Story Board for 'Escape'

By doing this Story Board it helped me understand how I was going to film, in what order and has made the planning of it a lot easier as I now have the storyboard to refer back to. I have presented it as a video rather than screenshots as I think it's more interesting to watch for the viewer. It also helped determine the first lot of filming that we did as it was using basic shots that would be fairly straight forward to edit so that we could get used to using the editing software before moving onto more complicted filming and editing.

Script for 'Escape'

(Tony and Shaun’s phone conversation - Shaun is in college. Tony and Shaun are meant to be meeting there but Tony hasn’t turned up yet. Shaun’s leaning against the pillar; Tony is sat down in an unknown place.)

Tony: Alright Shaun?

Shaun: Yeah, alright?

Tony: Yeah, where are you?

Shaun: Ah mate I’m just in college.

Tony: Yeah alright mate, I just had to sort a few things out, I’ll be there soon.

Shaun: Yeah…alright…yeah just hurry up.

(Dan walks in behind Shaun)

Dan: Alright Shaun?

Shaun: Dan?!

(Dan punches Shaun and the fight begins.)

Tony: Shaun…Shaun?

(Dan come back out of the flashback and is sat on the bench in the park trying to stay away from Tony. He sees Tony running after him.)

Dan: Shit

(Dan runs away.)

Writing out the script and going through it has definitely helped me in the production on my media text. By doing this I now know where dialogue needs to be and I can start thinking about music as I know where dialogue won't be.

Institutional Research

Taking into account that my media text would be a low budget British film, using smaller distribution company’s compared to bigger ones such as Warner Bros. and Universal that have been involved with the distribution of films such as ‘American Gangster’ and ‘The Bourne’ Series. Although these are all very successful films using well established film distributers I don’t think these would be the best companies to use as they are used to working with medium to high budget films, having filmed in many expensive location and studios. Considering a smaller distribution company like Capelight Pictures would be a better option. Capelight Pictures have been involved with films like ‘Kidulthood’ and its sequel ‘Adulthood’, ‘Cherrybomb’ and ‘The Reckoning’ all films with a sub genre or main genre of crime. How these films were made and the budget and age rating of the film would be very similar to mine.

There are different production companies that I could use to be involved in the production of my media text, big well known companies include Paramount, New Line Cinema however there are smaller companies that it think would be more suitable to produce my media text such as Cipher Films and TMC Films. The media text I am producing would be a low budget film therefore I would only need a small percentage of people to actually pay to watch my media text to make a profit. Because of this, using a smaller production company would be more suitable. Cipher films were also involved in the production of British drama film ‘Kidulthood’. Kidulthood has sub genres of crime and gangster similar to my media text. Kidulthood was also a low budget film costing around £600,000 to produce; this was possible as most scenes were filmed on the streets of London rather than in studios and it took about only a month to film. The qualities shown in the production of this film are very similar to what I think I would expect if producing my media text in ‘real life’.  Cipher Films also helped produce the sequel to ‘Kidulthood’, ‘Adulthood’. To keep the same production company throughout both films Cipher Films must be a reliable company. Cipher Films also has other experience producing British drama/crime genre films such as ‘All Things to All Men’. Therefore I think Cipher films would be the best production company to choose to be involved in the production of my media text.

Doing this institutional research has given me insight not only into the type of distrubution and production of my own media text but also into those of other films. This helped me to decide which companies would be the best for my short film and why. Looking at the distribution and production of films that would be similar to my media text was really interesting and helpful to understand how it would work in 'real life'.

Regulation Research

Guidelines of the BBFC

The BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) is an independent body established in 1995. They classify all films taking into account content, language, genre and UK law. They are classified with one of the following certificates: U (universal), PG (parental guidance), 12 (only suitable for 12 or above), 12A (in cinemas only) (must be accompanied by an adult if under 12), 15, 18 or 18R (restricted).

Depending on the certificate, people will know what to expect in the film. Films that portray violence as a normal solution to problems, heroes who inflict pain and injury, rudeness towards victims, the encouragement of aggressive attitudes, content that shows characters taking pleasure in pain or humiliation are likely to receive a higher certificate. 

I plan on making my film a 15 Certificate - the guidelines are as follows…

Discrimination

The work as a whole must not promote discriminatory

language or behaviour.

Drugs

Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not

promote or encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily

accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example,

aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be accepted.

Horror

Strong threat and hazard are permitted "unless sadistic

or sexualised."

Imitable behaviour

Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and

self-harming) should not be explicit on detail that could be

copied. Easily accessible weapons should not be promoted.

Language

There may be frequent use of strong language. The strongest terms  may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated

use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable.

Nudity

Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but without

strong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a

non-sexual or educational context.

Sex

Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail.

There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour,

but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable

unless justified by context. "Work whose primary purpose is

sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable."

Theme

No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is

appropriate for 15 year olds.

Violence

Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction

of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to

be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also

unlikely to be acceptable.

There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence

but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and

have a strong contextual justification.

The genre of our film is crime/gangster which means our film may include to have violence, bad language and bad behaviour.

These guidelines will determine what is in our film to make it appropriate for the 15 certificate.

Doing this has informed me of what I can and can't put in my 2 minute film to make it suitable for the certificate I want it to be.. For example in my film there is a fight scene, following the guidlines we will be able to show this but we can't dwell on the induries inflicted from the fight.

Audience Research

Doing this has helped me finalise some ideas for my media text that I was unsure about before. These include the certificate (15), slang being used, violence (a fight and chase) and the target audience mainly being males - these were the common topics that appeared when we asked what they would expect to see in a crime/gangster film. I learnt that other people around my age group think that the target audience for a crime/gangster film is males 15 years and over. I now also have a further understanding of what the general age of my target audience think would make a crime/gangster film successful.

Target Audience

By doing this research I have found that the best target audience for my media text will be males of 15 years and above. Therefore I can tailer it with specific details such as violence and woman that will appeal to this audience.

Textual Analysis of Kidulthood

This is the textual analysis of the opening two minutes of the film Kidulthood. The genre of this film is crime/gangster which is the same as I have chosen for my media text.

                       

• Black screen and white text - makes the production names stand out, advertising them.
• Moderately paced R&B/Rap music starts.
• Background noise of a busy place (lots of people talking) also starts.  

• Film title dominates the screen - again white text on black background.
• Deep bass notes are introduced - adds a gloomy feel to the film.
• Busy background noise still on.

• Blurry, tracking shots used, introducing the setting - school field (wire fencing, bikes).
• Fast paced to match the pace of the music.
• Introduction of costume - dominant black and white colours. 
• Background noise now matches the setting of a busy school yard.

• Start of proper dialogue, a phone conversation. 
• Clear costume shown now - appears to be  school uniform (ties and white shirts), age is also suggested because of this.
• Accent an indicator of area (East London)
• Tracking shots used to follow the girl on the phone.

• Mysterious person - very close up shot.
• Keeps identity hidden - introduces the idea of hidden secrets.
• Using equipment - could be the school technology department.
• Music still playing.

• Conversation introduces some of the main characters and the relationships between them.
• Again the accent is prominent a lot of slang is used gives an idea of age and place of setting.
• More close up shots used to focus on the importance of the characters. 

• More main characters introduced, close ups used again for the same reason as before.
• Different accents suggesting differences among the same group of people - maybe problems to evolve later on.
• Stood in different place maybe their accents separate them from the others.

• Characters are introduced to each other.
• Introduction of an event (a party) could be the focus of the film. 
• Long close up shot used again.
• Music and background noise still playing.
• Use of a party event is an indicator of their age group as well as the uniform.

• Theme of romance and relationships suggested.
• Close up shot of the two characters suggesting their importance of them and their relationship.
• Again an accent is prominent and uniform is still being worn.

• More main characters introduced - the last to be introduced using same shot as others, suggesting importance. 
• Romantic rivalry suggested between him and the couple above.
• Not wearing uniform - maybe older than previous characters shown.
• Use of hoodie's stereotypes them as reckless teenagers

Considering all these point over the opening two minutes of the film it appears that the pace of the music used works really effectively when matched to the pace of the shots. Using close-ups to portray the importance of characters or to keep a characters identity hidden to suggest mystery and danger works really successfully and I am going to try and incorporate these features into my own media text. However I think the concept of using many long-take, close up shots can becomes repetitive and boring therefore in my media text I hope to include a variation of shots to keep it interesting and match the fast pace of the media text.

Having done this textual analysis I now have a greater understanding of camera shots, introduction of characters, setting and costume used in a film very similar to what I hope my media text to be. I hope by doing this, my two minute film opening will be more successful as I now have a better understanding of what makes a low budget, British, crime film more effective and what makes it less effective. 

Film Synopsis

By doing this synopsis it has helped me prepare for props and the type of characters I need to find for my 2 minute film. It also helps me establish the setting and other aspects of the film (codes and convention that we need to make sure we get right to convey the crime/gangster genre.

Codes and Conventions of Two Genres

By doing this research I could select two genres that interest me to research their codes and conventions. It also helped me to pick the genre of crime/gangster rather than doing romance, as it is often harder to find two people willing to act in a way that a romance film requires compared to a crime/gangster film. Crime will also be more exciting and interesting to film and edit.