Influence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAlGUO4el_0

When planning our film, we eventually settled on producing a five minute short film. After several ideas, we eventually setlled on an Inbetweeners style comedy about how rumors are spread and distorted, becoming incredulous.

We settled on this, becuase we wanted to produce a product that was original, unusual and different from average.

Posted by Duncan Morrison

Influences

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lnusc9Rlx6w&feature=related

When trying to settle on a subject for the film, we were inspired by this sketch from That Mitchell and Webb look to make the film revolve around a character's drunken misadventures, and how different people see those events, and how this differs from the protagonist themselves.

Posted by Duncan Morrison

Writing plots and scripts

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080228170048AAGm1ZF

When writing the plot and script for the film, we have browsed as many drunken and embarresing stories as is possible online, to try and Frankenstein these stories into a workable plot.

When writing the script, we have taken into account the disposition of the character that we are writing lines for, for example when writing line for Pete's character, the chav, we consulted him on the lines, and indeed headed many of his suggestion as to line ideas, so as to get a third party perspective on the believability of the lines.

When deciding which drunken embarresments to include in our plot, we selected the ones that we found the most homourous; we originally had an alternative scene, but after thought and consultation, we decided it was too risque for this particular project, and decided to change it. Obviously for this genre of film, we needed to include blue humour; throughout this we will endeavour to ensure it is not overly offensive to any parties.

Posted by Duncan Morrison

Classification Research

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/BFF278474/

When researching what classification our project would likely fall under, we looked at The Inbetweeners, a film with similar themes and homour style to see what rating it would likely recieve. Although not going for as strong references to sex and not as much strong language, we still feel that a 15 would be appropriate for our film. Our desire to fall into this category add to the argument against including a scene that was particullarly offensive, and in the end we decided not to use this in the script.

Posted by Duncan Morrison

Genre Research

http://www.filmsite.org/comedyfilms.html

When deciding on a plot and script for our project, we researched the codes and conventions of different subgenres of comedy, attempting to follow some of these; however we did not want to use excessive cliches and outdated homour. We have decided to include slapstick elements to the film, such as drunken stumbling and over the top fighting. We will use this to create an increased sense of confusion in the drunken scene, and add a touch of homour to the fight scene, which could otherwise be taken relatively seriously when compared to the rest of the film.

Posted by Duncan Morrison

Target audience research

When planning our film, we decided the target audience should be the 18-35 age category; we came to this conclusion based on the blue homour sometimes included, which this age group would find acceptable, whereas other age groups may find it offensive or otherwise unnaceptable.

By setting this age category for our target audience, we were able to include more crude homour without concern for alienating the target audience with the topics that we address. However, throughout writing it we tried our best to make sure there would be nothing that offends people outside of the target audience too, as we want our film to have the widest appeal possible.

Posted by Duncan Morrison

Luke's Makeover- Special Feature (RUMOURS)

This is a special feature clip for our upcoming film. As well as interviewing Luke Chandlor and Amber Briers. The clip also shows Luke's makeover, of when Luke is getting into character as two of our make up artists (Amber Briers & Rachel Triggs), slab the make up on to get Luke looking the part as the transvestite. Enjoy!

Posted by Andrew Games

High School Stereotypes

One thing that we looked at was high school stereotypes. To make the film more naturalist, we thought it was wise to have a various selection of high school stereotypes. 'The Inbetweeners' franchise do exactly that, as the show is based on the four characters who are stereotypes of high school society. In 'The Inbetweeners', you have the clumsy one, the stupid or dumb one, the cocky one and the shy one.

In our film, there is only one main character, who is stereotyped as a mixture of clumsy and maybe confident, even though he may be portrayed as a confident individual in the flash back sequences when the rumour is being discussed or explained.

Despite the fact that there is one main character, we have tried to add in other stereotypes in as well within its short, cameo appearances. In the on-call room, many stereotypes are portrayed within the many individuals in the room. Some of the many stereotypes portrayed would be:

• The Cocky One- Always making lies and rumours and maybe over confident and trying to get himself involved in other peoples businesses.
• The Dumb One- The lights are on but no one is at home. Not always there and maybe a bit mentally slow, or containing a short attention spam.
• The Popular One- The one with all the attention and up most respect. But a 'popular' status maybe a bad thing, it might fall into the category of being 'cocky' and it could also be the fact that the person is overrated (which usually tends to be the case)
• The Quiet One- Gob shut, silent as a mouse. This individual would take no part in some social activities, possibly shy and may occasionally follow a group if he hasn't followed his true self (AKA Sheep).  

Here is a video made by an American Youtuber explaining the High school stereotypes in American schools, but may of these stereotypes are relevant to UK stereotypes. Enjoy!

Posted by Andrew Games

Clips & Examples

Here are clips and examples of  the humour 'The Inbetweeners' present to us, and the scenarios & situations they fall on.

They even had their own movie made!

Posted by Andrew Games

Genre and Narrative Analysis. - The Inbetweeners.

1.What genre(s) is your film?

The Inbetweeners has a comedy genre.

2.What sub-genre is your film?

The sub-genre of The Inbetweeners is Comedy/ Romance, but mostly just a comedy.

3.Is it a hybrid genre? Which genres if so?

The Inbetweeners isn't a hybrid genre.

4.What iconography is present throughout the film that enables you to classify its genre?

In the Inbetweeners there is lots of jokes and comments that make people laugh, this is a characteristic that can be labled as iconography for the comedy genre. There is also one really dumb character this could also be iconography for the comedy genre.

5.Does your film apply with Todorov’s narrative structure? Explain why/why not.

The film the inbetweeners does apply with Todorov's narrative structure of equilibrium as at the start of the film they have just finished school and are on Holiday, they are having fun until they meet a girl from their school. This girl causes the group to split and there is a big argument, but at the end the group is back together and the girl is out the way again, although they aren't as calm as they were before, this is the same as Todorov describes in his theory. He said that there is calmness around, the state of equilibrium, then something happens to disrupt the balance, the disequilibrium, then at the end there is a state of new equilibrium.

6.Do any of the character’s match Propp’s 8 character types?

I don't think the characters in the Inbetweeners match Propp's 8 character types. Although some of the characters match not all of them do, there is about 4 characters that i can match.

7.Analyse the key binary oppositions in your film

I think the key binary opposition in the Inbetweeners is when the group breaks up, this doesn't last long but it clears the air between the boys and after it has a resolution of conflict. Another key binary opposition in the film could also be the fact the boys can't get with girls, this is also resolved at the end.

8.List the main action and enigma codes generated throughout the film

The main action and enigma codes in the Inbetweeners are.

- Will the boys ever get with any girls?

- Will Simon finally get with Carley?

- Who's staying at the run-down hotel?

- What will the boys get up to on holiday?

- where are they going?

- Who are they? (if you hadn't seen the series)

Posted by Andrew Games

Inspiration

The thing that inspired us and influenced us to do this genre for our film, was British sitcom, 'The Inbetweeners'.

Four high school mates are the stars of the show, each portraying high school stereotypes, such as cocky, clumsy, dumb and shy. 'The Inbetweeners' also helped us decide on our humour. Crude, slapstick, and occasional dark humour which highlights high school/teenage life.

The scenario of our story would be loosely based on 'The Hangover', as well as 'The Inbetweeners'. With most of its humour, storyline and narrative set into our media film, 'RUMOURS'

Posted by Andrew Games

'RUMOURS' The 5 minute feature film....

After many planning out material and ideas, we finally came up with the perfect storyline, character biography and scene selections.

Time-period
The time is set around present, its set in a high school and the cast of the film are all in their late teens, but the characters they are playing are approx 15-16 year olds (year 11).

Cast
Lead Role- Andrew Games
Lead Girl- Amber Briers
Transvestite- Luke Chandlor
Chav- Peter Oldrid
various parts & extras- Duncan Morrison
High School boys- various cast members and extras

Production Team
Directed by- Andrew Games & Duncan Morrison
Camera- Duncan Morrison
Narrative- Andrew Games & Duncan Morrison
Editing- Andrew Games
Music- Duncan Morrison & Andrew Games

Sets
Andrews House
School Environment
Streets of Pensby & Irby

Music
Get Back Colquitt- 'Collateral'
Red Hot Chilli Peppers- 'Sir Psycho Sexy' (Instrumental)

Publishing Software 
Windows Movie Maker (Windows 7)


The Narrative
The story starts with the lead role (played by Andrew), being sent on-call in school (a punishment system for misbehaviour), the reason for him being sent on-call is unknown. He enters the room as many of his colleagues/students are laughing at him, but he doesn't know why.

One of the lads in the on-call room has the confidence to question the lead character. He asks him about what happens at the weekend. The lead character explains what happens, as he explains, a flash back sequence in black and white shall be played, to show visually what the rumour is about. This will occur within every rumour that gets mentioned in the film, to visually show the audience the scenario. The first scenario is the lead character getting ready for a party he was invited to. This would be the lead characters side to the story (also know as 'mature story' for production purposes).

The other students in the room describe what they've heard, going from different rumours, such as: A pre-mature climax, sleeping with a transvestite, fighting an asbo and many more....

Posted by Andrew Games

Where we started....

As soon as myself & Duncan Morrison discovered we were going to be filming, we immediately started flying out ideas.

We decided to do a 5 minute feature film. All that was needed to do now was to have a genre to work from and create a story.

One of my original ideas was to have a film based on war & conflict. Based around WW2, I planned out a 5 minute film that would involve various different media conventions, such as music, camera angels and lighting.

The following is a narrative of what happens (surviving copy) :

Skull & Crossbones

(Forest Scene- Royden Park)

'Set in the forest of France 1944. A German officer, carrying a pistol and a briefcase is running through the forest, escaping from British forces who invaded the German command post some miles away.

The German officer begins to walk slowly and quietly, being weary of British patrols. A British captain had been following the German for some time. After a certain amount of time, the British Captain jumps out and fires his weapon, shooting the German officer in the arm. The Brit attempts to shoot again, but no bullets left in his magazine clip in his gun. Both the German & the Brit look down at the gun on the floor that got knocked out of the German’s hand when shot. The German lays down his cap in preparation for a physical battle, the Brit does the same. The two soldiers have a massive physical confrontation.  They punch, kick and do everything they can to survive…

The Brit ends up getting the gun, pointing it down at the floor where the German is laying. Putting pressure on the trigger, he looks at a shiny object around the German Officer’s neck, a picture in a silver frame of his wife and children. The Brit has a moment of hesitation, and resists shooting the German, as he throws the pistol on the ground and helps the German up, they both stare in shock. Suddenly, a German solider creeps up behind the Brit and smacks him from behind with his gun.

[BLACKOUT]

(Interrogation Scene- Drama Studio)

The Brit wakes up, in a dark, empty room, tied up in a wooden chair. A door opens as a German Officer walks in the room with a bandage on the arm where he got shot. The German Officer takes his hat off, pulls out his hand and thanks the Brit for sparing his life, so he can live another day to see his family.

They both introduce each other and talk. After some time, the Brit explains his hate for the Germans, describing how as a child, the skull & cross bones, used to be a symbol of childhood, playground games of pirates. And now every time he sees the symbol, all it reminds him of now is a representation of evil and he goes deep and explains his hate for the Germans, and how people in his own country suffer… On an ending note… The screen goes blank… End of the film.'

When planning visually, we had many complications. In result, the project had to be scrapped and we had to restart from scratch and work our way up again. We finally came to an agreement based on doing a comedy film.

The comedy film we decided to base it upon, was about high school life and stereotypes. One of the things that influenced us to do this project, was a British sitcom show called 'The Inbetweeners', the show consists of four main characters, all four based on different high school/6th form stereotypes. 

Inbetweeners Cast

William, stereotyped as a swat (clever, intelligent), carrying around a briefcase as a stereotype for this high school type. This character/stereotype is also referenced as a 'bully victim', for being clever and intelligent. 

Jay, stereotyped as a cocky, immature high school student. His character also exposes that he is a liar, another quality common for a high school stereotype. 

Niall, the not so intelligent individual, mainly loud and he is also a sheep (crowd follower). This is a more common stereotype, but unlike Will, Niall is not a bully victim.

Simon, the more less stereotyped individual, just a typical teen more than anything, although he is quite unlucky with women, which possibly states a stereotype of an 'unlucky with the ladies' stereotype.

Posted by Andrew Games

BBFC Classification Research

Film Classification Research

The BBFC, who regulate film classification, have five age categories:














These films should be suitable for all audiences aged four and over, will be set within a positive moral framework, and will counterbalance any threat, horror or violence.












General viewing for children aged eight and over. Parents are advised to moniter younger or particullarly sensitive children. These films should contain no content of calibre enough to disturd a resonable child.














Suitable only for children aged twelve or over. In the cinema, 12's may be shown as a 12A, which allows children under twelve to view if accompanied by an adult. In this case, all liability lies with the adult. These films may contain minor drug use, relatively strong language, minor violence and very brief non sexualised nudity.













These films are not suitable for anyone under age 15, and may portray violence not dwelling on pain or injury, undetailed sex and nudity, undetailed drug use, must not dwell on imitable behaviour and may contain frequant strong language.







These films are suitable for only those aged 18 or over, and are likely to contain strong violence, language, horror or drug use and may show sex and nudity in graphic detail, however this must be justified by context.

Evaluation Task- Andrew Games

Evaluation Task- Andrew Games 13DMH

When making the film, myself and Duncan had to keep many things in mind and analyse every step we would make with this project to make sure that it what we were doing would be necessary, in terms of the story and media conventions. The film we decided to make would be a comedy, as after many previous discussions about what genre of film we would do, none of us agreed on the ideas that we had in mind. Duncan and I sat down with our teacher and agreed on doing a comedy film. When deciding this, our heads immediately clicked into gear and ideas were pouring out of our brains to the point when we both felt really confident about making a comedy film which we knew would now be possible to do.  A television series called ‘The Inbetweeners’ influenced us on the type of humour we wanted to have in our film. The humour was slapstick with a crude setting, mainly taken from situations that teenagers may experience which is similar to the content of the ‘Inbetweeners’ series. It was also decided that Duncan would be the camera man for the film, whilst it would be my duty to edit the film piece by piece, including editing music and introducing media conventions to the film.

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

Our media film would use similar material to the ‘Inbetweeners’, mainly on its humour. Despite this, Duncan and I always tried very hard to differ from the TV series as much as possible so we could make our product fresh and new. We would do this buy thinking of a scenario that could be featured in our film and research the ‘Inbetweeners’ archive to make sure that our idea was too similar or accurate to a scene or story from the ‘Inbetweeners’ series. Thankfully, none of the material we thought of was similar to the ‘Inbetweeners’. Our film however, does challenge media conventions of the ‘Inbetweeners’. In our film, we used the ‘flashback’ sequences. The flashback sequences would be in black and white to represent the past. This sequence would be used to represent a scenario from the past whenever a character explains the story. This was influenced by 2009 film ‘The Hangover’, as whenever the characters tried to remember the night before from their hangover; the flash back sequences would be in black and white to represent the past, or a thought. Throughout research, it is noted that the ‘Inbetweeners’ have never used this convention in any of their episodes. This media convention gives us the advantage of using story depth and to be a little bit more creative with our film. We also used the hangover idea, similar to the ‘Hangover’ film, as the main character in the film would be trying to remember exactly what happened on the night of the party. The twist however, is that there are rumours going around about the main character, and it is up to him to decide which rumour is true.

How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

 The ancillary tasks also play an important role within the project, as they would attract an audience to see the film in the first place. The two ancillary projects we chosen for the film would be a film poster and a radio trailer. For the film poster, Duncan would be taking the pictures whilst I would be editing them. One of the things myself and Duncan tried to avoid was to fall into the trap of making our film poster

Stupid and slapstick, like most film posters such as 'Nacho Libre' & 'Don't mind the Zohan'. Many of these posters have characters of the film pulling pathetic, unnatural facial expressions to deliberately look stupid. These posters are so bad; it shows how desperately hard their trying to make the film look like a comedy. Because these posters get so cringey and off putting, the public is drawn away from watching the film, which is just the cause of bad advertising. Despite the fact that the film was quite silly itself, we would want that quality to shine more during the film itself rather than the advertisement.  Duncan chose Luke (who played the transvestite in the film), to stand being me whilst I'm reading the Leon Trotsky book. Luke would be pulling a facial expression that would show that he is taking the mick out of me.

Duncan chose an image, the image he chose would reveal my character description within the film. The fact that Luke was mimicking me whilst I was reading a Leon Trotsky book showed that I am the butt of everyone's jokes, as well as the fact that I am trying to be intelligent and to hide my clumsiness and idiotic, bizarre behaviour. What really sparks the joke off is that Leon Trotsky was a Russian general/communist in the Second World War, and a character of my description is trying to study the backgrounds and persona of a Russian communist. Almost as if I’m trying to come across as an intelligent leader of some sort.

When editing, I decided to make the image as colourful as possible. The colours I chose were colours that were already on the picture itself. An example of this is black, white and red, as they were the colours located on the Trotsky book, and I would use these colours to create other things, such as the titles.

Already, the poster has already linked with the main product, as there both trying to show exactly what genre of film it is and that the image on the poster is necessary and accurate to what happens within the film and to show off the main characters description throughout pose and facial expression, as well as the fact that the title of the film and the description within on the poster itself would hint about the films content and what to expect.

The other ancillary project we did was a radio trailer. The radio trailer would attract the audience by using dialogue and music. Duncan chose the music for the radio trailer, the music he chose would be Sublime by Santerina. A slow, yet up beat acoustic instrumental that is used for most radio trailers in comedy films, to give a funny but light hearted feel.  There are also quotes from the film on the radio trailer that would hint the storyline of the film. The trailer has been made pretty simple so it is easy and simple for the listener to listen to, especially if the listener is driving a car. Unlike the poster, the radio trailer doesn’t reveal much, if not enough of the film. Apart from the trailer narrator (myself) saying “Funniest Film of the year” and many other similar quotes, it’s still not as effective, because it is hard to advertise without using too many quotes from the film which would spoil the film itself.