Conventions of Gangster

1. Conventions Of A Gangster Film
By Nick Webber
Movie Mise En
Scene
Sound Editing Camera
Scarface
Pulp Fiction
Departed
Se7en
Lock, Stock
And Two
Smoking
Barrels

2. Screen Shots

3. Scarface Convention
Mise En Scene Clothing , political events, technology and music to
illustrate the 1980’s, the time period of the movie.
Sound Non-diegetic sounds, the sounds are to illustrate and
reassure the time of the 1980’s with retro
technology music, also at the beginning you can hear
what sounds like guns shots, this could increase
tension and how this movie will be themed around
violence.
Editing Background music is put with shots of 1980’s videos
of politics and locations where the movie will take
place, this is to reassure the audience that this is the
historical content of the time period, most story's
link with a historical event .
Camera Nothing fancy, simply medium and close ups,
showing refugees arriving to Florida bay.
Also establishing shot to setting.

4. Screen Shots

5. Pulp Fiction Convention
Mise En Scene The symbolical prop of the gun is to represent that this movie isn’t a regular movie as it
has lead you to believe, suggesting it will become confusing and violent, the use of the
coffee mug suggests that it will play a role later in the movie to make a link with the
audience. The props also suggest that the time period is early 1990’s. I like how the guy
keeps asking rhetorical questions to persuade the woman and to engage the audience.
Sound No non-diegetic sounds or music, however a great deal of diegetic sounds like un-audible
chit chat, cars driving in the background and coffee dinner music in the foreground, this
makes the movie seem regular, this is a juxtaposition because we all know it isn’t a normal
movie.
Editing Straight cuts to either medium shots or close-ups to make the viewer engaged with the
conversation, the hand gestures alone provoke the audience to keep attention to the
movie. also point of view shot makes us feel like the character which can also help engage
the audience.
Camera Medium shots, no establishing shots to introduce the setting of the movie, this may of be
happening to make the movie seem boring and regular, even the introduction characters
seems to be them just talking about theft, the conversation alone can be engaging and
tempting to persuade the audience into the movie. The rest is mostly close-ups to show
facial expression and medium shots to express body language. Also the point of view shot
makes us feel like the character which can also help engage the audience. One Low angle
shot represented that this couple are in authority, the body language is also signature for
the movie.

6. Screen Shots

7. Editing Title screens roll in and out by cut in motions,
this titles are overlapped with the characters
voice to show the movement of time, later the
police start to chase the couple and
background music is added to show the time
period and action, the couple then charge into
a back alley or stairs, this happens in slow-motion
to let the narrator speak which has also
overlapped the music, the narrator includes us
to the characters and storyline. Finally the last
credit cuts as a sketchy text which slowly
writes out “Lock, stock and two smoking
barrels”.
Camera The opening begins with a classic over-shoulder
point of view shot, this makes it feel
like we are part of their world, the point of
view shot then tracks out to reveal a crowd of
people, the characters are then seen by the
police and then a close-up of them chucking
money and goods into a suit case, it then cuts
to a side way as it follows the characters, this
follows them to a long shot of them running
away, then it cuts to a slow-motion which is in
a medium shot.

8. Screenshots

9. Strangers on the train Convention
Mise en scene Mostly props and dressing from the time
period of round about 1951, the most symbolic
props in the opening is definitely the shoes,
one pair black and white made from leather
and one made of just brown leather, this can
show the characteristics of the people, I
presume the one with black and white shoes
has a edgy crazy side to him because of the
contrast, I imagine the brown shoes should be
more civilized. America is the setting, because
of the clothing and architect.

10. Screen shots

11. The Departed Conventions
Mise En Scene A lot of props are used in this opening,
traditional goods and shopping, cigarettes,
signs, yellow buses and a lot of old fashion
dressing and costumes, the setting is
suggested to be Boston a few years back. The
movie is set at a Historical event in the 1960’s I
believe.
Sound A lot of diegetic and non-diegetic sounds, a
narrator plays throughout the opening scene,
while non-diegetic that later turns into diegetic
sounds play in the background, diegetic sounds
like cars and people chatting also plays.
Editing The edited scenes has a very rapid pace as it
shows violence and historical events, mostly all
the shots are cut into the next, then a
background song and narrator join into the
opening scene to give you a sense of the time
period, back-story and characters.
Camera A couple medium shots to show events, one