Preliminary task

The task that we were assigned was to create a short film clip. The scenario was,  two people exchanging an object. Therefore, our original idea was that two rival gangs would pass over a key from one member to the other. This key had been stolen by an unknown source from a rival gang. In this film we attempted to challenge original codes and conventions from a coming of age 1980s gang film such as The Outsiders. However, we also tried to adopt some codes and conventions in order keep to original ideas from Gang Films.


In this scene featuring Ethan and Josh , we used higher camera angles to emphasis that their characters are not important people in the gang compared to Alfie who is the Gang Leader. This is an original code and convention as there is always a hierarchy and  gang leader for example, in films such as the Godfather.

Throughout our production we used a 180 degree rule. This did not challenge any codes and conventions as this camera rule is used in all films without exception. This 180 degree rule is  usually used during scenes featuring a standoff between two people or a gang. A standoff is a common feature of a gang film, as exemplified in our film where Alfie and Matthew have a standoff towards the end.   However,  the 180 degree rule can be changed if the camera moves from side to side but apart from this it cannot be broken.


Mise en scene were also used through our film, for example,  we used  black and white in preference to colour as we wanted to create 1920s atmosphere. For example, The Peaky Blinders, a Birmingham Gang were at their peak in the 1920s. We thought that black and white would creates a realistic effect. The music that we used throughout this film, was chosen for it's heavy impact as throughout the film clip the music helps to creates tension between the two gangs. Incidental music is also used, for example, silence is used to highlight when Alfie realises he's key is missing! This silence creates tension and illustrates Alfie's Gang's desperation to find the missing key.

We also challenge the conventions of Mise en scene, for example, usually gang films will be set in a large neighbourhood or city such as Birmingham, London, Chicago or New York. However, our film chose the location of a school to challenge this convention. We also challenged the idea of general Gang costume, as our characters are in school uniform and do not look like conventional gang members who may otherwise be know for their expensive suits or leather jackets.