The document summarizes typical conventions used in gang/crime films in areas like titling, camera techniques, framing, editing, sound, and actor positioning. It then discusses how the student's own media production did or did not follow these conventions, such as using simple titling, close-ups to show smoking, and filming in urban areas, while also challenging some conventions by having a non-white main character.

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products? - Technical Approach
Film Techniques Using Your Research Your Production – Use,
Findings – Note typical Develop or Challenge
generic conventions
Titling – colour, font Most films had a very We decided to go for a
style, over image or simplistic title style, black simplistic title sequence,
black, timing, credits background with font. with a black background
presentation etc Some, however did have and simple white font. This
images. Timing of the titles links to the dark nature of
were approximately 2-4 the film and simplicity of
seconds apart. the people involved.
Camera Movement Panning and tracking We used a panning shot
(panning, tracking, shots were often used. to show the pub and its
crane shot and Panning shots were used close tie to Crystal Palace
crabbing etc) to show the location of the FC, giving the audience a
film, and tracking shots hint of it being a football
showed the location from hooligan film. We used a
the view of the main tracking shot to show the
character. Close-ups were single mother’s reaction
very prominent too, to the character and her
showing the dark side of distaste toward him. We
the character(s). used a close-up to show
him smoking, showing
substance abuse which is
a theme of many films in
the genre. In a mid close-
up with a train in the
background, we made
sure we filmed an estate
to show the area and the
ties to crime and
hooliganism.
Framing of Shot Close-ups were used a lot We used a close-up to
(CU, MLS, ELS etc) to mainly show smoking. follow the convention of
Long shots showed the smoking and used long
location and gave a hint shots to try and show the
to where the film is set. audience where the film
Shots were shown of the is set, i.e the pub, again
character walking and linking to substance
showed his whole body, abuse. We showed the
showing his strong posture main character walking
and clothing. and used different shots
to show him to give the
audience a feel of whom
he is.

2. Camera Angles (high Angles varied throughout We used both high and
and low angles etc the films I studied, Rock ‘n’low angle shots to show a
Rolla had quite low shots, range of techniques we
whereas Snatch had very have learnt. We used a
high angled shots to show high angle on the
the power the robbers tracking shot to show the
had over the people they characters powering
were stealing from. figure over the single
mother, to insinuate he is
better than her, and
make the audience
realise he is the main
man.
Selection of mise-en- Colour in all the films was We used the conventions
scène including colour, very dull and cold, blacks of using dark colours, with
figure, props, lighting, and greys especially visual costume very dark and
objects, location and in Rock ‘n’ Rolla. However, with us filming on a
setting; snatch had quite vibrant cloudy day to make the
colours, which I think was environment seem cold.
used to show the dark The main character was
humour the film almost always seen fully
contained. The figures to portray his presence.
were in the middle of the We filmed it in an urban
screen to show their area to follow many
authority. It was mostly set conventions of poor
in urban areas and quite people in gangs on
underground places such council estates, to
as in Lock, Stock. reiterate the harshness of
the whole film.
Editing directions Cuts in the film were made We made regular cuts in
(Match cuts, jump cut, regularly and within the the film to follow many
reverse shots – cutting same time frame. Titles conventions of other films.
rthymn etc) usually came up roughly Our titles were roughly 3-6
2-4 seconds apart with seconds apart and
real footage in-between regular. We didn’t use
the titles. Jump cuts were any jump cuts or match
quite rare, however, the cuts, which again was
titles in Smokin’ Aces similar to other films.
contained them, but not in
the actual footage of any
films. Films didn’t have
many match cuts as such;
the closest may have
been in Snatch, where the
characters were titled in
colour from the footage
within the film.

3. Sound techniques Most of the films in the We had a monologue to
(diegetic, non genre contained a follow that convention.
diegetic, silence, monologue. This gave the This was to give the
dialogue and music audience more audience more info
etc information about the about the character as
character and their way feedback suggested we
of life, such as in Rock ‘n’ needed to. Music was by
Rolla. Music was from the Kasabian, a pop rock
rock genre and was band with lyrics to follow
always quite upbeat. Very what the film is about.
little silence as a result. Little silence aswell.
Actor’s positioning and Actors were nearly always We followed many
movement in the centre of the conventions, such as our
screen, to make sure the main character always
attention of the audience being centre of attention,
is on them. The actors such as the pub scene
were always seen as being where we deliberately
superior to others in the placed him in the middle
shots, whether that is from of the 3 characters. He
height, speech or even was very straight in his
use of weaponary, such as posture and was towering
in Snatch. Actors moved in his presence when the
very assuredly, very strong, single mother walked by.
such as in Lock, Stock. Our film did challenge the
convention of having a
white main character. We
decided to show the
change in culture in the
country, where people
from different
backgrounds are now
seen in the same light as
white people.