Controversial film - A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Written by Anthony Burgess in 1962 and later produced by Stanley Kubrick, A Clockwork Orange is about a young boy (Alex De Large) whose only interests include classical music in the form of Beethoven, rape and ultra-violence. Alex leads a small gang with whom he carries our his interests but later is captured and is attempted to be rehabilitated via psychological conditioning. The film was very explicit showing very extreme violence and sexually violent scenes, it was given a 'cult' film status. 

The British Authorities and the Media found the film to be despicable for many reasons. The authorities claimed it inspired true 'copycat' crimes which means people copy the violence that was shown in the film. This is illustrated in a case in 1972 where the defendant (a fourteen year old boy) pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a classmate after telling the police friends had told him of the film and 'the beating up of an old boy like this one'. The press had also blamed the film for a rape in which the attackers sang 'Singin' In The Rain'. However this film was a hit in the USA.

The film was rated an 18 after Kubrick's death when the film was re-released, so this meant despite the extreme violence and rape it was suitable for public viewing for those aged 18 or over. 

Our film 'During the Riots' is completely different from this controversial film because we have no actual violence or disturbing scenes which might spark controversy. Although our film is based on the disruption and violence of the 2011 riots over England we focus more on the political message of our film and everything in the film is suitable to watch which is why we rated it 12A. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Clockwork_Orange_(film) 

BBFC regulations.

Universal

• Suitable for audiences aged four years and over. ‘U’ films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror.

Parental giudance

•  A ‘PG’ film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children.

 

• The ‘12’ category exists only for video works. No one younger than 12 may rent or buy a ‘12’ rated video work.

• The ‘12A’ category exists only for cinema films. No one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult, and films classified ‘12A’ are not recommended for a child below 12.

• 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 video work.

• 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.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• To be shown in specially licensed cinemas or supplied in only licensed adult film shops to adults only over aged 18.

The British Board of Film Classification regulations are overall quite appropriate, however I personally think the 12A rating of films if unnecessary and should be banned. This is because there should be a clear regulation of films. If a film requires a 12 year old to be accompanied by an adult this surely means that the content of the film is not suitable for a 12 year old. What difference would it make if a parent was there? A 12 year old would still see and hear things they're not meant to. An article from The Daily Mail argue many films that are rated 12A are 'full of swearing'. For example, The Ghost Town starring Ricky Gervais is a film rated 12A and features uses of two different swear words many times. The film Drillbit Taylor features swearwords more than 8 times. The BBFC argue the use of strong language in a film rated 12A is fine as long as it is 'infrequent' however the Daily Mail gives many examples of films that have swearwords used frequently. Below is the article from the Daily Mirror.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/3463215/Films-rated-12A-are-full-of-swearing.html 




Source - http://www.bbfc.co.uk/

            http://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/3463215/Films-rated-12A-are-full-of-swearing.html

Regulations review - 'Good As Gone'

This is a short film about a former gang member 'Red' who after being released from prison, wants to turn his back on his criminal life. As soon as he is released, his former gang members have already planned an illegal activity for Red only to find out Red no longer wants to be involved. This angers the leader of the gang and his goes out of his way to persuade Red to come back to them. After Red's reluctance, he runs away.

This film certainly satisfies conventional elements of a drama film because it has a lot of suspense and silence which builds up the tension arising from the gang members and Red.It is similar to the film we are making in the sense that our film involves a gang who are rioters and they too are criminal activists during these riots.

Regulations review - The First Grader

                                                                   

                                                                         
                                             
                                                                           


                                                                           
                                                            http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi4027358489/
                                                                             

This film is based on a true story and it centres around an 84 year old Kenyan ex Mau Mau freedom fighter who fights for his right to go to school for the first time to get the education he could never afford. This created strong opposition from parents and teachers.

The film First Grader is definitely a drama film which captures the audience's mind, and it definitely conforms to various conventions of a drama film. It has many moments of silence and suspense. it is presented in a non chronological sequence, it had various violent wartime flashbacks, for example when Maruge is shown being tortured as he is hung upside down and whipped or pierced in the ear with a sharpened pencil or when he if forced to watch his wife and baby get killed. There is definitely the antagonist and protagonists where Marugee is the protagonist where he wants the right to free education and believes 'everybody' includes him and the other Kenyan parents and teachers are the antagonists who find it absurd that an 84 year old man wants to learn to read along with six year old children. I also think that, with regards to what the violent flashback shows, the British people are the antagonists in the sense that they oppose the views of the Kenyan people, they don't care what they think or want, and Maruge, along with the other innocent Kenyan civilians are victims.

The elements of this drama film that most interested me is different emotions expressed. The director Justin Chadwick had disturbing moments in the film, for example when Maruge's wife gets shot in head and his baby too. It has moments where we feel very sympathetic and almost hurt for Maruge when he imagines his wife next to him singing to him. But the film also have a lot of happy moments and most importantly perhaps proud moments that show us how Maruge is proud of who he is, this I thought was shown when he went to the government meeting and showed the marks on his back declaring how if it wasn't for him or the other who suffered Kenya would not be where they are now. But in my opinion, the most amazing aspect of the film has to be the message that it leaves with us. We see how Maruge has suffered from the very start of his life and how he is still to this very day is struggling to overcome his violent and unforgettable past life. We perceive him as an advocate of the disadvantaged people who have suffered considerably in their life. The fact that he  fights for the right to education and freedom, that he never gives up is a lesson to all.

This film is rated PG 13 for some disturbing violent content and brief nudity. However, I think due to the very disturbing violence in some scenes it should be rated 15. For me, some scenes were very upsetting and difficult to watch and personally I don't think people of younger age than 15 can put up with the violent scenes. However, for educational purposes it is obvious why it was rated PG 13 because of the Historical context.

This would affect how we would regulate the guidelines for our film, however our film is not so upsetting as seen in the First Grader and in my opinion I think out film could be a PG film. This is because it has no swearing in it, or any violents scenes, there are only scenes of pushing around. There is a scene of a house getting caught on fire but because it has no actual fire coming out if it or, because we don't see anyone actually dying or suffering in it it'd be suitable to watch.




Sources - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0790663/
               http://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/first-grader

Film review (BBC short films) - The Other Man.

The film is a about a man who finds out his wife was raped five years ago. After this news, he struggles to come to terms with the rape of his wife and it leads to suspicions that she wasn't reallly raped but had cheated on him.

The film overall was quite good, the tone of voice used by the actors was of an upset and dim tone which reflected the hurt and pain felt in this film. The 'other man's' facial and bodily expressions were impressive in showing his shock of hearing the news, his anger and confusion. There were a lot of moments of silence which heightened the tension felt between the actors.

However, the actress (wife) did not seem very convincing or realistic in acting that she was raped in the first part of the film. When she told the husband over the phone, I felt there was no reality or emotion in what she was saying, she was very straight about it. there should have been more emotions expressed.
Furthermore, although the moments of silence was a good thing in enhancing the tension, there was alomost too many long moments of silence than necessary which made the film lose it's appeal.

With regards to the conventions of the film, without doubt it has many of the conventions of a drama film. For example, there is numerous moments of silence which builds up the tension between the characters.

But overall, a fairly good film.

Source - http://www.bbc.co.uk/filmnetwork/

Roles in the film industry

Roles in the Film industry

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Technology in Slumdog Millionaire

                                        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbu3GmiWF68

This video feature Danny Boyle and Darren Aronfsky. Danny Boyle discusses how he used Silicon imaging cameras in Slumdog Millionaire  to produce superb images in tight spaces with fast motion so it would 'snatch' information.

Danny Boyle didn't want to use the large 35mm cameras in the tight slums of India. He wanted to use a smaller more flexible digital camera to enable them to shoot quickly with minimal disturbance. They then found the innovative IT- Centric Silicon Imaging S1-2K Digital Cinema camera which delivered over 11 stops of dynamic range, flexible connectivity and film-like digital content which made it easy to be inter-cut with traditional film footage.





I think the Silicon imaging camera used in Danny Boyle's film was excellent because it had the advantages of efficiency, flexibility and adaptability with regards to filming in the very bust and small spaces of India. Without it, Danny Boyle would not have been able to capture great motion pictures. The type of Silicon cameras is an example of how, yet again, the continuous development of technology helps to create excellent quality of films.


Sources - http://www.siliconimaging.com/DigitalCinema/
                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbu3GmiWF68

Case study- Titanic.

Titanic (1997) is an epic romance and disaster film produced and co-directed by James Cameron. It had forteen Academy Award winning nominations, and eleven Oscar wins recieveing prizes for best picture and best director. Titanic is the highest grossing movie of all time both in the US and world-wide. it made over $600 million in the US and over $1.8 billion world-wide. It is the only mvie to ever make over $1 billion world-wide.

Successful elements:

•  The movie was a true story based on the RMS Titanic. Thus, the movie mimics the events that emotions that took place when the real Titanic sank.
• There was a very popular sound track made by Celine Dion.
• The cinematography and imaging of the film was out-standing, making the film seem more realistic.
• The two main characters were very poular and well known (Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslett) which made the film more appeling to watch.

Conventions:

•  Poignant music (Celin Dion- Heart Will Go On) complimented the tragedy of the death of Jack and the idea of letting go.
• It was non-chronological as there flashbacks in the film. 
• There was a typical antoganist - Rose's fiance who disliked Jack because of his class. Protagonist - Jack who saved Rose.

Against conventions:

•  When Jack is trapped at the bottom of the ship, the saviour is Rose. Typically, it is the woman who is in danger and the man is the saviour.
  
  

  Personally I think Titanic is a very successful drama film, this is because firstly, it was based on a true story and in general the audience admire film like that. Secondly, it was demonstrated a social hierarchy that did exist at the time it was set, and some may argue it still exists now, so a lot of people can relate to it for example, Jack being the working class underdog whilst Rose and her family were Middle class.  I also think it was successful because of the tragic love story between Rose and Jack, and the fact that Rose loses Jack and has to learn to move on whilst knowing their love was so short lived. The fact that James Cameron merged all four elements in a very captivating way made the film successful. From the elements of death and love in this film, we will take a few ideas and incorporate it into our short film.
  
  
  
  
  Sources - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Titanic
                  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120338/





The conventions of a Drama film & narrative theories.

Suspense -
A state or condition of uncertainty or excitement, as in awaiting a decision or outcome usually accampanied but anticipation or fear.

Silence -
The absence of sound or speech.

Suprise -
An unexpected or sudden ancounter or decision.

Diegetic sound -
Any sound, voice, or piece of music that comes from within the world of the narrative.

Non diegetic sound -
Any sound that come from outside the world of the narrative.

Todorov's narrative theory -
Equilibrium     Disequilibrium      New equilibrium

Antagonist -
One who opposes the work or values of another

Protagonist -
One who opposes the antagonist (usually the good person)

Chronological -
Events arranged in terms of time occurrence

Non chronological -
Events that don't conform to the time occurrence (flashbacks)

Binary Opposition -
Where events or texts are organised around sets of opposite values (light and dark, good and evil)

Enigma code -
A question or event that is not immediately answered and thus, draws the audience into the text (A woman is murdered and the killer is unknown, the killer's identity is an enigma). 


I think these all these elements are essential to making a Drama film successful, however I don't think every drama film has to have all of the elements listed above. For example, a drama film does not have to be in a non chronological way to make it interesting, we can build up the past of a character's life through their personality, home settings etc. For example, in our short drama film for Media studies, we are not going to use flashbacks as we think it would disturb the sequence of the film. The history of the main character will be presented through family photographs and the speech of the character. In our film, we are going to have both suspense and silence as I think these are key in a drama film to bring them to life or make the audience feel the tension which exists. For example, suspense will be used when the main character detects rioters coming closer to his home and there will be a sudden rush of fear inside him. In our film, we definitely conform to the conventions of having a Antagonist - rioters and Protagonist - main character, I think this is important for a drama film because conflict between the two types of characters builds up the tension, suspense etc. However, all though most drama films have the theory of Todorov, we decided our film will challenge this. There is equilibrium during the start of the film but not full equilibrium as the main character knows what is going ona round him,, when the conflict appears there will be disequilibrium throughout the film.