2. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?
• Our media product develops forms and conventions of real media products. I say this because we use only
male actors in our film to show the brutality of football violence, this conforms to the idea portrayed by
other media products such as the football factory of The Firm as they also only show men fighting.
However we do challenge the forms as we use much younger actors to show that football fighting is
between a much younger audience now. This converts from other football hooligan films as they usually
show men lat twenties or early thirties fighting each other where as we show more late teens an early
twenties getting involved. This is done to show the audience that this is a habit that starts from a young
age and isn't just adopted latter in life.
3. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
Our media product represents young, white football fans as violent hooligans. It does this because all footage
in the film shows young football fans letting off flares and carrying weapons. This means there is a negative
portrayal of football fans as it portrays them as all violent and vandals. However it also shows them as proud of
their club and that they have a sense of friendship with each other as shown by footage in the opening credits.
It also can be shown by when my character is jumped in the alleyway by three other hooligans around my same
age group. This reinforces that young football fans are all hooligans and are violent although will stick together.
It also shows how football fans will confirm with each other as the three people who jump me all stomp an
kick me as the others do.
Another way it shows football fans is as loud and drunk because of the opening scene as this is them walking
out of a pub and down an alleyway. Gender wise or film is very male dominated which backs up the theory of
the male gaze as it does not show any women fighting along side the men, this means our product represents
football fans as a very male dominated group. It also shows us the idea of masculinity between the fans as they
are fighting for power and strength which is commonly associated with men. It also reinforces the stereotype
that young adults from London all wear hoods and carry weapons, although we are only showing a minority
who do so. Another representation we represent is that football hooligan is mainly a white dominated area and
is strongly racist, you can see this by the footage used at games as the crowed is a all white crowed. This is
done to show how football hooligans single others out and have very low regard to human life.
4. What kind of media institute might distribute your
film?
• I believe vertigo films would distribute my films because it is a British company and this is a British film. I
also believe vertigo would distribute it as they have previously distributed similar films such as the football
factory which is another English football hooligan film. They are also famous for doing over gritty British
films such as the sweeney and another football hooligan film called the Firm which they helped produce
and distribute with the help of Warner bros. So I believe it would be the best distribution company for our
film as they would know how to advertise it and sell it as they have done with films that are similar to
mine. Another reason I would go with vertigo is because they do it on a smaller budget than say Universal.
This means we would be more likely to make profit from the film and the distribution from it, and Vertigo
have links with Universal to help them distribute their films outside of the UK. Another reason vertigo
might distribute our film as that there is a gap in the market for a new firm film and as they aim to
distribute four films a year our film would help them fill this gap, and meet their criteria for this year.
5. Who would be the audience for your media product?
• I believe our target audience would be between mid teens to early forties who like football or have an interest in social
groups or gang culture. I say this because these are the age groups who are most likely to go to football and have watch
football. I believe it would also be a mainly male dominated group as that is the gender with the higher number of attendees
to football matches, and as it is a violent film it would also be more likely to appeal to a male group. The country I believe it
would do best in would be England as it is a British film about a gritty sub culture in England d reveals a dark underworld
that some people indulge in. This means Americans would not see this films as it would not meet their criteria for what is
British as it isn’t posh and pompous . Although saying this I believe it would do well in a European market as many eastern
European countries are very much into football hooliganism and are fascinated with hooligan films such as The Football
Factory and The Firm. Also it would do well within the football community as there is a lack of hooligan films now days so
there is a gap in the market for our film. Also I believe a younger audience such as mid teens would go to see this film as it
shows gritty life in the UK and people rebelling which is something they can relate to. Although I doubt most people who
would go to see the film would actually be in a firm but they would like it as it gives them an insight into what firm life is
actually like. I also believe the audience would be working class as this is the audience most commonly associated with
football and that there is a feel within the football community that you are representing your area and seeing as most
supporters come from working class backgrounds, and are film is aimed at these supporters they are the ones more likely to
go and see it.
6. How did you attract/address your audience?
• We would attract our audience by advertising near football grounds and in football grounds. Also by advertising on sides of
busses and in pubs near grounds. We would address the audience as if they are in the film, this way they would feel more
attracted to it as the film applies to them and has a sense of meaning to them. We would also advertise during football
games on tv this way your also appealing to an audience that don't go to football matches but do enjoy football and are
interested in football but are also interested in the lives of violent fans. We also did a survey around our class and school to
see what most people aged early to late teens liked. We found girls preferred comedies, romcoms and horror, where as boys
preferred action, violence and comedies. This then showed us that the audience we would be trying to attract would be
more male orientated. We also would advertise on radio stations such as five live or talk sport. Another way to attract a
wider audience would be a question and answer session with the cast of the film at a festival as this would get more people
involved and encourage more people to go and see it.
