Evaluation 2

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

The social group represented in my film is teenagers. My central protagonist is played by Sam Leach, 17years old.


My character is very similar to Chris Miles played by Joe Dempsie in Skins. Both appear quite scruffy and dress in a similar fashion. Like Liam, Chris Miles had a difficult home life and

he finds himself homeless after he is kicked out by a squatter who is living in his stripped-down house, of which he had to sell the contents. Both are typical teenage boys who come from urban areas. Both characters have good hearts and have a lot going for them in terms of future prospects, however both find themselves following the wrong path. I think my audience will be able to relate to the character of Liam easily as it can be so easy for ones life to be turned upside down.

Teenagers who abuse drugs of any description are often portrayed very negatively and irresponsible in the media. However, my film shows one aspect of how many things a young teenager can go through that may lead to drugs.

I believe that my film reaches a niche audience, as very current youth language is used throughout, limiting the film to smaller cohort audiences.

Evaluation 1

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Through creating my film I have tried to shed new light on a subject matter which is widely discussed in film, TV and other forms of media.

The genre of my film is a gritty teen drama produced in a documentary type style.

Title of the film:
'The Streets' is a very urban name which has a depressing feel to it. It has connotations of homelessness and neglect which mirrors the streets of London today. I have taken this idea from films such as Kidulthood, which I think represent modern teenage life in a realistic and contemporary way.
I have chosen to name my film 'TheStreets' because I feel that it sums up the narrative to the film brilliantly, it gives the audience a insight to what the film is about before having seen a trailer/poster etc...
The title of the film appears at the end of the opening which follows conventions of film title sequences.

Setting/Location:
Generally the opening shot of a film will be either an establishing shot or a blank screen with titles on. These title screens can be a way of building up suspense and also giving away the genre of the movie to the audience. My film begins with a shot of a house door which quickly cut to a side view of the house. The house is located in Queens Park which is considered to be a 'well off' and wealthy area. The setting in my film moves from a cosy home ( middle class) setting, (where he is asked to leave)to a dark and rundown housing area.

I feel that the urban setting for my film gives great emphasis on the subject. My film follows conventions of a British urban independent film in it's setting. Films of the genre such as 'Kidulthood' and 'Bulletboy' follows similar conventions focusing on gritty London 'street' life.

The iconography of a park bench has any meanings, one of which is solitude and loneliness which I believe I have shown through this shot.

Costumes and Props:
The clothing Liam wears gets shabbier and he becomes more and more covered up, like he is trying to hide. This highlights how invisible homeless people are to society. The costume is typical of what you would expect to see in a homeless individual wearing, this attires to the stereotypes society has created about the homeless community.

Camerawork and Editing:
Other genre conventions involve characteristics film techinques. I have shown this through close-up shots and establishing shots of my character.
I used establishing shots to show change in setting which parallels change in Liam's circumstances. I also used close-ups to show his mood deteriorating from concerned, to desperate, to helplessness- the process most newly homeless people must go through.

Title font and style:
The title font looks like a white-washed wall where the paint has peeled off over time. This has the connotation of neglect and abandonment. I believe this anchors the narrative as my main character clearly feels this is how his own life has turned out. The title is written in white which reflects the bleak and raw feel of the film. The basic font and titles reinforce the independent style of the film which follows the conventions of a British, independent, low budget films.

Story and how the opening sets it up:
I have chosen to open my film with one central protagonist as I believe that this breaks away from the norm of urban films which usually focus on gang culture and ethnic minorities. Because I am focusing the film on one character it gives the audience a much more intimate and personal relationship with the character.

How characters are introduced:
The main character is represented like every other stereotypical middle class teenage boy who becomes one of the many invisible homeless people in modern day society. The opening sequence shows how easy it is for someone to go down the wrong path. The natualistic acting style helps build up emotion in the issues rather than obession with the character or the script. This relates to the conventions of this genre as the film is based on social realism.

Genre and how the opening suggests it:
The opening sequence to 'The Streets' greatly suggested an teenage, urban film through use of certain key shots, highlighting the location

I believe my film has used, developed and challenged forms and conventions of title sequences.

Shooting schedule and staffing breakdown

Equipment Checklist

Camera:



Tripod:



PROPS

Rizla:


Grinder:


Tobacco:


Sleeping Bag:

COSTUME:

Denim jeans, Nike trainers, black coat with hood, green hat, dark grey jumper.

Copyright Permission Letter

Film Questionnaire

Market research is an essential part in film making. It can help shape a new product, identifying what is needed to ensure that the end product is highly focused towards my target audience and demand.
I created a questionnaire and gave it out to 20 people altogether; 10 females and 10 males.

How old are you?
A large proportion on my sample where between 14-26 years old therefore I have decided to aim my film at this age range.

What is your favourite genre of film?

The most popular genre of film was drama and teen with 12/20 people selecting one of the two. As a result I have decided to create a British teen drama.

What is your favourite genre of music?

Dubstep came out the highest with 33% for favourite genre of music. As this genre of music is the highest I have decided to play music from this genre as background music to the film so it appeals to my audience.

Where do you normally go to watch a film?

We have come up with 'The Streets' as a title for our film. Does this title appeal to you?

As all my sample like the title 'The Streets', I dont have to change it. 'The Streets' will be the title to my film.

Title Sequence Treatmeant

The film starts with a black screen which fades into a wide shot of a family house. The audience can hear the climax of an argument and, whilst focusing on the house, a teenage boy storms out, looking very unhappy and distressed. The camera follows his journey down the street and into the park using wide shots and close ups. Liam walks through the park and over to a bench where he lights up a cigarette, he looks very upset and angry. This is quickly cut to a wide shot of Liam walking up towards a block of flats- his mates house hoping to get a place to stay but nobody is in. Fast cuts and close-ups are used here to make the audience start sympathise with him.

Liam is now at another part of this journey, now looking shabbier and more depressed. A wide shot shows Liam walking in a different location, the camera pans with him as he walks through the streets. Again the shot is cut sharply to a wide shot of Liam on a park bench, he begins to roll a spliff. Close-ups of him rolling shows his desperation for his smoke. Liam looks over to a bin, a close up shows him thinking as he walks over in bid to find something to eat.

Liam is now waiting for a bus, a wide shot shows him waiting. He gets off and is now at the final part of his journey. He is still walking the streets like we first saw him but this time looking unhealthy, unclean and sleep deprived. We see him walk equipped with his sleeping bag through a busy London road. He walks over to a corner, his spot, where he sleeps, and the place he now calls home.

In the opening sequence we see a boy who was once living a life of luxury with his family in a terrible state on the streets. The contrast in his behaviour, appearance, and emotions is great. As an audience we are left wanting to know what has happened and eager for the film to begin.