The document discusses conventions of social realism films including: - Realistic settings that depict working class lives and economic hardship - Believable filming techniques with gritty urban locations - Focus on how location and characters' choices shape the narratives - Key characters are often working class heroes who try to overcome struggles

1. Is this a Social Realist film?

2. Social Realism Genre Realistic settings Realistic events and situations Believable filming technique Hard luck Working class heroes Economic hardship Life’s struggles Experiences of REAL Britons Gritty style Urban locations

3. Primary Focus on Macro Analysis Representation of Crime, location, characters Generic Conventions Narrative Devices Ideology/Themes Support these with micro evidence

4. Section B: Social-Political Study – ‘Living with Crime’ You should discuss a minimum of two films in your answer and base it on the following: Either Discuss the importance of choices made by key characters to the overall shape and development of the narratives you have studied. (40) Or 2. How important is location to the films you have studied for this topic? (40)

5. SOCIAL REALIST FILMS – BORN & BRED IN BRITAIN Better than any other genre, social realism has shown us to ourselves, pushing the boundaries in the effort to put the experiences of real Britons on the screen, and shaping our ideas of what British cinema can be. While our cinema has experienced all the fluctuations in fortune of Hollywood, realism has been Britain's richest gift to world cinema.

6. Conventions of Social realism genre? SOCIAL REALISM MISE EN SCENE CAMERA SHOTS/MOVEMENT EDITING CHARACTERS THEMES/PLOT

7. CHARACTERS: Social Realist films have working class heroes often overcoming their situation and not doing just what is expected of them CAMERA: A raw use of camera movement – lots of handheld, POV and tracking shots to get the spectator in the action with the characters Many close ups to connote emotions EDITING: Cross cutting to link different characters storylines Continuity to aid realism Slower pace to reflect real life Simple cuts to aid realism – no effects Conventions of the Social Realist Genre

8. MISE EN SCENE Production Design: Poverty stricken locations, city, urban, built up areas, estates and tower blocks which we associate with crime Lighting: Dim natural lighting connoting daily life and all its misery Props: Weapons, run down cars Costume: Cheap, hoodies, streetwear, casual (unemployed/truanting) Space: Built up areas, busy, gangs, lots of children in one family, one parent families THEMES/PLOT Wanting a better life and trying to achieve it Main protagonist will better themselves or try to Focus is on young protagonist and their future Conventions of the Social Realist Genre

9. Using your key scene analysis from today’s lesson Write at least 3 PEEs for the following Q: How important is location to the films you have studied for this topic? (40) Point : The main location of the estate used in Bullet Boy is important to the film’s storyline. Evidence : The setting of the tower blocks connote many people living in one space with little money or options. Explain : This allows the spectator to immediately engage with the aspirations of the main characters who want a better life for themselves and therefore turn to crime to achieve it which is a convention of the social realist genre.

10. Representation Visual and Verbal Codes ? ?

11. Representation is not just limited to people How does this clip represent London? http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BC8M_b3UFa4 Is this true and accurate?