Film Studies

Task 1

Case Study-The Prison Genre

One of the simplest ways for producers to attract an audience is by putting well known, profitable stars in their movie. Most films can be sold on name value, whether it be actors like Matt Damon & Leonardo DiCaprio or directors such as Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino. Another way producers attract an audience is by the genre of film their producing. Genres that are quite popular with the public include action movies, comedies and ‘rom-coms’. But these films can easily grow stale, especially when other studios jump on the bandwagon and produce a bunch of the same genre movies to cash in on the current trend. To avoid this, filmmakers try to keep genre films new and fresh usually by combining it with another genre like science fiction western, comedy horror etc. These are known as cross-genres or hybrid genres. Also, putting actors known for a particular genre in a completely different type of film, for example taking an actor known for comedies such as Jim Carrey and casting him in a psychological horror like The Number 23 will bring a whole new audience.

The prison film is genre of film concerned with life in prison and often prison escapes. Films usually associated with this genre include The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, The Great Escape and many more. Typical situations found in this genre are trouble with prison gangs, strict guards, a corrupt warden, inmate being forced to fight etc. Locations regularly used include the laundry room, the exercise yard, prison cells and sometimes the warden’s office. In terms of iconography, when we see bars, cells, prison jumpsuits and chains, we automatically associate them with the prison movie genre and expect to see them in the film. Storyline wise, themes repeatedly visited include escape attempts, gang activities inside prison, and prisoners being forced to fight with high-stakes wagering on the outcome.

One of the most famous and popular films in the prison genre is The Shawshank Redemption (1994), written and directed by Frank Darabont, starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, based on the Stephen King novel Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. The film follows protagonist Andy Dufresne, played by Robbins, spanning almost 20 years, being convicted of murdering his wife and her lover and sentenced for two consecutive life sentences at Shawshank State Penitentiary. From there, Andy befriends Ellis “Red” Redding and finds himself protected by the guards after the warden begins using him in his money laundering operation, building up to his eventual escape.

The scene from The Shawshank Redemption I have chosen to analyse is the one in which Andy and the rest of the new inmates first arrive at the prison:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF4DWljYcachttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF4DWljYcac

Firstly, we’re introduced to some of our main characters, including Red, known as a man who is able to get things, he also narrates. We as the audience see jumpsuits, large walls surrounding the place, chain link fences, and guards, all things we associate with the prison movie genre. Next, (2:14) we get a glimpse at the guards’ treatment of the inmates when chief of guards, Capt. Byron Hadley, grips up the first prisoner off the bus and tells him strictly to follow his fellow officer. We’re also given a taste of the nature of the prison yard, (3:00-3:42) as Andy and the rest of the new inmates walk from the bus to Shawshank the prisoners begin to form a crowd, start applauding them, mocking them and hurling abuses. In addition, (3:10) we see Red and his gang bet on whom of the ‘fresh meat’ will break first. The score, which is made up of string instruments creates a sombre tone echoing coming events and fits well in this scene. The crane shots in said scene express an overbearing power the prison has and as Andy finally enters the building, we get one last shot Shawshank from the outside (4:20), a low angle shot that along with the music creates an atmosphere of impending doom.

Our main characters include Andy, Red, the prison officers, Warden Samuel Norton and the gang (‘The Sisters’) of inmates that attack Andy during his time at Shawshank. Protagonist Andy Dufresne is a smart, shy personality, a banker on the outside he begins doing the guards’ taxes during his sentence. Everything he seems to do in prison is for others; creating an entire library for the inmates, when him and his friends are tarmacing a roof as menial labour, through negotiating with one of the prison officers on site, he gets fresh cold beers for his friends. Andy’s journey is one of hope, and remaining hopeful through his many years in prison. Red befriends Andy, after almost a lifetime in jail and being denied parole again, he carries himself with an authoritative presence and demeanor. He is a man known for obtaining contraband (cigarettes, posters, etc.) and gets a rock hammer for Andy, joking he might use it to break out of prison. Our main antagonists are Warden Samuel Norton and chief of the guards Capt. Byron Hadley. The warden, a corrupt, ruthless character well versed in the Bible and Capt. Hadley has no problem with delivering merciless beatings to the inmates to keep them in line.

The narrative structure is non-linear, with the plot occasionally jumping back to flashbacks and shifting the focus onto other characters. The film is mainly narrated by Morgan Freeman but James Whitmore, who plays prisoner Brooks Hatlen, narrates for a small portion of the movie. The set up being Andy convicted of murder and being sentenced to life at Shawshank. In prison, multiple conflicts arise with the guards, the warden and ‘The Sisters’ gang. But solutions are found for each, Andy starts doing the prison officers’ taxes, and in turn they give him protection from the gangs. Eventually, the bigger problems with the warden and being falsely incarcerated are solved with his eventual breakout.

There are many themes present in The Shawshank Redemption such as hope, friendship, identity. A common theme in prison movies is the questioning the whole idea of incarceration and debating the ways in which the legal system deal with those deemed a threat to society. This is relevant in Shawshank as many of the inmates are mistreated by the corrupt prison guards or allowed to run amuck, bringing up the question, what is the point of these institutions?

There’s also some religious symbolism towards the end of the movie when Andy finally makes it out of Shawshank, he tears off his prison jumpsuit and stands arms spread out as the rain falls. Not only is this a symbol of Andy’s redemption, washing away all that came before but also it is reminiscent of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, whose death supposedly saved mankind from their sins and Andy standing there in a similarly striking pose is his own salvation. Religion is a reoccurring theme in Shawshank, the preachy warden instills this in all new prisoners, holding up the Bible and stating ‘Salvation lies within’. Later on, Andy uses this as a slap in the face to the warden when he leaves the hammer he used to escape behind in the Bible.

However, the most prominent theme is hope, and ‘maintaing one’s feeling of self worth when placed in a hopeless position’ (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times). Andy’s integrity is important, and he’s intent on keeping it despite his surroundings. The film’s tagline was ‘Fear can hold you prisoner, Hope can set you free’, and Andy’s firm grasp on hope helps him persevere through the hardships of prison and eventually escape.

In choosing another film to compare to the classic archetype of a prison movie that The Shawshank Redemption is, I purposefully tried to find one that put a new spin on it and there have been many films to this from Stir Crazy to Lock Up. However, I chose to look at The Longest Yard (2005), which is a sports comedy film directed by Peter Segal. The movie stars Adam Sandler as the protagonist Paul ‘Wrecking’ Crewe, a former professional (American) football quarterback who is forced to form a team from the prison inmates to play football against their guards. The film begins with Crewe (Sandler), former NFL player disgraced for shaving points in a big game, being arrested and convicted for grand theft auto and driving while intoxicated. He is sent to Allenville Penitentiary in Texas where, similar to Shawshank, he befriends Caretaker (played by Chris Rock), a man known to get things from the outside. From there he forms a football team made up of fellow convicts to take on the guards in a climactic game at the end of the film.

Similarities include iconography, images associated with the prison genre such as bars, cells, prison jumpsuits, guards, appear in both films. Similar themes are present in both films such as hope and identity. However both Shawshank and The Longest Yard are tales of redemption, with Andy finding his redemption in hope and escape, Paul finds his in uniting with his new found friends to win the big game and refusing to give in to old temptations. Another similar motif is the fairly strict and dictatorial warden as well as the guards’ mistreatment of the prisoners. Although, unlike Shawshank, this is a real driving force in The Longest Yard as Sandler’s character Paul Crewe uses the convicts’ hatred of the guards in convincing them to join his team. In a regular prison drama these features would seem cliché, but with the added sports and comedy genres, they seem new and fresh.

The main difference between the two films is that The Longest Yard is at its core a comedy and so is different to Shawshank in terms of style and tone. However, there are some rare but appreciated introspective moments in The Longest Yard, including a genuine moment of sadness when Caretaker is killed by another inmate working for the guards. Again, this is also a sports movie, making it wildly different from The Shawshank Redemption, nonetheless they are both valid entries in the prison movie genre.

Relating to my earlier point about hybrid genres, The Longest Yard is a good example of mixing multiple genres into one film while also using an actor like Adam Sandler, traditionally known for his comedic roles, in a prison film to bring in a whole new audience. While The Shawshank Redemption is an almost generic point of view on the prison genre, hybrid genre movies such as The Longest Yard keep things fresh and exciting for the not only the movie going public so we keep coming back but also for other filmmakers looking to put a new twist on a familiar story.

Task 2

Auteur essay

The auteur theory is a theory of filmmaking in which the director is viewed as the major creative force in a motion picture. Auteur comes from the french word for author and just as every book has an author, some believe so must a film. In spite of the studio interference, the auteur is still able to leave their own personal mark on a film. Qualities of the auteur include consistencies in theme, narrative, and visual style. The theory originated in Cahiers du cinema, a French film magazine, which argues that films should reflect a director’s personal vision. Film critic Andrew Sarris is generally credited with popularising the auteur theory in the U.S., he wanted Hollywood films to be taken seriously and suggested that style is more important than content. He evaluated directors according to 3 circles: Technical competence, personal style or signature and interior meaning.

This theory has garnered much criticism since its inception. One reason for the backlash is the collaborative aspect of shooting a movie, each person’s role is important and distinctive from the screenwriter to the actors to the cinematographer while film historian Aljean Harmetz, referring to the creative input of producers and studio executives in classical Hollywood, argues that the auteur theory ‘collapses against the reality of the studio system’.

Directors championed as auteurs include Howard Hawks, Orson Welles, John Ford, Alfred Hitchcock, Tim Burton, David Fincher, Quentin Tarantino & Martin Scorsese. What makes a film director an auteur is leaving a distinct and unique impression on each piece of work. Some filmmakers simply work for hire so it’s hard to find a distinctive voice while others are clearly auteurs, being the principal creative force, where you can tell they directed a film without even seeing the credits.

The director whose work I have chosen to study is Kevin Smith. Born and bred in New Jersey, Smith has been an integral part of American independent filmmaking since breaking onto the scene in 1994 with his debut feature Clerks. His brand of eloquent, working-class slacker quickly became an archetype unto itself. Though his work is usually met with mixed reaction, he’s nothing if not consistent when it comes to style and tone, and has nonetheless developed a cult following.

In looking at some of the elements which contribute to a distinctive style, I chose to focus on 3 of Smith’s films, (his first three), known affectionately as ‘the Jersey trilogy’: Clerks, Mallrats & Chasing Amy. However these elements appear in almost all his work.

Firstly, Smith is well known for his use of actors, bringing on the same people through multiple projects, preferring to work with his friends. A few actors appear in most if not all three of the aforementioned films, including pre-Hollywood A-list status Ben Affleck. Smith also stars alongside long time friend Jason Mews as the reoccurring pair ‘Jay & Silent Bob’ in these films. In the latter two movies; Mallrats & Chasing Amy, both Jason Lee & Joey Lauren Adams star, albeit in different roles . As an independent filmmaker, Smith seems to use more unknown actors and his debut motion picture Clerks even featured non professional actors. This included Jeff Anderson who had no previous acting experience but just happened to be perfect for the role of ‘Randal Graves’, one of the main protagonists, but he also used personal friends as extras even using his mother in a scene.

There are similar motifs and themes running through these films from the common love story to pop culture references. Both Clerks & Mallrats focus on ‘slacker’ characters, young men in their early to mid twenties, straight out of college, finding their way and trying to make their mark in the world. This was art imitating life as Smith at the time was still growing up and deciding his future, Smith’s work is known to echo his life experiences, for example, in recent years, Smith has become an avid ice hockey fan and is set to direct upcoming comedy-drama Hit Somebody based on a hockey player famous for fighting in the rink. Another reoccurring theme is close male friendships, as well as male insecurities and sexuality. Though some of these themes are common in most movies, Smith puts his own twist on things whether it be with vulgar language or absurd situations. Smith’s films contain realisitc, low brow humour and are dialogue heavy. He’s know to be fairly dictatorial with his actors, wanting them to stick to the script, leaving little room for improvisation. Also, pop culture references from Star Wars to comic books run wild in Smith’s body of work, with characters going on long rants and having obscure discussions about such subjects e.g. In Mallrats, the characters Brodie and T.S. have a conversation about whether or not Superman could consummate his relationship or have children with wife Lois Lane, Brodie states the only way this is possible is if Superman used a kryptonite condom, but that would kill him.

Finally, in terms of mise en scene, the biggest element is location. As Smith’s hometown, New Jersey has been the setting for most of his films, including the three I’ve focused on. Also, there are spots in New Jersey his stories frequent including the ‘Quick Stop’ grocery store which is where Clerks is set, and it is revisited in his later works.  Smith has never been one to give into the Hollywood machine and remembering where he came from appears to be very important to him. Also, similar to director Quentin Tarantino having his own fictional brands in the background of his movies, Smith features his own made up brand of cigarettes; ‘NAILS’ and fast food franchise; ‘Mooby’s’, as props and in advertisements within some of his scenes. Visually speaking, Smith allows the film to dictate the style and was initially criticized for his simplistic camera work, with a still camera just shooting, as originally Smith wasn’t thinking about making it visually interesting and focused more on characters. But in recent years, his films have looked better and better. Other than this, Smith does not show a strong or distinctive approach to his films, no real look to them, that’s why I thought he’d be an interesting choice, his style is that he has no style. However, I still believe Kevin Smith is an auteur, in his own way.

I chose to analyse Kevin Smith’s work because I am very familiar with his films, I admire & respect the man and believe each of his movies reflects a part of himself in some form or another. I also chose him as the subject of this essay because of his close connection with his fans, through his podcasts, his online message board, he tours almost all year, making public appearances in various ways, most notably Q&As, he shares his intimate and personal experiences with his audience which is extremely rare in a director. Most auteur directors have a distinctive style of storytelling, where you can tell apart one of their films just by watching it. Whereas with Smith, it’s when you close your eyes and listen, that’s when you know it’s a piece of his work, by the dialogue, the characters and the subject matter, his own skewed view on life.

Task 3

British Film Article (REDONE) 

What makes a film british? Is it the director? The writer? The crew? Could it be the location? The funding? Or the actors? Its a question that comes up often and has no definitive answer. For example, the original Star Wars movies were filmed in British Studios but through and through are considered staples of American cinema. The past few years have seen British films slowly become a brand with more and more receiving worldwide attention. There’s a number of key elements that when combined seem to create a British Film, so what are they?

People often cite writers or directors for a film’s source of origin. In terms of the director’s nationality, that would make films such as Kick-Ass (Matthew Vaughn) and Scott Pilgrim vs The World (Edgar Wright) technically British however the public don’t perceive them that way. On the other hand, Edgar Wright directed Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, both fundamentally British Films but that may be due to its cast, themes or location. There are also directors such as Guy Ritchie best known for his gritty crime thrillers, all being distinctly British and there are British filmmakers who work outside the UK which questions how to categorize their work. E.g. 2008’s Slumdog Millionaire follows a young indian man defying expectations to try and win on a game show. The film is directed by British filmmaker Danny Boyle, so is it a British Film?

Others say it’s down to the production companies. However, a film such as The Dark Knight which was produced by American company Legendary Pictures and distributed by Warner Brothers is hailed by many as a British Film, with a British lead actor, director and writer. For the most part we have American companies making American films and British companies making British Films. However, now we sometimes have American/British filmmakers working with British/American production companies, blurring the line that defines either country’s cinema. Another important element is funding, where the money for a film comes from can determine people’s opinion on its source e.g. if a movie is funded by the British Film Institute (BFI), it is usually considered a British film.

Is the Dark Knight British?

On screen talent seems to be important in the audiences recognizing a British Film. In recent years we’ve seen many actors to do this such as Noel Clarke, Adam Deacon, Ray Winstone, Danny Dyer, and Jason Statham. But we see our fair share of British talent overseas in American movies as well like Christian Bale as this generation’s Batman and Tom Hardy who starred in 2010’s blockbuster Inception. However a British film can star American actors putting on a British accent, Brad Pitt in Snatch for example.

Location is another element in deciding whether a film can be classed as British or not. British scenery whether it’s London’s big ben or the Scottish highlands-automatically makes the watcher identify the film with Britain. Attack The Block, for example, is set in a South London estate, similar to the American ‘Projects’, but still a unique British feature. However, a British film doesn’t have to be strictly set in the UK, 2011’s The Inbetweeners Movie follows four English teenagers on a lads holiday in Malia, Crete. So location is obviously not the most important element in making what is considered a British film.

A very common genre in British Film are the crime thrillers. I mentioned Guy Ritchie beforehand who directed two of the most famous: Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrells and Snatch. They can also incoporate the British pastime of football, for example, Green Street and Football Factory are about British football hooligans. We’ve also recently seen the rise of urban dramas, the standout being Kidulthood, which spawned a sequel and a ton of immitators, these incoporate Britain’s youth culture and slang, creating a close connection with its fans. Period dramas seems to one of British Cinema’s strongest exports with classics like Pride & Prejudice doing well both in the UK and the US. As recent as 2010, we saw The King’s Speech cleaning up at the Oscars. Another thing that stands out in British cinema is our sense of humour. Our comedies are usually filled with one liners, dry wit and satire. However, they can be completely off the wall too, just watch some Monty Python.

Not your typical comedy

To me, it is important that countries make original films incorporaitng their own culture and style into it, refusing to copy anyone else. The last decade has seen as an influx of British talent, filmmakers ignoring Hollywood and making movies close to home. In the end, it seems to be a mix of all the elements I’ve talked about that makes a film truly British, but there’s no one answer, its up to the British public to decide which motion pictures they’ll embrace and remember forever.