2. Shot types and Editing
Slow motion –
Gangster squad
action scene
Establishing shot
- Bugsy Malone
Freeze Frame and
Voice over -
Long Stock
Panning
movement - Get
Carter
Two shot -
Gangster
Squad
Close ups -
Bugsy Malone
3. Compared to other genre types, such as Mob,
British Gangster film openings use much more
different and skilful shot types an editing.
Within the film openings from the sub genre
British Gangster, I have noticed the use of
freeze frame, slow motion and fast paced clips
throughout, as well as other different
techniques. These different techniques allows
he characters to be revealed in different
ways, but also is open to let lots of
information in quickly. This is a skill used
to entice the audience. The fast pace
represents the quick sped of criminals and the
freeze frame relates to when criminals get
caught, arrested or even killed.
4. Mise en Scene
Make-up -
Gangster Squad -
red shiny lips,
defined black
eyeliner, pale
skin, brown
eyebrows.
Other examples of
makeup used is fake
blood and other
substances to make
fake cuts, bruising
and injuries. This
theatrical makeup
strategy allows the
action and violence
to appear real to
the audience.
Costume -
Bugsy Malone - The costume in
this film is a traditional
representation of a male. This
representation is shown by the
male characters wearing top
hats, suit and ties with smart
shirts.
Long Stock - In contrast to
Bugsy Malone with their smart
wear, this film concludes to
have a very casual look
finished with casual trousers,
top, coat and a scarf.
Colour - Long Stock
and Two Smoking
Barrels uses a
slight Sepia Effect
- Black and White
5. A strong gangster image is created with the traditional
representation of men when a stereotypical black suit ad
tie costume is used. This costume and representation is
used in American Gangster Films, this is in contrast to
British Gangster Films as they challenge the
stereotypical image of gangsters as there are less
people in suits. Instead of the characters wearing suits
they are dressed in much more causal wear which can be
known to the younger generation as 'chavvy'. They
characters would wear things such as hoodies and
joggers. This is done to blend in with society and their
community which makes it more relaxed and more of a less
important/worried about crime. Bugsy Malone throughout
presents their characters in smart suits whereas Long
Stock has both casual characters and smartly dressed
actors. This shows that the British Gangster genre has a
wider variety of costumes and there is not a specific
outfit type.
6. Mise en Scene
Setting -
Gangster Squad // Bar
Long Stock // Street
Props -
Cigarettes, Gun, Old Fashioned Car,
Drugs, Money
Gangster Squad // Urban City
7. British Gangster films usually are set
outside, such as a city, park or a street
view. These outdoor scenes usually reveal
what mischief the characters get up to.
Although most scenes are exterior, some
scenes are shot inside buildings where the
lighting is low levelled to create a
troubled and mysterious atmosphere. The
theme of the film is normally fitted
around the criminalities props used within
the film.
8. Mise en Scene
Actors -
Long Stock - Jason
Flemyng, Bexter
Fletcher, Nick Moran,
Jason Statham
Gangster Squad - Ryan
Gosling, Emma Stone,
Josh Brolin, Nick
Nolte, Anthony
Mackie, Michael Pena,
Robert Patrick, Sean
Penn, Glovanni Ribisa
Lighting –
Bugsy Malone // Low level
lighting
Long Stock // Natural lighting
9. Sound -
Non-Diegetic -
Non-diegetic is a
sound outside the
characters world,
they're unable to
hear it but we
are.
Music is usually
used to build
tension in the
atmosphere which
can be reflected
on the emotions
of the audience.
It may begin non-diegetic
and then
turn into
diegetic.
Diegetic -
Diegetic sound is
within the
characters world,
we know they can
hear the sounds by
the things they do
and how they react
to some sounds.
Examples of this in
gangster films are
the sounds of
explosions,
background noise
(birds, weathering
ect.), cars,
footsteps.
Sound Bridge is
used to link
scenes.
Voice-over -
This can be a description
of the main characters,
this is shown in Long
Stock.
Someone's/A characters
thoughts may be spoken
about in a voice-over
which allows the audience
tot understand the
feelings of the character
or what they are
doing/going to do.
Voice-overs are also a
clever way to introduce
an unknown character with
just their voice and then
later on bring them into
the film, this is a good
technique and creates
mystery upon this
character.
Martin Scorsesse has used
his own voice in many of
his films but has never
revealed his face.
10. Non-diegetic music is more frequent than
diegetic music during the opening of Gangster
films. Sounds that are out of the characters
world have a better capability to build tension
and reveal what is about to happen. For
example, a fast pace piece of music would imply
danger is near. In Bugsy Malone, diegetic
footsteps are used, this is an uncommon aspect
within the first 2 minutes of a gangster film
as it is important to draw the audience in and
as the only sound was the footsteps it was
risky to do so but was successful.
11. Most Profitable -
Long, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, directed by Guy Ritchie,
was massively profitable with a budget of £960,000 and gross
intake of $3,650,677. This is not Ritchie's most profitable
film as he continued on a high after this positive beginning
and continued to direct British Gangster films such as
Snatch. Snatch had a £6,000,000 budget and grossed
$30,093,107. This is his most profitable films.
Most Influential - Rocknrolla, made in 2008, is one of the
most influential Crime Thriller films because it stood out
from the other Gangster films during that time. It stands out
as it combines humour with crime and plays with the serious
stereotype gangster image. Famous Actors were used to entice
the audience. These actors were Gerard Butler, Gemma
Arterton, Thandie Newton and Jeremy Piven.
Most Successful -
Snatch 2000 is a comical Crime film written and directed by
Guy Ritchie. Big famous actors such as Brad Pitt, Vinnie
Jones and Jason Stratham star in this film. It was rated a
high 8.3 and a gross box office of £30.1million.
12. I have researched into my sub genre: British Gangster.
I have also looking into the history and most common
films of the gangster genre. Now my focus of the
gangster genre turns onto my sub genre. With my
knowledge of the sub genre I can know how to put the
aspects of a British Gangster film into the opening of
my film. I will later on have to show hoe I have used
the conventions or challenged them and will need to
compare this research to my final piece. In the stages
of my research I have discovered that Guy Ritche is one
of the most famous British Gangster directors and have
produced extremely successful films which have starred
highly famous actors. Because of his success he his
work has highly inspired me!
