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Conventions of a mob gangster film By Jake Leat

Conventions of a mob gangster film

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Page 1: Conventions of a mob gangster film

Conventions of a mob gangster film

By Jake Leat

Page 2: Conventions of a mob gangster film

Mise en scene – costumes Modern gangster:

- Younger- Rich- Jeans- Trench coat- Baggy clothing - Jewellery- Knife/guns traditional gangster:- Commonly male- Black suit/pin stripped- White shirt- Black tie/bow tie- Bracers/waistcoat- Bowler hat- Trench coats- Knife/guns- Cigars/cigaretts- Canes

Page 3: Conventions of a mob gangster film

Pulp Fiction1

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Throughout the opening scene, the only sound is diegetic sound consisting of dialogue and ambient sound. There isn’t a lot of movement in this scene as they are just sat down in a restaurant/cafe, however the 180 degree rule is not broken.1. The shot type is an over the shoulder shot and a two shot. The two shot enables the

audience to get to know both of the characters and develop a relationship with them. The camera is in a station position for this shot. This scene is filmed in daytime and they are sat by the window so it is light, although in the over the shoulder shot, the woman is darker and there is more light on the character which is speaking, this shows that he is an important character as the light is on him. The costumes they are wearing are casual clothes as they don't need any specific clothing.

2. These 3 shots link up to make a shot reverse shot which is a 3 shot sequence between two characters to show emotion/reactions and the conversation to build an atmosphere.

3. This shot is a close up of a gun which is a object of significance. This shot is important as it shows the audience something is about to happen and it is serious. Just before this shot, the two characters are contemplating whether to do it and it then cuts to the gun which shows the decision has been made. It is clear lighting so that the audience can clearly identify the object. Diegetic sound is used when the gun hits the table as you would expect the characters to hear this.

Page 4: Conventions of a mob gangster film

In the opening scene, the position of shots create the contrast between light and dark may indicate who the antagonist and the protagonist are according to Claude Levi-Strauss theory of binary oppositions. Mise en scene is key in this opening scene. Although the room is very dark, it cuts to one of the characters who has been listening to a problem and he is in the only light part of the room which suggest he is far more superior to anyone else in the room. However, ultimately it is a very dark room which shows this conversation is very important and serious, this also relates to the location of which the conversation takes place, it is a small dark room which shows the conversation needs to be kept private. The dark lighting relates to the gangsters themselves as they have dark personalities and the way the present themselves is also in dark clothing. Props such as glasses with drinks in and weapons in the opening scene to help portray the fact that they are gangsters.

There isn’t a lot of editing for the opening scene, the credits have obviously been edited in, fitting with the black and white theme (black background, white writing) the only other editing is cuts and fades in between shots.

Different shot types and movements have been used. For example, there is pans and tracks to track the characters movements, and there is often zooms and close ups so the audience can engage with the characters and have a good sense of their emotions and see the facial expressions.

There is non diegetic and diegetic sound in the opening scene. The non diegetic sound is music which goes with the credits and the diegetic sound is the characters speaking to one another, the cat purring and the glasses being placed on the table.

The Godfather

Page 5: Conventions of a mob gangster film

The Godfather

Producer and distributerTitles – black and white

Close up showing emotion

Close up, zooming out to mid shot Prop (glass with drink)

Contrast of lighting – binary opposition Costume – suit, smart, black

and white

Page 6: Conventions of a mob gangster film

In the opening scene of Scarface, it is set at the sea with a boats as it is showing the immigrants coming in. The costumes are simple, the immigrants you see are wearing scruffy baggy clothes which is what you would expect and the gangster are wearing the traditional suits/long black coats with bowler hats. There is quite a lot of props for different characters, but they are all necessary as it fits with the character, the police men and soldiers all have guns and badges and some people have speakerphones as well so they are able to shot things out to everybody. As you would expect the immigrants all have their suitcases or bags with all their belongings in.

There isn’t a lot of editing in the opening scene, however the titles have been edited in with a black background and red text. The use of red text can be effective depending on the way you interpret it. To me it indicates it is going to be a violent film, this is because it has Al Pacino in who is famous for this genre of film and also, there is lots of police and army soldiers around with guns so the red text is very useful. The other editing is just quick cuts from shot to shot.

There is a variety of shot types and camera movements in this opening scene. When showing the boats coming in, the camera tracks its movement, however it looks unsteady, but I think this is good as it engages the audience with the characters on the boat and tries to make the audience feel as if they are on that boat with them. Shot types such as mid shots, long shots, and establishing shots are very effective as it enables the audience to see the location and everything that is happening. The mid shots and long shots are also useful as it allows the audience to see how the immigrants look and what they have bought with them. Movements such as crab, pan, and tracks are used to follow the characters and the boats. Zooms are also used to more so on the immigrants than anything/anyone else as it shows the audience their facial expressions and emotions.

Scarface

Page 7: Conventions of a mob gangster film

Scarface

Producer and distributer

Establishing shot. Camera also tracks movement.

Costumes – army clothingImmigrants - scruffyProp - microphone

Close up – emotion / facial expressions

Black background and red text (Al Pacino)

Pan across boat, showing immigrants

Page 8: Conventions of a mob gangster film

In the reservoir dogs opening, every person in the group has the same costume on, black suits, white shirt and black tie apart from one person, this could indicate he is different to the rest of them and could have a very important role. It is set in a cafe as they are all having breakfast. Quentin Tarantino is a unique director and he reinforces this by breaking the 180 degree rule. In this film he often uses black humour. Props such as food, cigars/cigarettes and cups/drinks are used in the opening scene.

In the opening scene there isn’t a lot of editing, like other openings, the titles are edited in, the other editing is when the characters names are coming up on the screen one by one, each name and title fades in and out. Slow motion is also used when this is happening. The characters names come up on the screen when the picture cuts to the right person.

There is a lot of different shot types and camera movements in this opening scene, the majority of the shots are mid shots and close ups from when they are at the cafe. The camera movement is panning around the table for the whole time they are at the table, this also caused a lot of over the shoulder shots. When in the car, the shot type just seemed to be doing shot reverse shots repetitively as the conversation only consisted of two people. There was also a lot of two shots as one character was helping the injured character, this also shown the audience the relationship between these two.

Reservoir Dogs

Page 9: Conventions of a mob gangster film

Reservoir Dogs

Close up, establishing shot

Titles, black background, yellow writing

Mid shot. This is the only character who is dress differently to the other.

At the beginning, the 180 degree rule is constantly being broke

Two shot, the camera shakes so the audience feels the same movement as the characters. The camera also tracks back with the characters.

The opening scene is the perfect example for Tvetzan Todorovs theory as everything is well and then there is a massive disruption with people being shot and then equilibrium is repaired again.

Page 10: Conventions of a mob gangster film

The Gangster Squad opening includes different costumes and a variety of props. The first prop is the boxing bag and the first costume is the boxing outfit. After this, the costumes return to the traditional suits. Props such as cars and chains are used shortly after the boxing scene. Again the lighting is very dark in a very quiet empty place which enables them to keep a low profile and not be worried about being seen. Some shots at the beginning have also considered Claude Levi-Strauss binary opposition theory to indicate who the more powerful/superior character is in the situation as you will see in my next slide.

The use of slow motion works well in the opening as it allows the voice over to be more clear. There is diegetic sound whilst the voiceover is happening when the boxer punches the bag you hear his fist hitting it. When the boxing stops, non diegetic music starts and starts a sound bridge when the dialogue ends. The music is quite but speeds up and gets louder to build suspense and then finishes when the body is ripped apart.

There is a lot of mid shots and there is also close ups and long shots, there is a extreme close up of the handcuffs as it is an object of significance and that is the moment which triggers the conflict. When the body is pulled apart, the camera zooms from a long shot to a mid shot.

Gangster Squad

Page 11: Conventions of a mob gangster film

Gangster Squad

producer

Slow motion opening. Prop: boxing bag, non diegetic voice over

Establishing shot, setting the location

Mid shot, Costume switches from boxing wear to suits.

Mid shot zoom to close up. Props: chains

Two shot, non diegetic dialogue changes to diegetic

Close up, object of significance (prop)

Over the shoulder shot, binary opposition

Over the shoulder shot, humour

Camera pans around and then zooms and tracks cars

Page 12: Conventions of a mob gangster film

The costumes in this opening are the same as the other gangster openings, smart, black suits. The props are also very similar with the traditional guns and knives. But props such as cars and keys have also been used. The guns and knives have been used to reinforce the fact that they are gangsters. The dark lighting creates a tense atmosphere and allows you to predict something bad is going to happen. Also like other gangster openings, when something serious is happening, it always seems to me in a dark, secretive location.

The editing of the titles is clever as they slide in from right to left and the use of non diegetic sound enhances the effect as it gives the impression that cars are passing by, the sound is also in sync with the flow of the titles. This sound is the start of a sound bridge which switches from non diegetic to diegetic when the picture cuts from the titles to the car on the road. The diegetic sound came from the dialogue, the banging in the boot, the stabbing, the gun shots and the slamming of the boot. There was also non diegetic dialogue at the end when there was a freeze frame on the third character. Non diegetic contrapuntal sound also starts just after the dialogue started as well.

There is quite a few different shot types and camera movements in this opening. Close up mid shots, long shots, establishing shots, zooms and tracks. The main close up and mid shots is of the gangsters in the car and the man in the boot. The camera tracks the gangsters walking around the car. There is also a close up of the gun because it is an object of significance.

Goodfellas

Page 13: Conventions of a mob gangster film

Goodfellas

First shot/camera movement is a long shot and the camera tracks the car

Long shot of the 3 men and the car boot.

Camera zooms in on the car boot

Camera zooms in on the body

Prop – stabs victim many times

Prop – character then shoots victim 3 times.

Mid shot, zoom in to close up of third character. Non diegetic dialogue starts as well as contrapuntal non diegetic sound.

Producer/distributer/actor – black and white title