Conventions of Social Realism Intros.

The conventions of the opening of social realism lms are very similar and use the same lay out and structure at the beginning of the lm. What they all have at the start are a sequence of titles to show the production team who helped put the lm together, some longer than others announcing more of the team but some keep it short and brief with the important people. Other aspects that you aspect to see in the intros are the rst visual clip is shown in low key lighting to give it a negative feel with a pale color panel to really emphases props in the scene to get a clear emotion in the atmosphere. In the rst scenes the rst person you see is usually the protagonist, who is doing something what gives a clear statement of who they are. Other conventions include the uses of untrained actors, actors who you wouldn't really know of in lms before, which gives it more of a realist feel to the lm. Adding to that, the tted costumes to match the low economic back ground of the lm which it is set, which is a another convention. Also props used such as cigarettes, illegal drugs. The scenes are mainly location based, meaning lmed in real life areas to make the lm reality, what are generally low economic areas. Realism lms are made up with long take shots to get comfortable with the atmosphere and generally keep a smooth real feel to the scene. Diegetic sounds are more dominant than non diegetic but in the intro non diegetic is used as a light sound track to start the lm but shortly stops and is most likely not played again through out. They mainly use diegetic sounds to back up the scene with aspected noises to make the scene as real as possible. Wide shots are usually used to show the the location to provoke thoughts with clear pictures of what the protagonist has to deal with. In some cases but not as often there are some hand held to create a uncomfortable feeling to set the scene straight away. Each one of these points are commonly used to create that real feel to the lm and thats why its so different to hollywood. Bullet boy In this extract of the intro of bullet boy the micro elements used are mise en scene to employ certain features in this case they are done to employ a black youth prominently involved in gang activities commonly found around London. Key representatives featured are age and ethnicity. These issues being conveyed by two types of generations from the same low economic background with prominent difference by the way they act, such as the older black man is using a lot of informal language and is more aggressive where as the younger boy is much quiet and caring which shows a contrast of two generations and may inform how they change from there personal experiences as they get older. They portray construct this by there costume, make up, the older man who's just came out of prison- grey baggy (full) tracksuit - untreated hair and beard - showing that he is un organized and hasn't had the luxury because of his prison time. The other man - gold chains and bracelet rings - what is stereotypically common for a gang member and gives the impression he had a lot of pride - scar on his neck - stating it could be from a gang war giving the impression that he may be a violent person. The young boy - full school uniform neat and tted showing that he is well organized also it gives him an academic look showing that he goes to school. The use of props also help build an image cigarettes typically known for a low economic background. The low key lighting - in the prison before he leaves - really shows the contrast of the freedom and the prison what is isolating him from being there it also suggests a dark past that has got him into that prison and that the light is him starting a new life. The arrangement of this intro really creates a tense atmosphere by using, camera work - close up of the boy in the boot emphasizing the cramped condition he is in, jolty camera movements connoting the movement of the car going over bumps, lighting - dark, musky, blurred shot to really give it an uneasy shot to look at, soundtrack - lots diegetic noises , mufed road, car engine,

really feeling sympathetic for the the boy and giving it a real situation feeling conveying fear. All these combined create a tense atmosphere for the boy at the start. Together in a whole the micro elements conveyed, helped out by the macro, help construct an issue of gang type activities by small key features tting in together to create that sense such as, the serious face continuously used to show pride, courage, dominants or intimidating which is characteristics of a gang member. Codes tted in to make a clear view of the protagonists upbringing and lifestyle because we start off at the end of the process what got him in that mess giving a clear idea of what he had one. Fish Tank In the intro of Fish Tank the micro elements examined are from the category Sound. It is used in a way to create a busy aggressive estate dominated by young youths in a low economic environment. The representative being explored in this category are class and statues, the way this is being explored is a by the use of a constant diegetic sounds to create a typical poverty stricken area. In the rst scene you can already her a man shouting at somebody in a aggressive way, children screaming and laughing in the distance, these to generally show that this is a common on going thing which is why you can her children laughing because they have gained comfort over it because it happens on a regular - showing a unwelcoming area making it a intimidating scene for out siders. There is a clear sequence of constant diegetic noise - people laughing, shouting, cars, music, dogs barking - this is constant, if one thing stops there is another sound starting really building a busy scene almost chaotic with no room for pauses. This makes it clear its a daily routine and the action - ghting, arguing and damaging property happens during the journey of the girl is a common situation. Showing a thick atmosphere of a repetitive tension and fear. The accent , essex, slang what is projected through out the scene is very strained and aggressively portrayed by the protagonist, even when shes apologizing she also cursing at her showing that there is social issues involved in her life making it an easy to understand why she getting into some bad situations almost sympathetic towards her. The only time she is calm and positive is when she is talking to her dog maybe showing thats the only good relationship she has. What makes me move on to her relationship with her mum which is uncomfortable to watch as there is lack of pride and respect on both sides making it a unhealthy connection because on the continuous wailing at each other. Showing that there is clear family troubles may involving - money problems, alcoholism, drug usage, rebellion, health issues, giving a huge category to think about. These elements just on sound easily show what is trying to be created in the intro scene, by referring to sound and linking it to other elements makes it a clear structure of what director is trying to represent. The sound is closely structured to make a manic scene to really get a clear idea how this place is. Kidulthood The intro extract of Kidulthood editing techniques are employed to pin point key specic features going on in the opening scenes. Being represented in this scene is a central london public school with a mixture of ethnicity youths. Being represented in this scene is class and status. They cover this issue by showing short segments on how people are treated and act in the school. They highlight specic characters and social groups to section them out - sped up shots and slowed down when comes to a group - this divides them up individually and states impressions of how they are classed with a clear activity of what they are doing. Intended motion blur is expressed to bring quite few thoughts drug usage, nature of the game, the people playing unaware of there surroundings, this could be implying that the class of these people are not important in the eyes of the school view. The change of the short shots to long shots draw the viewer to pay attention consciously informing that this is an important scene bringing out key features. It is also

used to have a spectacle of the action so it has a real natural feel to the scene as it is letting the nature of the playground make a hectic atmosphere for the audience to spectate. This sequence of editing is used to create a busy, quick atmosphere so it has the same characteristics as a play ground hectic and loud, but is used to inform the audience of who are the class and status and characters by the featured editing of clip sizes and effects. This gives a great deal of information about the characters and the way they move about the school. Sweet Sixteen Sweet Sixteen technical use of lighting is helping to create a working class community in a typical popular location the pub. Class and statues is being employed in this extract and the use of the lighting to show musky visioned shots to emphasis the surrounding to be conned and uncomfortable because of the lack of facilities for other people to go to so its spread out what could be a issue. Low key lighting is being exposed - emphasizing the smoke in the room to show that it is a low economic background characteristics of smoking issues - is it also used to create a dull atmosphere with nothing really attractive with dull colors to give it boring feature of what pubs are like in poor areas. The lighting really tries to suck the colours out of anything what would stands out to make the situation uninteresting and is hard to watch. There are constant shadowy scenes to give the pub a realist nature to it. This is sequenced to have a general feeling of intimidated emotions because of the atmosphere of the pub and and the unsettled vision because the smoke connoting unclarity such as - criminal activities, unclear goals, confusion - theses all t in with what happens in a low income area. Another use of lighting at the start where they are out at night, the lighting is specically planned to have a visual at night so we can see the area around and see the faces of the characters this is done to get a idea of the surroundings they are up against, this is cleverly put in at the moment it changes scene because we are unaware of the area and we are trying understand whats happening and then we get the long shot and get clear statement of poverty. This is done to create a sense of fear as it has characteristics of a horror movie with the lighting but then have a dramatic change of emotion to fear to sympathy as the issue is shown. This two types of lighting are conventional to social realism lms to create a real feel to the scene but also not making the world of the lm overly dramatic. They together create a clear sense of a poverty and convey feelings of hopelessness for the area and the community.