Genre Overview:Crime

·         Characters: a leader of the gang, criminal (Armed Robber, Murderer, Organised crime), a police officer, a informant

 Gary Oldman as Police Commissioner Jim Gordon from The Dark Knight  

 John Travolta and Samuel L.Jackson  as Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield from Pulp Fiction

These are conventional type of characters for a crime film.

·         Plot: The plot normally revolves around the criminal’s side or the side of the police. From the criminals point of view we normally see that the characters are trying there best to get away from the police or to rub it in the police officers face so that they can avoid them. On the police side of the story we see them as they work through the case and try and take the criminal down. Events like murders, robberies drug dealing, coning people and gang related violence occur in crime thrillers.

·         Setting: Normally the setting for the crime genre are the underworld of the criminals maybe the clubs they own or their hideout , the police station and the crimes normally take place in a built up area like capital cities.

·         Mood: Depending on the main character the mood maybe shown in different ways. Like the police officer is normally frantic in trying to find the criminal. Depending on the story line the criminal maybe mostly calm but may also have a problem which will make the mood of the film change. 

Examples of this type of genre: Catch me if you can, The Transporter, S.W.A.T., The Dark Knight, Harry Brown, Gangs of New York 

Narrative codes

There are two sets of narrative codes which are used in films, these are:

Action Codes-An event or moment in a film narrative that then motivates the action to a certain direction. E.g.phone call or conversation

Enigma Codes-A question that is posed by the action/events the character undertakes and is then answered in the narrative. E.g. Who is she? Why is she there?

Opening Titles

There are three types of opening titles which can be used for films.

The first is Titles which are separate from the film and these maybe made from other mediums like graphics, photography and typography. The use of these are good for some films as they may have clues to the story or even a synopsis.
Examples of this type of title are Sin City, Catch Me if You Can, Se7en and Rocknrolla

 Rocknrolla

 Se7en

Sin City

These are examples of how the titles are separate from the opening of the film and they have used graphics and photography techniques to make a stylish title sequence for the film.

The second is titles which are over the top of the images of the film and these maybe just normal titles or they maybe more stylized and be included in the film setting.
Examples of this type of title are Zombieland, Panic Room

 Panic Room

Zombieland

As you can see that the titles have been included in the landscape of the film and this is in both of the films for the titles.


The third and final type of title is having the titles on a single background colour on which the text is written on top of and these are integrated into footage of the film.

Example of this type of title are Dawn of the Dead, Harry Brown

Opening Titles: Catch Me If You Can

The Catch Me if You Can is based on true story of a man in America who is known a one of the best confidence tricksters ever. His name is Frank Abagnale Jr. the film follows his story from the age of 16 until about 20.

The Opening title sequence of Catch Me if You Can


The opening titles for the film catch me if you can are a separate sequence which are not interlinked with the film this is one of the three ways in which you could do the titles for the film.

The whole of the title sequence is made of graphics and the graphics match the time period in which the film is set with the Art Deco and typography feel to the opening titles as the film is set in the 60's. The music which is used is very much the music of the era with the jazz feel to the music but the music also has another reason why they have used it as the music is very much like a cat and mouse sort of music which is what the film is about.
 The visual effect which are used also fit the story which is being portrayed as they follow how a normal person changes to be a Pilot, Doctor and Lawyer and this is the story which is then played.
The visuals also match with the music as when there is a piano playing in the music there is a piano on the screen and the composer of the  music the comes up on the screen. The Names of the actors are interlinked with the graphics as the people who are represented come on screen the name of the actor comes up and then an arrow pointing to them comes up as well.
The colours also change every time the person changes and this goes with the place the area they are going into like the Blue for the sky and the Green for the hospital. These fit in with the way the character changes on screen and this is allow the audience to see a synopsis in the  start of the film.
The choice for the text and titles which they have used in the opening as they are linked in with the way the action of the animated characters actually move and this is very different to many film which have a titles sequence which is on its own. The choice of the typography which is used is also fitting in with the time that the film is set like the colours and the Art Deco feel to the film.

Characterisation:Bullet Tooth Tony

Bullet tooth Tony is a very usual example for a character as he is introduced halfway through the film. We don't directly find out about Tony from the start of the scene as there are other characters talking about him but then while the other characters are speaking, there is a insert of Tony which has been used to show the appearance of him and this gives us an insight in to the character.

The Introduction of Bullet Tooth Tony in Snatch

Within 59 seconds we do find out a lot about the character Bullet tooth Tony. To start with he is represented from the other view of the other characters which are describing him. They describe him as being the man to do the job as 'he would be able to find Moses in the burning bush if you paid him' , this shows us that he is motivated by money but also is determined and focused on the job and we as the audience do see him represented as a man who is a money man.

He is also being represented as a character which is hated by others this become relevant to the audience when the main part of the sequence is shown of Bullet tooth Tony when is with a Chinese man and the facial expression of the man is apparent. The Chinese man then unloads 6 bullets which shows us that Tony is not liked. When Tony gets shot he doesn't go down and this then means that the other man then shouts 'I shoot you, you go down'  this is said with some real malice and hatred giving us more reason to believe he is not liked. While this all goes on Tony turns around and when he does he has a full face of blood which adds to the factor of him not being liked. 

He is described as the last resort as he is 'liability' and unpredictable and this is from the other characters talk about him how he is liable for the jobs this suggests that he is the maverick type of character which will do everything in his own way and be very aggressive and strong.

Throughout the sequence Tony we see the appearance of him and he is shown as a tough guy mainly because he is played by Vinnie Jones, he is well known for playing role which are 'tough guys'. the suit which he is wearing gives him the look of a strong tough guy and also in the way he walks with his head held high showing he has alot of confidence and that he is dominant in the surroundings he is in.  

He is also represented as a violent character as in the sequence we see him with a large knife and also hitting someone with a car door. We see him as a character who likes to hurt people. the choice of music which is used at the same time near to the end of the clip shows he is a cool character in this situation and to add to this suggestion of the type of character he maybe is that he says 'Bonjour' when he answers the phone       and this is to make out that he is a cool character.

Through out the clip Bullet Tooth Tony is represented as a tough guy,a man motivated by money, that he is hated by others and being a liable character.

Opening Sequence: 21

After being taught the main parts for the opening sequences of the films I was then asked to make a Power point presentation to present to the class.Here it is for the opening sequence of the film 21 The opening is missing the starting audio  the voice over says "Winner winner Chicken dinner"

The opening sequence of 21

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