Idea Generation

My idea for my film is a revenge based social realism film. I will use the ideas and concepts from the film Room for Romeo Brass and Dead Man's Shoes to try and effectively represent the social realism genre. The concept consists of a narrative based around a teenage boy who is experiencing constant abuse from a group of other teenage boys. He is growing up in a working class environment in the North East. His home life is also very corrupt, his father is absent and when he does show his face he is very abusive. His mother is a social recluse who doesn't work who could be experiencing some sort of mental illness. The boy goes on experiencing abuse until he meets an interesting character. The character is a local man who has been in the armed forces who keeps to himself. The character decides to try and help the boy by training him mentally and physically to stand up for himself. However he is so involved in re building himself he goes a step too far. He decides to hunt down the group of bully's extremely violently. Over the period of a weekend he manages to target each aggressor, sleeping in various parts of the urban environment. He realises that the authorities have been contacted as through out the film his relationship with his mother increases with help form the character who helps re-build him. He is found in the outskirts of his town and taken in by the authorities and charged. The end of the film leaves the main character in a morally superior situation, but in the eyes of society he is a victim of his actions.

The film will start with an equilibrium showing the character in day to day life then the disruption will occur by showing his repetitive abuse. A disequilibrium will occur when he meets the man who trains him. This continues until he begins to decide to hunt down the agressors. Then a disruption occurs when he goes against his trainer. A disequilibrium continues when he hunts down the aggressors, when he is caught and charged this is a resolution. After this there is a small new equilibrium where it becomes apparent he is morally superior but society deems him a criminal. Thus forming a social opinion that would fit the conventions of a social realism film.

I have decided to call my film Mantis. This can be seen as a metaphor for my main character as he prays on his attackers. Influence for my film came from one word titles such as 'Tyrannosaur' and 'Trainspotting' which have hidden meaning within the film. This will therefore fit my social realism
genre.

Mood board

I have collected a range of images to try and get a sense of the content and imagery that may appear in my film. The rough terraced setting will be used throughout my trailer. My feedback suggested I needed to base my film in poor rough areas. The era of my film is the 1990's. This can be seen through the use of nineties bands associated with masculinity and in some cases violence. If I use youth culture I will be able to use elements of this style in my work and maybe create a juxtaposition between some of my characters. Locations around my area will be useful to film as they fit with my mood board. The use of a fish and chip shop will work well as these are stereotypicaly English, this will fit my social realism genre. This mood board will also be useful to look back at when choosing costumes, the use of nylon sports jackets would fit the overall theme. I will also have to be careful when filming objects with modern features, I will have to try and make my trailer as historically accurate as possible.    

Questionnaire Feedback

Feedback from EricBowlby

Primary Audience Research

Film Survey:
http://freeonlinesurveys.com/s.asp?sid=38728xvwlohsv3o373335

Trailers and film posters for video review:


1. Which Poster is your favourite and why?
2. What common theme can you see within the posters?
3. Which poster do you dislike and why?
4. How would you change any of these posters?
5. How is the theme of social realism shown in these posters?
6. Watch 30 seconds of each trailer, or watch enough of it until you can form an opinion, Which trailer do you like the most and why?
7.Which trailer do you like the least? What don't you like about it?
8. Why is the social realism genre clear in these trailers?
9. Zoom into the empire film magazine for Trainspotting, why do you think it is effective?
10. What would you do to improve the magazine cover?  

Secondary Audience Research (Analysis)

Secondary Audience Research (Profiles)

Trainspotting Released: 23rd February 1996 Genre: Drama Price: Estimated box office: not specified Director: Danny Boyle Film cast: Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle Certificate: 18 Distributor: Universal Pictures The Story: Based on the cult novel by Scottish author Irvine Welsh, the story centers on five junkies living in the rundown Edinburgh suburb of Leith in the late 80s. Featured among the ensemble are Robert ("PRIEST") Carlyle, Jonny ("HACKERS") Lee Miller and Ewan McGregor as Mark Tenton -- an unlikely hero who, along with an uncharmed circle of losers, liars, psychopaths and thieves, hangs out with his former school friends more through habit than choice, drifting in and out of heroin addicition and surreal urban hallucinations. Of the story directed by Danny ("SHALLOW GRAVE") Boyle: "It's not just about drugs. It's about betrayal and friendship and it's also very funny. Heroin is the world the characters occupy. It has its own morality, its own rights and wrongs." Sweet Sixteen Released: 4th October 2002 Genre: Drama Price: D Estimated box office: not specified Director: Ken Loach Film cast: Martin Compston, William Ruane, Annmarie Fulton Certificate: 18 Distributor: Icon Films The Story: The film centers on Liam, a Scottish teenager who dreams of a better life after his mother gets out of prison. Determined to buy a home for his family, he gets in trouble when his schemes don't go as planned. Professional soccer player Liam Compston stars as the teenager in search of a normal family life. Winner of the best screenplay award at Cannes International Film Festival. Directed by Ken ("BREAD AND ROSES") Loach, marking his first since completing "THE NAVIGATORS" in 2001.  This Is England Released: 27th April 2007 Genre: Drama Price: C Estimated box office: £500,000 Director: Shane Meadows Film cast: Joseph Gilgun, Stephen Graham, Kieran Hardcastle, Jo Hartley Certificate: 18 Distributor: Optimum Rel. The Story: Set in 1983, against the aftermath of the Falklands War, the film introduces us to eleven-year-old Shaun (Thomas Turgoose), whose soldier father was killed in the conflict. Living with his mother and trying to deal with his grief and loss, Shaun has become an angry youngster, quick to use his fists when teased by schoolmates who taunt, bully and pick fights with him. It is not long before he falls in with a gang of older boys - and girls. They act as a kind of surrogate family and protect him from being picked on. Suddenly, Shaun's world receives another jolt. Combo (Stephen Graham), who has recently been released from jail, strides into Shaun's life and turns it upside down. Aggressive, confident, articulate and much smarter than Shaun's newfound friends, Combo is also a skinhead.

Tyrannosaur Released: 7th October 2011 Genre: Drama Price: D- Estimated box office: £100,000 Director: Paddy Considine Film cast: Olivia Colman, Ned Dennehy, Mattew Rhys, Peter Mullan Certificate: Distributor: Optimum Rel. The Story: The story of Joseph a man plagued by violence and a rage that is driving him to self-destruction. A chance of redemption appears in the form of Hannah, a Christian charity shop worker. Their relationship develops to reveal that Hannah is hiding a secret of her own with devastating results on both of their lives.

Representation and Values

In social realism films ideology plays a key part, they aim to make a moral or societal message throughout the narriative. Messages vary from views on racism and ignorance to insights into drug abuse. Characters are oftern full of flaws and realistic human weaknesses.

Representation
 In social realism films the use of subculture and youth culture is very prominent, all are usually born out of a working class environment. For example the representation of skinheads in This is England and  the loose group of junkies, townies and skinheads in Trainspotting. Costume is a large part of social realism films, subcultures can be represented through appearance. Working class environments are regularly shown throughout social realism films, dull terraces and industrial areas are taken often shown. Friendship is also largely represented within social realism films, the idea of groups, gangs and real life social hierarchy is shown. Even in Tyrannosaur the friendship between the two main characters  is one of the most important parts of the film. Representation of women is different from that of a drama or a thriller. Women are not sexualised but represented realistically. The woman in Tyrannosaur is represented as an ordinary middle aged woman with no sexual connotations.  

This image shows the skinhead subculture being represented in This is England. The setting is a working class environment. The representation of friendship is also shown, all the characters are aligned in row showing a close relationship.

Friendship is again represented hear. The character in the middle can be seen as a barrier between the two friends. The representation of mental health is also shown in this film.

The use of alcohol in a natural environment juxtaposes urban and rural life and emphasises the antisocial behaviour. This helps represent the corruption and evils of English society and how people have disrespect for moral rules.