Question3; What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Opening Sequence; Sex, Money, MURDER.

Question 5; How did we attract/ Address your audience?

Question 4;; Who would be your audience for your media product?

Our target audience is a male, 21 years old and his favourite programme is "Silent whitness"
He loves the way in which organised crime is represented in the programme and he likes costume drama's like "The Crey Brothers" and "Garrow's Law".
His favourite shops are sports direct and Top shops, showing he likes to relax by playing sport but dressing smartly to go out. His name is Maximus and he had his name changed to this because he liked the sound of a powerful and intimidating name, his original name was, Tom.

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

Film Clips.

1. Titles- This is the titles for the God father, The font is White and the word God is emphasised Via the size as the 'G' is denoted as having a large tail end to it. The word father is emphasised by the use of the puppeteer strings connected to them, this connotes the use of power and controlling also suggested in the word God. Also as the conventions of a typical gangster film the Father is the head of the family and is in control much like a puppeteer.


2. Location- This is an establishing shot from the film Casino, this shows the setting is in Las Vegas and it denotes all the main and large casinos. This connotes that the main setting for the film is based in a casino and indeed it is.


3. Camera Work & Editing- The Gangster genre of film is mainly about creating suspicion, suspense and power, this, more often than not, is shown by using extreme closeups, for example this shot denotes staring eyes from Donnie Brasco, this connoted the suspicion and the ever going search for an answer, this also creates suspense as we cannot see what he is looking at but we know that there is something there of importance.  The shots are also in black and white which connotes a sense of aged theories and ideologies. This is typical of the gangster genre as they are often set in the 1920's.


4. Costumes and props- This is a shot from the film The Godfather, The costume denoted in this film is smart and black and white dress code for the mafia. This connotes death by using the colour black, or the mourning process in which follows the death of a character.


5. Story- The conventional story of a gangster film is based around the rise to power by the main character and it not mattering what this character may have to do to get there. This involves murder, betrayal and Illegal dealings. This is a clip from the film "Casino" as the story throughout the film is about the betrayal of the head of the casinos, but the way in which the head keeps his power denotes the sheer desperateness  to stay in control so he does what ever he has to.


6. Introduction of characters- This is a shot from the film "Good Fellas", The introduction of characters in the gangster genre is during a dramatic flashback of the main character dieing then progressing to tell his story introducing the other characters on the way or characters in the middle of the deed of killing someone or doing something illegal. This is shown in "Good Fellas" as the first scene is of three men going round to the boot of their car and shooting a person in the back. As they do this they talk to each other, addressing each other by their names, thus they are introduced to the audience.


7. Title Font, Style- This is a shot from 'the Godfather'. The font style is bold and has over extended tails to most of the letters, this creates the effect that the film will have a bold storyline that will entice the audience to continue watching. Also the style given to the letters where most of them are reaching for each other may connote the chain reactions often occurring in gangster films of, bad deed leading to justice or a deed not done to the liking of the gang followed by a severe lesson being taught to the then on "victim".


8. Special Effects- In this still image a car exploding is denoted. This is the opening scene from the film "Casino". This then denotes to the audience that the genre of the film is action or drama. This could then attract different audiences with the preference of fast speed dramas with a lot of deaths or heightened adrenalin scenes. this can imply that the film will be exciting .


9. Genre and how the opening suggests it- This is a shot from the film "Donnie Brasco" The shots used are black and white and are shots that would imply an undercover detective following the characters. This connotes a gangster film as they are often being followed by the law and trying to be caught in the act.

Our Project.

1. Titles- This is a screen shot of our own media project, "Sex, Money, MURDER." and it shows that the text is centred and large to draw attention to it. This is using the convention of gangster films for titles which is typically a black background with white text. This is used in many films within the genre.


2. Location- This is a mid-shot of one of the supporting characters leading up to the house in which the main events are connoted to happen. this is because the following camera shots only show the house and the entire opening sequence is either filmed inside of the house or around it with it constantly in shot. This again implies that it is the main setting for the film, or is the location in which a major event in the scene is going to happen.


3. Camera work and editing- This shot shows an extreme close up of the main characters lips, and many different extreme close ups are used throughout the film of this characters lips to portray more clearly her emotions or her next intentions. Also the entire project is in black and white, this connotes a different time era in the film and sticks the main conventions of the gangster genre as it is used in many films, for example "Donnie Brasco".


4. Costume and props- This is a shot of me, dressed as my character, in a black dress. This is because the stereo typical image of a gangster is dressed in black and white and is smart. This was another way in which our group chose to use the typical conventions of the gangster Genre. The colour black also connotes death, this is another aspect of a gangster film that is very common.


5. Story/Narrative- the typical story line revolving around a gangster film is the idea of a main character, often starting out as the underdog, rising to power and taking revenge on the people that doubted and bullied him when he was less powerful. Whilst doing this they are often doing other illegal dealings revolving around counterfeit goods, drugs or smuggling.  We stuck to this convention as we wanted the rise to power to be prominent and obvious but the convention we did challenge was the convention of the typical male lead role, being a woman, rising through the ranks to take charge. 


6. Introduction of characters- The introduction of the characters in our piece is by involving them in a dramatic event. This event is the killing of one of the supporting characters by the lead role. This immediately shows the audience that there is going to be a strong storyline through out the film and again may entice them to continue watching.  The convention of the main character killing of the supporting roles was a convention we chose to use as we believed this, as a group, would make the audience more attracted to watching it.


7. Title font and style- The titles of our project are white, red, bold and spread out onto different stills. The separation of each word onto a different still helps to emphasises the three main things that the film is obviously going to be based on, Sex, Money and Murder. The word murder is also in capitals connoting that this is going to be the main occurrence out of the other three words. This word is also red which again gives it more emphasis, the red also connotes blood which can connote death or murder. 


8. Special Effects- We could not follow this convention as it was unaffordable, not safe for untrained persons to do and it would have been very time consuming without professionals, and we did not have a lot of time in which to film the piece. 


9. Genre and hoe the opening suggests it- The main things that suggest that the genre we have chosen to portray is gangster would be the black and white clothing, the black and white colour effect and the tittle of the film. The conventional story line also indicated that the genre is gangster.

Group assessment feedback.

Self assessment sheet;;

Self-Assessment Worksheet Feb 2011