Sub-genre Research

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Research into my gangster sub- genre : British Genre

Transcript of Sub-genre Research

Research into my gangster sub-genre : British

Genre

Shot types and Editing

Slow motion – Gangster squad action scene

Establishing shot - Bugsy Malone

Freeze Frame and Voice over - Long Stock

Panning movement - Get

Carter

Two shot - Gangster Squad

Close ups - Bugsy Malone

Compared to other genre types, such as Mob, British Gangster film openings use much more different and skilful shot types an editing. Within the film openings from the sub genre British Gangster, I have noticed the use of freeze frame, slow motion and fast paced clips throughout, as well as other different techniques. These different techniques allows he characters to be revealed in different ways, but also is open to let lots of information in quickly. This is a skill used to entice the audience. The fast pace represents the quick sped of criminals and the freeze frame relates to when criminals get caught, arrested or even killed.

Mise en Scene

Make-up - Gangster Squad - red shiny lips, defined black eyeliner, pale skin, brown eyebrows.Other examples of makeup used is fake blood and other substances to make fake cuts, bruising and injuries. This theatrical makeup strategy allows the action and violence to appear real to the audience.

Costume - Bugsy Malone - The costume in this film is a traditional representation of a male. This representation is shown by the male characters wearing top hats, suit and ties with smart shirts.

Long Stock - In contrast to Bugsy Malone with their smart wear, this film concludes to have a very casual look finished with casual trousers, top, coat and a scarf.

Colour - Long Stock and Two Smoking Barrels uses a slight Sepia Effect

- Black and White

A strong gangster image is created with the traditional representation of men when a stereotypical black suit ad tie costume is used. This costume and representation is used in American Gangster Films, this is in contrast to British Gangster Films as they challenge the stereotypical image of gangsters as there are less people in suits. Instead of the characters wearing suits they are dressed in much more causal wear which can be known to the younger generation as 'chavvy'. They characters would wear things such as hoodies and joggers. This is done to blend in with society and their community which makes it more relaxed and more of a less important/worried about crime. Bugsy Malone throughout presents their characters in smart suits whereas Long Stock has both casual characters and smartly dressed actors. This shows that the British Gangster genre has a wider variety of costumes and there is not a specific outfit type.

Setting - Gangster Squad // Bar

Long Stock // Street

Gangster Squad // Urban City

Mise en SceneProps -Cigarettes, Gun, Old Fashioned Car, Drugs, Money

British Gangster films usually are set outside, such as a city, park or a street view. These outdoor scenes usually reveal what mischief the characters get up to. Although most scenes are exterior, some scenes are shot inside buildings where the lighting is low levelled to create a troubled and mysterious atmosphere. The theme of the film is normally fitted around the criminalities props used within the film.

Actors -Long Stock - Jason Flemyng, Bexter Fletcher, Nick Moran, Jason StathamGangster Squad - Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Josh Brolin, Nick Nolte, Anthony Mackie, Michael Pena, Robert Patrick, Sean Penn, Glovanni Ribisa

Mise en SceneLighting – Bugsy Malone // Low level lighting

Long Stock // Natural lighting

Sound -

Non-Diegetic - Non-diegetic is a sound outside the characters world, they're unable to hear it but we

are.Music is usually used to build tension in the atmosphere which can be reflected on the emotions of the audience.It may begin non-diegetic and then

turn into diegetic.

Diegetic -Diegetic sound is

within the characters world, we know they can hear the sounds by the things they do and how they react to some sounds.

Examples of this in gangster films are

the sounds of explosions,

background noise (birds, weathering

ect.), cars, footsteps.

Sound Bridge is used to link

scenes.

Voice-over -This can be a description of the main characters, this is shown in Long

Stock.Someone's/A characters thoughts may be spoken about in a voice-over

which allows the audience tot understand the

feelings of the character or what they are doing/going to do.

Voice-overs are also a clever way to introduce an unknown character with just their voice and then later on bring them into the film, this is a good technique and creates

mystery upon this character.

Martin Scorsesse has used his own voice in many of his films but has never

revealed his face.

Non-diegetic music is more frequent than diegetic music during the opening of Gangster films. Sounds that are out of the characters world have a better capability to build tension and reveal what is about to happen. For example, a fast pace piece of music would imply danger is near. In Bugsy Malone, diegetic footsteps are used, this is an uncommon aspect within the first 2 minutes of a gangster film as it is important to draw the audience in and as the only sound was the footsteps it was risky to do so but was successful.

Most Profitable -Long, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, directed by Guy Ritchie, was massively profitable with a budget of £960,000 and gross intake of $3,650,677. This is not Ritchie's most profitable film as he continued on a high after this positive beginning and continued to direct British Gangster films such as Snatch. Snatch had a £6,000,000 budget and grossed $30,093,107. This is his most profitable films.

Most Influential - Rocknrolla, made in 2008, is one of the most influential Crime Thriller films because it stood out from the other Gangster films during that time. It stands out as it combines humour with crime and plays with the serious stereotype gangster image. Famous Actors were used to entice the audience. These actors were Gerard Butler, Gemma Arterton, Thandie Newton and Jeremy Piven.

Most Successful - Snatch 2000 is a comical Crime film written and directed by Guy Ritchie. Big famous actors such as Brad Pitt, Vinnie Jones and Jason Stratham star in this film. It was rated a high 8.3 and a gross box office of £30.1million.

I have researched into my sub genre: British Gangster. I have also looking into the history and most common films of the gangster genre. Now my focus of the gangster genre turns onto my sub genre. With my knowledge of the sub genre I can know how to put the aspects of a British Gangster film into the opening of my film. I will later on have to show hoe I have used the conventions or challenged them and will need to compare this research to my final piece. In the stages of my research I have discovered that Guy Ritche is one of the most famous British Gangster directors and have produced extremely successful films which have starred highly famous actors. Because of his success he his work has highly inspired me!