elements of gangster films

Iconography – 'Films and moving image products can also be identified by the key
images or icons contained within them. These images or iconic elements are usually immediately recognisable'.


how we could adapt this to our genre: in a typical gangster the central image icon would have the overcoats with turned up collars, broad brimmed hats, pistols and machine guns.

Setting – 'The use of temporal and spatial settings can therefore make a film
immediately recognisable within a particular genre or sub-genre'.


How we could adapt this to our genre: Inner suburb of the city, concrete jungle, alley ways and back streets.

Style – This is how Iconography is presented. 'This category mainly relates to use of camera, lighting, colour and both audio and visual tone'. 


How we could adapt this to our genre: Sequence of montage for violent action.

Narrative – 'Narrative refers to the different types of story structure that films of different genres employ, in addition to the narrative or storytelling devices and narrative moments which they are associated with (e.g. chase sequences, shoot outs, romantic kisses etc.)'.


How we could adapt this to our genre: Social order being challenged by gangster anarchy, struggle of leadership, rivalry between gang warfare and mobs and the hero's internal struggle as he chooses his destiny. These are the basic conflicts we could see in this genre. The hero comes as a reformed character for resolution and the social order is restored. 

Characters – 'The story of a film is most often told through characters. A film’s main protagonist or “hero” encounters a variety of obstacles which he must overcome within the story. These obstacles are usually caused by some kind of adversary or “villain”'.


How we could adapt this to our genre: Hero would be a brutal gangster who is the brutal with overambitious henchman, women would be presented as sexual ornaments, mothers in a respectable way and traditional values upheld by sisters.


Themes - 'Genre films are often underpinned by universal themes, which increase their appeal to audiences. These themes, underpinning a film’s narrative are most effective when they are based on binary oppositions'.


How we could adapt this to our genre: The ethnic gangster (usually) rises from an environment of poor working class to the high state of social prominence through the means of illegal activities and brutality, only to slide back to a rival gang through his arrest or violent death.

Audience response – 'Some genres are most easily identified by their target audience. Every film has a “mode of address”, a particular way in which it speaks to a target audience. Horror films intend to “horrify” audiences, action films deliberately set out to make an audience feel tense'.

How we could adapt this to our genre:  The main character (gangster) can be easily recognised by the audience- Highly attractive, his animal magnetism, physical and economic aggressiveness shows charisma.

The response from audience shows that gangster movies has a mythic resonance for them. A typical character we could be looking at is as of a Robin Hood figure who helps and protects the poor and the weak against the rich and powerful.

Things you would find in gangster movies

-Violence (bloody. usually involving dangerous weapons) --->
-Drugs


-Good Guy Vs Bad Guy --->

- flashy cars, expensive clothes, and mansions. Women are measures of success as well.
-Classical music, hip hop/rap

Places were the opening of the film could be set

- This is a typical rough neighbourhood which potrays the hip-hop side of the movie.

- Dark setting which shows the mystery and suspicion of the scene.

 

 

- This setting could tell the audiance that this scene is going to contain danger.

List of gangster/crime films

   Scarface

  The Godfather

  Goodfellas

Menace II society

  Boys N The Hood

Menace II society Opening Scene

     

Opening Scene Of Menace II society

Long shot

This long shot expresses the actors character in many ways. Immediately you can tell that this movie is about young corrupt youth from the way they are dressed up, also you can tell that the genre of this film is crime/gangster. the baggy clothing and silver jewelery could imply that this film is going to be rough due to the stereotypes and categories these types of characters will be put in. This image could also imply that these two characters are the main actors. Furthermore, as the movie starts violence is included straight as gunshots are heard in the background. These diegetic sounds are used to show the reality that is portrayed within the scene. They also make the scene more violent and brutal. the music which is played in the background could also convey what the characters are like, in this case hip hop music is played giving the audience the sense gangsters.

Training Day Opening Scene

 

Establishing Shot – This shot is used at the begging of the film to show the setting of the movie. Also the use of Diegetic Sounds sets the atmosphere of the location in which the film has been made. For example sounds such as police sirens, traffic jams and people talking gives the audience the sense of the place being a loud and busy environment. Never the less the use of Non-Diegetic sounds is used as well. The Hip-hop music which is played in the background gives a rougher side to the opening, which could also give the audience a vivid idea ofwhat the genre may be. After this shot the camera slowly zooms in to the inner city and shows a deeper perspective of the Location.

Mid Close-Up  

When the camera goes in to the inner city, it captures a mid close-up shot of the actor. this shot shows the expression of the character which again briefly explains what type of film this is going to be.

Preliminary Task

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIa8jl6H0_o&feature=player_embedded

Preliminary Task - Editing skills

Using The MacBook

I processed and edited my preliminary task through the apple MacBook. Even though the system was completely strange we managed to pull it off. We briefly brainstormed our ideas and started editing.

The Macbook had many interesting things we could play around with. Things such as editing sounds, putting effects on the clip like inserting non degetic sounds etc. I believe that me and my group edited our preliminary task pretty well, however i thought we could of sorted out th e sounding a bit better.

 Most Challenging Thing Whilst Editing And Recording 

The most challenging thing was to learn how to use the Macbook; we struggled quite a bit until we learnt how to use it. Also applying the 180 degree shot whilst recording was slightly difficult, but we still gave it a shot. Another problem which occurred was that we worked quite slowly as there was many parts of the video to edit and we only had one Macbook, maybe next time we could get the group member to bring in his Macbook from home.

Things which I have learnt through editing

·                     The edits can set and change the mood of the scene.

·                     You can change the transitions/sound etc.

·                     You can add Music/background themes etc.

In the first week i have learnt about the different camera shots and movements and the ways it is seen by the audience and how they give different impacts to the scene. 

Extreme long shot/Establishing shot : An extreme long shot is used to show the setting, time etc..

Medium shot: A medium shot usually captures someone from the waist up. this shot shows/identifies the character or object 

Close up: this shot usually captures the characters head and shoulders, also used to show the reaction, emotion and details of the character.

Extreme close-up: showing a feature from the face. this way that part of the feature that is shown will dominate the screen.

Point of view shot: subjective shot taken from the point of view of a participant or character in the action. for eg. a character looking at the door handle about to open the door.

Action shot: Generally a mid shot capturing the action. Eg running across the street.

Two shot: Generally showing s shot of 2 people facing, possibly engaging in conversation. usually used in TV Shows.

Reverse shot: The reverse of the Over the Shoulder Shot.



extreme long shot/Establishing shot


close up 


medium shot











 point of view shot

action shot