Creative project presentation

The genre is action and it will be reflected through the use of props in mise en scene and quick cuts in editing. We choose to do it as a short film because it ha a lot of detail and a full storyline. The target audience is British teenagers because it reflect the youth of London and most other countries wouldn't understand the vocabulary, are focus points will be mise en scene and editing we will show these main points through detailed props, relative location and a lot editing and cuts. The location will be purley car park. 

Our performers will be:

Callum

Grant

Alex

Patrick

Connor

Khari

Luke

Luke

Christoph

Beth

What are the similarities between 'fish tank' and the first part of 'sket'?

There are many similarities between the two British crime films 'fish tank' being the most subtle crime film and 'sket' the more obvious crime film. One of the main similarities between the two films being the location, both based around a working class estate. The costume in both films are in someway similar with some characters wearing teak suits to make them look like youths, along with costume, the hair was actually similar because Mia in fish tank had a gelled back pony tail similar to some of the characters in sket. Some of the props were similar aswel, because in both of the films they have alcohol bottles used as props.

There's also similarities in the characters between 'fish tank' and 'sket', for example Mia and the leader of the girl gang, there's similarities in these two because they commit similar crimes like assault when they're insulted or threatened, they also show a part of a good side in them, Mia in saving the house and the girl from sket in looking after kayla and taking her in. There's also similarities between Mia and kayla as the both get sexually harassed, Mia by pickeys and kayla buy boys on the bus. They both in some way want revenge to what people have done to them, and both of them either have no mother or a bad mother.

Also the performances are similar in both 'fish tank' and 'sket' as in most of the the actors mainly all use colloquial language or slang. The actors also act and walk or move in the same way, this is because both films show the life of working class youths and they try to show this in similar ways. 

The cinematography in both films were similar as they mostly all used the same camera shots, mainly all being eye level shots or low shots. Both films also mainly use medium close ups or medium shots.

The editing is roughly the same on both of them aswel they both go around medium pace, fish tank sometimes a lot slower though. They also both only really stick with one line of action rarely ever using two lines.

Coursework

The film me and christoph are going to make for our coursework is going to a tine of illegal racing film based around the genre of action/crime. The conventions of the genre that we are going to be focusing on are mise-en-scene, editing and sound, this is not yet are final decision though. The micro features we are going to be focussing on are the location because we want a good location for it to make it look like a real underground race. The films or directors that have influenced us into doing a film like this was 'the fast and the furious'.

ill manors

How does mise-en-scene, performance, cinematography, sound and/or editing construct meaning and provoke response in ill manors?

The film I am analysing is Ill manors which was released in 2012, written and directed by ben drew. Ill manors is a film based on the  lives of four drug dealers Kirby, Chris, Ed and Arron; a gang Marcel and Jake; and two prostitutes, Katya and Michelle all living around an estate in London. The lives of these people all interlink through the course of drugs, gang troubles and pimps. The genre of ill manors is crime/drama. The extract I have chosen is 8:06 minutes in and is 4 minutes long, in my extract it goes back in time and shows Kirby’s life as a drug dealer and the childhood of Chris and how he grows up to become a man. The extract have chosen barely has barely any dialogue and is narrated by the directors (plan B) song. I am using Mise-en-scene, sound and editing to analyse my extract. My main themes for this extract are how the switch of power from Kirby to Chris is shown and how Chris’s harsh upbringing is shown throughout the film.

Mise en scene constructs meaning and provokes response in ill manors in many ways. One of these ways being the costume and hair used, especially for Trevor, he is dressed in a shirt with braces and rolled up jeans and a shaved head giving us the understanding that he is a skin head, provoking a response as we worry about Chris when he is left alone with him. Mise-en-scene is also useful as when Kirby is coming out of prison the prop used, which was the mini disc player Is a very old belonging to have, showing he has been in prison for a long amount of time, constructing meaning because we start to think that Chris has had a long time to gain power over the drug game.  Mise-en-scene is also used to provoke a response through the harsh upbringing of Chris, through the setting of the basement. The link between the basement and the props used in it for example all the drugs and the razor blade, provokes a strong response that Chris has had a harsh upbringing. Also the use of drugs give us a clear understanding of the switch in power from Kirby to Chris because at the start the drug props are twigs and seeds that are given top Chris showing Kirby’s in power but then at the end of the extract he then gives him real drugs because Chris stands up to him showing Chris becomes more powerful. Also the make-up used on Chris to show his scar constructs meaning that Chris was mistreated and constantly reminds the audience of jakes harsh upbringing. The use of body language in mise-en-scene shows the switch in power and makes us think that Chris has taken over control when  he stands up right and holds his head up high looking over Kirby making him seem more important and over powering Kirby.

Sound is also used throughout the extract to construct meaning and provoke response. One of the ways in which this is done is through the use of non-diegetic sound, as there is music playing throughout the whole of the extract. The music in the extract acts as a narrative because there is no dialogue, the narrative explains what is going on throughout the piece and guides us along what is and has happened. This gives us a strong understanding of Chris’s harsh upbringing because we get a detailed and in depth narrative of what is happening to him.  Another important aspect that sound brings to the extract is when the music changes from a non-diegestic sound to a diegestic sound. This happens when it starts to play through the stereo making the part of the extract stand out and draws are attention, the stereo then starts to cut out building up tension and then we get our first bit of dialogue which constructs meaning in the switch of power between Kirby and Chris. The sound helps us understand this because through the change of non-diegestic sound to diegesstic it makes it stand out, making the change of power more noticeable.

Editing is used in my extract to construct meaning and provoke response I many ways. Editing is used we to show the child hood and bringing up of Chris, the editing is good at this because it manages to show a wide spread amount of years on Chris’s changes in a very short amount of time. Slow motion is used in the extract when Kirby leaves prison this is good use of editing as it makes us see Kirby serious, and latter makes us worry for Chris because we feel sorry that he had to grow up around a man like Kirby. The fade out used from the black space Trevor was in back to the basement brings us back to the harsh reality and makes us realize that Trevor is in the basement while Chris is there making us worry for him. Editing is also done well in the extract because it shows a change in time clearly making it easier to understand the growing up of Chris. This is done by having the image of the wall in between the two shoot too make it look like its going to a separate room even though the room stays the same.  Slow motion is used again in the editing of the extract when Chris finds his mother dead of an overdose, this makes us pay attention and makes the moment more sad and deep, provoking a response from the audience making them feel sorry for Chris and worry about what is going to happen to him next. The fade out from the clip of Chris’s scar to another clip of his scar but of when he’s older is a good way to show the audience that Chris is growing up and gives them a clear understanding of what is happening. The shot that the editor chooses to keep mainly throughout the extract, always shows the hole of the basement which gives us a proper view of the location and analyse what is in the shot, this gives the audience an understanding of what kind of environment that Chris grow up in. the cut to the stereo before and after the dialogue also helps improve the effect of sound making the switch in the power stand out even more. There’s mainly one line of action used in this extract so that we are constantly concentrated and understand the harsh bringing up of Chris and the switch of power between Kirby and Chris.

The use of Mise-en-scene, sound and editing are used in many ways to construct meaning and provoke response. Sound is mainly used as a narrative to give the audience a strong understanding of what is happening in Chris’s life. Mise-en-scene is mainly used through costumer and props to give us an idea of the switch of power and too make us worry for Chris.  Editing is used through the cuts to just give an overall understanding.

Ill manors

The clip I have chosen from ill manors is 8:05 minutes.

The theme of this is sadnes and fear 

I am choosing to analyse this using mise-en-Scene because I can comment on that fact that there are drugs usedase props, giving us an understanding that he's a drug dealer, I can also comment on the costume of Trevor which shows is he Ida skin head and promotes fear in the audience. 

I am also using sound to analyse the extract as there is a part in the film when the music starts to come from the stereo and then it cuts creating tension and bringing you back to the harsh reality, also creating worry and fear in the audience.

use of camera

An extract i have chosen is from snatch. One part in this extract at the end creates fear in the audience when they use a long shot at low angle when showing brick top bill standing over tyrone, his makes us feel fear because the low angle is used to show he is in power and in control and also because they use a long shot to show the whole of his crew standing behind him making us feel intimidated. Another  clip in this sequence is when jason statham says he's not buying some "tart" a caravan. The camera lens zooms from a medium shot to a close up at eye level angle, this produces us to feel thrills because its zooms in to a close up and we get to see the intensity on the pikey's face.

the second clip i have chosen is from lock stock and two smoking barrels. a clip in this film that makes us laugh is when they use a long shot with and eye level angle, this clip makes the audience laugh because we just see the man open the door and then blood just splatter all over him so the fact that they don't reveal much in the camera makes it funnier. another part in this sequence is when the back men are in the van there is a close up at eye level of the black men this makes us feel fear as we see the anger in his face making us fearful of what is going to happen.

How does ‘In Bruges’ use mise-en-scene to reflect and develop the characters of Ray, Ken and Harry? How do the performance styles of Colin Farrell, Brendon Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes also reflect and develop the character?

Mise-en-scene is used a lot throughout the film to develop the characters of ray, Ken and Harry and there performance styles also reflect and develop the character. Ray is developed through mise en scene mainly by the props and locations used; Colin Farrell also develops and reflects Ray by his performance style as he acts sad and guilt. Harry is developed through mise-en-scene through location, props used, costume and his hair, ralph Fiennes develops and reflects harry by his acting aggressive changing his accent and changing his appearance. Ken is developed through mise-en-scene by the location and costume, Brendon Gleeson also develops and reflects ray by acting calm and natural.

Ray is developed in ‘In Bruges’ through mise-en-scene. This is mainly through location because the fact that he doesn’t like sightseeing and looking round Bruges as he asks if Ken thinks if its good “going round in a boat looking at stuff” and just wants to get drunk showing the character as being immature and childish. The prop used in the film also develops Ray, this prop is a gun which develops the character showing that he has a darker side to him and it distinguishes him from being a normal person.  Colin Farrell also develops Ray through his acting style because he acts normal however he makes it seem like there’s something on his mind all the time, developing the character showing that he regrets things and feels guilty about something, which we later find out is the shooting of the boy. Colin Farrell also develops Ray by acting suicidal showing that Ray is unstable and insecure in himself as he says “I’ll kill myself in a fortnight anyway”.

Harry is developed throughout the film by the use of location because the first scene Harrys in, he’s in a massive house, developing his character by showing that he’s rich and that he must be a good and experienced criminal to have earned this much money. The gun used when he first comes to Bruges develops the character as it shows that he is well connected and an important person, it also shows that he’s a ruthless cruel man.  His costume is smart and he is always wearing a suit showing that he is a smart business related criminal and this conveys to him always saying that it’s just “good business” to ken.  Harry’s hair develops his character because it is all shaved off showing that he is a tough brutal man and links to him being a London gangster. Ralph Fiennes performance relates and develops Harry is he is serious and aggressive, he give this impression by swearing all the time especially in the scene when he’s on the phone to harry and swears unnecessarily for example he says “it’s a fairy tale fucking town”. Ralph Fiennes changes he’s accent to a coutney accent to develop the role so we know he’s a London gangster he also shaves his hair to show this.  Ralph Fiennes rarely blinks throughout the whole performance developing on the fact that harry is slightly crazy. Ralph Fiennes also reflects the fact that Harry does have a bit of a heart when he chooses not to kill Ken.

Ken is developed through the use of mise-en-scene by location and costume. Location develops Ken as a normal everyday person as he enjoys looking round the sight of Bruges which isn’t usual of the typical gangster or hit man.  Ken’s costume is the traditional suit of a gangster showing that he is experienced and has been doing what he’s doing for years; it also shows he’s clever and knows what he’s doing. Brendon Gleeson’s performance is very calm and relaxed, showing that he’s experienced and expressing the difference between Ken and Ray as ray is new to it and agitated and panicked, whereas Ken is used to it so is the opposite. The way Brendon Gleeson shows the change in Ken from him being calm and wanted to be professional and not draw attention to himself to him not caring when he finds out he has to kill Ray, develops Ken’s character as it shows he really cares about Ray and is protective over him. Also the fact the Brendon Gleeson is so still and peaceful when he’s about to be killed and accepts this, develops Ken showing that he is fearless and always expects death.

Mise-en-scene is used a lot to develop the characters mainly through the location of Bruges and the guns used showing there all ruthless people. The costume also develops the characters as it can show some of them as being experienced and knowledgeable. The performances of the actors help to develop and reflect the characters and show the human side to gangsters and hitman.

analysis of acting performance

the film I have chosen to do my analysis of the acting performance was Bronson, using tom hardy as the actor I am going to analyse.

 

 

1.the physical characteristics of tom hardy are that he is average height, he is usually toned and 10 and a half stone, he's 36 years old, he's English born in hammersmith and speaks with a well spoken accent. 

 

2. To fit this role Tom Hardy shaved his hair off and grew a moustache so that he looked more like Bronson. He also changed his vocal characteristics for this scene because instead of speaking in a well spoken accent he changed it to make himself sound like Bronson, a working class, coutney accent. he also gained muscle and put on weight to look like Charlie Bronson, he put on 3 stones in 5 weeks.

 

3.tom hardy had to act naturalistic and just like the actual Charlie Bronson because the film is based on a true story. the film is a biographical film and a drama.

 

4. Tom hardy really does act insane to make his character come alive, he switches moods quickly to show this, for example one minute he goes from calm to angry in the blink of an eye.

harts war

The film ‘harts of war’ uses location, settings, props, costume, make-up and hair to signify personality in many ways. We see the use of location to signify personality right at the very beginning, in the first scene. We are shown a big expensive house showing that some of the people there are high up in the army and are important leaders maybe, it could also show that they are cowards though as they are not out there fighting the war.

The first scene with Colin Farrell his hair shows he is sophisticated and smart, foreshadowing the fact that he was studying Yale at university and later on in the film fight the black mans case

At the first prison that Colin Farrell is taken to, it’s very dark showing that the Nazi is a dark man and a nasty person. However the uniform he is wearing and the medal he has show’s that he has done something heroic for his country; Germany gave him a medal even though he’s seen as an evil and nasty person this could show the hole of Germany as being evil.

When Colin Farrell first gets to the POW camp we are shown Bruce Willis the cornel. His make-up is done differently and he looks brighter to the rest, and he is also better dressed than the other people this automatically shows us he is going to be an important part of the film, the fact that he’s hair is done nicely and he wears a hat, also shows he’s proud to fight for his country and is very courageous.

The make up on the German soldiers is pale and is dark around the eyes giving us the impression they are nasty, dark people.

Bruce Willis’ room is cleaner and he has his own separate room from the other soldiers sowing that he is better organised than the other soldiers and he is more important and he takes charge leading the group.

The second location that Colin Farrell is sent too is dirty and packed showing that the officers don’t see Collin Farrell as an officer because he is a coward and a traitor.

The black man wears a white scarf when we first see him making him stand out from the other soldiers, and also maybe showing he is a confident person who isn’t afraid to show himself off. His hair is also always neat and tidy showing he looks after himself and that he is smart and sophisticated.

The racist sargeant in the film is shown to be a rude nasty person by his make up being done to draw out the evil in his eyes.

The Nazi leader wears a dark black leather coat making him seem mysterious and unpredictable.

significant prop

the use of prop in the lord of the rings the fellowship of the ring is a ring. the ring is made to look significant through the narrative, the framing of it, the characters and the use of it. its made to look significant through the narrative as Bilbo calls it his "precious" making it sound important and the fact that Gandalf said he's not the only one that has said that, shows that not only Bilbo sees it as an important object but so did other people. the fact that the hole of the narrative mainly evolves around the ring shows that it is important as it is the main focus.

its made to look significant through the framing because it is the main focus in mostly all camera shots throughout that scene and is at the centre of the screen. this naturally makes the audience think it is important because they see it at the centre of attention.

the use of the ring in the scene also shows it to be a significant object because we always see it in Bilbo's hands gripped on tight to it showing that he doesn't want to lose it, which suggests that the ring is important. also the fact that Bilbo is constantly stroking the ring, which is unusual to do, shows that it is not just a ring but something more significant than that, and that it has a deeper meaning to it.

the characters show that the ring is important because they have a fight over it and when you have a fight over something it is usually important or significant to them people, so this shows the ring is important. also Bilbo always keeps eye contact on the ring showing it is significant and special as he cant keep his eyes off of it.  

 the term miss-en-scene is the arrangement of sensory and properties to show and give an idea of where the play or movie is supposed to be set. Mise-En-Scne is a french term and originates rom the theatre, it basically means "put in the scene". for film it has a broader meaning and means everything that goes in to the composition of the shot.

harry potter uses miss-en-scene to make you think that the film is shot in a magical building far away, when in fact most of the filming was taken place in the uk and the buildings they used are spread across UK. They use ancient looking scenery so that the audience think its a hole different society completely and that its set in a completely different world. they use dark scenery to show a mysterious mood and place.

The sound of cinema

My response on the sounds of cinema is that it is part of the most important part of all films. Having a good composer seems to make the film a lot better, for example corngold who composed Robin Hood made the music really well to show the emotion in the character and through the film really well. Some composers are even given the opertunity to write what ever music they want to go with the film and can even ask the director to extend the scene so that they could Finnish their piece. 

The composer of King Kong also used te music well and made a constant beat throughout the film so that it became also like a metronome so the orchestra could keep in time with the picture. This composer also used the music to show finger movements from King Kong in certain scenes and also managed to show a connection between the audience and King Kong when King Kong and the audience realise how pretty the women is.

Through this I have learnt how important music can be in films and how much it can show and improve.

My favourite film is The Godfather. I love this film due to the twisting story line and plot with viewers thinking that Michael is good boy who doesn't want to take up the family business in the beginning but then it changes by the end and he becomes the boss of the family. the acting is also really good init especially from al Pacino as he shows the change in his character really well. i also think the directing by Copolla was good as he set some films real well especially with the end son while Michael becomes the godfather of his sisters child but at the same time has ordered the death to the heads of the five families.

My least favourite film is total recall the remake. I didn't like this film mainly because it was a big let down to the original total recall with arnold Shwaznegger in. I also think colin far ells performance was disappointing and no where near as good as Arnolds original performance.