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Conventions of Social Realism Intros.

The conventions of the opening of social realism films are very similar and use the samelay out and structure at the beginning of the film. What they all have at the start are asequence of titles to show the production team who helped put the film together, somelonger than others announcing more of the team but some keep it short and brief with the

important people. Other aspects that you aspect to see in the intros are the first visual clipis shown in low key lighting to give it a negative feel with a pale color panel to reallyemphases props in the scene to get a clear emotion in the atmosphere. In the first scenesthe first person you see is usually the protagonist, who is doing something what gives aclear statement of who they are. Other conventions include the uses of untrained actors,actors who you wouldn't really know of in films before, which gives it more of a realist feelto the film. Adding to that, the fitted costumes to match the low economic back ground ofthe film which it is set, which is a another convention. Also props used such as cigarettes,illegal drugs. The scenes are mainly location based, meaning filmed in real life areas tomake the film reality, what are generally low economic areas. Realism films are made upwith long take shots to get comfortable with the atmosphere and generally keep a smoothreal feel to the scene. Diegetic sounds are more dominant than non diegetic but in theintro non diegetic is used as a light sound track to start the film but shortly stops and ismost likely not played again through out. They mainly use diegetic sounds to back up thescene with aspected noises to make the scene as real as possible. Wide shots are usuallyused to show the the location to provoke thoughts with clear pictures of what theprotagonist has to deal with. In some cases but not as often there are some hand held tocreate a uncomfortable feeling to set the scene straight away. Each one of these pointsare commonly used to create that real feel to the film and thats why its so different tohollywood.

Bullet boyIn this extract of the intro of bullet boy the micro elements used are mise en scene toemploy certain features in this case they are done to employ a black youth prominentlyinvolved in gang activities commonly found around London. Key representatives featuredare age and ethnicity. These issues being conveyed by two types of generations from thesame low economic background with prominent difference by the way they act, such asthe older black man is using a lot of informal language and is more aggressive where asthe younger boy is much quiet and caring which shows a contrast of two generations andmay inform how they change from there personal experiences as they get older. Theyportray construct this by there costume, make up, the older man who's just came out ofprison- grey baggy (full) tracksuit - untreated hair and beard - showing that he is un

organized and hasn't had the luxury because of his prison time. The other man - goldchains and bracelet rings - what is stereotypically common for a gang member and givesthe impression he had a lot of pride - scar on his neck - stating it could be from a gangwar giving the impression that he may be a violent person. The young boy - full schooluniform neat and fitted showing that he is well organized also it gives him an academiclook showing that he goes to school. The use of props also help build an image -cigarettes typically known for a low economic background. The low key lighting - in theprison before he leaves - really shows the contrast of the freedom and the prison what isisolating him from being there it also suggests a dark past that has got him into thatprison and that the light is him starting a new life. The arrangement of this intro reallycreates a tense atmosphere by using, camera work - close up of the boy in the bootemphasizing the cramped condition he is in, jolty camera movements connoting themovement of the car going over bumps, lighting - dark, musky, blurred shot to really giveit an uneasy shot to look at, soundtrack - lots diegetic noises , muffled road, car engine,

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really feeling sympathetic for the the boy and giving it a real situation feeling conveyingfear. All these combined create a tense atmosphere for the boy at the start. Together in awhole the micro elements conveyed, helped out by the macro, help construct an issue ofgang type activities by small key features fitting in together to create that sense such as,the serious face continuously used to show pride, courage, dominants or intimidatingwhich is characteristics of a gang member. Codes fitted in to make a clear view of the

protagonists upbringing and lifestyle because we start off at the end of the process whatgot him in that mess giving a clear idea of what he had one.

Fish Tank

In the intro of Fish Tank the micro elements examined are from the category Sound.It is used in a way to create a busy aggressive estate dominated by young youths in alow economic environment. The representative being explored in this category are classand statues, the way this is being explored is a by the use of a constant diegetic soundsto create a typical poverty stricken area. In the first scene you can already her a manshouting at somebody in a aggressive way, children screaming and laughing in thedistance, these to generally show that this is a common on going thing which is why youcan her children laughing because they have gained comfort over it because it happenson a regular - showing a unwelcoming area making it a intimidating scene for out siders.There is a clear sequence of constant diegetic noise - people laughing, shouting, cars,music, dogs barking - this is constant, if one thing stops there is another sound startingreally building a busy scene almost chaotic with no room for pauses. This makes it clearits a daily routine and the action - fighting, arguing and damaging property happensduring the journey of the girl is a common situation. Showing a thick atmosphere of arepetitive tension and fear. The accent , essex, slang what is projected through out thescene is very strained and aggressively portrayed by the protagonist, even when shesapologizing she also cursing at her showing that there is social issues involved in her life

making it an easy to understand why she getting into some bad situations almostsympathetic towards her. The only time she is calm and positive is when she is talking toher dog maybe showing thats the only good relationship she has. What makes me moveon to her relationship with her mum which is uncomfortable to watch as there is lack ofpride and respect on both sides making it a unhealthy connection because on thecontinuous wailing at each other. Showing that there is clear family troubles may involving- money problems, alcoholism, drug usage, rebellion, health issues, giving a hugecategory to think about. These elements just on sound easily show what is trying to becreated in the intro scene, by referring to sound and linking it to other elements makes it aclear structure of what director is trying to represent. The sound is closely structured tomake a manic scene to really get a clear idea how this place is.

Kidulthood

The intro extract of Kidulthood editing techniques are employed to pin point key specificfeatures going on in the opening scenes. Being represented in this scene is a centrallondon public school with a mixture of ethnicity youths. Being represented in this scene isclass and status. They cover this issue by showing short segments on how people aretreated and act in the school. They highlight specific characters and social groups tosection them out - sped up shots and slowed down when comes to a group - this dividesthem up individually and states impressions of how they are classed with a clear activityof what they are doing. Intended motion blur is expressed to bring quite few thoughts -drug usage, nature of the game, the people playing unaware of there surroundings, thiscould be implying that the class of these people are not important in the eyes of theschool view. The change of the short shots to long shots draw the viewer to pay attentionconsciously informing that this is an important scene bringing out key features. It is also

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used to have a spectacle of the action so it has a real natural feel to the scene as it isletting the nature of the playground make a hectic atmosphere for the audience tospectate. This sequence of editing is used to create a busy, quick atmosphere so it hasthe same characteristics as a play ground hectic and loud, but is used to inform theaudience of who are the class and status and characters by the featured editing of clipsizes and effects. This gives a great deal of information about the characters and the way

they move about the school.

Sweet Sixteen

Sweet Sixteen technical use of lighting is helping to create a working class community ina typical popular location the pub. Class and statues is being employed in this extractand the use of the lighting to show musky visioned shots to emphasis the surrounding tobe confined and uncomfortable because of the lack of facilities for other people to go toso its spread out what could be a issue. Low key lighting is being exposed - emphasizingthe smoke in the room to show that it is a low economic background characteristics ofsmoking issues - is it also used to create a dull atmosphere with nothing really attractivewith dull colors to give it boring feature of what pubs are like in poor areas. The lightingreally tries to suck the colours out of anything what would stands out to make the situationuninteresting and is hard to watch. There are constant shadowy scenes to give the pub arealist nature to it. This is sequenced to have a general feeling of intimidated emotionsbecause of the atmosphere of the pub and and the unsettled vision because the smokeconnoting unclarity such as - criminal activities, unclear goals, confusion - theses all fit inwith what happens in a low income area. Another use of lighting at the start where theyare out at night, the lighting is specifically planned to have a visual at night so we can seethe area around and see the faces of the characters this is done to get a idea of thesurroundings they are up against, this is cleverly put in at the moment it changes scene

because we are unaware of the area and we are trying understand whats happening andthen we get the long shot and get clear statement of poverty. This is done to create asense of fear as it has characteristics of a horror movie with the lighting but then have adramatic change of emotion to fear to sympathy as the issue is shown. This two types oflighting are conventional to social realism films to create a real feel to the scene but alsonot making the world of the film overly dramatic. They together create a clear sense of apoverty and convey feelings of hopelessness for the area and the community.