Patrice Etienne conducted research on gangster films, including making a timeline of influential titles and examining the openings of three hit gangster movies. Research focused on conventions around costume, location, and props. Further research looked specifically at British gangster films like Snatch and Lock Stock. Location scouting and mood boarding were used in planning. Conventions around themes like drugs, shot types including close-ups, and using British songs were employed. Creativity improved through using new software and props. Digital skills grew through learning to edit with Premiere Pro and use a camera and tripod. Further skills development is planned around syncing video and audio, composition, and camera techniques.

1. Skills Review
Patrice Etienne

2. Research and PlanningResearch
I started my research by making a time line of the greatest gangster films of all time, this gave me
knowledge about the conventions and stereotypes that were consistent throughout every film I picked
from that genre. I then started to do more in depth research into gangster films by finding the most
influential films in the genre finding their gross, budget, profit etc. I then looked at 3 openings from 3
hit gangster movies to see conventions more particularly to do with mise en scene, looking at
costume, location, props etc. this allowed me to educate myself further on what are the makings of a
successful gangster movie. I did more extensive research but this time into a director (Quentin
Tarantino), I found key elements in his films that made him a top director and thought about using
these in my own film, bearing in mind the relevant genre. After further discussion we decided to pick
our key genre out as British gangster, this triggered the research of films such as Snatch, Lock Stock
and Two Smoking Barrels, Sexy Beast and Get Carter which gave me more specific research to do
with conventions and mise en scene. After going through all of these steps, we then used what we
thought were the key factors from the sub-genre.
Planning
We used Google street view to confirm our location and make sure it was suitable for us to use, this
helped us get an idea of whether it fit the genre successfully, which we think it did. We ensured we
were clear where we wanted to film and what we wanted to film by creating a moodboard which
pointed out exactly what we wanted to film but due to a lack of time we had to film at a different
location. I felt that the planning was crucial to making sure our film fitted the genre perfectly. Planning
when to edit our footage and booking machines also allowed us to be up to date with getting our film
the best we could make him within our time restraints..

3. Using conventions from real media
texts
I felt that identifying key themes that were seen in research such as costume and props and
highlighting these using varied shot types and angles.
We highlighted drugs as our main theme as the films we researched seemed to involve this at
some point and this made it fit to the conventions we researched successfully. We also looked
at some of the shot types they used and we realised they used a lot of close ups so we tried to
do the same, focusing mainly on the drugs in particular.
We also analysed the sound in the British Gangster films and felt choosing a British song
reflected that well as the films we researched did the same and didn’t tend to use American
songs as well as American films not using British songs.

4. Creativity
I felt my creativity was improved and developed massively during AS, I found a whole new
plethora of ways to present and embed my work using programs that I'd never heard of before
starting AS Media, and now I find comfortable to use.
Using a blog to upload my work was another creative forward step that I had taken as I had
never done this before and had to find a suitable design for it etc. also acting at late notice in
my own film was part of this.
I managed to bring in some sugar, cling film and a rolled up piece of card at very short notice
for filming as well and think it looked quite real which I think is quite creative as we mightn’t of
got the effect we were going with without these props.

5. Digital Technology
Again I've felt that I have made huge steps in my use and knowledge of digital technology as a
lot of the equipment and software I used, was all knew to me when starting this course.
This was the first time I had used Adobe Premier Pro and I managed to learn how to edit, cut
and add titles to my work and again now I am comfortable doing these things. I used a pentax
camera and a tripod for the very first time and quickly adapted to using these as well. I feel I
have developed my skills with editing the most as I didn’t have the slightest clue how to edit
before this year.
In my A2 project, a music video, the sound is the most important thing so I will be looking to
improve my skills further by matching the music up with the lip movements, making it in sync.
Also, I plan to incorporate features that I haven’t used previously in hope it enhances my work
and pushes it up to the next level.

6. Post-Production
Although learning a lot, in particular my editing, I feel that my skills need to be further improved
in order for my music video to be of a good quality. I think I have learnt to cut in better places
and this could benefit me when making my video, especially matching it with the lyrics.
I plan to incorporate more composition techniques into my work to make it have a more
professional looks while using a series of shot types and angles making sure I adhere to the
conventions of the genre, depending on what song I choose.
I will investigate more effects to improve my video such as experimenting with manual focus on
the camera, to achieve various techniques within the video.

7. Post-Production
Although learning a lot, in particular my editing, I feel that my skills need to be further improved
in order for my music video to be of a good quality. I think I have learnt to cut in better places
and this could benefit me when making my video, especially matching it with the lyrics.
I plan to incorporate more composition techniques into my work to make it have a more
professional looks while using a series of shot types and angles making sure I adhere to the
conventions of the genre, depending on what song I choose.
I will investigate more effects to improve my video such as experimenting with manual focus on
the camera, to achieve various techniques within the video.