Past Students Work.

Written Syria
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdxurNAmsUk

The mid shot of the character being covered in blood shows the themes of violence which is shown in BSR films. Also, the low key lighting helps create mystery and makes the audience question what is actually happening.	This close up is a good shot to use because it shows the face clearly of the character. By looking at the bruise on his face we can see the result of his interrogation which leaves the audience to wonder how it happened and why.	The style of the text matches then theme of the whole video, also the use of a small, simple font is very effective as it does not interfere with the video and take the focus away from what is actually happening.
The credits are very subtle and do not interfere with the scene on the screen. BSR films do this so that the audience can pay attention to the content of the film.	The location in this clip is very simple, just an empty looking bedroom where there is a bed and a cupboard. BSR films have very plain and rundown locations.	We are not shown this characters face which adds to the mystery and makes the audience confused about the narrative. This is very common in BSR films.
The rule of thirds and continuity editing used here was very effective as it kept the focus on the characters face the whole time. BSR films mostly focus on close ups showing the characters facial expressions at all times.	The over the shoulder shot looking at the flag shows the flag has some symbolic meaning in the clip. BSR use simple camera shots as their ethos is to present issues of reality in a simple form.	The use of bright lighting is good because it shows what’s going on in the scene well, however BSR tend to use more low key lighting within most of its scenes, to help emphasise it being a rundown, secretive location.

Cycle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HQQtWqOHYs

The location of an alley way was successful because it represents a rundown, urban location and adds a sense of secrecy to the clip. However, it could have been improved b filming when it was darker as it would have added to the effect a little better.	The credits on the screen are effective, as they are a nice size and a simple font, although they appear on the screen, the do not divert the audiences attention from the image on the screen.	The use of low key lighting for the Mise-en- Scene creates confusion for the audience and this is often shown in BSR films where there is minimal lighting to enhance the very dark, dreary theme in the films.
This close up shows the use of a prop of drugs. Drug abuse is always a key theme in BSR films, so this clip relates well to the content of every other BSR theme.	In the background, looking out the window, the time of day has immediately changed, which shows these shots have been filmed separately but does not follow the rule of continuity well.	The close up of this character shows she seems to be stressed or feels uncomfortable, which is how BSR films show their characters to feel.
In this shot, looking at all the characters, they are all wearing hoodies, hooded jackets and hats which is representative of how BSR film characters dress. Good use of costume.	This close up shows the characters face. The audience will recognise this character as being important in the clip.	This is a good shot as normally in BSR films, when one of the characters is up to no good, or is getting caught, there is often a shot of a police car or van. Good way of keeping to the content of the film.

Fish Tank Secondary Research.

It is a free digital television channel, owned by Channel 4 Television Corporation. It started up in 1982 as Film4 Productions but then changed its name during the digital switch over and called itself Film Four.

The company's first production was Walter, directed by Stephen Frears, which was released in 1982. Its ‘sister companies’ include E4, More4, 4Music, Heat, Kiss, Magic and more. Film Four became Film4 by becoming a part of Channel 4 who is currently its parent company.

These films made by Fillm4 are made to target a British Niche audience. People, who watch these films do not watch them with the intention of being entertained, but watch them with the intention of being informed of very powerful, disturbing situations which they show through ‘British Social Realism’. The purpose of doing this is to show audiences what kinds of issues are recognised in society all over Britain and how everyday life for some people can be. Their aim is to create audience awareness of what is going on around them through these horrid unvarnished images. BSR typical themes include alcohol and drug abuse, violence, domestic issues and others. They specifically use younger children mainly teenagers as this has a bigger impact on the audience and is more realistic. They use unknown actors who have raw talent to taker part in their films. Film 4 have little budget for their films as they are more concerned with the content they are showing rather than the editing. They often film in very rundown, urban locations, generally in estate buildings as they are showing you the reality of the characters.

They market their films through advertising them at film festivals so the audience are aware of them and rely heavily on critic quotes for their films. They feel that getting professionals to comment on their film will help increase the number of views of their films and therefore allow it to be successful. They advertise their film on channel 4, particularly through the news as they can attract a different type of audience and again create audience awareness. Also, Film 4 have previously co-produced a Hollywood film which helps them get their name out amongst bigger Hollywood production companies who have a global mainstream audience. They cannot make their films to target people in other countries simply because they will not understand British humour and may take offense to what Film4 call ‘Dark Comedy.’

Fish Tank Analysis.

Themes and Situations

• Drug and alcohol abuse.
• The mother and both the girls in the household drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes and other substances.
• Isolation of the girl
• Struggles of teenagers
• Young girl with an ambition 
• Bad influence of family and the society
• Violence
• The main character is a very tough feisty girl. An example of this is when she hits one of the girls dancing in the beginning of the film.

 Representation (stereotypes and archetypes)

• The film is based on a young teenage girl who acts in a rebellious way, and doesn’t have any interaction with her family or friends. This keeps to the conventions of a BSR very well as many other BSR films include the same content.
• The mother in the film being shown as very weak as she is a single parent who doesn’t build a good relationship with her daughters and neglects her children. This is a typical representation of a BSR film as this shows why the main character acts the way she does.

Mise-en-Scene

• Council flats/estate buildings. This is a very typical convention of a BSR films as the characters shown in these films are generally poor, showing their living conditions through an unvarnished picture.
•  The use of props such as a cigarette, her Walkman etc. The Walkman shows that although it is not very expensive, she keeps it with her all the time as she listens to music to escape her problems and practise her dance on the terrace.
• The costume of the main character of joggers and a hoodie and big hoop earrings which she wears throughout the film. This shows how she is supposed to be a typical British teenager and also fits under the stereotypical image of a “chav”.

Music and Sound affects

• The ambient sound in the film allows you to hear background sounds such as the wind, shouting, and other background sounds.
• The soundtrack ‘California Dreamin’ is used in the film which was sang by a British band called ‘The Mamas & the Papas’ who were very popular.
• They use sound perspective in the end of the film when the girl gets into the car and leaves her sister behind. The effect of the voice getting quieter shows she is distancing herself from her sister and this emphasises the content of BSR films focusing on sad situations rather than making films for entertainment.

Camera Work and Editing

• High angle shot looking down on the girl, making her look weaker. Often in BSR films we are invited to feel sympathy for these characters because we see how they are struggling.
• Jump cuts are consistently used throughout the films when the scenes show the girl being in 1 place and then in another immediately after.
• Some of the shots are almost 20 seconds long without any cut or edit which shows how BSR films have less skills in editing  and these longer scenes are more effective.

Dialogue

• The mode of address is very direct and cockney in the film.
• The younger daughter calls her mum a “tram” and a “bitch”. This is very typical in a BSR film because the parents don’t tend to have good relationships with their children.
• Throughout the whole film, all the characters are swearing at each other  which fits the convention of BSR films as their purpose is to show how some people actually behave and the conditions they live in.

British Social Realism Timeline.

1960’s

• Kes

The little boy is the recurring character who is acting rebellious and as the ‘class clown’. The teacher comes across as strict but is mocked by the children. Themes include bullying, growing up, and authority. Uses shot reverse shot, establishing shots. Locations of a school. All the children in the clip speak with an accent.

• Poor Cow

Establishing shots, long edits used in the beginning of the clip. Match on action used when the car is coming round the corner. Non diagetic sound of the voice over in the characters voice, telling the story. Themes include single mother, economic problems, she acts insecure with in herself.

1970’s

• Quadraphenia

Very urban, rundown locations, dark lighting creates mystery as the characters are unclear. The locations of the house, which is very scruffy and unvarnished, creating shadows.
Dialogue is very strong, bad swearing, disrespectful. Themes of violence, isolation, drug & alcohol abuse. The boy is the recurring character who acts as he pleases thinking he knows better than his parents.

1980’s

• Made in Britain

Close up showing the character in the beginning, showing the audience the Nazi tattoo on his head. Again the recurring character showing a rebellious boy being questioned in a court. British rock music playing in the background which is supposed to be associated with the boy. Themes include violence, drug and alcohol abuse. The boy is representative of a typical white ‘Skinhead’ character in the film.

• Scum

A group of young boys chilling out, intimidating the other characters. Themes of violence and abuse. Use of match on action and continuity editing, rule of thirds used. The other characters sitting around watching are seen as the weaker characters who don’t want to get involved and are scared.

1990’s

•    Train Spotting

smash mouth concept, as we are thrown straight into a chase where we are introduced to the main character. The main theme being drug abuse. The dialogue in the scene is a voice over. Location of this film is in Edinburgh. Rough camera movement used, and cross cut between the 2 situations where in 1 he is taking drugs and the other in which he is on a football pitch. This shows what the main content of the film is about.

• Nil by Mouth

The themes shown in this film refer to domestic violence where a husband is beating up his wife due to his own insecurities and doubts. The recurring characters in this clip would be both the husband, wife and the young daughter. The man beats up the woman because he feels as though he has authority over her, and the women has to be quiet and deal with the consequences. This is often something that happens in many households which is also shown in BSR films and the young girl who always over hears the problems and is often always young as this creates more tension and the audience feel sympathy for her.

2000’s

• Kidulthood

This clip also includes all the conventions of a typical BSR film. All of the boys being recurring characters being young rebels. Themes of violence, drugs, alcohol abuse. The girl is also a recurring character as she acts like shes 'blonde' and cheats on her boyfriend with another guy who shows no loyalty. Locations of a council flat within a very urban area and the dialogue used to communicate includes foul language. Also has a crosscut between the clip.

• Bigga than Ben

Uses the location of London, and includes themes of crime (shop lifting) within the trailer. Also, the costume worn by the characters show they fit the BSR  theme (hoodies). When speaking, the characters have accents. Many close ups used to show the faces of the main characters so the audience are familiar with them.

The analysis of these films over the decades show how BSR films have evolved. The changes show that the content of the films changes, according to the time period and what the main issues of these time periods are in terms of society. They also begin to include more and more slang terminology in their films. Due to an improvement in technology, the camera movements and editing have also improved. Another thing I noticed was that most BSR films are inspired by one another as now they tend to focus more on young characters, particularly teenagers who struggle in life.

BRITISH SOCIAL REALISM: a film made by a British institutions which displays powerful themes in the style of using young characters in real life situations, and showing the audience their struggle and their life as a raw, unvarnished image in modern urban drama.