We have actually made progress!

We have officially written our song and come up with our ideas for our music video. The only thing we have to do left is actually record the song and the footage, I feel we have planned ahead to enough to leave enough time to do all of these things but the only thing that may be a difficulty is that Becky is going away for a week next week but we have planned for me to carry on editing which is something that I can easily do on my own.

Human Traffic Questions

1.  Human Traffic faces the issues of normal people and doesn’t look at the glitz and glamour of life, it puts real people in real situations in the gritty style that social realism represents. It raises issues of family troubles in the form of Jip’s Mother being a prostitute. It looks at the issues of ecstasy when it was popular throughout the 90’s in clubs. When it comes to the issue of his mother being the prostitute the audience empathise with Jip as he talks to the audience in the style of a narrator. Although this doesn’t distract from the comedic side of the film as he uses one of his ‘fantasy scenarios’ to illustrate it for us.
2. Youth Culture is depicted as being lazy and not putting effort into things this is shown through ideas of Nina quitting her job, and Moff not wanting to get a job. Although this is different to public opinion as his reasons for not wanting to get a job are through how unhappy it seems to make the rest of his group of friends not because he is lazy and possibly spoilt. It also resists the stereotypes as it shows not only working class family going to raves and taking drugs but also Moff who is from a middle class family.
3. The film is British through its use of all it’s actors and characters being British, but it also seems more British as not all the characters are purely British some also come from a Welsh background which helps as a truly British group of friends wouldn’t just have English people in it. For instance Koop (Shaun Parkes) is British but may also be of Afro-Caribbean descent. Also all of the locations such as peoples houses, places of work and all the clubs they visit are also British in that respect. 

4. With all of the characters they believe that their true identity is in the clubs when they (As quoted by themselves) “can truly become themselves” and not pretend to be something that they’re not. Most of the group seems to have a sort of “alter-ego” about them which comes out through their jobs or work in general or even their relationships. For instance Lulu believes that all (or most) men are evil and victimise women and treat them like objects whereas her true side comes out when she an Jip become more than friends at the end of the film. In Koop’s first scene he declares himself as paranoid and unable to think about anything other than other men with is girlfriend (Nina). But when he works he is a confident man who is as Jip says “Blagging friendship, getting the kids hooked hustling with style”. Jip’s job as an anonymous shop salesman means he just blends into the rest of society and is unable to express himself due to his “mini ******* Hitler who just gives him stick all day”. In the form of his boss. Lastly Moff is form a middle-class family and his father is a policeman which means he has to act differently all day until he can be himself with his friends in the clubs. This is until he ‘snaps’ at the end and becomes his real self in front of his family.
5. One of the main ways in which verisimilitude is created through the text is the use of real footage of ‘ravers’ and rioters at the beginning of the story. I feel that the beginning of the film starts off with what the general public see as the youth culture at this time and as the story develops we see that it changes dramatically through it to what the real youth culture is. Also with many of the ‘fantasy’ scenes of Jip’s which involve him and the rest of the cast looking into the camera and talking to the audience. Also some of the camera shots, one notable one is where Jip and Koop are at the house party discussing Koop’s father, the table is glass and as they are bent over the table it is almost as if they are talking to us the audience as well as talking between themselves.

 Also as with many of these types of films you just see what the group are like with their friends and not into their private lives. You see Koop’s father in his retirement home, you meet Nina’s cousin and go with him on his first trip, you meet Jip’s mother and learn about her being a prostitute. You also see Lulu’s break-up with her boyfriend at the start. And lastly you see into Moff’s home as he recounts his story of calling an expensive girl-line and his father’s anger about it.

6. Jip’s anxiety comes from his case of erectile dysfunction and not only him not being able to perform but also how will the other party feel after he fails to perform. This could also stem from his mother being a prostitute as her voice is once mentioned in a scene with Lulu. Koop’s problems and anxieties stem from him worrying constantly and being paranoid about his girlfriend being with other men, he could have had bad relationships in the past but it is also from the fact that Nina (his girlfriend) is a very friendly person who knows a lot of people. Lulu believes that most men are out to objectify her when really the ones who aren’t are in fact her friends who could be seen as more than that. When really she may have just had a string of bad relationships. Moff’s anxieties mainly come towards the end of the film when he has taken a large amount of drugs and becomes paranoid of all his friends. His anxiety may also stem from him not believing that he will be able to become a normal functioning member of society. Because he will forever want to stay in the state of mind he is in.

7. Human Traffic is a heavily drugs related film. But there is no instance in which is promotes drug use. There are several of Jip’s narrations that talk about how it can make you feel better and make all of the bad parts of your life dissolve. But it also talks about all of the bad parts, for instance when Nina’s brother first takes it there is a scene where he is with Jip and a scientist where he discusses the prolonged use of Ecstasy’s side effects. So overall this film neither condones or put’s down drugs, but it is a film that lets you make your own choices in the decisions you make with it.

Major changes to Music Video

We have had to change our artist as we realised that we might not get enough time to film the song which they had written, so we are writing a song ourselves simply as a backup in case we aren't able to film Maddy and Julia. We ourselves have recently started to make music so whichever way we decide to go it will be a good way to start off.

Advanced Projection Music Videos

Just an interesting video I found that shows how far music videos have come and how we could use this in music videos for singed acts and for their live shows.

Autumn Term Profile

Our unsigned band (Autumn Term) is in fact ourselves, we have only just started out so we only have one original song which is the one which is the one we will be using called 'Layers' . Our influences through this were Beck's 'Loser'. Also, Foster the People's 'Pumped Up Kicks' alongside a lot of material by Cage The Elephant.

We both dabble in instruments but my main strength is playing the guitar (both electric and acoustic). Becky is the singer and dabbles in the bass and the drums, admittedly we use Garageband for a lot of our loops because while the selection isn't as large it does improve the quality of the drumming and the speed of editing which at this moment in time will be crucial.

British Film Character Analysis

British Character Film Types

Name	Characteristics	Semiotics
XXXX	Intelligent, suave, confident, born into middle class worked way into upper class.	Rough looking (but obviously done up) hair. Smart suits, brand names all suggest upper class.

Robin Hood (2010) & This Is England (2006)

Robin Hood

Story & Plot: Birth of a legend. Following King Richard's death in France, archer Robin Longstride, along with Will Scarlett, Alan-a-Dale and Little John, returns to England. They encounter the dying Robert of Locksley, whose party was ambushed by treacherous Godfrey, who hopes to facilitate a French invasion of England. Robin promises the dying knight he will return his sword to his father Walter in Nottingham. Here Walter encourages him to impersonate the dead man to prevent his land being confiscated by the crown, and he finds himself with Marian, a ready-made wife. Hoping to stir baronial opposition to weak King John and allow an easy French take-over, Godfrey worms his way into the king's service as Earl Marshal of England and brutally invades towns under the pretext of collecting Royal taxes. Can Robin navigate the politics of barons, royals, traitors, and the French?

Nationality of stars?
Russel Crowe: Born in New Zealand and brought up in Australia
Cate Blanchett: Born in Australia
Max von Sydow: Born in Lund Sweden.

Director: Ridley Scott, born in South Shields County Durham, U.K.

Style: Vast, attractive, sometimes gritty and with moderate violence.

Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama

Worldwide Distribution

This Is England

This is England: Mods, New Romantics, and Skinheads are the major youth sub-cultures of this very English summer of 1983 and young 12-year-old Shaun is left wandering aimlessly alone and lost during the start of his school holidays, until his chance meeting with Woody and his fun and friendly Skinhead pack. Finding a new lease of life; girls, parties, Ben Sherman shirts, Doc Martin boots and shaven hairstyles young Shaun is welcomed, life during this summer holiday has got a whole lot better. That is until Combo arrives on the scene bitter, dangerous, racist, militant and psychotic life for young Shaun has just approached his first major crossroads.

Nationality of stars?
Thomas Turgoose: Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire
Stephen Graham: Kirkby, Liverpool

Director: Shane Meadows, born in Uttoexeter, Staffadshire, U.K.

Style: Gritty, true-to-life, uncensored realism.

Genre: Crime, Drama

Distribution: U.K.