Story line: A pair of young, naïve and wealthy teenagers living in Los
Angeles are exposed to hip hop culture that inspires them to imitate the ‘gangsta
lifestyle’, although they learn that every action can have a consequence as
they come into trouble with they come face-to-face with a real gang of Latino
drug dealers.
Director: Barbara Kopple
Stars: Anne Hathaway, Bijou Phillips, Shiri Appleby and Channing Tatum
Opening: starts with titles of producers. View from hand
held camera, interview type experience with a teenage girl in a car park
surrounded by other teenagers – main character, explains her take on society –
the current separation, close up and extreme close ups.
Establishing, panning shots of
surrounding settings – urban American city – tall buildings, extensive
motorways, beach, suburbs with more title credits appearing over the top of
footage and background ‘gangsta’ music to match theme, finishes on current
setting of previous interview – car park full of teenagers. Camera angle
changes from hand held view to long shot from a different camera, capturing the
casual interview taking place – more insight into ‘gangsta culture’ among
teenagers, then a fight breaks out between two gangs. Exaggerated use of
swearing and insults exchanged before punches were thrown, girls join in fight,
not just the male characters.
Setting: Urban America - rough part of town, where most crimes and committed and where most trouble happens. Abandoned car park - suggests they have nowhere better to go, not easily seen by adults of law enforcers - can do whatever they like, represents the freedom most teenagers crave.
Props: hand held camera might be a dominant prop throughout and introduce certain issues or depth into a character's background. Cigarettes - attempting to grow up too fast, fit in with and be associated with 'wanna be' gangsta lifestyle.
Camera shot types/angles: camera angle changes from hand held view to long shot several times - suggests that hand held camera might be a dominant prop throughout and introduce certain issues or depth into a character's background. Close up of certain characters - mean
Lighting: low-key - evening/night, but natural - could represent a dark side to society and the lives of teenagers, yet the natural light from the moon could suggest the 'real' aspects of what actually happens within society and the influences and the problems they could create - a true representation.
Casting: group of teenagers - suggests that purpose of film could be showing the influences of growing up and how they can affect a life and how to deal with them in the right way opposed to the wrong way.
Costume and make-up: jeans and t-shit - typically expected from teenagers, could suggest typical teenager-based film. Big hoop earrings, chains - represent a chavy, wanna be gangsta lifestyle - represents background to characters.
Movement: sexual interpretations between characters - suggests a background to the relationship between them, outbreaks of fights - suggests the anger within the teenagers' minds, have to let it out one way or another.
Music: gangsta, rap - supports idea of 'wanna be' gangsta lifestyle - think they're 'it' but really they don't have a clue.
Positives: clear showing of setting of film, introduction to main character, given an insight into what to expect from rest of the film, i.e. gangs, fights etc.
Props: hand held camera might be a dominant prop throughout and introduce certain issues or depth into a character's background. Cigarettes - attempting to grow up too fast, fit in with and be associated with 'wanna be' gangsta lifestyle.
Camera shot types/angles: camera angle changes from hand held view to long shot several times - suggests that hand held camera might be a dominant prop throughout and introduce certain issues or depth into a character's background. Close up of certain characters - mean
Lighting: low-key - evening/night, but natural - could represent a dark side to society and the lives of teenagers, yet the natural light from the moon could suggest the 'real' aspects of what actually happens within society and the influences and the problems they could create - a true representation.
Casting: group of teenagers - suggests that purpose of film could be showing the influences of growing up and how they can affect a life and how to deal with them in the right way opposed to the wrong way.
Costume and make-up: jeans and t-shit - typically expected from teenagers, could suggest typical teenager-based film. Big hoop earrings, chains - represent a chavy, wanna be gangsta lifestyle - represents background to characters.
Movement: sexual interpretations between characters - suggests a background to the relationship between them, outbreaks of fights - suggests the anger within the teenagers' minds, have to let it out one way or another.
Music: gangsta, rap - supports idea of 'wanna be' gangsta lifestyle - think they're 'it' but really they don't have a clue.
Positives: clear showing of setting of film, introduction to main character, given an insight into what to expect from rest of the film, i.e. gangs, fights etc.
Negatives: too much time spent on establishing shots of surroundings –
could have been narrowed down and used more effectively to introduce story line
Why I chose Havoc: Havoc is based around the use of gang
culture, alcohol consumption and drug use among teenagers in urban American –
all three topics will feature in my opening as well as the genres of Crime and
Drama. The opening to Havoc will give me ideas on how I should introduce the
topics into my own coursework.
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