Feedback #2

Well done, this demonstrates focused research and group filming work. Jake, your analysis is more successful in looking at the macro issues in this genre, however overall as a group you are progressing in this area.

Nick - you still need to go back and amend posts where I had previously given you feedback if you want to also aim for a level 4 in planning.

Make sure that you are posting detailed, exact entries on your discussions and concept - not vague comments.

Keep up the good work -just don't cut corners on these planning elements if you want the top mark bracket.

Costume for Opening Sequence

For this moodboard I have collected images from films with the same genre as our opening. I have also included pictures of people wearing the same kind of clothing. From this we can see that the clothing is mostly tracksuits. Either zipped up to the neck or with hoods. We can see that the people are wearing very uparket clothing such as Burrburey. Alot of the people wear hats aswell and most of their clothing looks as if they are trying to hide their face a little. aloso they either wear jeans or tracksuit bottoms. This will then give the audience connatations of troublemakers and antisocial behaviour. This will tell the audience straight away that these people do not have much regard for the law and that they could be caught up in drugs and violence.

Adulthood

The genre of this film is a British Gangster. We can easily establish this because in the opening sequence you see a couple of people rob a man in a car while their other gang mates are watching. Also a gun is fired at the man. The use of the gun indicates violence and gang culture. The audiences generic expectations are fulfilled because the opening sequence has strong connotations of gang culture. Their expectations could also be challenged though because it is not a typical gangster film, it is a film about modern teenage gangs in London which involves much more street crime instead of organised crime. The text does conform to the characteristics of the genre but the characteristics are much more modern than traditional gangster films as it represents what is going on now.
The use of mise en scene conveys strong meaning in this sequence because at the very beginning of the sequence it shows us flashbacks of what has previously happened and it gives up a brief look at the characters. It shows ambulances and police crowding around one person on the floor. This tells us that he is seriously hurt or dead. Now we have an idea of what the film could be about. Another scene is a party underneath a bridge. This has connotations of youths not caring about the law because it looks like an illegal party and because it is so blatant they know police will come buy they do not care. There is also a shot of two people smoking marijuana. This connotes to us that the youths of today do not care about harming themselves through drugs. This also reinforces the statement that youths do not care about the law because they are doing it when a lot of people are around. the location used is a very urban looking area. the set has been made to look like it is something that occurs reguarly. it is also made to look very grimey and street. The costume is very casual. It is either jeans and a t- shirt with a hoodie or a traksuit.This costume was chosen because the teenagers who have been in the media for antisocial behaviour have usualy worn clothes like this. Most youths that the media is aimed at are seen in this type of clothing that is shown so you can instanty tell that these people are going to be antisocial and break the law.
The camera shots vary a lot in the opening sequence. They use BCU shots of what is going on to give us certain images which we will translate to give us our view on what is going on. Also they use birds eye view shots to show us more generally what is going on. The movements are all very smooth and on the birds eye view shot, some of it is sped up to show us that what is going on is very energetic. They also move from shot to shot very quickly to add this feel to the scene. Sound anchors the images very well. At the very beginning there is only a light track played behind the shot. The rest of the sound is diegetic sound but it has been enhanced in post production. This gives us a more raw, gritty look towards the images. It also enhances their meaning and we think of them as being really important. Also British grime music is played which shows us the culture that we are looking at because this is what a lot of British teenagers listen to. We can learn that the characters have a very bad mentality because they are swearing, smoking and one of them is carrying a gun. Two of the character shoot a man and rob him just because he was looking at them. This is the mentality that many youths have today. Other non verbal language like very angry facial expressions show us that the characters may have something to prove because they are picking on people for no reason. The dialogue suggests that they are very aggressive characters because of the constant colloquial language and swearing. Also it tells us that these characters are street gangsters because of this. The director uses split images to show us more than one thing at once. This increases the energy of the scene and gives us more information in a shorter space of time.
The narrative is non linear because it starts with some shots from the previous film and then the real time scene is 6 years later. Also throughout the film there are flashbacks. The audience is positioned in the middle of the narrative even though the previous film shots are shown at the beginning of the film because they do not really find out what has happened until halfway through the film. We can tell that the characters are slightly alienated from society because they do not follow the law so they are looked upon in a bad light. The sequence also does not put us on these peoples side. The major theme in this narrative are modern youth mentality and how more and more people are beginning to follow this mentality. It also shows us that it is now getting out of hand and that we need to do something about it. Tension is created at the very beginning with the previous film shots. This creates a strong enigma because we want to know the result of the actions shown. The tension is then maintained by showing us the new characters and their mentality.
The social groups represented in this opening sequence is young, east end males. They are represented in a bad light because they are shown to be very aggressive and rude. They are criminals and they believe that people should share with them even though they do not even know them. The ideological discourse reinforces the idea of rising youth crime in the UK. It also challenges the mentality that youths have today and tries to tell people to stand up for them selves instead of following the crowd.
The target audience for this film is young adults and teenagers. This is because people will easily be able to relate to the film. The preferred reading for this film is that you do not have to follow the crowd and that it is probably better if you don’t. it is also that there are some youths who break the law and that they are a small gang. The aberrant meaning could be that these people are gang lords of organised crime. This would be wrong because the film is about street crime. I would read this text completely different to an older person because I will be able to relate to the film more because it is modern and about what is going on now with people my age. Older people may just think that it is another teen gangster film.

Music

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=B1_xz37CQNs



Here is a link to the music we are intending to use in our opening sequence.

Initial Narrative Plan

After deciding a genre, we have devised an outline plan of our two minute opening sequence. All three members of our group will be starring in the film, however for the majority of the shots there will only be two of us being filmed as the other will have to do the filming. It will take place at one of the group members house, that is situated in Crowborough. The sequence will be of three young ruffians breaking in to a house and looking for something in particular. We will create an enigma because the viewer will have no idea what they are looking for. We will create tension from the music, and action and dialogue of the characters, and this will culminate in a car pulling up to the house when the robbers are still inside. They will break out of a side door and run through some bushes, coming out by a deserted nursery building. They will proceed to run down the back in an attempt to escape from the returning owners. The final shot will be a still of an XLS just before they are about to run round the corner.

Editing of Preliminary Shooting Task

During the editing process we found that it was very effective in enhancing our piece of film. At first we were not too convinced with our piece of filming and how it fitted together, but however after the editing process we were happy that we had created a respectable piece of film. We found it quite difficult to start off with as we had to try and cut the film up we had created into smaller scenes and so they fitted together. We also came across the problem that we did not have enough film and did not have enough time to go and shoot more shots so therefore we had to cut the end of one shot and paste it at the end of the film to make it look as if it was a reaction shot. After this we watched back the film and realised that there was a lot of background noise which disturbed the shooting and was not relevant to the film. As this was the case we decided to cut out this audio and put in some music over the top. We added this in but then had to fade the music out when the dialogue started. From here we decided we wished to add another effect to our film, this being slowmotion. We added this in to the first three shots of our film which fitted well with the music we had inserted. Finally to make it more of an accomplished piece we decided to add rolling credits at the end of the film with the music fading back in over the top.

Storyboard of Preliminary Shooting Task

Before we set out filming the actual film, we had to create a storyboard, this was for a number of reasons. Firstly, by doing this, we had a rough basis or outline of scenes we wanted to include and how we were going to shoot them, which made filming a lot easier than if we were to simply improvise when we got to the locations. This was because when filming, we could adapt the shots we had initially thought up to make them more effective in conveying what we wanted it to, without it taking up a lot of time.
However, we did come across some problems when trying to film shots that we had and also hadn't storyboarded previous to filming. Firstly, we found that we had to change location of some of our shots because the ones we had thought we were going to choose were busy or unaccessible. Secondly, we found that we did not have enough shots, so we came up with new ones in order to create a longer, but also more accomplished final product, which would fulfil all the criteria of the set task.
Despite these problems, we found our storyboarding very helpful and effective in improving the quality of our actual video.

The Cinematography

Although the criteria was very simple, it was very hard to actually create an effective piece of film. We encounted quite a few problems whilst filming. For example, because we were limited to a handicam it was very hard to do moving shots without the camera shaking. To overcome this we attached the tripod to add extra weight and give it a stedicam effect.
We tried to add a film noir sense to the film by using shadowing and darkness to create a sense of mstery. To do this we turned of any lights and only used natural sunlight. We feel this was very effective because the light would only come from one direction so it would shadow alot of the character instead of the light being all around the character.

Analysis of 'Rise of the Footsoldier'

‘Rise of the Footsoldier’, Julian Gilbey, 2007

‘Rise of the Footsoldier’ is a British Gangster film that revolves around the bloody violence of gang culture throughout the late 1900s. However, the opening few scenes of this film are not typical of the genre in any sense. They are a number of still shots off snow covered fields with the light reflecting off as the sun rises in the morning. This immediately produces a sense of calm and tranquillity. It is only midway through the opening sequence that the film starts to conform to the typical conventions. The scene jumps from a shot of a quiet, snow covered field, to a shot of a dead man, covered in blood and with half his face blown off, this shocks the viewer, which helps them to get involved in the film as it creates automatic emotions and feelings of sadness that we typically associate with death, but also because the viewer is naturally horrified by what they are seeing on screen. Overall, the opening sequence does conform to the typical conventions of the genre as the over-powering message is of violence and death.The mis-en-scene is extremely effective and helps to get the viewer interested through a number of ways. The first thing we see is a text screen caption which anchors the sequence as a ‘true story’ and conforms to the convention of gangster films, which depict the stories of celebrity criminals. The obvious result of this is that the viewer is interested because these words add more meaning to the film, instead of it just being another thug film that is based on violence and drugs, but has no real point. But a more subtle device used is the font of this writing, it looks as if it has been written on a type writer, this device is used in a lot of British Gangster films, and immediately connotes the writing of old police reports, which connotes that the film is about crime. This is confirmed when we see the dead bodies and the pictures being taken. When pictures are being taken of dead bodies in films it is usually by the police, however, it is already clear that this is murder, partly because there is three dead bodies, but also because of the state that their bodies are in, as parts of their faces are blown off etc. This helps to create and enigma as the viewer immediately starts asking themselves questions such as, who are the people? And what happened to them? There is also a slight blue filter used throughout the sequence, this creates a chilling effect, especially when we see the dead bodies. Within this scene, we are told that this is based in the past, partly because the date is given to us, but also because they style of clothing is different to that of modern day society, and by doing this, we are given a background into the society that this is being set in.The first few shots are extreme long shots of woods, and also a road showing car tracks, this is done, because at first we think it is simply showing some woods, however we later realise in the film that this was the scene of the murder, and we begin to piece together what happened. We then see a birds eye view of the dead bodies, giving us a full view of the bodies, allowing us to see all the damage. This is done to shock us as we see the full extent of their injuries. The camera then pans from left to right and uses the body of the first man as a leading line to draw our focus to one of the other men. The rule of thirds is then used at this point to attract our attention to one of the men, the camera then tracks in on him, letting us know that he is important despite the fact that we don’t know how or why yet. The next shot is an extreme close up on a ringing mobile phone, this indicates that the person on the other end of the line might also be important, and we figure out that him and the owner of the phone are probably mates, firstly, from the manner of which the voice is speaking, but also from the desperation expressed, because it indicates that he probably knows what has happened.The music in this sequence is extremely effective in anchoring the on-screen images. During the first few scenes, everything seems very calm and peaceful, and the music seems to match this mood perfectly as it is slow and steady, and the notes sound very soft. However, there is then a large switch between the mood of these images, as we see pictures of dead people, what is good about the music in this, is that despite the fact that there is such a large change in the pictures on-screen, there is only a vary subtle change in the music, which without pictures would just seem part of the same song, but with pictures is able to create a whole different mood within the scene. Creating a very chilling and eerie end to the opening sequence. This mood is intensified by the diagetic sounds of the camera clicking and the phone ringing, as they too are quite soft but almost cold sounds. However because these sounds match the action in the scene itself, it does not seem like there is too much going on in the non- diagetic sound and makes sure the music in the scene does not have too much going on.The only dialogue in the opening scene is the narration of who we soon find out to be the main character of the film, Carlton Leech, from this we learn a bit about him as he gives us a small amount of background information on himself and the plot, however we still don’t know who the dead people are, and by doing this, it makes sure that there is still an enigma and the viewer does not lose interestThe narrative starts with a flash forward and then the rest of the film is building up to this point, we know this because the voice over says about how it all started with football. This is an effective device because it involves the viewer because they immediately know there is something exciting going to happen, which in this case is the events leading up to the three men’s deaths. The audience is positioned from the point of view of Carlton Leech, the main character as we see how his life builds up to this one event. We are able to identify with the type of people the three dead men were from their clothing. Two of them are wearing big leather jackets, jeans and big boots, this type of clothing is typical of British gangsters in the era this film is set in. This also gives us a hint that their murders may not have been completely unprovoked. The major themes in this narrative are of violence, crime and murder, this is not only clear because in modern day society these things are stereotypically denoted by blood and the colour red, which is a big factor in this scene, but also because we see the three men lying their, dead, and from the state their bodies are in, it is pretty clear to the viewer that they have been murdered. Tension is created in this scene by the corpses that we see, along with the music, these two factors together create a scene that simultaneously shocks the viewer, but also sort of sends shivers down their spines, creating tension. This is then maintained by the phone call, this is because the voice on the other side of the phone sounds desperate and panicky, which translates over to the viewer, making them feel on edge.There is only one social group presented in this opening sequence which is the thug-like British Gangster typical of the 1980s. This is done through the clothes that the three dead men are wearing, but also from the fact that they have been killed in such a brutal way. Although on the surface this just seems like the gruesome death of three thugs, this could be seen to represent the fall of the thug culture that existed throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, as these three men were, at the time some of the most respected villains in the country and their deaths are one of the most infamous slayings in British gangland history. Another ideological discourse of this is that this does not only represent the death of a thug culture and how it constructs an essentialist view of masculinity through many elements of the opening sequence; all the characters in this sequence are male and the costumes they are wearing connotes them as martyrs of gangster life. Furthermore, the voice over connotes how they are living in a male world filled with danger and violence. The death of these men also represents the death of a male culture, one that for decades was a defining difference between men and women, and the social expectations or norms of English society in such a depressed time. In this scene, there are red stains all down there clothing, this is clearly meant to be blood, and this is used to represent the violence and savagery of their deaths as within modern day society we often associate blood with violence, murder and death.The target audience of this film is young males, as a lot of entertainment in modern day society, especially for the younger generation revolves around violence, drugs and sex. The preferred reading is that although the violence may be slightly exaggerated this makes it an entertaining interpretation of what is actually an extremely violent true story. However, the negotiated reading would be that although it is a true story, it is far too exaggerated and simply a reason to put a load of mindless violence in a film. I have a preferred reading of this film, however although I do find it entertaining, I do think it lacks any depth or meaning. I think that my view on this film is affected greatly by my age and gender, because expectations and norms and values of society are constantly changing, and although this sort of thing is acceptable now, thirty years ago, many of the scenes in this film would have been completely new and far more shocking than they are now. I think that background does not affect the way we people my age would read this text, because no matter what you upbringing is, society is the same, and so almost all teenage boys will find these sort of things entertaining because this is what is expected by society.

Preliminary task....

Preliminary Shooting Task

During this premiliminary shooting task we made many amendments to the story board we created before the task. We did this because we came across a number of difficulties that arose while shooting. Firstly the background sound in some of the shots disrupted and did not fit in with the shooting, therefore we had to take more than one shot to enable us to find a shot we were happy with. Another problem we came across is that some of the locations we wanted to use were occupied so we had to improvise and hind other locations which may not of been as suitbale as the first desired locations. Although this was a problem at first I think we overcame this and should not affect the quality of the work. Overall we found this experience very educating and enlightening to what real filming is like and some of the problems that can arise from doing this. This task should help us deal with any problems which may occur in our final piece affectively.

Analysis of Opening Sequence 'Green Street'

Analysis of Opening Sequence
Green Street, Lexi Alexander, 2005

From this opening sequence of ‘Green Street’ it is difficult to really pinpoint the genre of this film. This film is very different to films that had been released previously and takes certain conventions from a number of genres. Overall this film belongs to the drama genre but could also be seen as a British gangster film. The viewer can understand that this is not a typical gangster film from this opening sequence because of the characters that feature in this sequence. These characters do not have the typical appearance of a gangster as they are not wearing suits but dressed more casually in jeans and a coat. Despite this, some conventions are used in this opening sequence which may sway towards the British gangster genre. The use of extreme violence and swearing in this opening sequence is typical of a gangster film but is what a viewer would come to expect of a gangster film. The characters used in this opening sequence are of similar ethnicity, age and gender which would be expected from a gangster film, they are all young white males. But it is clear to the viewer that these men are not typical gangsters and are most probably football hooligans as they are in a gang and singing football songs. The audience’s generic expectations are not fully fulfilled as this opening sequence does not give a clear view of which genre this film belongs to. After the viewer has watched this sequence they are still not fully sure of what genre this film is going to be but can get an idea of what happens within this story. It is clear that one of the main themes revolving around this film is violence which would be a typical convention of a gangster film. The director Lexi Alexander plays with the characteristics of the generic expectations of a gangster film and introduces a different side of the genre and something that has not been explored in great detail before in other films.

By the use of mise-en-scene in this opening sequence it gives the viewer a clear view of where this film takes place. The opening shots of this sequence show the setting of a tube station. From this it makes it clear to the viewer that this film is based in London and already starts to make the viewer think of what the main themes may be within this film. As it is set in London the audience can make assumptions that this film may be based on the urban culture within London and address some of the issues of modern society in this city. Within this tube station there is brickwork and a large amount of advertising. This also contributes to the urban and industrial feel as it is clearly a built up area and in an industrial part of London. Mise-en-scene is also used in this opening sequence to give the viewer an idea of what the characters within this film are like. The fact that it is within a London tube station and they are in a large group connotes that these men may be quite rough and may be involved in some sort of criminal activity, being it violence or drugs. There is also a quite dim lighting used in this opening sequence which gives the appearance that this is taking place quite late at night which could connote they could be tough guys. A shot of an older man not within the group looking on to the group as they run a long shouting and kicking a can shoes the characters lack of respect for members of the public and may not conform to normal expectations and rules. This adds to the image the viewer is creating that these are tough guys. The fact that there is only one man and the two gangs within this tube station shows that it must be late at night and shows they do not follow normal rules. The viewer can also start to think what is happening within the story and can come to the assumption that this is taking place after a football match. This is as they are in a London tube station, group of young males, late at night and singing football songs.

The use of camera shot size, movement and angle in this opening sequence conveys different meanings and used to give different affects. When the group of men are walking along the platform a tracking shot is used at eye level to move a long with the group. By using this is makes the viewer feel as if they are on the other side of the platform and looking onto this gang and alienated from this gang. With this tracking shot a long shot is used so all of the men are visible and the viewer can see all the actions of the men and what they look like. As a long shot is used the viewer can see that these men are dressed very casually and probably working class. During the dialogue between the two gangs either side of the platform the camera is placed just behind each of the gangs as they are delivering their dialogue. By doing this it makes the viewer take different sides and feel as if they are standing with the gang as they are speaking. This gives the viewer different perspectives and feel as if they are involved within this banter between the two gangs. By doing this it breaks the 180º rule which has to be done otherwise the camera crew would be visible standing behind each of the gangs. During this dialogue between the gangs mainly medium shots are used of the characters. By using this type of shot it makes two or three characters visible to the viewer and they are able to focus on their reactions. But it also enables the viewer to see the hand gestures of the characters which is important. This is important in this sequence as it gives a clear indication to the viewer of what these characters are like. Two times in this opening sequence the director uses a shot which fades into focus. This is at the beginning of the sequence when the tube station comes into focus and also the other gang slowly come into focus revealing them. This is used as the viewer is able to see that there are people there but are unsure of whom they are but these characters are slowly revealed to the viewer creating a small amount of tension. Towards the end of the sequence before the fight scene and during the fight scene there a number of things which add to build up to this climax and create excitement. As the train comes into view it is moving at a very fast pace past the camera which starts to build a bit of energy. Just before the fight scene camera movement is used to pan upwards very quick which is also adding to get the viewers heart beating and leading to the climax of the fight. During the fight scene there is a rapid change of camera shots, which gives the feel of chaos. This also makes the viewer feel as if they are involved in this fight and the rapid change of camera shots feel as if adrenaline is pumping through them and they are looking around and can see all the action which is taking place around them.

Sound is very important in this opening sequence as it anchors many of the images. Diagetic sound is used in this sequence to anchor a number of shots. The sound of the group of characters singing anchors the opening shots of the stairs and then the group coming into view. This is very important as it gives the viewer a clear indication of what the characters are like. The viewer can establish that this group of men are probably football hooligans and are very confident and aggressive. The use of sound also builds up tension in the build up to the fight scene. When the two gangs are arguing and the train comes across the shot non-diagetic sound is put in over the top. Music starts to play which sounds like it could be the train moving across the track and it starts to build up getting faster and faster which sounds like a heartbeat. This builds tension as it starts to get faster as if their hearts are beating faster and faster with adrenaline pumping through them building up to this fight. During the fight scene the music is very upbeat and fast which matches the rapid change in camera shots and also the diagetic sound of shouting and general noise which gives the feel of chaos.

Through both dialogue and non-verbal language the viewer can learn a large amount about the characters which feature in this opening sequence. Through dialogue in this sequence the main characters in each gang are established. This is as these are the characters doing most of the speaking and most of the banter is between these two main characters. Throughout this opening sequence there is a large amount of swearing which shows that these are rough characters and are probably working class. There is also a lot of shouting and a heated argument between the two gangs which show that both of these gangs are very violent. Therefore through the dialogue in this opening sequence it gives the viewer a very clear indication of what these characters are like and can start to build their opinions and views. Non-verbal language also helps the viewer to build images of the characters. It is clear that the characters are very casual as they are all walking very casually strolling along with their hands in their pockets like they haven’t got any care. During the dialogue between the two gangs all of the characters either have their hands in their pockets or have their arms crossed which gives the view that they are trying to look intimidating and look tougher than the other group. This is also signified when the characters raise their arms in the air and start pointing when they are arguing as they are trying to look as big as possible and shows they are very violent and looking the toughest and biggest is important to them. One character also spits at the other gang which clearly shows he is working class and not a very pleasant man. Also the fact that they are fighting at the end of this sequence shows that these characters are hooligans and lower class.

The narrative shown in this opening sequence is a linear narrative. It is clear that the characters are very upbeat because of their singing and chanting and that it is night time. This can be put together and the viewer could come to the conclusion that these men have been at a football match and they are on their way home. At first in this opening sequence the audience are positioned with one of the gangs and follows them in the build up to the main climax of this sequence. But despite this when there is the argument between the two gangs the audience is positioned on both sides because where the camera has been placed behind each of the gangs. Therefore as the audience have followed one group in the build up to the argument and fight the audience feels as if they should take the side of this gang. Techniques of identification are used to the extent that the characters are identified as two gangs who are enemies. These two gangs are portrayed as alienated from each other and are enemies. The audience are also alienated from the gang in the opening shots as the camera is placed on the other side of the platform looking onto this gang. The major themes of this film are clearly signified in this opening sequence. There is a large amount of violence and aggressive behaviour which is clearly going to be an ongoing theme throughout this film. Tension is created mainly in this opening sequence by the two gangs arguing. The fact that they are arguing makes the viewer think what the consequences of this argument are going to be and can assume that there will be fight at the end of this argument. The use of sound and camera work also adds to the tension created. The music used which slowly builds up getting faster and faster starts to build this tension rapidly and this tension is then maintained during the fight with the use of rapid camera change.

Within this opening sequence only one social group is represented. That is young white male football hooligans. Within this opening sequence this social group are not portrayed in a very good light. This is because of the violence and the general aggressive nature of the group which takes place in this sequence. There is an older middle aged man in this opening sequence looking onto this group of men but the group do not pay any attention to him and do not alter their behaviour. This shows the groups lack of respect for the public and shows them in a bad light. Within this opening sequence it reinforces typical gender roles and traits. There is an ideological discourse on male behaviour. These gender roles are reinforced because of the violence which takes place in this sequence and also that males should also look tough and try to look and act harder than others. The ideology represented in this opening sequence is that to hold a high status and have respect amongst your piers you have to be tough and act harder than others around you. There are no women represented in this opening sequence but the fact that they are not represented could signify that they are not as important and do not fit in with this laddish behaviour.

The target audience for this film is those similar to the characters that are shown in this opening sequence, young white males. This is as this audience may be able to relate to some of the characters and relate to some of the themes which are brought up in this film. The extent on violence in this sequence rules out the younger audience of both genders as it would be too explicit for them and also the older generation as they could not really relate with the themes of the film. Women may also be less likely to be the target audience as generally they do not enjoy watching violence as much as men do and also there are no females represented so they cannot really relate to any of the characters. The preferred reading of Lexi Alexander would be to see these characters as being tough and understanding they are football hooligans. But also at the same time understand that this is just a film and not a 100% true representation of what happens in reality. There is a chance of a negotiated reading from the audience. This would be to understand that these are tough football hooligans but totally disagree with what is taking place in this sequence and be offended by the violence and language used by the characters. As this film is set in Britain and is based on young males and being a young British male myself I can sort of relate to some of the themes in this opening sequence and also relate to the characters. This is based on my own past experiences so I can sort of relate to this film and understand the themes. The way the audience reads this text would be largely influenced by age, gender and background. This is because if you are much younger or older you cannot relate to these themes and what it is like today. The same goes for gender as a female may read this text differently as they may not have a large knowledge or experience of football hooligans. Background will play a large part in the reading of this text as if you are from London and are working class it would be easier to relate to some of the themes in this film than an upper class person who lives in the countryside.

The Godfather 'Ruddy'

The film ‘the Godfather’ belongs to the American gangster genre. This however is quite hard to see in the first two minutes of the film. I figured this out because around the time the film was set there was a lot of trouble with the Italian mafia in America. In the first two minutes an Italian man is speaking about America being his paradise in what seems to be a dark office which has connotations of the mafia but it also sets the scene and tells us where this is all happening. The man speaks about going to the police but they did nothing so he has come to the mob boss. This suggests to us that it is illegal which almost confirms the fact that it is a gangster film due to the connotations this gives us. Also the stock characters and stock location informs us of the genre. The man asking for help is dressed very smart with an American Italian accent. Also he is sitting talking to another very smartly dressed man sitting down behind a large desk. The location is a very dark office which gives us the connotations that what goes on is illegal and bad. Also because it is an office it could suggest to us that it is organised crime because it is very civilised and smart. This is how I allocated this film to this genre. So in the first two minutes the generic expectations are almost completely fulfilled. It is easy to see that this film is an American gangster because the text conforms to the characteristics of this genre because everything is very typical of a gangster film with the stock characters and stock locations and it has no other connotations leading to any other genres.
The use of mise en scene in the opening two minutes adds character to each person in the scene. For example a man is standing in a very dark, fancy office talking to somebody sitting down behind the desk. This connotes that this man could possibly be in trouble and is asking for help. The darkness in the office suggests to us that the help that he is asking for could possibly be bad or illegal. Also we know that the character sitting down is the superior because the man who is standing up has a desperate and scared facial expression which implies that he could be in trouble with this man if he says the wrong thing and that the man sitting down could have a bad reputation.
There is only really one camera shot in the first two minutes of the film which is a MCU to start off with but the camera slowly tracks out so we can just see the back of the other mans head which connotes that he may want to keep his identity secret from some people. So the camera tracks out very slowly from an MCU to a MS so we can still see his hand gestures and it also allows us to see some hand gestures that the man behind the desk makes.
At the very beginning there is music playing which is non diegetic and is edited into the sequence after the filming has been done. The music is very typical Italian and it has strong connotations of violence and crime because of its pitch and the notes which are used. This anchors the titles and then the main title ’the Godfather’ very well. Once the titles have been there is only diegetic sound which is mostly the man talking. This anchors the images very well though because it makes us focus on what is being said so we can understand that what he is asking for is bad.
We can learn about the same from the characters non verbal dialogue and the verbal dialogue. This is because the dialogue has been structured in such a way so that we immediately think that the man speaking is the inferior character, also we learn that what
Jack Clark

he wants is illegal and bad. Through the non verbal dialogue we learn roughly the same thing. The man speaking has a scared look on his face and he is clearly holding in a lot of emotion suggesting that he needs help. The man behind the desk however looks calm and so we think that he is the superior. Also he waves his hand and an associate o his gives the other man a drink suggesting that this man is in control. This is emphatic to the fact that he is the boss. The director also uses a reddish wash over the film to make it feel warmer. This is used also to get the viewers on the gangsters side even though they are bad. The red wash is used to connote violence as well because of the representation of blood.
The narrative is a clear linear narrative and we as an audience are positioned at the beginning of the narrative. You can tell this because there are no flashbacks and because what happens in the first two minutes is clearly the start of a story and not half way through. The characters in this seem alienated from society because they are able to do illegal things and be successful so it is obvious that they do not obey the law and that they believe that they are above it. Also the man asking for help was declined help by the police so this could mean that society may not accept these foreigners immigrating over. The main themes in this sequence are help and business. The man behind the desk is willing to help this man but only if he gets something in return to help his gangster business. Tension is created by the man describing how his daughter had been beaten by two boys who tried to take advantage of her. It is then maintained very well by using the slow tracking out and by only focusing on the man speaking. This is why there is no music because it creates a better enigma because it seems more raw to the audience. This adds and maintains tension very well and it is very simple to do.
The social group represented is slightly older Italian immigrants, and although that they are bad people and break laws the audience is put on their side. They are shown to be very powerfull and also are portrayed very traditionally. We are made to believe that they are the goodies in this film. Their role is represented to us as moral heroes and it shows them keeping to moral code even if it means they have to break the law. Their lifestyle is shown to be slightly different to a typical Americans because the are perhaps foreign. The ideological discourse reinforces the traditional roles on men and women. For example it is the men doing the jobs and in the opening sequence we do not see the women because their traditional role in society would not allow them to be involved in the work with men. The text also challenges some values and beliefs. For example they are breaking the law but it is shown as justice to the viewers. It is in a way representing the story of stealing to feed a starving family but on a larger scale.
The target audience for this film is young adults through to middle aged white and maybe Italian males. This is because men find the gangster genre much more entertaining than women due to the violence and law breaking. Also due to this violence and law breaking younger people will by law not be allowed to watch this. The preferred reading of the text is that the gangster is the leader of a large gang and that he will do favours for people as long as he gets something in return. Also it could be that foreigners are not treated as well as other citizens and that life is a lot harder for them. The opening sequence is meant to give us an insight to the life and jobs of the gang boss. The aberrant meaning could be that this gang boss is an assassin and could be trying to uphold justice in the city.
I read this text completely different to somebody who is from that time when the gang culture was going on because they may have experienced it and they could relate to what is going on. I am completely naive to this culture however and do not think anything of it.

Feedback #1

Well done, this is a very positive start. Your analysis and mood boards are focused on your response to the brief. If you have now decided to go for the British gangster genre, focus your analysis now on similar texts and perhaps add another moodboard to reflect the differences in character, costume and locations.

Nick - you need to take care with your next analysis - more technical. Show me a draft beforehand. Jack - I can see that you have started your analysis on the blog, but it is a draft. I know that you have been off sick. Make sure you keep up with the group work as we are now working on the second analysis and audience research.

Genre discussions

At first the groups plan was to create the beginning of an American Gangster type film that would be similar to other films of that genre like "Goodfellas" and "The Godfather". However, after some thought and consideration, we have decided that considering the age and appearance of the actors that will be involved, this style may be unsuitable. Instead we have decided upon doing a more British gangster production similar to such films as 'Kidulthood' and 'Adulthood', as we feel we will be able to effectively and realistically portray contemporary issues for young people in modern day society.

“Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels”, Guy Ritchie, 1998

‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’ is a typical British Gangster film, incorporating fast paced action with a slick sense of humour. However unlike the film as a whole, the opening sequence does not conform to this genre, there is no swearing or violence in the whole of the opening sequence, and what this does is immediately challenge the audiences expectations of the film. Subconsciously luring them into the plot and storyline and acting almost like an enigma. The opening sequence treats the typical characteristics of the genre playfully, the non diagetic sound is very upbeat, and almost makes the fact that they are committing a crime seem like a bit of harmless fun, even when they are running away from the police. This concept is backed up by the amount of jokes or puns made by Bacon and the voice in which these jokes are delivered, he has a typical cockney accent, and this emphasises the joker ‘laddish’ type of character that he is presented as through. Bacon is the stock character in this opening scene as he is the slick talking, easy going front man of the duo that appear in the film so far and seems to be the leader of the two. We see this through the confidence and charisma that he shows in this sequence, and this presents him as an anti-hero because despite the fact that he is selling stolen goods on a back street corner, he is a very likable character. The stock location in this scene is as already mentioned a London back street corner, as this is typical of British Gangster films that portrays an underground crime world that takes place behind closed doors. These two factors allow the viewer to identify the genre quickly and easily.

The mis-en-scene of the opening sequence is extremely effective in introducing us not only to the characters but also to the genre and type of film it is going to be. For instance the There is a yellow filter used throughout this scene and this immediately makes the viewer realise that it is in the past without them even having to think about it. This then relates to the surrounding area and objects, which not only seems slightly old fashioned but also quite rough. For instance the metal shutter behind Bacon is conventionally linked to the idea of shop owners trying to stop people breaking in, and although this is only the background, we immediately make this link. This could be used to make the viewer relate the character selling goods, to thieves breaking in, making him seem rougher. As the scene progresses there are more and more images that relate to this type of culture, for instance, there is a pub in the background and a lot of building work going on around them, which people relate to the gritty type of London life that this scene is trying to portray. Furthermore, nearer the end of the scene there is some graffiti shown at this again relates to the type of crime underworld that this film represents. Another factor of this scene which is clear, is that the two men are selling these stolen goods in broad daylight and although it is on a back road, they don’t seem to care that much if they get spotted, as long as they don’t get caught. The fact that they are committing this crime in daylight shows that they too have little respect for the law, but this could also signify that they may already have been caught committing crimes and so this is why they do not care about the law. Throughout the opening sequence there are titles and credits cutting in, the font of these credits are as if they have been written on a typewriter. We generally familiarise this type of writing with old police reports, and this helps us to build up this idea about how this film will revolve around criminal activity. There is also quite a lot of iconography within the first scene, which relates to the British Gangster genre. For instance, the stolen goods being sold make the viewer think of crime, and the pub shown in the background makes the viewer think of alcohol, smoking and everything else that goes on inside a pub, which is an element that we naturally relate to the time and culture that his film is set in.

Although within this sequence there is some narration explaining to the viewer about the two main characters, we already know that Bacon, who is selling the goods is going to play a big part in the story, because almost the entire scene is him talking. What is effective about the way he is talking and what he is saying, is that it immediately creates the likeability factor and this helps the viewer to get more into the film. Another thing we notice straight away is Bacon’s appearance; he is a skinhead, which, typical of the 1990s, usually suggests that the person may be quite rough, due to the fashion of the poorer social group within those years. However, what is also very clear is the way in which he is acting, he does a lot of hand gestures and body movements, from this we perceive him to be quite a confident, upfront character. Which reinforces our view of him as an antihero because these are stereotypical attributes of a character playing that type of roll.

The type of camera shots and movements are also very effective within the opening sequence. The first shot we see is a LS, this is done so that the viewer is able to see the crowd that is around Bacon, this crowd around him acts as a leading line that ends at Bacon which helps to focus our attention on him from the start. The rule of thirds is also used in this shot as Bacon is on the upper left hand side of the shot, which again makes sure our focus is on him from the start. This immediately gives Bacon a sense of power within the scene, which is communicated to the viewer to help us realise he is the main character. Pretty much the rest of the scene is a MCU of Bacon, with some other shots of the crowd around him. There is a fast cutting rhythm in this scene as well, and this increases in accordance with the speeding up in the music, adding to the tension. Almost all the camera work used within this first scene where Bacon is selling goods on the street corner is fast cuts between the crown and Bacon and this allows the viewer can get a sense of what is going on around Bacon, but there attention and focus is always brought back to him as the shot cuts back. A steadicam is also used within this scene, and by doing this, the viewer feels more like they are there, especially when the camera is moving through the crowd, this gets the audience more involved in the film and helps to create tension as the action starts to pick up. At the end of the opening scene there is a LS of Bacon and Ed in a low angle shot, this again helps us to see they are important characters because they are placed above where the audience is looking from.

Both the diagetic and non-diagetic sound are extremely effective within the opening sequence. The non-diagetic sound is used to anchor the images that are being viewed on screen, it slowly gets louder and picks up speed throughout until it builds up to the point where the police come, where it breaks out into a fast track. This increasing speed and volume of music, is in sync with a lot of other factors in the film such as the cutting rhythm and speed of Bacon’s dialogue, these factors together help to intensify the feeling of tension being built up. The music as well as the fact that the two main characters of the scene are running away from police back up the idea that they may not be the most law abiding men in the world. The dialogue of the characters is also used effectively, the accent they have is very cockney, and viewers immediately relate this accent to Londoners coming from a rough area. This again signifies to the viewer that these characters might be slightly dodgy, which relates to the on screen action they are seeing; men selling stolen goods on a street corner and then running away from police. The type of language used by the characters helps us to realise, that although they do seem a bit rough, they are also very confident and good at what they do. Bacon is speaking extremely quickly and making a lot of jokes and this helps to create tension, because this technique creates a sound of desperation in his voice, especially when the music picks up and the police come in because as previously mentioned these factors have the same effect.

The narrative of the scene is linear and is simply used to introduce some of the main characters and give us a bit of background information on them. An enigma is established within the first scene through the narration used, we find out a bit about both characters, and this allows us to piece together what might happen, as we find out about Ed’s talent for gambling with cards and we begin to ask ourselves whether he is going to utilize this talent, which urges us to watch more. The audience is based outside of the scene and looking in at what is going on. Ritchie uses the outfits of the characters in the film to help the audience identify the different roles and stereotypes in the film. For instance, the outfit of the policemen connotes the old-fashioned law enforcement, which helps us to see that it is set slightly in the past. Similarly, the skinhead look of Bacon allows us to see that he is going to be the criminal, what we don’t know however, is that although these men are criminals they are also meant to be the characters we see as the good guys, whose side we are on.

Guy Ritchie uses diagetic sound within the scene to help create and maintain the tension. We first start to realise something is about to happen, as the speed at which Bacon is talking, and the pace of the music starts to increase. This suspicion is then confirmed when the police come, and the music breaks in. Ritchie then is able to maintain the suspense by the actions of Bacon and Ed; we see all their possessions madly piled into a suitcase. We then see them running away with the suitcase as if it is important to them, however the next shot is of them, as they throw down the money and products they were selling in an act of desperation to get away. This creates anxiety and worry inside the viewer.

The main social group in this scene is the sort of rough criminal who isn’t a bad person but has no other way of making a living. This is presented in a very stereotypical way, as the actions and language used by Bacon makes it almost seem like he is in a market desperately trying to attract people. He is immediately presented as the good guy and this is due to the dialogue, even though he is the criminal, he is making a lot of jokes and seems like a generally nice guy.
However, possibly a more widespread social group represented in this scene is all people in society who want to seem like they are rich and wealthy, but don’t have the money and so buy products that have clearly been stolen off street corners for less, or like in Bacons case, steal goods and sell them on street corners for less. These people represent those in society who strive for wealth; the ideological discourse of this is based upon the domination of capitalism in our modern day society. It shows how the lives of many people are based on or around wealth, or in this case appearing to have wealth to those around them. This desire of people in our society is represented in a bad way as it shows how it can often to lead to crime.

When the narrator starts speaking in this scene, he has an extremely low voice. However the most important thing is that this voice is indeed a male. In a lot of Guy Ritchie’s films, there are almost no women, and you get this sense immediately even in the opening sequence, both the main characters are male, the policemen are male, and the narrator is male. This represents the way in which this underworld of crime is stereotypically associated with men, which conforms to the traditional views about criminals in society throughout all of time and film making especially. However, if we look deeper, we can see that this has further connotations, a lot of this film revolves around money and making money, although not making money in the traditional sense, and this reinforces the traditional idea that women should not get involved in business and should stay at home and take care of family whilst the men work.

The target audience of this film is mainly males, due to the storyline and modern day issues it addresses. The preferred reading is that it is a gangster film, but has also got comedy in as well and so has a combination of qualities that will appeal to a certain audience. However, the negotiated reading is that although it is a well-made film, the humour and action is neither funny nor entertaining and so it is not an enjoyable film. I personally found the film very entertaining, although it was set in the 1990s, the culture and storyline it focuses on still exists, and so it is easy to relate to. Although this is an exaggerated version of this culture, that adds to the humour which again improves the film.

Moodboard - locations

Making this mood board helped me to see where important scenes in a lot of gangster films are set, and this will allow me to make my film look as real as possible by fiding a location that is similar to these to make sure it fits the genre. I found out that a lot of British Gangster films use places like alleyways as sets, this is because the term "gangster" connotes a very underground type of culture. I and am hoping to be able to find a location like this that i can use for the film. I have chosen to use this particular set, because although some gangster films have scene in locations such as tower blocks, it will be much harder to find a tower block that we can utilize effectively and easily in our film so it is impractical to try and use a location like this.

Analysis of opening sequence GoodFellas

Analysis of Opening Sequence
GoodFellas, Martin Scorsese, 1990

Within the opening sequence of the film ‘GoodFellas’ there is a large amount of iconography and stock conventions to make it clear to the viewer that this film is of the gangster genre. The viewer can also recognize that it is an American gangster film as in the opening sequence there is a shot just saying New York and the year so therefore the viewer knows where this film is set and in which period it is based on. Stock characters are used in this opening sequence to make it clear to the viewer of which genre this film belongs to. The stock characters are three tough looking male characters, all wearing suits and appear well groomed. Two of these three characters also swear during this opening sequence which shows they are tough men and is iconic of a gangster film, by putting this in it gives an indication to the viewer of what these men are like. In the opening shots a black car is also used which could connote that these people in the car are the bad guys and are tough. A male voice over is used at the end of this opening sequence which is a convention of a gangster film and gives an insight to the viewer of the character. The audience’s generic expectations of a gangster film are fulfilled within this opening sequence. The main reason for these expectations being fulfilled is the violence which takes place in the first couple of minutes of the film. Violence is always expected in a gangster film and this violence is portrayed straight away and gives the viewer an insight into what the characters are like, that they are tough and take no mercy. To carry out this violence these characters in the opening sequence use a knife and a gun. Guns and weapons are iconic of the gangster genre and help to add to this image the director is trying to create. Martin Scorsese does not play around with the characteristics and conventions of a gangster film in this opening sequence as it is very straight and hardcore. There is graphic violence and stock characters used to carry out this violence so therefore this opening sequence does not sway away from the gangster genre or does not mix genres. By doing this it makes it very clear and easy to understand for the viewer what this film is like and what it is about.

By the use of mise-en-scene in this opening sequence it adds to the image of the characters and signifies what the characters are like. The opening sequence is clearly set at night time which can be seen straight away and could signify that these characters are bad guys. In the first few shots of this opening sequence a car is shown driving down a deserted road switching between lanes. The fact that there are no other cars on the road could connote that these characters or character within this car are alone and rebellious and do not conform to normal rules and people. This rebellious and tear away view is also supported by the fact that they do switch lanes which show they do not follow rules. When the car pulls over by the side of the road the violence takes place next to woods. By carrying out this act of violence by the side of the road, where they could be visible is somebody drives past, signifies the characters lack of respect for the law and are not scared of getting in trouble. All of this within the opening sequence is helping the viewer to create this image of what these characters are like.

A variety of different camera shot sizes, movements and angles are used within this opening sequence to portray different meanings and are used to different affects. In the opening shots a tracking shot is used to pan left around the side of the car driving. By using this shot it makes the viewer feel as if they are driving alongside next to the car and give the feel that they are on the road with them. When the film then cuts into the car a medium close up shot is used to show the three characters within the car. This shot enables the viewer to clearly see all three of the characters and what they are wearing and what the inside of the car is like. It is important to be able to show both of these things as they can both be significant to creating this image of the characters. As the viewer can see what the characters are wearing, all three of them wearing suits, they can start to build this picture of what these characters are like and can already recognize these men are most probably gangsters. When the characters are standing outside the back of the car by the side of the road a medium shot is used. By using this shot the characters upper body can be seen and also their hand gestures. This is extremely important to do so at this point of the sequence as all three characters hands are in use. One of the characters is holding a shovel, one is holding a knife and the other is holding keys. By showing one of the men holding the keys the viewer can make the assumption that he is going to open the boot of the car, by showing the other two men both holding weapons the viewer can make the assumption that they are going to attack whatever is in the boot. Therefore by using this medium shot and making the hand gestures visible it makes it clear to the viewer what is going on within the film. Camera movement is used when the men are standing outside to portray meaning. The camera is tracking in towards the boot, the sound of banging is anchoring this shot, signifies that this banging is taking place within this boot and the tracking into the boot shows that something or someone is in this boot. This camera movement is used to connote mystery and the unknown. The viewer can figure that something is in this boot but does not know what it is in it which is building an enigma for the viewer. A low shot is used at the end of the sequence to show the character that this opening sequence is focusing on. As a low shot is used and the viewer is looking slightly up towards the character it signifies this characters importance and status. Therefore it makes it clear to the viewer what this character is like and adds to the main aim of this opening sequence, to build this picture in the viewers heads of what each of these characters are like. The rule of thirds is used within this opening sequence when the three men are in the car. Each of the characters faces are placed where these imaginary lines would cross, by doing this all three characters are visible and the viewer’s main focus is on these characters.

Sound is used to anchor some of the scenes and shot within this opening sequence of ‘GoodFellas’. The sound of the car driving anchors the opening shots of the car on the road. Also the sound of the rattling and banging when the men are in the car anchors that sequence and is the main focus. Both of these sounds would be non-diegetic and would have been put into the film in post production. When the three men are standing outside the back of the car when the car is pulled over the sound of animals has only been edited in over the top of the sequence. By adding in this sound in it connotes that it is late at night, the men are alone and adds alienation to these men. Another non-diegetic sound is also placed in to this sequence, the sound of a gunshot which shows the character shooting the man in the boot. At end of this opening sequence there is a still shot of one of the characters and music has been put over the top. This music is very upbeat and the kind of music which gives the image of a casino in Las Vegas. This music connotes class, wealth, gambling and gives the feel that this character is living the high life and everything is going well for him. Within this opening sequence there is not a large amount of dialogue between characters. Therefore we do not get a large insight into what these characters are like through dialogue but more by their non-verbal language. The only insight we get to these characters through dialogue is the fact that they are swearing so the viewer can start to understand what the characters are like through this. When the characters are in the car in this opening sequence the viewer can tell through non-verbal language that the characters are very tired and they have been doing something important. The character in the passenger’s seat is asleep and the driver rubs his eyes which connotes that he is tired. Therefore the viewer can assume that it is late at night and the characters have been up to something important that night. When the three characters are standing outside the back of the car, the character holding the shovel looks at the other two characters and nods his head, giving them the instruction. By doing this it connotes that this character giving the nod is probably the main one out of the three. As one of the characters is driving the car, made to open the boot and does not join in the violence this signifies that he is not one of the main characters and is just there to help the others.

The narrative shown in this opening sequence is a linear narrative. When the characters are in the car the audience can assume that something big and important has just happened. This is as the characters all seem tired, it is night time and they are dressed smartly as if they have been out somewhere. Within this opening sequence an enigma is established by the director Martin Scorsese. This enigma is established by having this man in the boot of the car and the viewers start to ask themselves questions. They wonder why is this man in the boot, why do they want to kill him, and what events led up to them having this man in their boot bleeding. At the end of the opening sequence there is a voiceover saying ‘As far back as I can remember I always wanted to be a gangster’. This signifies that after this point there is going to be a flashback of this character’s past and him growing up and how he became a gangster. The audience is positioned mainly with the character that is driving the car for the majority of this opening sequence. When the three men are in the car the man driving is in focus as the other two characters are slightly out of focus, this draws the viewers attention into this character and then focus mainly on this character. Then at the end of the opening sequence there is a still image of the character and a voiceover from this character. From that point the audience can understand that this film will mainly revolve around this character and his story. The three main characters in this opening sequence do seem alienated from society and that they are different from normal people. This is because they are alone on the road, it is night time and there is nobody else about. The man who is in the boot is also alienated and is shown to be clearly on the other side. The viewer could assume that this man may be from another gang or he has done something wrong and there is nobody there to help him so he is alienated from everyone else. The major themes in this opening sequence are very simple and also very typical of a gangster film. The main themes are death and violence within this sequence. This is shown through the weapons and the death of the man in the boot of the car. From these themes it is clear to the viewer to which genre this film belongs to and can start to understand what the main themes of the whole film are. The tension in this opening sequence is first created when there is banging in the boot of the car and the viewer starts to wonder what the banging is. This tension is maintained by the characters pulling over by the side of the road then the tracking in shot is used to show the boot and show that the banging is coming from there. But the viewer knows something is in there but doesn’t know what it is or who it is within the boot. By killing the man in the boot the tension is also maintained as the audience do not know who this man is or why these main characters killed this man.

The only social group which is represented in this opening sequence are middle-aged, male gangsters. In this opening sequence they are portrayed in a bad light but are also portrayed in a good way and the viewer is meant to be on their side. The viewer can understand that these are tough gangsters because of the black car and the violence which takes place. But on the other hand at the end of the sequence the music which is put over the top is very upbeat and does signify that these characters are good and are living the high life. From this the viewers are then meant to take their side and are not portrayed in a bad way. What these characters are doing is bad but it is portrayed that they are doing a good thing and they are the good guys. Overall this social group is seen to be quite good and may be seen as an attractive lifestyle to live.

The target audience for this film would be young adults or middle aged white males. This is because there is violence taking place which may be unsuitable for younger children and they would not understand. The target audience is also white males as the characters are also white males so the viewer may feel they can relate to the characters and are not too different from themselves. Because of the violence used within this opening sequence it may be directed at males because males generally find it more entertaining to watch violence than women do. The preferred reading of the director Martin Scorsese would be for the viewer to understand that these characters in this opening sequence are tough gangsters who are ruthless. The main aim of this opening sequence is to build up this image of the characters and to give the audience an insight to what the characters are like. If the audience understand that these men are tough gangsters then the directors preferred reading has been understood. There is a chance that there could be a negotiated reading of this opening sequence, the viewer could understand what these characters are like but be totally against what they are doing and be offended by the violence which takes place in this sequence. As a British teenager I may read this text in a totally different way to say a middle aged American man might read this text. This is because this film is set in America and I am not used to this culture and I cannot really relate to this extent on violence. Whereas a man living in America may have lived through this period of time in which this film is based and can relate to the themes in the film and have a better understanding.

The opening of the film 'GoodFellas' reinforces traditional gender traits and values. There is an ideological discourse on male behaviour in the opening sequence. The ways in which males are expected to behave within society and are expected of a gangster film are reinforced. This is with the use of violence in the opening sequence, which adds to the importance of having status, being respected, and being higher up than someone else. There are only men represented in this opening sequence so we do not see how women are portrayed but the fact that they are not in this sequence shows they are not seen as being as important. The capatalist ideology is also reinforced within this opening sequence. All three men are well dressed in suits and also driving a flashy and expensive car. This reiterates the view of to be successful or hold a high status you must be wealthy and own expensive items. Overall this opening sequence does not challenge any ideology's but reinforces the ideological discourse of male behaviour and what it means to be a man.

For this moodboard on Gangster iconography i have included everything that a gangster would want and what they do, for example all gangsters in the films are all trying to make money and gain power and respect. Often the gangster's are in the buisness because of their family which is their buisness. In most gangster films you will see gangsters dressing very smart, usually in dark suits. Also they smoke and sometimes do drugs. This connotes that they do not care or have any respect for the law. This is usually because the believe that they are above it.

Mood Board

From this mood board I can extract a number of things. All of the images from the films and related to the films are all very dark and mainly use the colour composition of black and white. Within the images there are a few themes which are portrayed. In the images there are weapons such as guns which connote violence. There is also fighting and violence taking place in some of the pictures. From these images we can get an understanding of the stock characters in gangster films, which seem to be males mainly wearing suites. There are also two quotes from the film scarface which gives the gist of the theme of the film and what it is like.