Classification And Certification

U (Universal) - This means that the film is suitable for young children. No one knows what twill upset a child, but these films are generally for persons aged 4 and over. Films with a 'U' certificate should have a positive and happy plot, they should also offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror. If a work is particularly suitable for pre-school children to view alone, this will be indicated in the Consumer Advice. There is no discriminatory behaviour or language unless clearly and quickly disapproved of, no reference or use of illegal drugs. Scary scenes should be very mild and the outcome should be reassuring. There should be no dangerous behaviour that children can possibly copy or imitate and no emphasis on any weapons of any sort. Also, there should be infrequent use of very mild bad language and natural nudity. The only sexual behaviour aloud is kissing and the overall theme should be sympathetic and positive. There can only be a mild threat or menace when it comes to violence in U certified films.

This Film Certificate is not suitable for our film because we plan to use scenes of strong violence which last for a minimum of 5 minutes, there are also many scenes that have the use of alcohol and drunken behavior.

PG (Parental Guidance) - This film is for everyone, there may be some scenes of very moderate violence but small children can watch this when accompanied by an adult. PG films should not disturb or upset a child aged eight or older. Parents are however advised to research in advance what the film contains to know if it is suitable for their child to watch. There is mild discriminatory behaviour and language in PG rated films, and if there is, is clearly disapproved of. Any reference to illegal drugs must have a clear anti-drug message to it. Any sort of frightening scenes should not be on screen for a long time and it cannot be intense, there can also be no glamorisation of weapons or dangerous behaviour. Mild bad language can only appear in the film, no sexual content (only kissing), sexual activity may be implied but cannot be shown on screen. Moderate violence may be aloud if justified by it's context.

12/12a - Suitable for 12 years and over. Exactly the same criteria are used to classify works at ‘12A’ and ‘12’. Works classified at these categories may upset children under 12 or contain material which many parents will find unsuitable for them. The ‘12A’ category exists only for films in the cinema. No one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult. An adult may take a younger child if, in their judgement, the film is suitable for that particular child. In such circumstances, responsibility for allowing a child under 12 to view lies with the accompanying adult. No one younger than 12 may rent or buy a ‘12’ rated video work. Discriminatory language or behaviour must not be glamorised by the work as a whole. Aggressive discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly condemned. Any misuse of drugs must be infrequent and should not be glamorised or give instructional detail. Moderate physical and psychological threat may be permitted, provided disturbing sequences

are not frequent or sustained. Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied, or appear pain or harm free. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised. Moderate language is allowed, the use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’) must be infrequent. Nudity is allowed, but in a sexual context must be brief and discreet. Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed. Sex references should not go beyond what is suitable for young teenagers. Frequent crude references are unlikely to be acceptable. Mature themes are acceptable, but their treatment must be suitable for young teenagers. Moderate violence is allowed but should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if justified by the context. Sexual violence may only be implied or briefly and discreetly indicated, and must have a strong contextual justification.

15 - Suitable only for 15 years and over. No one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated Film. The film as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour. Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable. Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised. Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised. Language There may be frequent use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’). The strongest terms (for example, ‘cunt’) may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable.

Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but without strong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context. Sex Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour, but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by context. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable. No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds. Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable.

There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification.

18 - Suitable only for adults. No-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video. Adults are free to choose their own entertainment unless the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created through

the commission of a criminal offence, or the material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence which might, for example, eroticise or endorse sexual assault. Other exceptions are where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in ‘R18’ Films (Sex Films) would normally be confined to that category.

Target Audience

We have chosen to make our film an 18 certificate. This is because of the strong use language and scenes of strong bloody violence. Also, after looking at a number of films in this genre, most of them are of an 18 certificate for the same reasons. Our target audience is 18- 35 year old males, this is because these are the ages and genders of the characters in the film, this way, it will be easier to make a connection between characters and audience members.

Narrative Analysis

..Football Factory..

Who is the goodie and who is the baddie? How do you know?

Because of the violent movements the main characters use, and their use of language, the main characters are classed as the baddies. The people who come out of the pub and are being beaten up are seen as the goodies because they portray more sensitive and weaker people by being the victims. The audience can tell that the main characters are the baddies by also looking at their movements. When they walk, they're arms are slightly lifted up as they sway subtlety from side to side, this gives the viewers or anyone looking at them on the street, the impression that they have large muscles on their arms which then gives the impression that they get into a lot of fights and are seen as violent people.

Where is the story set? What does this tell about the film genre?

The story is set in what looks to be a working class area and mainly in an alley way. This shows where the people are from, because they can now see that the characters are from a working class area, they can now get the impression that these people are a bit 'rougher' than the average person and more 'dirty'. This tells the audience that the story will involve violent scenes and that this will be the basis of the plot.

How many principle characters?

There are 3 principle characters, these are recognised as principle characters because they are the only people who interact with one another that the camera is focussing on. There's the man who's voice is being played over the opening scene, and the two men who are leading the group of men to the pub.

How is the story told? Chronologically? Or does it switch between present and past?

The story is told Chronologically. If the story was switching between present and past, it would make the story seem very serious and high budget. The director wanted to give the impression that this is a working class, poorer area so they made it look as though it was low budgeted.

What questions are you left with?

Obviously the main questions that the viewers are left with are 'Who are these men?' and 'Why are they beating up what looks to be innocent people?'. At the end of the scene, a woman questions one of the principle characters, this leaves the audience the question: 'Is he going to change his lifestyle?'. Some audience members might also pick up on the question 'Why is the group made purely of men?'. Not knowing who the people are at the end of an opening sequence is good way to keep the audience watching because they have made a connection with a character, they need to know who this is.

Conventions Of British Drama Film Openings

Conventions Of British Dramas

Titling: In every film opening I have looked at, they have used a very bold font which looks as though it has been slammed down onto the screen. Examples of this are the titles of This Is England and Snatch. Because these fonts look as though they have been slammed onto the screen, it gives the audience the impression that this film will have fighting and violence in it.

Camera Movements: In most of the openings I have seen, the director uses the cameras in a way that makes the audience feel as though they are in they are in the film with the characters. This leads the viewers to believe that they are part of the film and will draw them in to watch more. Examples of this technique used are in Snatch and Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels.

Framing Of Shots: Directors in the films I have watched have generally used medium shots. Using these allows the audience to see the actors face to capture their emotions and see enough of their body to give them an idea of their personality. Seeing characters' personalities is essential in these films as it establishes what the film is generally about. Medium shots have been used in films such as Snatch and Rock 'N' Rolla.

Mise En Scene: In all the film openings I have viewed, The director chose to use quite dull and mostly beige or sandy colours and is set in an estate-like area to show that the area that the film is set is a dirty, lower-class area. Because the audience thinks that these areas are dirtier, they are lead to believe that the people there are dirty. This keeps the audience interested because naturally we feel sympathy for people lower than ourselves. This kind of mis en scene techniques are used in, This Is England and Lock Stock And Two smoking Barrels

Actors' Movements: Generally, the character will have very violent movements, this establishes that the films will consist of violent scenes. Showing these types of movements shows the audience that these people are in control. This technique id used in This Is England and Snatch

Preliminary Task Evaluation

Preliminary Task Evaluation

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Opening Sequence Analysis

Green Street Hooligans

Titling: The only titles that appear in the opening sequence are the Production Companies and the Director. These appear right at the beginning if the film in a white font over a black screen, this might be to symbolise the fact that the baddies are dominant in this film. The titles come in quite quickly and disappear just as quick to portray the speed of the film, it is fast paced with a great deal of action.

Vast amount of blackness on titling shows baddies are dominant

Camera Movement: At the beginning of the scene, the camera is still. But as the rowdy men enter, the camera slowly moves to simulate a person watching them go past. This makes the audience feel as though they are part of the film and thus, drawing them in. Because the camera is moving quite slowly to watch them, it seems as though it is watching them quite wearily, this makes the group of men seem more violent as the viewer feels as though we have to be afraid of them.

Framing Of Shot: At the beginning of the scene, there are a lot of medium and long shots to show the characters' movements and costumes. This gives the audience a sense of their personality. Later on in the scene, when the fighting begins, there are a lot of close ups used to focus in on the violence. Because the camera only zooms in on the violent parts, this establishes that the film's plot will be based around violence.

Camera Angles: When the two groups of men are hurling abuse at each other, the camera uses an over-the-shoulder shot when looking at each group to make the audience feel as though they are in the group as well, this makes the viewer develop a connection with characters a lot easier because they now feel as though they are part of the group.

Over-the-shoulder shot makes audience feel as though they are in the group which allows them to make a stronger connection with the characters

Editing: There are no real editing techniques used in this film because if there was it would make it seem to serious and high budgeted. The Director wants the film to seem quite low budgeted because then it can relate to people who live in lower class areas who do not have a lot of money, like the characters in the film.

Sound Techniques: The only sound techniques that are used in the opening scene are enhanced sounds. These are used when the glass breaks on the phone box and when the man's head smashes into a glass window because it not only does it enhance the sound, but it enhances the emphasis which makes the whole fight seem a lot more violent and deadly.

Actors Movements: All the characters in the first scene move in a way that suggests they are up for a fight and are used to being in them. When they walk, they're arms are slightly raised as they sway slightly from side to side, this gives the audience members or anyone looking at them on the street, the impression that they have big muscles on their arms which then gives the impression that they get into a lot of fights and are seen as violent and dangerous people.

Rowdy Behaviour Shows a disregard for others which adds to their violent personality

Football Factory

From seeing the first few minutes of this film, i can tell that the genre of this film is a drama because nearer the end, a woman passes by and questions the main character's lifestyle which could suggest that he will change his thoughts and views.

From the narrative, i can gather that this is set in a working class place because of the way they speak - they have a cockney accent - and because they are working class, we immediately assume that they are going to be rowdy and loud-mouthed.

Main characters coming out of an alley. Shows that what they do

is 'underground'. It's not their day job.

I can tell who the main character is because e is the only one who speaks and the camera is mainly on him.

The only title that is used in the opening sequence is the name of the film (at 2:47)

Rock 'N' Rolla

Analysis Of Opening Scene (Rock N Rolla)

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This Is England

After seeing the opening sequence to this film, i can tell that this going to be a drama because of the images they show. For the opening sequence,

This Is England shows clips of different things that we associate with 1980's England, later on, we start to see that these clips are turning more into shots of war and racism which suggests that this will be the basis of the plot.

People brawling

About every 3-5 seconds, a title appears on the screen. The first to appear are the production companies, then there is the director, the title, the actors/actresses, script writer, casting, hair & makeup, costume designer, music, photography, editor, line producer, executive producer.

Title over working class estate (shows where film will be set)

Whilst the opening scene is being played, the music in the background is a reggae tune which, along with the clips of racism being showed, implies that one of our main characters will be black as well as the expected white skinhead.

Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels

Analysis Of Opening Scene (Lock)

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Snatch

Titling: The titling in the film s done in a

'Country/Western' Style and Font. This is because

we associate Western films with the use of guns

and Criminal activity involving money, this gives

the audience the impression that this will be the

basis of the plot.

Title showing the 'Western' style font

Camera Movement: At the beginning of the scene,

the camera is moving at a normal speed, but as soon

as the characters bring out their guns, everything

moves at faster pace; zooming in & out and panning

round quickly to see what the other actors are doing.

This makes the audience feels as though they are part

of the film, they feel for the whoever is viewing this

because it is exactly what would happen to them, their

hearts will race and they will move around quickly,

looking at everything.

Camera Angles: In the beginning scene, high angled

shots are used when looking at the criminals to show that

they are the ones who are in control of the situation, and

low angle shots when looking at the public to show that

they are small and recessive. Once the characters' names

appear on the screen, eye level camera angles are used

so that the audience can see exactly what emotion the

actor is trying to portray. It also allows to viewer to feel like

they are with the actors in the film as opposed to just viewing

them.

Mise En Scene: a lot of the props that the actors are holding

are to do with money and guns. This lets the audience know

that this film is going to be about high level theft and that they

(the characters) will succeed in such criminal activity.

Character with jewellery, shows theft will be involved

in the film

Editing: When the names of the characters are being shown,

the camera zooms in to show a a picture them in just 2 colours

(one always being black), this is like a 'Wanted' poster in a

western film, it shows the characters as being wanted men

who are involved in crime.

Actor's Movement: When the camera zooms into the

characters, they all look as though they are about to hit

something, this is portray them as 'hard' men, or rowdy

criminals. It also shows that they are the ones who are in

control, and no one else.

Shot of character with violent movements