Representation of Gender in 'Our Friends in the North'

How Does Mary Change & How Does This Represent The Wider Context?

Within this scene of ‘Our Friends in the North’, in contrast to the previous scene, Mary changes in a number of ways. First of all, she appears to have much more of an opinion, and state it to Tosca with much more confidence in comparison to the first scene we were shown. In the first scene she was illustrated as being a very typical, passive 1950’s style housewife who is inferior to her husband and is not allowed to voice her opinion, whereas in this scene she appears much more independent and not afraid to say what she thinks. Another example of her independence is the fact that she is studying for academic qualifications, which previously would have been unheard of from a wife.
I think that this is also a good representation of the wider context of all women of this period as well as just Mary. In the previous scene, the women of that time would have all been very similar to Mary, in the sense that they would have probably been a housewife, staying at home looking after the children, cooking and cleaning, as if a possession of their husbands, the apparently more dominant figure. In comparison, the women of the time in this second scene would have almost certainly all be beginning to become more independent and would have been challenging their old-fashioned, stereotypical, sexist views of their gender by voicing their opinion more, and deciding to get themselves a job of equivalent status to their male counterparts, or even a proper education and qualifications such as Mary, despite the views of their husbands.

Shooting Schedule Templates

How are camerawork and editing used to emphasise difference in the clip from 'Our Friends in the North'?

This shot is one of the first shown in the clip from the series, and is often referred back to throughout the clip, making it the mastershot. It is a two-shot featuring the couple of Nicky and Helen Windsor, when they first arrive at the table. it establishes the two characters as a couple from the very beginning, which later on in the clip turns out to be a very important factor when the two couples appear to be in a small conflict against each other!






This shot is very important in emphasising the tension between the two couples during this scene. It is a mid-shot showing the couples deciding over food. The position of the camera indicates that it is almost stepping back, out of the action, as if it were a person having to be in that awkward situation. This clearly indicates the tension between the two sets of characters, as if the camera was a person, it doesn't want to be there!

Cosmetic Advert Evaluative Sheet

Preliminary Task Evaluation

For our preliminary task film, we used a range of different shots and camera angles to gain various effects within our clip. For example, for our opening shot we used a point of view shot (POV) as if from the perspective of the main character, walking through the doors. This gave the effect as if the audience themselves were in the film. Another shot we used whilst the character was walking, which gave a similar effect, was the over-shoulder shot (OSS), which is about the time 0:23 when you watch the video. An example of when we abide by the 180 degree rule is shown when the two characters are talking at about the time 1:10, when we used over-shoulder shots again to show the interaction between the characters. The utilisation of this rule prevents the viewing audience from being confused when the shot cuts to the other person talking, as if you do not put this rule into practice, it appears as though the characters have changed positions and it can be confusing when you watch it back.

New technologies were vital in the construction, planning and evaluation of our film. For example, on the construction side of the project, one of the most obvious examples would be the fact that we used new technology in the form of a digital video camera for the actual filming of the video, which is classed as new technology itself. Having completed all the filming on the camera, another new technology we used to put the clips together into our final film was the editing suite software, which was a hugely vital part of the construction, as without it it would not have been possible to complete the making of the video so smoothly, and since upload it onto youtube... Which brings me onto the next new technology of youtube! This is a brilliant tool, which made it possible for us to upload our completed video onto our blogs for viewing by other people, possibly around the world! The final new technology used in the evaluation sector of the process is 'blogspot' itself. It was this site on which we uploaded and then evaluated the video on when creating a new post. I feel that my skills at using these technologies are at a fairly high level, and i can use them at a satisfactory standard. For example, i was able to upload the finished video to youtube, and then comment on it using this blog without any troubles whatsoever. When it comes to the construction side of the video, i feel i can also manage with the equipment and software fairly well. After a little bit of practice with the camera functions, we were able to shoot the entire video in one session with not too much trouble, including some quite competent use of shots including zooming and use of the tripod, which is evident from the lack of shaking from the camera with the majority of shots. The editing software at first appeared to be a challenge, but once again after some practice i feel that we managed to use it fairly well, with an example of this being the smooth transition between scenes (also including sound fading) in the video where our character enters through the second door.

Original Brief: “Continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180-degree rule.”

Overall, i believe that our final product meets the original brief quite accurately. I feel this way because we completed the task using both filming and editing to an adequate standard, involving a character opening a door, walking for a brief period, sitting down in a chair opposite another character, and then exchanging some lines of dialogue. Our final product was in the end not 100% accurate to the original task, as when it came to editing we found that background interference with the sound meant that you could not clearly hear the characters speaking, so instead we improvised by using subtitles to imply their speech (this was first agreed to be fine with our teacher). For the final few shots, we managed to followed the 180 degree rule, a key characteristic of the brief, which is more evidence of why our final film, overall, met the original brief accurately.

Further location ideas

THE MEETING OF JOULES & CHRISTIAN/ASSAULT ON JOULES BY ISABELLA

We feel that these photos of the old derelict houses and bridge arches in Trowse (just outside of the city) show the kind of mise-en-scene that would be ideal for the meeting of Christian and Joules for the exchange of the briefcases, and the assult on Joules by Isabella directly afterwards. The fact that the buildings are abandoned with smashed windows etc. implies that there is not going to be anybody living there or around the area, which makes this location a perfect place for the meeting of the characters as in the plot, they are likely to arrange somewhere to meet where there are not going to be any witnesses. Beneath the bridge in Trowse, and around that whole general area is old industrial buildings...





...including a large doorway arch which would be perfect for the meeting.
For example this picture we have taken:



There are lots of different old doors and buildings that we could use for various shots. Including this picture of the wall of the bridge, which we feel could be a great location for the attack on Joules to occur, as the wall can be utilised so that the shadows of Joules and Isabella are projected onto it to create a silhouette effect:



Our inspiration for these kind of settings came from watching previous thriller hits such as Once upon a time in America; Where as you can see, the dark, gloomy back-alley setting has been proved as a great generic thriller signifier, and we feel that this would give the perfect feel to our thriller, as the dark, gloomy, isolated streets give a sense of fear, that danger may just be around the corner... For example in this shot of the character 'Noodles' coming out of a doorway round the back of a dark alley. This is the kind of effect we aim to achieve:

Research into audience expectations

What I want to find out

Investigate sub genre
What the audience expect of:
-location
-Props
-Characters
-Settings

How I am going to investigate

Interviews with resources
Questionnaire
Clip screening followed by questionnaires

5-10 Minute clip screening
Possible clips

- Once Upon In America

-Psycho (such as this famous shower scene!)





- Layer Cake

- Thelma and Louise

Followed by questionnaire/ discussion of
-Expectation of
location
Props
Characters
Settings
Etc

Or

Comparison of a mainstream with independent
for example
-London to Brighton v Casino Royle
Discuss auidence expectationsof mainstream and independent thriller film

Rough dicussion question ideas

-What do kinds of conventions do the auidence expect?
-Do they prefer mainstream or independent?
-Do they expect different or cetain locations, props etc from a mainstream, independent?
-Discuss what the audience think of thrillers that challenge them as an audience? Say challenge generic conventions - Taritino's Jackie Brown challenges the generic convention of a male white lead.
-What are there expectations of mainstream and independent films?- What do they expect of them? Which do they prefer?

'The Walk' - PrelimTask_CraigJamieBen_YouTube

Shooting Locations

Norwich train station is going to be the location of our opening scene and first few shots, when the character, Joules, will be stepping off of the train and walking through the station carrying the briefcase until he reaches the exit, looks at his watch and the scene transition is made to Christian in his car.

We decided to use the trainstation as we unanimously decided that this would be a good setting for the opening scene of a thriller. Our reasons behind this decision are that trains and stations are well-recognised generic thriller signifiers, which we feel will consequently set the scene for the rest of the film. Also, train stations have been used as settings in numerous other thriller films and shows such as textual references like 'London to Brighton' directed by paul andrew williams, as shown below.