Question 1 - In what ways does your product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

1I began the film with a long shot of the group of lads loitering outside the shops. Visually, through their costume and the way they hold themselves, we already get the idea they are trouble. I also decided not to start the music yet and let this scene play in silence as it instantly draws the audience in and creates a sense of (if only potential) tension. The fact that these characters are shown in the very first shot implies that they will play an important role in the film or might even be one of the protagonists – this concept conforms to the general convention of most films, let alone just crime films. I tried to incorporate a common thriller technique of not revealing too much too quickly so as to suggest they’re trying to remain in the dark. For example I could have used a medium close-up of their faces; but that would have shown their identities immediately, whereas I wanted the gang to represent a sense of impending danger rather than the actual people themselves – at least just at the start.

2This shot comes after a series of establishing shots to give a rough sense of the area in which the following events will transpire. On the other hand this shot is more specific, determining the exact location: Tesco Express. Generally, films tend to establish the setting before anything happens to give some context to the scene; in crime films, the location usually reflects the mood and feel of the scene too. I waited until the evening to film this shot, using the darkness to convey an impression of threat, with Tesco being a light, safe, familiar place amid the danger. I thought it was important to put across this idea early on so it would stick in the viewers’ minds.

3, 4, 5The general convention of crime films, particularly film noir (anti-hero, voice-over, urban setting, chiaroscuro), is that you should create increasing tension preceding the incident. To do this in my film I decided to keep reminding the audience of the gang and the impending danger implied by their presence. This, in conjunction with the first shot being of them hanging out outside the shops, is a hint towards their importance and threat. In addition, by cutting to increasingly frequent shots of the gang I was able to create a mounting tension leading up to the beating up. Thereby establishing audience expectations before I shattered these expectations (revealing the narrator).

6, 7Many crime films play with the idea of light and dark (especially film noir which literally means “black film”) in both a literal and metaphorical sense. I decided to use the bright indoors of the shop to present it to the audience as a very safe place, and the darkness outside to represent all the potential danger out there. To do this I darkened the outdoor footage and brightened the indoor in post – using Adobe After Effects.

8, 9This is the first point in the film where the man actually acknowledges the gang. Until now there was just dramatic irony (the audience knowing what’s going on but not the character) fuelling the anticipation, but the moment we see him notice them, the tension rises. This idea of playing with tension and suspense is very Hitchcock-esque and conforms to general crime film convention, and also very real human experience of potentially dangerous encounters.

10This freeze frame shot is the most important one in my film because it reveals the plot twist at the end. It is also a homage to Martin Scorsese’s crime films where this is a common asset. He uses them to serve a kinetic, as well as narrative, function. They deliver a visual punch and also signpost moments which he wishes to call our attention to. For example this cinematic technique is employed in his film “Goodfellas” to mark the moment at which Henry Hill breaks into the gangster life (the freeze frame is of him blowing up the rival cab stand). It signifies to the audience that it is an important moment in the film. Scorsese uses it again in the opening of the film (pictured bottom right) while Ray Liotta begins narrating. My shot mimics it’s purpose, chronological positioning and composition as a very obvious conformation to the genre and also as a powerful start to a film.

11I wanted the last shot of my opening to encapsulate all the themes related to the genre and also maybe suggest to the audience what is to come in the rest of the film. In the foreground is the body of the victim lying on the floor; his face isn’t showing in an attempt to present him to the viewer in the way the gang sees their victim. In addition, the only thing not stationary in the frame (drawing attention to them) is the gang walking away in to the distance. This gives the implication that they are going on to commit more crimes and wrongdoings. Finally there is the title: I chose “Hard Luck” as it aptly fits the situation we just witnessed but mainly as it is a common prison tattoo. So, in combination with the Sailor Jerry-esque tattoo font, it suggests to the audience that “prison” might feature later on in the film.