Advance production research.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5H3thCoHxzc&feature=plcp

Crossover:

·         Starts with an establishing shot low down to represent the size of the building this is to help the viewer’s establish where they are and start building representations already, naturally we see tall council tower we assume a lower class area, and can anticipate some violent behaviour because that is the connotation that goes with places like that. The social groups involved would be described as “chavvey” and rough and shameless.

·         Then we have a small sense of mystery as they framing and position of the camera hides the characters main features and leaves him as a silhouette. Helping ourselves to build a representation on the character, we can see from the clues around the scene so far he lives in a poor area, and there are light bulbs with no bulbs and little furniture, nothing to be proud of, but yet at the same time he takes care in what he looks like, keeping himself fit, and groomed and caring about what he’s wearing. These are all things that might give the audience a clue later on in the story.

·         The music when getting dressed suggests that he isn’t a civilised person who likes classical music, its more rough music again signifying to the audience that he might be associated with a certain crowd.  

·         These people are represented in a negative way, although they have respect for each other, one of the boys earns his money through dealing drugs, and beating people up is something that is not frowned upon in those social groups thus representing them in a way that a lot of people from lower class regions of south London may be able to relate to.

·         In terms of genre it is very difficult to pin point an exact genre, however short films usually use genre as a working and adaptable point, for example a normal romantic comedy will have over an hour and a half to put the message across to the audience, however it is very hard to establish a theme in a four to five minute window.

·         Rick Altman said that people who can relate to a characters behaviour will enjoy the film more, so in the case of cross over, people who make take drugs, or shop lift, may find the story easy to relate to, not only those two associations would allow people to relate however, because people living in those areas may also find the film very easy to understand.

·         In the short film a range of shots that help us signifies more about the characters are used, for example, we know the film about the man in the body warmer, because whenever something significant happens; there is a close up on him.

·         Also in terms of camera movement there are nothing that really stands out, no extreme audience grabbing shot types, however maybe that tied in with the black and white contrast that helps the audience convey the message of the man is simple, understated and minds his own business most of the time, like he is hiding something, which might tie in with the lack of interest in the camera angle department.

·         I really enjoy the hand held camera work during the walking scene before they share a spliff, the shaky camera and constant focus pulling really suggests that one of them has something to hide, by this I mean, the adjustment of focus almost portrays a double take and co-insides with the lack of knowledge the audience has at this point, meaning they know he is hiding something, but they don’t know what.

·         There is an enigma right from the beginning, drawing the audience in expecting an answer, why the character is so reserved, makes the audience really entwined into the text and makes them ponder what the resolution of the film will be.

·         Of Corse the wrapped up truth that comes out just before the end of the film, is that they are both gay, perhaps an unexpected turn for this short film to go in as the connotations and representation, and the signifiers all represent a personal image for the two characters, tough, perhaps someone you don’t want to mess with, and fearless, that’s how they behave on the outside but on the inside, they are quite different.

·         The previous bullet point really links in with what was said earlier, on the outside they are portrayed a\s tough and not scared, however this makes it clear as to why Marion was acting so self-contained previously and now the secret is out, he was acting alternate because he didn’t want the others to know about his secret, however the phrase it takes one to know one, fits in here.