Evaluations & Technical Difficulties

Drafting Process

Revised Scripts

Final Scene - Gangster & Boss

Ext. Rundown Garage Lot

Gangster enters left and walks at a brisk pace around a corner.

CUT TO: Mid Shot, Boss leaning against garage on phone.
Boss looks up from phone and stands up straight. Walks towards camera.

CUT TO: Two Shot, Boss enters from left, Gangster enters from right. Look at eachother.

Boss: Were you followed?

CAMERA CUTS BETWEEN BOSS AND GANGSTER DURING CONVERSATION

Gangster: No, of course not.

Boss: Good. I trust that you were successful.

Gangster: Of course I was.

Boss: Excellent, I knew that I could trust you.(1) Now, I have something else that needs doing.

Gangster: Sure, what is it?

Boss: You don't need to worry about that just yet. I'll be in touch.

CUT TO: Two Shot, Boss & Gangster facing eachother.
Boss exits left, Gangster walks away from camera and around corner.


Opening Scene - Gangster on Phone

Black Screen

Telephone Rings

Fades from Black

Ext. Shipping Container, Industrial Area

Gangster stood in centre of shot, back to camera. Takes mobile phone out of pocket and answers.

Gangster: Hello.(2) You got that job for me yet?(2) What's the pay like?(2) Yeah, alright. I'll get it done.

Gangster hangs up phone and exits right.

Photographs & Videos from Filming

Rough Cut & Feedback

What Went Well
 - Costumes look effective
 - Framing of shots is very good
 - Kill shots work really well
 - Transitions are good
 - Effective locations
 - Titles work well

What Can Be Improved
 - The POV shot is very shaky and out of place. It should be refilmed and moved or removed.
 - There are a lot of walking shots. They only need to give the impression of travelling. Cut some shots and reduce length of others.
 - Reduce the number of titles.
 - Edit the scenes to make them appear darker.
 - Add dialogue (film scene)
 - Add music
           Suggestions:
                           -Eerie/Tense
                           -Rock
                           -Increasing Tempo

Raw Footage

Pitch for Ideas

Our film focuses on a modern day, city gang and their attempt to obtain the contents of a briefcase (the contents are never revealed to the audience, but some characters are aware of what it is). The main character, a member of this gang, is tasked with obtaining the case, as well as a number of tasks required to actually retrieve the contents.

The opening revolves around the acquiring of the case. It starts with a business man carrying the briefcase leaving a train station, before continuing his journey through the city. Frequent cuts are made between him and the gangster, eventually reaching a point where both characters are in one shot. The gangster proceeds to kill the business man, before walking away with the case. There is a short voiceover during the scene, in keeping with many of the conventions seen in other British Gangster Films. After walking away, the scene edits to the gangster walking towards an alley, where he meets with the boss. More of the story is revealed and the gangster is told what is going to happen next.

We initially thought to implement our titles into our scenes, however thought it would be more suited to the pace of the opening if they were on blank frames between cuts. This is another convention that we noticed about the genre. The font that we use will be 'Goodfish'.

The costumes of the characters were considered with the idea of 'modern gangsters' in mind. Our gangster will wear a leather jacket and jeans, whilst our boss will be wearing a suit. This establishes a mix of traditional and modern gangster attire, as well as give the boss an air of authority. 

Risk Assessment

Planning of Music - Soundtrack

We have narrowed down our choice of music to two synthesised tracks, especially made as royalty free and available for anyone to use. We will choose one or the other, based on how it works with the opening.

The first gives a much more serious tone to the opening. It features a lot of bass, but will remain quiet for most of the opening, peaking right before the voiceover.
The second track is much more upbeat. It provides a similar tone to Snatch, making it feel less serious, but more fast paced. It will build much faster than the other track, increasing in volume and tempo.

Both tracks will build throughout the opening, peak just before the voiceover and continue after.

Planning of Titles

We have chosen to use the font 'Goodfish'.We decided to use this font because it is quite unique, whilst looking plain as well. This is quite common in British Gangster films.








Our titles will be shown during the walking scene at the start of the opening. Between cuts, there will be a black frame with each title, lasting 1-2 seconds. This will help to split the scenes and character changes. We will have the main title at the end of the opening. This will be included within the scene, rather than on a separate frame.

The titles will include: Music By, Costume By, Written By, Directed By, Produced by, Starring, Main Title.

Structure of Narrative

Characters

- Business Man

         Actor: Jamie Powell

- Gangster

         Actor: Lewis Barry

- Boss

         Actor: Rhys Manley

Narrative
The business man is a courier for an unknown company, delivering a briefcase. The briefcase (The contents of which are never revealed) is sought after by the Boss, who recruits a Gangster to retrieve it. The story follows the Gangster, and a voiceover (spoken by the Gangster) at the beginning provides more information about him. The Gangster intercepts the business man, killing him and taking the briefcase. He then delivers it to the Boss. They have a short discussion about what the gangster needs to do next.

Overview of Opening

The scene starts with the business man, carrying a briefcase,  walking amongst a crowd of people, leaving a train station. This starts a sequence of cuts between two characters: the business man and the Gangster. The gangster is attempting to intercept the business man, walking through narrow streets and dark areas. The business man walks through slightly brighter areas, through the city.

Eventually, on a dark street, both characters are seen, walking towards each other. The Gangster proceeds to stab the business man, taking the briefcase and walking hurriedly.

The scene then fades to the opening of an alleyway, where the gangster meets with the Boss character. The Boss takes the briefcase, checks the contents and then puts it away. The Gangster and Boss then have a short discussion about the next 'job'.

Editing Software

We will be using Adobe Premiere Pro for our editing. We have chosen this because of its high quality and vast editing tools, allowing us to achieve what we want from our opening. We will be able to do all of our editing from within this application, and will not need to use other programs. We can make our cuts, arrange the footage accordingly, add edits to the footage (e.g. speed of video, freeze frames, lighting) and add titles and music. We have also both used Premiere Pro and other Adobe software before, meaning we do not need to take time to learn the basics.

Script

EXT. DAWN-BRISTOL

FADE TO:
ESTABLISHING SHOT-STATION

CUT TO: INT. STATION
POV-BUSINESS MAN comes out of station BUSINESS MAN  looks out of station( Standing Still) and looks around before moving on.

CUT TO: EXT. STATION
BUSINESS MAN walking past station further into the city.

CUT TO: ALLEY
GANGSTER in alley with back to camera walking away from the camera.

CUT TO: STREET CORNER
BUSINESS  MAN walks around the corner at a casual pace.

CUT TO: TUNNEL
GANGSTER walking into tunnel into darkness where camera cannot see his face.

CUT TO: STREET
BUSINESS MAN  walking away from camera down the street.

CUT TO: STEPS
GANGSTER walks down steps at a hurried pace. Face hidden.

CUT TO: SMALL PATHWAY
BUSINESS MAN walks down pathway onto a backstreet.

CUT TO: WALL
GANGSTER walks past wall with head facing down.

CUT TO: CORNER
BUSINESS MAN walks around the corner looking at the briefcase.

CUT TO: LONG WALL
GANGSTER walks around the corner and looks up to see BUSINESS MAN. BUSINESS MAN does not see GANGSTER.

CUT TO: LONG WALL
BUSINESS MAN walks around the corner at opposite end and looks at watch.

CUT TO: WATCH
Close up of watch( Object of significance)

CUT TO: LONG WALL
GANGSTER confronts BUSINESS MAN and proceeds to stab him

CUT TO: FREEZE FRAME
FREEZE FRAME of GANGSTER stabbing BUSINESS MAN where narration by GANGSTER stops.

"This is me
This is the life i live
I don't think
I just do
There's no time to think in this businessIf you think, you're dead"

When narration stops the scene will continue.

CUT TO: WALK AWAY
Camera films GANGSTER walks away

FADE TO: SEPARATE LOCATION
GANGSTER walks down alleyway towards BOSS.


GANGSTER: Is this what you wanted?

CUT TO: OBJECT OF SIGNIFICANCE
GANGSTER hands briefcase to BOSS (Close-Up)

BOSS: Were you followed?

GANGSTER: No, I made sure of that.

BOSS: Good, What about the courier?

GANGSTER: I took care of him personally

BOSS: Good. Now, I have something else for you. You're my best guy and I need this done. Tonight. Can I rely on you?

GANGSTER: What do you need?

BOSS: 

CUT TO: Road
GANGSTER walks away down road. Camera loses focus. Main credits appear whilst walking.

Storyboard

Filming & Editing Schedule

FILMING
Sunday 1st December, A.M. - Actors Required: Jamie Powell, Lewis Barry.
Shots to film: All scenes in & around Temple Meads Station (Provided that it is quiet enough to film), All walking shots, Stab scene.

Monday 2nd December, A.M. - Actors Required: Jamie Powell, Lewis Barry.
Shots to film: Any shots that were not obtained on Sunday 1st.

Friday 6th December, P.M. - Actors Required: Lewis Barry, Rhys Manley
Shots to film: Alleyway scene (Gangster & Boss) and dialogue, voiceover.


EDITING
Monday 9th December, A.M.
Put shots into editing software. Cut scenes to reasonable length.

Wednesday 11th December, P.M.
Put shots in order. Place title placeholders.

Monday 16th December, A.M.
Make edits based on feedback from initial screening.

Wednesday 18th December, P.M.
Make edits based on feedback, cont.

January 6th - January 31st
Add music. Final edits. e.t.c.

Props List

+ Knife
+ Briefcase
+ Wrist Watch

Photographs of Locations

Costume Planning

Business Man -
 + Black Suit (Jacket & Trousers)
 + White Shirt
 + Blue Tie
 + Black Shoes
 + Watch
 + Trench Coat

Gangster (Main Character) -
 + Black Leather Jacket
 + Blue Jeans
 + Casual Footwear (Black/Dark Trainers)
 + Plain T-Shirt

 

















Boss -
 + Black Suit
 + White Shirt
 + Black Tie

Moodboard

Initial Planning Ideas

AS Preliminary Task

Audience Research

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BBFC
The British Board of Film Classification is the organisation responsible for the age classifications for films in the UK. The classification is used as a safety precaution, to keep children safe from unsuitable content in films, as well as providing an overview of the nature of the film.

Many British Gangster films are rated 18 for the violence, bad language and numerous drug references. This tells us that the target audience is over the age of 18 and comfortable with the large amounts of violence and inappropriate behaviour shown in the films.

Analysis of Previous AS Work

Roses are Red

                   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQuSHgsZc5c&feature=player_embedded








The Edge































http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=24nQdBL8M3w




Karma




























Deception

Born from the Streets

Made Man

From this task, I have noticed several trends that affect the overall quality of the clips. One very clear problem is the lack of a tripod. Many of the films featured a very unsteady camera at one point or another.
These clips have also shown me that considering my lighting and mise en scene are very important and shouldn't be overlooked.

Inspiration and Influences

Theory of Narrative Structure

There are a number of theorists who write about narrative structure. They each comment on different features of film narratives and give an idea of set conventions, not just in gangster films, but in virtually all films.

Tzetan Todorov
Todorov speaks about the structure of the narratives and the key steps. First, there is equilibrium at the beginning of the film. This does not necessarily mean that everything is good, but there is no major storyline and there are no issues that need to be solved. In gangster films, this is often a point when the gang is operating as usual and there is no threat to them.

The second step is disequilibrium. Something in the story happens that causes things to change. The lack of equilibrium now means that something has to be fixed. This is the build up to the main part of the film. Again, in gangster films this could be something like the police getting involved or the introduction of a rivalry between gangs.

Acknowledgement of the disequilibrium is next. This is when the characters become aware of the problem and realise that they have to do something. At this point, the protagonist gets ready to begin their task. This is often only a short part of the film, but it opens up the main story, attempting to repair the disequilibrium.




Attempting to repair the disequilibrium is often the main chunk of the narrative. The protagonist and other 'good' characters will try to fix the problem. This is where most of the action will take place, in gangster films especially. There will often be a variety of tasks for the protagonist to complete.

At the end, equilibrium is restored. This doesn't mean that everything is back to how it was before, but the problems that cause the disequilibrium have been solved and the film and characters return to normality. In gangster films, this often involves getting away with a crime, getting rid of a gang (From a police perspective), or reaching a point of power.

Commonly, gangster films follow this structure, albeit often only from the perspective of one character at a time. There isn't always one set protagonist for the story to follow and it often branches, following several different characters. Turkish's story from Snatch is one example.

There are also gangster films that don't follow this structure. Pulp Fiction doesn't have a linear storyline and as a result, the steps are in a different order.


Vladimir Propp
Propp speaks about the characters in films and how there are always characters that fit a certain role.

Protagonist (Hero) -- Leads the narrative. Looking for something/Trying to solve something.

Antagonist (Villain) -- Gets in the protagonist's way.

Heroine -- Prize or reward for the protagonist.

Father -- Authority figure. Offers reward for completing quest. Not necessarily an actual father.

Helper -- Helps the protagonist. Like a sidekick.

Donor -- Gives the protagonist something, e.g. a clue, a weapon.

Mentor -- Teaches and guides the protagonist.


Many gangster films follow this structure. There are often a lot of characters involved and as a result, most of the characters on the list are included. Gangster Squad is a good example of a film with this structure. It includes almost all of the characters listed, all of which are very clear.

Roland Barthes

Barthes came up with a theory for understanding the narrative of films. He identified 5 codes that help the viewer to interact with the film and think in a certain way. 2 of the most noticeable and important codes are Action Codes, and Enigma Codes.

Action Codes - An action that implies something to further the narrative. It indicates to the audience that something is going to happen, often relating to the the object or character shown in the action code. A good example would be a shot or a character, quickly cutting to a shot of a weapon, and then cutting back to another character.

Enigma Codes - An enigma code is any element of the story that is not explained, but is occasionally hinted at. This raises questions from the audience who want to discover more about the narrative.

Claud Levi-Strauss

Levi-Strauss' theory was called binary opposition. It was the idea that many things have opposites, and by exploiting this, it could give a much deeper meaning to the story. It is used a great deal in gangster films as it can help identify key points in the narrative. It is also used to help identify the Protagonist and Antagonist.

Common Opposites: | Light vs Dark | Good vs Evil | Noise vs Silence | Youth vs Age | Right vs Wrong | Poverty vs Wealth | Strength vs Weakness | Inside vs Outside |

Research into the British Gangster Genre

Influences of Style

A traditional representation of gangsters consists of often very formal attire such as dark suits and ties. Fedoras are also quite commonly seen. The outfits are occasionally worn in a very casual manner as well. Guns are a very popular prop in all gangster films.

Many British Gangster films have a far more modern representation of gangsters. Suits are still frequently used, however are much lighter coloured than traditional ones. If the character isn't wearing a suit, it is generally quite dark clothing such as a black jacket that they wear. The outfits are far more casual in modern representations and are often less obvious. In contrast to this, the characters use guns far more, which makes them stand out.

Research into a Director - Quentin Tarantino

Analysis of British Gangster Films - Opening Scene Timeline

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

Rocknrolla

Layer Cake

This task has given me a good idea of what needs to be included in my opening. Credits are very important and many of them are shown during the opening. They do not require an entire title sequence, but can be implemented into the scene. This is the case in many British gangster films. The credits typically include the main actors, costume and prop designers, director, production companies and the title of the film.

It has also given me a good idea of what is expected in terms of mise en scene in gangster openings. They generally include some form of voiceover and non-diegetic music. The amount of dialogue varies from film to film, but it doesn't normally involve anything major to do with the plot, that is left to the voiceover. The early dialogue is often used to introduce the characters.

British Gangster Films - Production Details

From my research, I can see that there are some common companies and people involved in the British Gangster genre. Guy Ritchie has directed a number of British gangster films, many being very popular. He is a key part of the British gangster genre.

Sony Pictures is a company that comes up quite a lot in the gangster genre. They are quite a large company and far more well known and popular than most. Warner Bros. and Columbia Tristar are also common distribution and production companies in the gangster genre. They are all well known companies and do not just focus on gangster films. They work with films from many genres.

Conventions of Gangster Films

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels - Opening Scene


Rocknrolla - Opening Scene
link: http://youtu.be/NRTymVjdLNQ

Layer Cake - Opening Scene

Snatch - Opening Scene


44 Inch Chest - Opening Scene

History of the Gangster Genre