The genre I have chosen to base my 2 minute film opening on is "British Film."
I have picked it because I feel it is a genre I am familiar with. I also think that with the equipment that is available it will be possible to create a good final piece doing British Film.
Conventions of 'British Film' genre
- Close-ups often used
- Natural Lighting used
- Main character often does voice over
- Mostly set in urban areas of Britain
- Evoke emotions from the audience (sadness, happiness, laughter etc)
- Shot transitions are mostly cuts
Music is generally by British artists or bands
British Film Analysis
Bend it like Beckham - This film is about an Indian girl called Jess who is determined to become a professional footballer even though her strict parents do not support her. After ignoring what her parents told her she goes and starts playing for a womens team where she meets another aspiring female footballer, from a British family, called Jules. Both girls fall for their coach and come to blows over him. The films follows them through the lies, rows and their fight to make it to the top in womens football.
Camera angles/shots - there are a limited amount of camera angles in the opening of this film. We are first shown a wide angle shot of a football pitch and a packed out stadium.This helps the audience to establish the location. There are then close up shots of 3 different well known man-united players. The match is in full swing and the camera is following the ball which is headered into the net by 'Jess'. We are shown close-ups of the audience cheering and celebrating showing that this woman footballer is very much liked and accepted. We are shown high angle close-up shots of Jess celebrating with the other players, however the mixed sex team indicates to the audience that this is not 'real life'.
Mise-en-scene - In the opening scene the clothing which is a red shit and shorts, as well as the prop of a ball help us establishwhere the scene is set, at a football match. Also the use of logo's for example the man-united badge show that this is a professional match. The use of traditional Indian clothing on Jess' mother show the viewer where Jess has come from and what her heritage is. Also the scene where we see Jess in her room the large posters covering her walls and ceiling give the audience an insight into what she likes and what she is interested in.
Lighting - The scene where the football match is being played there is use of natural lighting which is conventional of this type of genre. Artificial lighting is used in the studio scene. This is necessary as they are supposedly on telly which always uses artificial lighting. Natural lighting is also used in the scene in Jess' bedroom making the mise-en-scene more realistic.
Representation - The opening scene represents the mixed football team as acceptable. When the main character Jess scored a goal the crowd showing that she is welcomed into the sport and has many fans. When the scene cuts to the studio where Jess' mother is we see her mother represented as a stero-typical asian mother. She is dressed in a saree with her hair covered and is scrutinising the game and her daughter. Her mother represents where Jess has come from and what her heritage is. This is trying to represent what this Indian mother expects from her daughter, to stay at home and settle down. The use of showing two different generations from one family show how each generation differs from each other and their contrasting beliefs and expectations.
Audience - This film would be mainly targeted at a prodiminantly female audience aged 15-25. This is because women are very rarely seen playing football professionally and it is an extremely hard sport to get into if you are female. However the title 'Bend it like Beckham' would interest a male audience as it includes one of the most famous footballers, David Beckham.
Ideology - The ideologies that director Gurinder Chadha wants to project to the audience is that no matter what you want to do in life there will probably be someone there trying to bring you down and tell you that you cant achieve it. However this film shows that even if you are not supported by everyone and that even if not everyone believes in you as long as you are passionate about what you want to do you will reach your goal.
Institution - Fox Searchlight Pictures are the distributors of 'Bend it like Beckham'. The films gross revenue was £50 million.
Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging - This film is about an average 14 year old girl called Georgia who is struggling with the everyday teenage issues; hair, make-up and most importantly... boys! When 2 brothers move to her school, her and her friend set their eyes on them and make a plan to finally have their first boyfriend. However one person that stands in Georgias way is the beautiful, populay but nasty Lindsay. In the end Robbie (Georgia's love interest) see's who the right girl is for him and declares his love for Georgia at her 15th birthday party. This is a clip from the opening of "Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyWpNjUGDiI
Camera angles/shots - In the first scene the use of a wide angle shot of the car and Georgia going down a street helps us to establish the location. At the party the use of shot-reverse shot shows the exchange of dialogue between Georgia and her 3 best friends. When Georgia is running home from the party the use of a high angle shot shows us where she lives showing us scenery of a pier. The tracking shot of Georgia as she is running makes the audience feel the rush and the urge she has to get away and makes us feel more involved in the action.
Mise-en-scene - The houses in the background of the first scene as well as the car moving slowly helps the audience to establish the location. The costume used in the party scene makes it clear that is is a fancy dress party and the fact the party is in a house suggests these people are all under the ages of 18. The use of diegetic sounds of sea gulls also helps us to establish the location which is clear it is by the sea.
Lighting - In the opening scene the lighting in the car is dull and shaded over the Dad. The lighting on Georgia is sunny on the front but shaded on the back. This could suggest that she is still being protected by her Dad and is trying to break away from him and try to grow up a little, but the fact her back half is still shaded suggests she is still not fully independant yet. At the party scene natural lighting is used which is typical of this film genre. However the natural lighting is not typical of a 'party'. You would expect it to be dark, but the natural lighting shows that this is a party for young people under the age of 18. Also the way Georgia's eyes are shaded suggests she is hiding who she really is or doesnt actually know herself yet.
Representation - The opening scene represents a stereo-typical relationship between teenagers and their parents as well as the relationship a dad and daughter have. Georgia feels like she is old enough to walk to the party alone but her dad feels the need to protect her and make sure that she gets there ok so insists to drive next to her in his car. At the party again there is the stereo-typical teenage party. The popular girl has to look the best and is surrounded by people.
Audience - This film would be targeted at young females aged 13 - 19. This is because it focuses on issues that all girls will eventually have to deal with while growing up and it shows the funny side of them. This also helps girls understand how to deal with certain kinds of relationships, whether its a relationship with a friend, partner or even your parents. It shows the transition from child to young adult.
Ideology - The ideologies that director Gurinder Chadha is trying to project to the audience is that although at the time all the things you will go through as a girl in your teens may seem like the end of the world, for example not liking what you look like e.g. your features or your body, boyfriends who treat you good or bad, eventually you will realise what is truley important to you and you will be happy and content with what you do have instead of focusing on what you dont have.
Institution - Paramount Pictures are the distributors of 'Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging'. The film has earned $14,924,919 which includes $10.6 million from the UK alone.
Love Actually - This film is about 8 different couples ups and downs in the weeks leading up to Christmas. It shows them dealing with love,loss, marriage and betrayal. It includes a variety of well known British actors and actresses including Colin Firth, Martine McCutcheon, Hugh Grant and Keira Knightley.
