2. EMOTION: Films within the coming of age
genre are ‘emotion driven’
Whether that is depressed, happy, angry –
emotions of the characters are constantly present
and remain the films focus
This is because the process known as ‘coming of age’ is a
personal, psychological and moral growth – and this growth
is only achieved by experiencing different emotions.
It is therefore the films job to make these emotions the
focal point ; along with the actors performance, specific
camera angles and movements are chosen to achieve this.
3. Close ups: emotion
Close ups in most films are used to
identify important characters and to show
a persons emotions
They are especially important in this
genre as ‘coming of age’ (personal
growth and change) is seen through the
emotions a person is feeling
These close ups then enable the audience to
see exactly what the character is feeling
and/or to see how they are developing and
changing
4. Close ups: emotion
“An Education- coming-of-age story about a teenage girl in 1960s suburban
London, and how her life changes with the arrival of a playboy nearly twice her
age”
An Education (2009) – close ups identify her
emotional and personal growth as she develops
through out the film
5. Close Ups: identifying
In a lot of coming of age
films, close ups of the main
characters(s) are amongst the first
shots shown
This establishes who the main
character(s) are and in some
cases, creates an early emotional
connection with them
*Fitting with our genre
conventions…
In our sequence our first shot is a close up of
‘Jimmy Maverick’, to establish him as the main
character and to create an early emotional
connection with him
6. Close Ups: identifying
‘Cherrybomb’ does this
as the first shot is a
police video of one of
the main characters
giving a statement-
the rest of the film is
then a flashback,
leading back up to
this point
Cherrybomb (2009) – first shot close up of one of the
main characters ‘Malachy’
*Fitting with our genre
conventions… in flashback form as well - It begins like
Our film is told
Cherrybomb does with a close up of the main character and
the opening few minuets then ‘set the scene’ for the rest of
the film
7. emotion and emotional
response
Cut Away:
Often when there are big groups within a scene, cut away is used
This is where the scene cuts between the master slide and close ups of different people/
important objects within the scene
Knowing the emotions and emotional responses of characters is important. By using cut
away, these elements aren't lost as the close ups capture them
Push In:
Coming of age films reply on emotional responses - a push in is used to specifically
show a persons emotional response to something
8. Two Shot: Intimacy
A common theme within the coming of
age genre is relationships and virginity
Submarine (2010) – two shot of the two main
characters, at the point where a relationship
between the two characters is suggested
Submarine (2010) – two shot of the two
main characters , ‘Craig’ and ‘Jordana’
The two shot helps to show either the
suggestion of, or the creation of a relationship
between two characters; can also be used to
show intimacy between two characters
9. Two Shot: Intimacy
*Fitting with our genre conventions…
Once we have entered the flash
back ‘Sam’ is going to meet
‘Ruby’ who has secretly been
waiting for him –they will both be
shown in a two shot
foreshadowing the fact that a
relationship is going to develop
between the two characters
10. Two Shot: Forced together
Two shots can also be used to demonstrate
‘bad’ relationships. These can include
complicated home life relationships, abusive
relationships or difficult friendships.
All screenshots - The Breakfast Club
(1985)- story of teenagers who are ‘forced
together’ through Saturday detention
11. Two Shot: Forced together
‘Fishtank’ is an
example of a coming
of age film that looks
into problems with
relationships at home.
The main character has a challenging
relationship with her mother and the two
of them are shown disagreeing through
two shots.
These shots emphasise the ‘forcing together’
of the mother and the daughter as neither
party want anything to do with the other.
Fish Tank (2009) – two shot of the mother and
daughter -Their physical expressions and actions
emphasise how they have a bad relationship
12. Typical ‘Coming of Age’
scenarios
There are many typical scenarios that are covered in coming of age dramas.
These scenarios are experiences that the characters have or create, where
frequently it involves them doing something experimental. Teenagers are
intrigued by the idea of trying new things and these new experiences are a vital
part of ‘coming of age’.
Coming of age films then place a lot of emphasis on scenes that involve the
characters experimenting or trying new things.
Weather it be the characters attending parties for the first time, partying in a new
environment, experiencing new relationships or taking drugs and alcohol, the
films use some specific camera angles and movements to demonstrate what is
going on and to relay the feelings of the characters, to the audience. They are
also sometimes used to help the audience ‘feel and experience’ what the
characters are ‘experiencing’.
Some added editing effects are also used to help emphasise these experiences
and to give a clear understanding of what is going on.
13. Example: Club Scene –
‘CherryBomb’
Colour Palette change- This scene is filmed through
a red filter and has red artificial lighting– highlights
the fact that they are in what could be considered
a dangerous environment (night club) and showing
how the actions they are taking i.e. taking drugs, is
having a dangerous effect upon them.
Canted angles – creates
confusion and disorientation –
emphasising the feelings those
on screen are experiencing
14. Example: Club Scene – ‘Cherry
Bomb’
Dynamic cutting – creates a hyper pace effect making the scene feel disorientated
(emphasised by the extreme close ups) - reflects how those that have taken drugs in the
scene may be feeling
15. Example: Big Party Scene –
‘CherryBomb’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ63NlwFW1M
This is the final scene before the story begins to reach its
climax as all ‘goes wrong’. It is a large party scene where
many teenagers have turned up after the main characters
have invited them to a leisure centre that they have
broken into. Drugs, alcohol and fireworks are dominant
through the whole scene.
All the camera angles/movements and editing,
demonstrate what is going on and recreate what the
characters on screen are feeling and experiencing
16. Example: Big Party Scene – ‘CherryBomb’
Close ups- Used to indentify the feelings on
characters faces – mostly to show the effects
the dugs and alcohol are having on them
High angles- used to make the characters
look weak and venerable in a situation they
are losing control of – as they lose control of
their minds and bodies (effect of drugs and
alcohol)
Low angles- when alcohol is
present – camera is looking up at
the alcohol showing how it has a
dominant part in the scene and
how it is taking control of the
teenagers
17. Example: Big Party Scene – ‘CherryBomb’
Non-transparent editing is used - the camera constantly has an ‘unsteady’ feel –
gives the impression that those shown on screen also are ‘unsteady’ and highlights
how they are unstable when walking around
Unmotivated angles- used to create an artistic effect and emulates the way those
who have taken drugs may be seeing the world
Two Shots- to show the intimacy and relationship between particular characters
Canted Angles – help create confusion
Group shots- to show how there are many
people involved in the scene and how it is
growing out of control
18. Example: Big Party Scene – ‘CherryBomb’
Filmed in slow motion – creates an almost ‘outer body experience’ as their taking of
drugs has slowed the whole situation down
Colour palette change- a yellow coloured
filtered is used to film the scene – used to reflect
how this isn’t a ‘normal’ situation as they are
experimenting with things that are illegal and a
normal everyday situation would not be seen like
this
-The fact that it isn’t a ‘normal’ scenario is
emphasised by the fact that fireworks keep getting
let off even though they are indoors
Transitions between slides- these transitions
overlay the frame with the previous creating a
disillusioned feeling
-The fireworks that are being let off inside are also
overlaid over the top of some frames – this helps
emphasise the danger of the whole party situation
- Some scenes are also blurred to create an
unclear image – giving an impression that this is
possibly how some of the teenagers are seeing from
their point of view
