which you can collect your research.

Focus groups: This is a form of group interview, where pre- determined discussion points/topics are presented, along with stimulus e.g. Clips. From this you get peoples opinions and thoughts towards the points.



Audience feedback: Feedback given back from the audience. Its designed to gain further knowledge on the media text and what the target audience dislike/like about it. So, you can then later alter your media text to their specifications, because you are trying to impress and appeal to them.

Questionnaires: Pre-determined questions, designed to get a better understanding of what your target audience want.

Vox pops: This is a random way of collecting data. You go out on the streets and randomly ask questions. From this your more likely to get raw and truthful answers.

Next, I learnt there were different techniques you can use to get good answers. One is asking open questions, which means asking broader questions e.g. Why do you like this film?, from asking questions like this you gain longer responses. Another way is asking closed questions, which are designed to get specific answers e.g. do you like films?.

Now using what I have learnt, as a class we listed what things do we want to find out about our potential audience. This is what we came up with:

- What do British Social Realism films do they like?

- Why do they like the films they have chosen?(Use and gratification, conventions)

- What do they think of my ideas?

- What potential ideas do they have?

Me and my partner then was given the task to gain 
research of what our target audience of teenagers liked. We chose to do a vox pop because it allowed us to interact with out audience first hand and really understand what they liked and did not like. In order to collect our data, we thought of open questions that really filtered out our target audiences thoughts and opinions. Below is the questions we asked.

Q1) " British Social Realism are films that tend to highlight the negative everyday scenarios of working class Brits and they celebrate the failure of these people in the most explicit way possible. "

1a) Have you seen any films of this genre? 

1b) What do you like about these films?

1c) How do they appeal to you?

Q2)

2a) Which theme are you most interested in and why?

2b) Do any of these themes personally relate you?

Q3)

 

3a) Would you go and see this films, if so why?

3b) What interested you about it?

Q4)

4a) These our ideas for a British Social Realism films, we are going to produce:

- A boy has a disability of dyslexia. Living in poverty with no support or love, can he achieve his dreams of being an author?

- A girl moves from Jamaica to a white majority area. She's a talented runner that dreams to compete in big competitions but is held back by racism.

- A girl gets pregnant and wants to run away from her abusive boyfriend, in order to protect her baby.

4b) Which one do you prefer and why?

Q5) How would you improve the idea you chose?

I believe these questions will bring our target audiences opinions and help me and my partner manipulate our ideas to their demands and likes.

Task - Audience Research: Vox pop

Lesson 3: Today i started the lesson by understanding the brief and what it instructs me to do. When i am making my opening sequence, i have to make sure that it is two minutes, of the genre British Social Realism, must contain copyright free music, must appeal to 16-24. Moreover, the institution i am making my film for, is Film 4, therefore it must include unknown actors, contain subject matters that would occur in the real world and lastly, it should fulfil the ethos of Film 4, by celebrating the mundane mediocrity and failure of British society. I also learnt that British Social Realist films are very ambiguous and has an ending open to different interpretations. Moreover it became evident they produce high concept films. These are films that have a simple narrative, that can be described under 25 words. The image below is of an article published by BBC. It showed how the UK film council where awarding money to young scriptwriters that could pitch a horror or comedy film under 25 words or less.

Then we was given the task of producing our own high concept film narrative and pitch them to our teacher. Mine was "Tom is the odd one out. He has a dream but obstacles are in the way, in the form of his dysfunctional family". My teacher gave feedback on how I could improve my idea, she suggested I either expand on how the family are dysfunctional or either state what Tom aspires to be. Next I was introduced to my task - the Treatment. I learnt what my treatment should include. It should contain the following:

- Title: With explanations of connotations

- Identify T.A: With the appeal it will have and include primary, as well as secondary research.

- Technology: How will it be used and why that technology is suitable.

- Representation: Characters, stereotypes and ideologies.

- Narrative: Summary of opening sequence with conventions (Todorv's Theory)

- Conventions: How will they keep/subvert with explanations ( sound, credits, graphics etc)

- Style & Iconography: effects of camera work/editing, use of costume and props

- Institutions: Who would produce/distribute/exhibit this film? Why?. Also, How have you reflected film 4's ethos in your idea?

Task - Treatment 

Lesson 4: This lesson was spent going around the school and filming our vox pop for me and my partners audience research. Once this was done, it was uploaded onto iMovie, ready to edit for next lesson.

Task - Audience Research

What have you learnt about your target audience?

Doing the vox pop has really highlighted the lack of knowledge 16-24 year olds have of British Social Realism films. On a positive note, films that were high of gang culture were very popular, for example, 4321 and Kidulthood. However, they did not know it was a British Social Realism film and also they did not know of traditional films such as Trainspotting and Kes. In addition, I also learnt that my target audience of 16-24 want to see themes such as racism, teen pregnancy, drugs, escape/aspiration etc because they feel its a true representation of society and its very interesting to watch from a different perspective and get lost in the movie. It also became evident they wanted characters to be around their age, so its easy to relate, since that's why films like Adulthood which consisted of teenagers attracted them.

What have you learnt about the institutions in the production of social realist films?

I have learnt that social realist films are produced by independent companies such as Film 4. Due to being financially restricted and not having that big Hollywood budget it drives them to be very creative. So that's why they don't have the sellability factor of known actors and exotic locations. However the lack of sellability is counter balanced by their ethos of producing films that have meaning, by touching on controversial subject matters, for instance Four Lions deals with religion and terrorism. It makes the audience think and opens their eyes to the harsh truth of the world we live in.

How will this inform your production?

In my production I will live up to the brief expectations of being typical to social realism. I will do this by popular techniques such as a smash mouth opening. Moreover, I may use handheld shots to add to the dullness of the situation and I will use a variety of shots to express the setting and characters facial/body expressions in order to establish the themes I want to get across. For examples if I want to highlight poverty, I will use plenty of wide shots and establishing shots in order to shows the locations of council estates which the audience will associate with poverty. Lastly, I will try to inform the audiences feedback into my work, for instance they gave me feedback on my opening sequence idea and I will take that into consideration in order for it to appeal to them more.

Visual Style Of British Social Realism

Presentation1x from kalkidanbrook

Sound Analysis Of Trainspotting

Potential Narratives For My Opening Sequence

The first story is named DREAMS AND OBSTACLES.

It is set in an urban area - council estate in Marks Gate. A family lives in one of the flats called Longhayes Court. They are a dysfunctional family of two parents and two children. The father is names Jack. He domestically abuses his wife because when he was child he lived in a household, where his mother was abused, therefore abusing his wife is maladaptive behaviour. He gets very angry and jealous, so gives her no freedom and keeps her close to him at all times. The wife is names Jo. She has always been shy and can not stand up for herself. She loves Jack very much and wants to leave him but cannot for the childrens sake and their protection, just incase Jack starts abusing them. The first child is a teenager of the age 16. His is named Tom. He is very odd and different from the rest of his family (also isolates himself away from them a lot). He is very angry about the lifestyle and situation he lives in, therefore he challenges this anger into his artwork. No one knows of his amazing talents and he dreams to go to study art at university. The second child is a younger teenager of the age 13. Her name is Kelly. She does not care about anything and his corrupted. She smokes, sleeps around with different boys, drinks etc. She is the opposite of her brother and lives a nasty life.

The film is about Tom trying escape this world of poverty and violence, in order be educated and achieve his dream of being an artist. However, his family is a big obstacle to his life goals and he is scared to leave his mum with his abusive dad and leave his sister in the corrupted lifestyle she leads.

The second story is names SUMMER ESCAPE.

A girl named Alice lives the so called perfect lifestyle. She's rich and has everything at her fingertips. However, all this means nothing to her. So, one day she decides to run away. At the train station she, a girl her age bumps into her and notices she's running away. So she suggests that Alice comes with her. Her names Kelly and she takes Alice to her 'endz' ( where she lives). Its the opposite to Alices mansion, its a council estate. Its rough, messy, loud etc. Its a culture shock at first but soon enough Alice like it. Soon enough she slowly gets accepted by the crowd and has a great bunch of friends, who are trouble makers but nothing to serious. She starts to like a boy who is a leader of a dangerous gang. He takes advantage and abuses her but she stays put. After a while, he starts to change his ways and really like her back, once he hears she pregnant with his baby. His gang says he's getting too 'soft' and that they plan to kill him. So Skitz ( Alices lover) plans a runaway for him and his family. Just as they are about to get away, they get caught by the gang and kill Skitz.

This film is to reinforce that being rich does not mean you are living the best lifestyle. Alice is emotionally unhappy and wants to move away from her parents high expectations and them pushing her into things she does not want to do. By meeting Kelly and a new group of friends, she fins where she belongs. Moreover, she scores double points by finding her true love, but you can get everything you want and so Skitz dies. It just represents life and how its a rollercoaster.

My third story is called STRAIGHT DOWN.

A single parent has three children, who are all very young. They live in one bedroom flat. They receive no care and love from their mother and their father is unknown. They look out for each other and want to escape this horrid lifestyle because they are constantly hungry. The mother makes money for her drugs but not for her childrens health. She's constantly bringing men back home or not come home for days. One day the neighbour clocks a horrible smell and children crying. She knocks and knocks and the little girl answers. She's horrified at the state they are living in. She instantly calls social services, but mid way through her conversation, the mother comes back, and notices who's she's calling. She spends the days cleaning her flat as best as she can, in order to try and fool the social services. When they come, they are content nothings wrong and the neighbour is annoyed. She's old and has never had children of her own. One day when she's sure the mother is gone, she bribes the children to come out their flat and come to hers. Its here where she, baths, feeds and dresses them all.

This film is about escape and whether these children can push away from their disgusting lifestyle that's leading them to death. Also, the ultimate challenge is being able to part from their mother forever.

The fourth story is called TURNING POINT.

A black jamaican girl, moves to Britain. She moves to a white majority area. Here she experiences racism and bullying. She's very talented. She is a fast runner and is an amazing student. She aspires to run in the olympics and set an unbreakable record. So, her school athletic team wins in her area and so they go forward to compete, to represent London. She knows big names will be there, as well as scouts. She runs amazing at first that gets tripped and falls. Just as she thinks everything is over, she gets scouted by a coach (an retired olympian). He trains her and pushes her past her limits.

This story deals with aspirations and having the drive to leave behind a bad lifestyle, in order to achieve your dreams and become successful. Moreover, it deals with controversial topics, like rasicm and how hard it is to keep your head up.

Institutional Credits Timeline - Submarine

Project Log - Week 3

Lesson 1: I spent my time finishing off my institutional credits time line, which I started in a previous lesson, last week. I chose to analyse the opening sequence of 'Submarine'. This task was done manually on a large A3 paper. My time line consisted of every graphics detail, like institutional information, it included all the types of sound/music heard, like foley sounds of a train going past. Furthermore, I wrote down everything that could visually be seen ( and also including camera language/ mise en scene), like a pan and close up of a pair of feet walking across a field. Lastly, I marked out every time there was an edit, such as dissolves, cuts, sweeps etc. When I had finished this task, it become more evident, that loads of graphics are used and that there are many reasons why, for instance graphics of crew, cast etc, could be done purposefully done as a promotional tool and a selling point or maybe for reputation reasons, so the audience remember these names. Furthermore, I learnt that graphics withhold a lot of information for the audience and provides hints about what the film may be about. For example, if a graphic was in a italic pink writing and had daises and piece signs around it, I would as an audience assume that the film may be set in the 70's because the graphics seem fun,colourful and hippy. My sequence, Submarine, was very simple and had that minimalistic style. It was a very unconventional opening, as it only presented the institutions and did not introduce the cast and crew etc. I assume this was done on purpose, because the characters where unknown and did not need an introduction. It eases the audience into the film, but also it could be to get the audience to raise enigma codes and ask instantly, " Who is this boy?, What's his name?". Therefore grabbing the audiences attention.

Task - Institutional Credits Time line

Lesson 2: My partner and I, were assigned the task to go an capture two images, that we thought connoted a positive and negative representation of Britain, within the school. For the positive representation (left), we took a picture of a class working. This connoted how students in Britain are hard working, serious and highly educated, as they want to be successful. For the negative representation (right) we took a picture of a fence, which had barb wire, lifeless trees, a skip and a flat in the background. The flats signifies poverty and the barbed wire, establishes restrictions and danger. This overall gives a dull and messy image of Britain.

After taking these pictures, we received feedback from our teacher and how he would change the picture to really reinforce the idea of a negative and positive representation. For the positive image, he suggested to place the camera under a students arm, so you can see the pupil writing and the textbooks etc on the table, therefore really establishing a hardworking and dedicated student. For the negative image, he suggested to go a bit closer and take the picture from the side, as well as have someone maybe rummaging through the skip. This portrays poverty and enforces a negative representation of desperation.

I was introduced to the visual style of British Social Realism. The lesson focused on how mise - en - scene and camera language are manipulated into order to represent a theme and establish the genre of British Social Realism

Task - None set

Lesson 3: This lesson was focused on how opening sequences use sounds to emphasis aspects of what the film contains. For instance popular music from a certain era, may be used in an opening to foreshadow what the era of the film is set in. There are two types of sound - Diegetic Sounds ( which the characters can hear) e.g. dialogue and Non Diegetic Sounds ( which that characters cannot hear) e.g. Voice overs. I found out that British Social Realism films, use little diegetic sounds. By doing this is raises more enigma codes, therefore engaging the audience to find out more. Me and my peers, then observed 4 opening sequences that used sound in interesting ways, to bring across specific preferred readings to their audience about the film.

Anita And Me

The music played possess an exotic tone, that is warm and light hearted, therefore connoting that this film is set or has a Asian character. Furthermore, the foley sounds of the ripples of pool water, connote that it may be spring. Non diegetic sounds are used, for instance there is a voice over that directly addresses the audience, in 1st person and may be biased. Moreover, the voice over carries a child's tone of voice, therefore establishing that the main characters are very young and innocent. Later, the voice over finally matches the Asian girl we see, this anchors the meaning, as the sound and image support each other. Lastly, the background music - hi ho silver linings is being played. Its a 70's song, therefore establishing the era. In addition, the tone of the music is very happy and quite hippy. This has the ability, to make an older audience reminisce.

This Is England

The music plays throughout the whole opening sequence. Its of a reggae genre and very soulful. It sets up the era, because its what a group of people called skins listened to a lot. Furthermore, at certain times its synchronous, for instance when something blows up. This gives it an element of a smash mouth opening, as its loud and shocks the audience.

Drive

The music is non diegetic and is the only type of sound we hear throughout the whole opening. Moreover, it is modern but changed to fit the era of the 80's. The music holds a dark tone and this is reinforced through the lyrics.

Last King Of Scotland 

At first all the sounds we hear is diegetic. It mostly consists of dialogue and is done purposely, as it reveals a lot about the characters. For instance, at the dinner table the father seems to be talking a lot and the boy seems to be giving short replies. This connotes how the father is out of touch with his child and this is further reinforced when he talks about wanting his son to be the 'family doctor' but the son does not reacted, this signifies how the father does not know of his child's needs. Then there is music, which is very upbeat and lively. Its evident its African music, due to the location the character is in. Therefore, the sounds and images support each other.

Task - Analysing Sound in British Social Realism

Lesson 4: This lesson focused on how editing is used to portray themes, characters and location.

Task - Visual Style Of British Social Realism

What have you learnt about opening sequences and title devices?

I have learnt that opening sequences should not try to squeeze the whole narrative in. Instead it should grab the audiences attention, by maybe making a smash mouth opening, which will shock the audience, or maybe ease the audience in and it all depends on the narrative. I have also learnt graphics are a huge part of the opening, they connote a lot about what the films about and gives tiny hints to the audience. For example, if the graphic is bold and a metallic silver, it connotes that the film holds a cold tone or another reading may be that there's something strong and confident in the narrative or character. 

How will this inform your production?

In my production I will make sure to have a strong narrative, that has clear themes. I will make sure that my graphics of cast, crew and institutional informational, all tie in with my narrative. I will pick music that has relevance and really sets the time and era. I also want the style of the mise en scene, camera language and editing all mean something and represent my characters, themes and location in a specific way, depending on my narrative. Lastly, I want to end on a cliff hanger and raises enigma codes, that will get my audience wanting more.

What methods might you use in the opening and why?

In my opening I might use a smash mouth opening. I got this inspiration from This Is England and London to Brighton because when I watch the opening it shocked me, and as an audience it made me assertive because it was loud and chaotic. I also might use a montage because it helps to develop the characters and gives hints about them. Lastly, I may use a non linear start because it grabs the audiences attention and interests them. I got this inspiration from London to Brighton cause at the start you see Kelly and Joanne in a public toilet, looking very trampy and Kelly has a huge puffed up black eye. Instantly as an audience, I want to know how they go into this situation and who punched Kelly?, therefore this grabs my attention because I am going to stay put to answer my questions. If I do use these methods in my own production correctly, then I will be conforming to the brief, as these methods are very typical to British Social Realism.

How British Social Realism Themes Are Used

Shifty - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzfhCpzjBRI

The key theme in this film is drugs.

Here a man is taking drugs and this is really emphasised through the sound, just re ensure to the audience and add to the atmosphere. This shows how ordinary people are capable of taking drugs and really opens the audiences eyes to what occurs in our society.

Here a woman is sitting on a make shift bed that is laid out on the floor, connoting how she is working class and living in poverty. Moreover she has tools that we accossiated with drug taking ( around her arm), she looks weak and frail and brings to the audiences awareness how dangerous drugs are and the effects.

Here drugs are in a mans hand, connoting him as a drug dealer. This establishes that some people rely on drugs to bring in money to survive our society. Its very hard hitting and shows how some people are stuck in this cycle and theirs no escape.



This film portrays the theme of drugs in many ways. One of which is through the camera work. There is a close up of an drug users face. She is bruised and she looks drained and lifeless. This connotes the effects of drugs and really establishes the truths of drugs.

In my sequence I will explore the theme of drugs through establishing the location of an council estate. Then I would use simple cuts of people taking drugs and contrasting it to non drug users. For example, I will have a woman taking drugs in a messy, nasty room, while cutting to another household of a functional family having breakfast together.

The Man Inside - http://www.youtube.com/movie?v=We60sNFxnC8&feature=mv_sr

The key theme in this film is aspiration/ escape.

Here a man is in boxing training and his coach tells him to ' feel the anger' ( his anger is due to his father abusing his mother), this connotes how he has a past and has gone through something horrible and his coach asks him to use his anger, to push through and be successful. This makes the audience feel sympathetic for him because his aspires to become a boxer and escape from his past as well has his poverty/ working class lifestyle.

Here he tells his coach ' I can't fucking do it', is signifies that he can not overcome his fear of the past and its restricting him from achieving. It establishes defeat and that he can not escape.

Here is a flashback of his father telling him to watch this innocent man die - ' watch him die'. This establishes what the boy is striving to escape from and that he doesnt want to be like his father. Its very hard hitting and gritty.

This film portrays the theme of aspiartion and escape in so many ways. One of which is through editing, we are constantly shown flashbacks of his childhood, which are then followed by the current day of him boxing. This contrast keeps emphasisng what he is running away from and why he is doing it.

In my opening sequence I will explore this theme by having a girl who lives in council house with a single mother and rude/ rowdy brother ( that are involved in gangs) aspires to be a doctor ( because her dad died from a over dosage of drugs and believes if she known how to, she could of saved him), therefore she stays in school but her lifestyle makes it hard for her to escape.

My Brother The Devil - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZjXLaDbU8A

The key theme in this film is ethnicity.

Here he is with his girlfriend and he tells her he wants his brother to go to college. This shows that where they orginate from education is not at a high standard therefore immgratiting here, his little brother needs to take oppurnity with both hands be successful.

Here the older brother tells his friend he wants to do 'something different' as he looks into the sea. This connotes how he left his country to be better, not come to england be in gangs etc and hit rock bottom.

Here the older brother tells his younger brother 'this is how it starts bruv'. They are sitting on the floor and the younger brother is upset. This shows how hopeful the older brother is and he won't give up to lead a better life. This connotes how tough life must be back in their country and this is the start of a new beginning.

The film portrays immagration in many ways. One of which is through the music. Cashtastic - I will never give up is played. The lyrics consist of ' my lifes getting harder, as I get older but ima keep going until its over'. This relates to the film and the theme, connoting how they escaped the hardships of their past lifes and they will keep driving hard to reach peak success.

In my film I will explore this theme by having a homeless teenage boy from india be taken in by a white family, where he has escaped the poverty of his old life.

Sket - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxA_YECuRDI

The key theme in this film is corruption of youth.













Here the middle girl is smoking. Smoking is bad and has bad effects like cancer. She is very young and smoking is taking her innocence as she doing things that is not for her age.

Here the black girl tells the new innocent girl in red to go ' jack the place' (to steal from the shops), here we see peer pressure into doing something bad. Stealing is breaking the law and these young girls are connoted as trouble makers, as they are doing something they should not.

Here the girl is getting touched against her own will. The boys claim she is 'tight' and that she ' aint got no choice any ways'. This shows how boys are corrupted and sexually driven. Also, they disrespect girls. This connotes how teens are ahead of their time and try to experience everything at once.

The film portays corruption of youth in many ways. One of which is through the situations that occur. The girl in the red's sister dies from being stabbed. She was innocent and know young person should be assaulted and experience such a horrible thing. Its disgusting and shocks the audience as its so in your face and real.

I would explore this theme in my film by having a two best friends and contrasting them. One of them has the perfect family, while the other has experienced sexual abuse from her father, smokes and rinks alcohol etc.

Bullet Boy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hWhO_rmz3I

The key theme in this film is poverty.

Here the boy is driving past blocks of flats and a really rough area. His companion driving says ' aint it good to be home blad', the boy looks in sadness at his home. This connotes how he is not happy with his way of life where it consists of troubles like gangs, crims etc. Its evident that he lives the working class lifestyle.

Here she gives her son some ' job stuff'. Its indicates that they are financially struggling and therefore need all the money they can get, to get by lifes struggles.

The film portrays poverty in many ways. One of which is through situation that the characters are in. They are stuck in the working class lifestyle. They live in an area where there is gangs, constant violence and they are just scrapping though life. They live in a small flat. They two brothers share a tiny room.

In my sequence, I would explore this theme by having a homeless man living on the streets and constantly begging for money.