This document discusses several codes and conventions of social realism films in Britain. It notes that these films typically represent the lower working class through their clothing and settings. They also use unknown, non-famous actors and film in actual urban locations rather than studios to make the stories more relatable. The films deal with realistic issues but add humor, and focus on teenage audiences who can relate to the characters. Dialogue is sometimes semi-improvised and regional accents and identities are featured to capture different areas of Britain. Cinematography uses natural lighting and hand-held camera shots for a simplistic, realistic feel.

1. Codes and
conventions of
social realism
By Saffron Smith

2. Social class
Social class is mainly represented through
mise-en-scene, the people's clothing is a key
mise-en-scene the actors wear common
typical clothing that everyday people would
wear it makes it a lot more relatable. Also it is
mainly lower working class backgrounds that
are represented in these films as it identifies
the struggles in their lives which typically
upper class wouldn't necessarily face and
this is portrayed through the places they visit
in the films and where they live usually being
a bit run down and very basic.

3. Unknown
actors
Unknown actors adds to the realistic
look of the film as people won't know
who they are making it seem like
they're just 'real people' and not
actors. Although the true reason for
using non famous actors will be due
to the fact that most companies that
create social realism films are
independent companies who can't
afford famous actors. e.g. Thomas
Turgoose from This is England was
never an actor he was spotted on the
street and put into the film.

4. Urban locations
Studios aren't used in the product of
British social realism films, instead using
actual real life urban locations, such as
council estates and flats. Which makes
the audience relate to the narrative of
the film and characters more than they
ever would when they watch a typical
Hollywood production which are filmed
in unrealistic studios.

5. Realistic
issues
The issues that arise in British
social realism films are what
people can relate to they deal
with very dramatic issues but in
a way that makes the film
serious about the topic issue
that is faced but also the films
usually add humour.

6. Age
Teenagers and young adults are the
main target audience of these genre
films, which explains why the same age
range are featured in the film. It means
that they can relate and create a
connection with them as they can
understand the issues they face or at
least sympathise with them.

7. Semi improvised
scripts
This helps to achieve an almost
realistic dialogue as it will be
someone's natural reaction to what
someone has said to them. e.g.
Outnumbered use this which even
though is a TV film it still falls under
the British social realism genre. The
adults in the film completely learn the
scripts and the children are given last
minute instructions to try and make
them give a natural reaction to what
their parents say.

8. Regional identities
Regional identities are used
throughout British social realism
films to identify problems within
different areas in Britain. The area in
which the film is set would be
adjusted to by the appropriate
accents and language of the
accents, where the film is set and
the trends within this location.

9. Camera features
In most British social realism
films natural lighting is used and
a lot of hand held camera shots
which are very simplistic
especially in comparison to the
wide range of lighting and
camera shots in Hollywood films
which identifies the contrast in
both of them as most Hollywood
films are unrealistic fantasies
usually interpreting the
'American Dream'.