PICTURE OF FILMED STORY BOARD..

this is a picture of our plan for our story board. we have filmed the pices of the story board. and our next plan of action will be to start filming clips for the trailer.

WE FILMED OUR STORY BOARD ON SERIF - MoviePlus5.

PROS AND CONS

WITH MAKING A GANGSTER FILM TRAILER..
Pros:

- Costumes are day-to-day clothes; smart/casual wear with trench coats, or other long coats – these are comonly found in the wardrobe of the average male therefore there is no need to purchase new costumes,
- Locations are readily available – backstreet loactions, perhaps a view of the london skyline,
- No special effects needed as British Gangster films are created in a realist style
- Characters would include an average looking middle-aged man, aged 30-45 years old – this is a pro as normal or little known actors would be used to play the characters due to the realist style,

Cons:
- Often weapons such as guns are widely used in this genre of film – convincing replicas are difficult to source
- We need to make sure we have the right location, as our film is based around flash cars, speed boats and harbours. Athough we have a member of the group who has access to these..

GENRE RESEARCH

Gangster films tend to be developed around an urban lifestyle, with characters that operate outside the law. The stories are normally based on the life of a crime figure, or gangster, or they tell the story of the rise and fall of a particular gang. Gangster films are often set in large, crowded cities, specifically the back streets of the city. However there is also the stereotype that gangsters are very wealthy, therefore some gangster films are set in large mansions on the outskirts of a city.


A stereotype for film gangsters tends to be that they are immoral, street-smart, materialistic, and other characteristics of this type. A common plot characteristic is rivalry with other criminals in gangster warfare. Crime plots also include a high authority such as the police force or special agents in an attempt to apprehend the gangster.


Many gangster films are morality stories. For example, a member of a poor immigrant family tries to pursuit wealth and success and so takes the route of crime to gain this. In this story, he will make friends, often gangsters, and also make enemies. The plot would normally involve the main character performing some form of task, which will tend to involve gaining money, and there will be an enemy, either in the form of the police, or another gangster, or sometimes both, trying to stop the character.


As the storyline is quite simple, we can think of a creative one relatively easily, and due to where we live and the availability of expensive cars and a boat we have, we can follow the common convention of Gangster films.

POSSIBLE SETTINGS

The common setting in a Gangster film is backstreets of a big city, or in general, an urban setting. Good locations for the main part, would be Redhill, Reigate, or if we can't find an ideal setting there, London has many perfect places for us. For one part, we need to film the boat so clearly we need a harbour or something similar. We have this as one of our group members has a boat so we will film there.

ALLOCATING TASKS.

Synopsis: is decided carefully as a group.
Poster design: Tristam
Poster designing by computer: Tristam
Shot list: Calum and Nick will complete two drafts.
Pictures: The majority of the pictures will be taken by Tristam, but any taken by anyone else in the group will be accepted.
Production Company logos: will be designed by Piers and Calum they will create a few designs and as a group we will decide on our favourite.
Cast: we will decide this as a group, we will then take pictures of them individually and upload them.
Story board: This will be designed mainly by nick but it will be a group effort.

TARGET AUDIENCE (final)

We have decided that our target audience would be males from 15-16, to around 25. The reason for this is that, as a relatively action filled film, generally more males prefer these. The reason for the lower age being 15-16, is that the storyline, though not too complexed, may be difficult to understand for lower ages, and also there will be violence as this is a convention for Gangster films. The reason for the higher age being around 25 is that, through our research, we have noticed that audiences of a higher age tend to look for a film with more substance and a deeper meaning, whereas our film is more action based and follows a storyline where the audience would rarely have to look for a deeper meaning. Due to these factors, the film certificate would most likely be a 15, however, depending on any changes we decide to make, it could be shifted up to an 18.

PROPER TEXTUAL ANALYSIS

THIS IS MY TEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF THE EMPIRE MAGAZINE FRONT COVER THAT WE AS A GROUP WANT TO AIM TO CREATE.
(BLOGGER HAD ISSUES THAT WASENT OUR PROBLEM - THIS IS WHY THIS IMAGE IS POSTED MORE BELLOW IN THE BLOG, BUT AT LEAST WITH THIS ONE YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE GOT OUR IDEAS FROM)

DEVELOPMENT

FINAL MAGAZINE COVER

This is our final magazine idea for our gangster film trailer. we have called the magazine 'Universal' - called it this was a group effort. we got the ideas from the film magazine cover of Empire, and have done simular design layout ideas. we have used a superimpossed image of the main character (female) in our film to cover some of our 'Universal' title. Using the city skyline lower down the magazine cover - draws the readers into the title more than the image.

we have an image from http://www.google.com/ to use as our magazine barcode for the cover. using a real but random barcode makes the magazine cover more realistic. bellow is the one we have chosen.

(final barcode)

http://www.heanorgate.org.uk/visualarts.asp?pageID=MediaKeywords

mise-en-scene

OLD STYLE MIRRORS FOR THE GANGSTER EFFECT.

TEXT ANALYSIS FOR MAG COVER AND FILM COVER...

^^^^ ABOVE ARE SOME TEXT IDEADS FOR OUR FILM POSTER AND MAGAZINE COVER. I LIKE THE BOTTOM LEFT AND RIGHT.. BUT IT IMPLIES HORROR. MORE GANGSTER LOOKING TEXTS ARE THE SECOND DOWN... ^^^^^

PICTURE AND TEXT EDITING

I HAVE ADDED AN IMAGE OFF http://www.google.com/ FOR THE IMAGE OF THE GUN.

THE TEXT FONT WAS OFF http://www.dafont.com/ IT IS A GANGSTER TYPE OF WORDING WITH FLAMBOYANT BOLD TEXT.

WE HAVE TAKEN MY IMAGE OF THE LONDON CITY SCAPE, AND EDDITED THEM TO CREATE DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENT IDEAS WITH OUR PLANNING. WE HAVE USED ONE OF THESE IN OUR MAIN DRAFT FOR THE MAGAZINE AND FILM POSTERS, BLOGGER IS FAULTY AT THE MOMENT AND WILL NOT LET US UPLOAD THE FINAL DRAFTS, WITH TEXTUAL ANALAYSIS OF EACH ONE AND HOW WE CREATED THEM. THIS SHOULD BE SORTED WITHIN A WEEK.

DEVELOPMENT...

- The gun is gangster stereotype and an enigma code, we can expect to see violence and crime.

- The gloves suggest a hitman, or professional.

- The shade on this poster is useful for text. (this is hard to see in this photo)

- The shade also suggests darkness and nighttime, when crime and violence of this genre usually occurs.

(FILM POSTER DRAFT.. 3)

^^^^^^^^^

This is a film poster mixed together with a few of our ideas of the trio and the gun for our film
- The character in the centre is either looking down at the gun, and is focused on the task set.

- Or the character in the centre is direct mode of address and is looking at the camera, this is to look menacing or intimidating.

- The other two characters are unaware of the camera and look preoccupied with their love interest.

- The shade suggests darkness and nighttime, this is stereotypically when crime and violence is committed in this genre.

(FILM POSTER DRAFT.. 2)

(FILM POSTER DRAFT..1)

MAGAZINE IDEAS..

SETTING IDEAS FOR FILM COVER

USING COLOUR CREATES A DIFFERENT IMPLICATION. WE LIKE THE WATER COLOUR, BUT PREFER THE SKY IN OTHER PICTURES. ORANGE WATER CREATES A GANGSTER LOOK. WE MAY USE THIS IN LATER DEVELOPMENT.



THE BUSS IN THIS PICTURE IS AN OLD FASHIONED BUSS. I REALLY LIKE THE PICTURE AND HOW IT CONTRASTS WITH THE LONDON ST-PAULS.



A PICTURE OF LONDON'S TOWER BRIDGE IS A GANGSTER FEEL. THE PICTURE IS FADED OUT AROUND THE EDGES. THIS IS A GOOD EDDITNG EFFECT.



THIS IMAGE WAS TAKEN (ABOVE) FROM A PHOTOGRAPHER - STEVE WAGEN.. THIS PICTURE IS NOT MINE.. IT WAS A PICTURE THAT GAVE ME THE IDEAS FOR A CITY SCAPE. ^^^^^^^^^^ (THE PICTURE ABOVE WAS NOT MINE!!!) ^^^^^^^^^


ALL OF THE ABOVE IMAGES I TOOK WHEN VISITING LONDON - IM GOING TO SHOW THE GROUP THE IMAGES AND SEE WHAT THEY THINK OF HAVEING A LONDON CITY SCAPE BACKGROUND WITH THE MAIN CHARACTERS ABOVE IT.. FOR A FILM POSTER OR COVER FOR A CASE.

SHOT LIST... (For the Trailer)

SHOT LIST FINAL.. (FINAL)

1. Dark shots with flashes of main characters, with a brief introduction narrated via voice over.
2. Close up shots of the two lovers, showing that they are clearly in love.
3. Next we see the Father of the girl, shot in dark lighting. He finds out about his daughter's relationship and immediately orders a hit on them both.
4. Shot of darkness, - blackout effect to suggest some time has passed.
5. Two lovers are running and screaming. They are being pursued.
6. Blackout we hear screams and gunfire.
7. We have further blackouts to suggest time has passed.
8. A boot of a car is opened and a body is put in.
9. Another quick blackout.
10. A quick shot of the car pulling off.
11. Another quick blackout.
12. Car driving on motorway.
13. Another quick blackout.
14. Car arriving at harbour.
15. Another quick blackout.
16. Body been thrown off boat.






(PICTURE STORY BOARD)

1) (two lovers)
















2) (father orders the hit on daughter)















3) (dark shot with text - showing time change)




















4) (man and woman running away)













5+6) (bodies are put in boot of car)
















7+8+9) (car by harbour throwing bodies into sea)


























(SHOT LIST DRAFT)


1. Dark shots with flashes of main characters, with a brief introduction narrated via a voiceover.


2. Close up shots of the two lovers, showing that they are clearly in love.

3. Next we see the Father of the girl, shot in dark lighting. He finds out about his daughter's relationship and immediately orders a hit on them both.

4. Shot of darkness, - blackout effect to suggest some time has passed.

5. Two lovers are running and screaming. They are being pursued.

6. Blackout we hear screams and gunfire.

7. we have further blackouts to suggest time has passed.

8. A boot of a car is opened and a body is put in.

9. Another quick blackout.

10. A quick shot of the car pulling off.

11. Another quick blackout.

12. Car drving on a motorway.

13. Another quick blackout.

14. Car arriving at harbour.

15. Another quick blackout.

16. Body being thrown off boat.

A QUESTIONAIR TO GATHER IMPORTANT PLANNING INFORMATION

QUESTIONAIR




1) WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE GANGSTER FILM?
……………………………………………………………………….


2) WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GANGSTER FILM?
……………………………………………………………………….


3) DO YOU PREFERE:
- CRIME
- MURDER
- DRUG RELATED
- ROBBERY ET.
……………………………………………………………………….

4) DO YOU LIKE GANGSTER FILMS?

…………………………………………………………………….....


5) WHAT KIND OF ADVERTIZING DO YOU SEE FILMS IN:
- WEBSITES
- MAGAZINES
- POSTERS
- ADVERTS

……………………………………………………………………….


6) WHAT AGE ARE YOU?

……………………………………………………………………….


7) MALE/ FEMALE?

……………………………………………………………………….


8) WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE IN A GANGSTER FILM?

……………………………………………………………………….

















( The idea of this questionair was to get information from freinds and family about gangster films.. this will help us with our planning and should help us to get ideas from what people expect/like to see in a typical gangster film. We are starting to plan our ideas together - and having four people in our A2 group - we should come up with some good ideas! Also it means four sets of different data from our individual questionairs and will be important when we start filming )

FILM MAGAZINE FRONT COVERS

USING EMPIRES MAGAZINE FRONT COVER

OF THE HEADLINING PUBLIC ENEMIES..

USING A PAIL BACKGROUND AND USING JONNY DEPP IN A DARK SUIT GIVES THE POWERD EFFECT OF EDDITING. IT IMPLIES HE’S POSSIBLY AN ASSASSIN OR SIMULAR, WEARING LEATHER GLOVES AND HOLDING A GUN WITH SERIOUS EXPRESSION.

USING A SUPER-IMPOSSED PICTURE OF JONNY DEPP, AS THE MAIN ‘GANGSTER’ CHARACTER, IMPLIES THERE IS CRIME IN THE FILM WITH THE SUB-MACHINE GUN HE IS HOLDING.

USING AN EXCLUSIVE, THIS IS A STORY COVERED ONLY BY THE MAGAZINE AND IS INFORMATION FROM THE PROMOTION COMPANY FOR EMPIRE ECT. ON OTHER POSTERS THEY MAY HAVE QUOTES FROM INTERVIEWS INSIDE THE MAG.

ADDING A BARCODE AT THE BOTTOM LEFT MEANS IT’S OUT OF THE MAIN FOCUS, BUT ALSO MAKES IT OBVIOUS YOU COULD BUY THIS MAGAZINE. AND KEEPING THE SAME FONT COLOURS AND BACKGROUNDS SIMULAR MAKES IT MORE APPEALING AND PROFFESIONAL. ADDING A RED CROSS AT THE BOTTOM LEFT, IMPLIES THERE IS ALSO A PLUS IN THE MAG, SHOWING MORE INFORMATION ON OTHER DIRECTORS AND THE CROSS DRAWS YOU DOWN THE MAG COVER TOO THE BOTTOM.

ON THE POSTER THERE ARE A LOT OF CONTRASTING FILMS, EG: IRON MAN – IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TO PUBLIC ENEMIES. THIS IS TO OPEN THE READING AUDIENCE AS A MARKET, AND DOSENT JUST FOCUS ON ONE GENRE.

USING A RED BOLD TITLE, IT MAKES IT OBVIOUS THAT THE MAGAZINE IS BY EMPIRE AS A PRODUCEING COMPANY, THE COMON READER WILL REALISE THIS.

USING PUGS – SUCH AS THE PRICE, DATE, LOGO OR A PROMOTION SUCH AS THE EMPRIE WEBSITE IN SMALL WRITING, ARE ALL WELL PLACED TO CATCH THE AUDIENCE/READERS EYE OFTEN AT THE TOP LEFT OR RIGHT HAND CORNERS, ON THIS PARTICUAL MAGAZINE – THE PUGS ARE SITUATED ALL OVER THE COVER, WHICH MEANS AS THE READER LOOKS AT THE MAIN PICTURE OF A SUPER-IMPOSSED IMAGE, THEY SEE DATES – PRICE – AND WEB ADRESS OF EMPIRE. THIS GIVES EMPIRE MORE PROMOTION. THE TITLES OF THE MAG IS ALWAYS AT THE TOP, THIS IS TO KEEP IT SIMPLE FOR THE READER, AND ALTHOUGH USING SUPER-IMPOSED IMAGES OVER THE TITLE WRITING, ITS STILL OBVIOUS FROM THE BOLD COLOUR AND FONT OF THE WORDING.

EXAMPLES OF 'THE TYPICAL GANGSTER'

Black and white images, suits, guns, old fashioned outfits/cars. these are all helpful to us to find ideas on what to film and what the typical gangster looks like. i got some personal ideas from family members who said:
DAD: 'the typical gangster is a stubbern and agressive type - but calm on the first impressions.'
MUM: 'i would say gangsters these days have still got the image of the oldschool gangster - wearing suits, smoking, with flash cars made to look old'
BROTHER: 'i studied 1960's gangster's at uni and realised that gangsters back then are the same image of the mafia these days, and that they still walk around in groups and still carry weapons ect.'


We have now begun planning with my group the synopsis of my 'British Gangster' film trailer. As a group we discussed several different plots and ideas. The plot includes a love interest between a man and a woman both offsprings from two rival gangs. This is eventually found out by the girl's Father, who puts a hit on both of them.

PROS, AND CONS OF MAKING OUR GANGSTER FILM TRAILER..

Pros:

- Costumes are day-to-day clothes; smart/casual wear with trench coats, or other long coats – these are comonly found in the wardrobe of the average male therefore there is no need to purchase new costumes,
- Locations are readily available – backstreet loactions, perhaps a view of the london skyline,
- No special effects needed as British Gangster films are created in a realist style
- Characters would include an average looking middle-aged man, aged 30-45 years old – this is a pro as normal or little known actors would be used to play the characters due to the realist style,

Cons:
- Often weapons such as guns are widely used in this genre of film – convincing replicas are difficult to source
- We need to make sure we have the right location, as our film is based around flash cars, speed boats and harbours. Athough we have a member of the group who has access to these..

youtube trailers of gangster films..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXceJA-eoJg
american gangster

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf16Vc3iZjE
godfather

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COgiPZnYJbo
gangsters paradice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93l6EGR72yY
rock 'n' roller

INFORMATION ABOUT CRIME AND GANGSTER FILMS

Crime and Gangster Films are developed around the sinister actions of criminals or gangsters, particularly bankrobbers, underworld figures, or ruthless hoodlums who operate outside the law, stealing and violently murdering their way through life. In the 1940s, a new type of crime thriller emerged, more dark and cynical - see the section on film-noir for further examples of crime films. Criminal and gangster films are often categorized as post-war film noir or detective-mystery films - because of underlying similarities between these cinematic forms. Film gangsters are usually materialistic, street-smart, immoral, meglo-maniacal, and self-destructive. Rivalry with other criminals in gangster warfare is often a significant plot characteristic. Crime plots also include questions such as how the criminal will be apprehended by police, private eyes, special agents or lawful authorities, or mysteries such as who stole the valued object. They rise to power with a tough cruel facade while showing an ambitious desire for success and recognition, but underneath they can express sensitivity and gentleness.

a2 media gangster

GOOD POSTER, USING A DARK BACKGROUND THEY HAVE MAXIMISED THE MAIN FOCUS ON THE CHARACTER WEARING A WHITE SUIT. ALSO USING BLACK AND WHITE CREATES A GANGSTER FEEL TO THE POSTER AS MANY CLASSICS SUCH AS; 'THE GODFATHER' USE BLACK AND WHITE SHOTS THROUGHOUT THE FILM. AMERICAN IS UNDERLINED WITH RED 'BLOOD' THIS IMPLIES THERE IS MURDER OR VIOLENCE INVOLVED.. BOLD PICTURES AND NOT A GREAT DEAL OF WRITTING ABOUT THE FILM IS IMPORTANT - IT DRAWS THE READERS EYES INTO FINDING OUT MORE..



COMPLETLY DIFFERENT POSTER WITH ROCK 'N' ROLLA - MAIN FOCUS IS ON THE BLACK SUITED CHARACTER AND THE GUN SITUATED OVER HIS SHOLDER. THIS IMPLICATES MORE 'GANGSTER' ACTON INVOLVED WITH THE FILM. HAVING MORE THAN ONE KEY ACTOR AS THE POSTER IS ALSO HELPFUL - IT INDICATES THE MAIN CHARACTERS AND THERE ROLES WHETHER IT MAY BE AN ANGRY FACE OR POLITE EXPRESSIONS - THE READERS ARE EXITED TO FIND OUT MORE. THE KEY LINE OF THIS POSTER IS 'A STORY OF SEX, THUGS, AND ROCK 'N ROLL' THEY HAVE USED 'SEX DRUGS AND ROCK 'N ROLL' BUT HAVE GIVEN IT A THUGGY-GANGSTER APPROACH.






PUBLIC ENEMIES IS OUR GROUPS KEY FILM IN RELATION TO WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIVE WITH OUR FILMING. THE POSTERS ARE SIMPLE BUT ENTHUSTIASTIC - A SIMPLE SHOT OF JONNY DEPP, DRAWS THE READERS EYES INTO HIS FACIAL EXPRESSION, GIVING OFF A SUSPENCE - AND KEY ENROLMENT INTO WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FILM. THE OTHER POSTER CREATES A DIFFERENT FEEL, THE SHOT WITH CHRISTIAN BALE AND A SUB-MACHINE GUN IMPLIES MURDER OR SIMULAR KINDS OF CRIME. ALTHOUGH THE FILM IS ABOUT JONNY DEPP AND HOW HE MANAGES TO ROB BANKS IN STYLE, BOTH POSTERS DONT GIVE THIS STORY AWAY. THIS BECOMES A TWIST TO THE FILM WATCHERS WHEN THEY SEE IT. WE MAY USE THIS KIND OF POSTER IDEA IN OUR COURSEWORK - AS IT ADDS TO THE TRAILER TWISTS.

THE TOP 5 GANGSTER FILMS OF ALL TIME..

a2 media

( THE WORK ABOVE IS MY A2 COURSEWORK... THE WORK BEFORE IS MY AS COURSEWORK!!)





















( A2 MEDIA COURSEWORK ^^^^^^^^ A2 MEDIA COURSEWORK ^^^^^^^^ )

Final Product: Major Task Media AS 'BASS MAX' music magazine:

7)

7) Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Looking back at my Preliminary task at the start i thought it would be alot easier that i first expected. The Preliminary task only needed a background immage - possible medium or extreme close up. Once this had been added - we then needed to ad text box's and a title. This was nothing compared with the progression to our Major AS task. Personally i felt at the time of my Preliminary task - i belived i had come up with a substantional piece of work. Looking back on my progress now to my media product (music Magazine) it has made me realise how poor it was to my final Major Task. Below is an image of my Preliminary task:

i took some pictures around our school/collage _ as the Title breif was to create a school/collage front cover for a school magazine. bellow are images i had taken:

I used these pictures in my Preliminary task as they related to a school/collgae and the task was for a school's magazine front cover. once i had completed the task, and began to design my major task, i realised how hard it can be to design a proffessional looking cover to my music magazine. I new the basics of Adobe InDesign so i had a ruff idea how i wanted my design to look, by using images from festivals eg bellow is my picture of Deadmau5 on stage when i took the image with his agreement:

this would be my main focus point to my front cover. I belive it works really well and the Red hat he is wearing contrasted with the yellow top band with my special slogan in it. it also contrasts with his name which i typed in bold white - to stand out from the dark background. This then brightened my ideas by looking for the front cover i wanted and bellow is what i found to guide me along through my designing:

Once i put all of my ideas together i came up with this as my front cover:

Once i had this as my finished front cover design - the other pages i found easy - using the image bellow, it inspired my with my contents, and bellow that is what i had created:

I used Constrasting electric Green as a border - but kept the relations between the yellow text box's - relating to the Reading logo on my front cover:

Once i had both my front cover and my contents, i then moved on using Reading festival as the main focus point of my media product (music magazine - BASS MAX') and designed my final two page (double) spread. I used pictures of festivals - Dj's and using text box's with slogans etc. Bellow is my design:

Overall - looking back at my Preliminary task, i feel i have learnt alot about Adobe InDesign and i belive i have deffinatly progressed from my first task - to my major task. And equally belive my product is of high standard!