We have also studied and analysed the film City of God. It is an extremely effective and violent film, and is also involved in gun shots but a lot more in this film. Also the language used is Brazilian as the film takes place in Rio De Janeiro, so the subtitles do not translate all the words such as the swear words because someone in my class could understand the language and explained to us that in nearly every sentence, there was a rude word which was not translated. This would have been more effective in the audience’s heads if they translated most of these words because they would have helped tell the audience the violence in language used and is very common to us. This film had one of the best camera techniques used by the director, Fernando Meirelles. Both these films are mainly Gangs and killing. Much different range of shots for example the use of long shots and flashbacks were extremely frequent. One of the best examples of the high class camera techniques used was when the little boy was chasing a chicken with all of the youths aiming at it with their guns looked very effective, all of a sudden the camera done a 360 degrees around the boy and he went forward in time and was a keeper while playing football with his friends. Many people were shot to death and even the young ones were getting involved! The police were totally corrupt and could not control the amount of crime and violence. That is why the gang culture ruled the streets of Rio! This film is not as realistic in our parts of the world as London, as it is an area of many mayors, government and presidents ruling over the streets of London. On the other hand, this film is a source of realism as this is what it used to be like in Rio de Janeiro!
The comparisons and its similarities of both these films are its violence and its crimes! They are both based on gang culture and arguments resulting in guns! This is a realistic issue as indefinitely as we see these sorts of crimes and killings going on as told by the media, i.e. the T.V. or the newspapers. Both these films have amazing camera techniques and they were very helpful and descriptive for the audience. For both these films the frequently used shot was the point of view shot, this was to help the audience think of what it was like to be in the persons shoes. Also gives us a bit more of emotion of the people. Although in City of God the camera techniques were a lot more effective than Bullet Boy mainly because of the often flashbacks as Bullet Boy hardly used them! Bullet Boy used mainly the simple camera angles such as the medium shot, long shot and close shot; on the other hand, City of God used more skilful and effective shots such as the zoom shots and the extremely close and panning shots. The sound and language used is very similar for example the language used in Bullet Boy is slang and improper vocabulary which helps the audience see the realism in these films, although City of god is Portuguese, the subtitles say it all! Also the background music is effective and helps the audience in their emotions. For example the slow, beating music brings suspense into the film and tells the audience that trouble is about to commence. Like in Bullet Boy when Ricky is driving towards London, the music says it all really. City of God uses the background music when they are walking towards buildings. The background music can be extremely effective in movies and this is what made Steven Spielberg’s famous Jaws. Also the sound of the loading weapons and guns gave the audience a fright of the violence. So both of these films were realistic as it has happened indefinitely!
If I was to direct the first five minutes of a film I would situate the film in East London mainly in the areas of E16 and E13. I would focus on the areas of Custom House and Plaistow. It would be a similar beginning as Bullet Boy as I will extract the skills used in the introduction of Bullet Boy and use them in my introduction to my film. The genre will also be a violent gang cultural film, so my film will also be realistic as it is a true story and is happening around us in our same areas I would use the camera effect zoom shot to introduce the main characters in the two gangs who are rivals. My main character will be Jonathan, who will be played by Chris Brown! He will be the leader of the gang named the Vipers, who rule the neighbourhood of Custom House. They will protect the prideful name of E16 and will fight with the gang called the Bulls who rule the area of E13 mostly an Asian populated area, so a majority of the Bulls will be Asian but the Vipers are a Multi-cultural populated gang with a massive amount of approximately 350 teens and youths. I will steal the story line of Bullet Boy and make a few boys from different gangs cause a row making a massive violent argument involving their gangs! But before I do all of this, as I introduce the main gang members, I will zoom into Jonathon’s house giving the audience a birds eye view of the services and attractions surrounding his area! I will make the weather dull and damp to give the audience a better image in their heads of how everyday life in Custom House is really like. The language will be about the same a Bullet Boy which is very realistic and used in the youths today! The language and background music will help the audience share their emotions and make it clear of how they are going to feel!
In conclusion, I have learned that the cinematic techniques are mainly to persuade the audience of the reality in these films and their emotions of how they feel. Most of the techniques used in these films are to help the audience get a better picture inside their minds of what is going on in the film and what is actually happening. The cinematic techniques are also used to give a more skilful and effective film instead of wasting your time on a boring old film you pay £5.00 to watch! Not only are the cinematic techniques helpful, but the background images like the weather, i.e. colour and lighting is a big help for the audience! Not only this but the background music and language used also help the audience. All these aspects need to be counted for and must be confirmed to be a help to the audience and not some next old rubbish! We must make sure that we know what the viewers are looking for, like the specified age for example my film is mainly to attract teens as they enjoy the genre of violence and action. Also the gang culture is running through their lives as well so they will be attracted to a film which they know is interesting to them in their own opinion!
