Website Deconstruction 1- Kidulthood

It is useful to do website deconstructions as we will be making a website ourselves. We can see the conventions of a social realism film website and mimic the effective characteristics.

1) Effective quotes appear in the centre of the screen. Others include '"Brilliant". MTV'. These are useful to show the overall quality of the film and to persuade viewers to watch it.

2) This introduces the film and also advertises the following film 'adulthood'. The viewer can make the connection between the two films and it is obvious they are a continuing story.

3) The title is clear as it fills a huge space. It is spread along the top of the website and is eye-catching due to the white on black combination. The bold font makes it jump out at you. The inconsistency of the lower case 'i' gives the impression of uneducated characters.

4) This is another quote and almost works like a tag line. It leaves the audience in suspense as it is a rhetorical question. The use of the direct pronoun 'you've' includes the viewer and they feel personally connected.

5) The main character from the film takes up a lot of space on the websites homepage. His clothing and race make him prone to stereotypical thoughts before the audience has even seen the film. The mise-en-scene of the baseball bat adds to the idea that this film will be violent.

6) They use the website as an advertising strategy to sell the DVD. The image of the DVD box shows people exactly what it looks like and the features that come with the DVD.

7) The 'revolver entertainment' logo promotes that company but also shows who helped in the making of the film.

8) The menu at the bottom of the screen allows you to select from many different action. It shows where you can watch the trailer, download soundtracks etc.

9) This informs the audience of when the film is available to buy and corresponds with the big image of the DVD. The typography is the same for all the important messages making it easy to navigate around the page.

10) At the very bottom of the web page it shows the designers of the website, however it is not very important so it is in small font.

11) This is the selling point of the DVD. It is bragging about all the special features and bonus scenes to entice people to buy the DVD.

Poster Deconstruction 1 - Fish Tank

This is the first of our Poster Deconstructions. We think this is important and useful as we will be designing our own poster for our film and we can analyse similar ones so that we know what to include and what works well on a poster.

Layout and Features

1. Introduction to film -> 'The' = ultimate, important, showing  what to expect -> high expectations.
2. Comments by trusted sources and companies -> publicity and reach -> trusted by the viewer. (targeted at target audience - e.g teenager magazine, if aimed at teenagers)
3. Using well-known names + awards promotes the film + viewers know they can trust them -> Cannes logo -> visual importance -> iconic.
4. Names of Actors/Actresses
-> small font because social realism don't want them to be unrealistic and famous as they want it as 'real' as possible.
-> focusing on representing the characters rather than acting skills.
-> [L-R] Main character order
5. Tagline -> Summarises and almost quoting from character
-> small text, not drawing attention to 'making' a tagline -> as real as possible.
-> placed at the bottom of poster, last thing you read, leaves us thinking.
6. Credits - Small (blurs into stripes on top)
-> can be read if needed -> less important as often social realism films are low budget anyway.

The Image/Representation

7. Shows the setting and background to the character -> urban area -> representing that her area/ socialisation is always in her mind -> holding her back?
8. Wearing a hoodie 
-> representation of wearing a hoodie -> youth, trouble, hiding, covering identity.
9. Stomach and bare skin showing -> representation, subtly sexual.
10. Hoop earrings and gold jewellery -> the fashion?
-> infers and represents she is socialised into this, working class, looks 'cheap'
-> 'Chav' Culture
11. Blue tint on photo - down mood, sad, cold, lonely ?
-> clouds in background shows normality and shows that it is a normal day of life.
12. Wind swept hair -> showing movement -> representing unexpected acquaintances and decisions
13. Shadow on one side of face and looking into the light -> associated with hope and freedom.
-> darkness to lightness transition- change?

Title 

14. Capital letters - simple font
-> represents simple lifestyle, nothing complicated or fancy
-> boyish to represent character
15. Orange colour
-> stands out against the blue -> protagonist wanting to stand out?

Script

We have written a detailed script, including sound and track changes, dialogue and the specific shots we want.

We used google doc's because we felt this would help people access our document better than directly pasting onto a blog post. This also means we can print our script using access from any computer because of the google storage space.

Click the logo below to view our script.

Settings

The image to the right is the setting of our party scene. It is located in Otford to the rear of the station. It is a small secluded field so we are unlikely to get disturbed while filming. We will film in the evening when it is dark and have the characters located in a group in the middle of the field. Filming in a field is effective as it shows the carelessness of teenagers.






We will film housing around the Bat and Ball area in Sevenoaks, mainly houses that look warn and basic.










Additionally, we will get some footage of the station in Bat and Ball and the by-pass as they both depict working class city life.











The shot of the main girl walking down the stairs in inappropriate clothing will be filmed in Hannah's house. The location of the stairs is perfect as the girl can walk down the stairs and enter the living room where her Dad will be.

The living room has normal features; a sofa, rug, cabinets, TV etc. The father character will be slouched on the sofa which will depict his lazy, depressed state.

Music

Music is vital in establishing the mood in a trailer. You can tell what the emotions you will feel in the film and how you are meant to react. We have researched different party music for the party scenes and emotional instrumentals for the hopeful and sympathetic scenes.

The first video below is an example of the audio we might use for the beginning of the trailer. It provokes sympathy and introduces the story line.

Another potential video we are going to use as a emotive piece is from sound cloud. It is similar to the one above as it has a beautiful piano instrumental with a steady beat to keep it attractive to our target audience- teenagers.

http://soundcloud.com/search?q%5Bfulltext%5D=tentoes+sad+piano+beat



For the party scenes we will use sound effects to build up the exciting and crazy atmosphere. One of which will be the first 10 seconds of a video from YouTube. We have done a lot of research into different sounds on YouTube as it is one of the biggest music libraries available at the click of a mouse.

The main music in the party scene will be a song by Fat Boy Slim as it has a fast pace and will keep the audience engaged.

Depression

The father character in our trailer is going to be effected by depression. This will create another sense of sympathy for our main character, as she will be a young carer.

Through our research into depression, we found that this was not a topic easily used in films as it is quite hard to address and sad to watch. However, we will be using this in our trailer to provoke sympathy for our main character, and thus giving her an explanation as to why she turns to drugs and alcohol.

The main symptoms of depression are:

- Mood Swings
- Self harm
- Isolation- father finding it hard to get out of bed
- Angry outbursts - we will show father shouting at the girl


We hope to create a character in our trailer that will mimic the kind of frustration and sadness that someone in a real life situation feels, and can relate to.

An example of depression being used in film is 'Sylvia' released in 2003. The character sinks deeper and deeper into emotional isolation and emptiness, especially after her partner leaves her for another woman.

Make-Up Idea

This is our make-up video on the transformation of the main character for our trailer. We have showed it in video form because we think you will be able to see the physical changes more effectively as opposed to photos.

Props

The living room will have basic furniture in. The colours will be bland and washed out.

We will need alcohol bottles and white powder to represent drugs. Also cigarettes will be used in our trailer.

Art equipment will be set up in the girl's bedroom. Her room will be plain but with tacky pink bed sheets. 

Props include:
- white powder (flour) 
- vodka bottles, beer cans, shot glasses
- cigarettes
- art equipment (paint, paint brushes, canvas)
- depression drugs
- furniture
- letter

Shooting Schedule

Sunday 9^th December 2012 – ALL DAY

Plan of Action: Filming of Home shots/Sid with dad

- Bringing up drugs

- Infront of TV

- Doing art

- Letter through the door

- Reaction to letter through door

- Looking after her dad

- Arguing with dad

- Showing dad is depressed

- Close up of letter shot

Location: Hannah’s house

Actors: Sedona Bourne, Duncan Bellinger-Brown and Sophie Bellinger-Brown

Costumes and Make-up: Sedona (chavvy, in character), Duncan (down, tracksuit/pyjamas), Sophie (average girl)

Director: Hannah Bellinger-Brown, Bronwen Lambert and Joe Sloggett

Props Needed: Normal Lounge Set-up, TV and low key lighting

Number of Video Cameras Needed: 2

Saturday 15^th December 2012 – 5:00-8:00

Plan of Action: Filming of Party Scene/Manic lifestyle

- Getting off

- Dancing

- Manic feeling

- Teenagers

- Hecticness

- Drunk

- Out of control

Location: Otford Field

Actors: Sedona Bourne, Harry Littlefield, Charlotte Karg, Joseph Sloggett, Tilda Roberts and others.

Costumes and Make-up: Sedona (in character, tracksuit, make up, hair up, bling), others – party outfits, little clothing (slut behaviour)

Director: Hannah Bellinger-Brown, Bronwen Lambert and Joe Sloggett

Props Needed: Alcohol cans, cigarettes, fake drugs, drinking bottles on floor

Number of Video Cameras Needed: 2

Saturday 22^nd December 2012 – 11:00-5:00

Plan of Action: Filming of outside shots, freedom, estate shot

- Establishing shot (estate)

- Upset looking on bench

- Emotional running through fields

- Hope and freedom

- Motorway shot

Location: Otford Field/Sevenoaks/estate

Actors: Sedona Bourne

Costumes and Make-up: Sedona (upset make up running, emotional feeling, normal character clothes, tracksuits etc.)

Director: Hannah Bellinger-Brown and Bronwen Lambert

Props Needed: Coat, cigarette’s

Number of Video Cameras Needed: 1

Stereotypes and Depicting our Teenage Character

'Most common words used to describe young people in British newspapers in 2008 were yobs, thugs, sick, feral, hoodie, louts, evil, frightening and scum.'

The 'Chav' Phenomenon

Many people would say that there has been many developments in the terminology used to refer to the working class in society, and that these have become more negative and non-constructive recently because of some media objects. This 'chav' phenomenon has begun as we think of what the working class of the twentieth century was like (hard working) and we then look at our current 'underclass' as some may say, and these have become this character. 

Many would associate this 'chav' style as to a relevance to Vicky Pollard from the comedy sketch, Little Britain. This would include the stereotypical sportswear, and big gold jewellery. This comedic aspect to chavs in the UK is showing that there is more liability now in naming a person a 'chav'. The constant comedy of being a chav as well, such as Catherine Tate means that people are more aware and are now naming this style as this phenomenon, which many would say is increasing judgemental society. 

From a BBC interview with Kate Jarvis, who plays Mia in Fish Tank: 

Teens are often portrayed as a patronizing way on screen, especially 'working class' kids. But Fish Tank feels different. Were you wary at first though?

"I think all teenagers are different. This film was shot in Essex which everyone knows has got this bad reputation, but I really do think there are certain areas of Essex that are really nice. And, like everywhere, there might be some kids who act like the media are portraying them to be, but there are others who are completely different... All teenagers are different and they're not all bad, like hoodies just wanting to go out and make trouble..."

Rose Tyler from Doctor Who is a good character we want to use as influence as she is from a working class background. (click on her photo to see a YouTube video which we think depicts her character well). Although she is from a sci-fi television show, we think that she depicts and physically shows what we want our main character to be like. 

Kelly from Misfits is also a good example of what we want our character to be portrayed as. (click on photo for character profile).

Cast

We have thought hard about the cast we will use in our trailer. We want the actors and actresses to represent everyday people living everyday lives. 

Sedona Bourne will play the main female role. She has advanced experience in acting from starring in previous film openings and doing drama at GCSE. She is attractive but also has a delicate and vulnerable touch about her.






Duncan and Sophie will play the girl's family. Duncan being the father and Sophie the younger sister. Duncan will play the father well as he is a big man and therefore will appear quite intimidating and strict.


These are just some of the people we will use in our party scenes. Joe, Charlotte, Harry and Tilda are all in their late teens and they depict the stereotypical teenager perfectly.

Storyboard

This is our storyboard, you can see from the drawings the type of shots we want and we have also added some detail on the sound and lighting as well in writing.

Full Storyboard:

 

 

This is our first part of our trailer where we are going to show some sort of issue in terms of her looking after someone. There is a close up of her carrying some pills and a glass of water in her casual clothes or pyjamas to show that her life is interrupted by the depression that her father has. She is showing to take on a motherly role and introduces us to the characters.

These shots of the partying scene are put into our trailer to show the heightened action and manic feeling of the protagonist's life. We will be showing aspects such as alcohol, dancing, sexual encounters and an out-of control feeling.

We are going to show shots of her and her talent, which is going to be art. We felt like this would give more hope to the storyline and therefore enables the audience to feel empathise her and want her to do well. We chose art because this was something which many people in society look down upon because it isn't necessarily as academic as Maths or English and we wanted to use this idea of a disregarded talent by her peers and society.

This scene will show towards the end of our trailer as it is portraying this idea that she does have hope but at the same time we can edit the shots well so there is also a sense of mystery as to whether she attends this college to pursue her dream and whether her responsibilites at home will restrict her. This will add the tension in the trailer and show the unpredictable journey that the character could follow. 

Costume

Our trailer is based upon the life of a working class girl therefore the costume that we include has to be of an affordable. We are going use fairly basic items of clothing such as leggings, plimsolls and a cardigan. The clothes we use have to show that this person does not really know about fashion and doesn't care much for there appearance. Fish Tank can be used as an example of this as she is working class and her appearance is not her main priority. She wears hoodies, trackies; mostly clothes that are comfortable.

           

The girls in the party scenes will be in different attire, they will be dressed in a more provocative manner. The clothes would include mini skirts, hot pants, bandeau's  crop tops etc. This also provides a contrast between the main girl and the others who are at the party.

The boys that will be in the party scene will all be wearing fairly similar clothing to show how they all want to fit in with each other. The clothing is most likely to be jeans, hoodies, polos, sweatshirts, t-shirts etc.