Q.1 How does your product use or
challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues?
The film is uses the regular conventions
for the most part. It begins with the studio’s name; the studio, that consists
of two of my friends and I. They’re non-media studies students but film
enthusiasts and were willing to help on the production. Then comes the intro
where it gives a small peak into what the movie is based on. Showing the busy
streets and day to day life of a homeless boy. The idea is to create a
neglecting tone and sense of alienation. This is done by shooting some shots of
him sitting all to himself and if someone other than him is present on screen,
he’s shown as inferior and vulnerable.
The intro music used is rather unorthodox,
very much like the other soundtracks used and probably the only element going
against the conventions. The name of the song is ‘If I Had a Heart’ by Fever
Ray, was the ideal choice due to it having a melancholic yet quick beating
touch. The plan was to avoid making the movie excessively depressing and have
some intensity and a speck of oomph. The music really creates the atmosphere of
sorrow and coldness and blends in perfectly with the movie. The second
soundtrack has a more of a mechanical and futuristic tone. Again, this was an
unorthodox choice and was used to signify how cold and automaton-like human
beings can be when it comes to businesses and money. For the sake of reputation
and a stable income, people can be sometimes willing to lose themselves and
their conscience to something like profit. And the last soundtrack emphasizes
on the fact that addiction to a powerful drug is like a bug caught in Venus
flytrap. It starts off slow and feels almost eternal-like, then after having
taken the drug, the music turns mellow as he walks away with a druggie; the
only person who’s accepted the homeless boy for what he is.
To add that feel of poverty and derelict,
the homeless boy was represented the way most homeless people are shown on
media. As covered with dirt, malnourished and famished. Limping instead of
walking, a can to for the money he gets. To add that appeal of inhospitality
and dullness in general, a brownish-dark tone was used in most of the scenes. It
adds that cinematic look and dryness; gives of a crude perspective of the life
of the homeless. Scenes with the antagonist, the policeman, had a tinge of red.
First reason was to aggravate the intensity of the scene. And the color red is
often used with antagonists in general. It is also linked with an ominous
foreboding and represents corruption too.
The movie mainly revolves around three
social issues. One, how social class is distinguished amongst societies. The
rich become richer and more powerful, whilst the poor become poorer and helpless.
Two, the authorities taking advantage of their positions to exploit the
helpless. As exaggerated as it may seem, the police do exploit the people and
are willing to ‘look the other way’ as long as they get a big chunk of the
dealings. The third issue focuses on that
a state of extreme hunger makes a person resort to drugs most of the time. According to the United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime,
Pakistan has 6.7 million drug users. More than 4 million of these are addicts,
amongst the highest number for any country in the world. UNODC calculates that
more than 800,000 Pakistanis aged between 15 and 64 use heroin regularly. It is
also estimated that up to 44 tons of processed heroin are consumed annually in
Pakistan; a rate of use twice or thrice that of America's.
Q.2: What kind of media institution might
distribute your product and why?
As
a young filmmaker who is trying to avoid the huge and tempting production
companies and become more independent. Heretic Films would be the likely
institute as they produce less films compared to Paramount and Times Warner and
significantly have greater standards. Heretic Films is based Utah, USA and is
known for working with artists who are dedicated to bringing important stories
to the screen. They believe in personal funding and invest into films that
really enlighten the audience. Much like our studio, De facto, the main goal is
to take a simple idea or story and turn it into something extraordinary.
Heretic films is the type of studio which allows an artist to ‘do their own thing’
instead of being in a more autocratic style large production companies follow
and focuses on social issues and dark or satire comedy much like our content.
Nowadays,
endless sequels that dominate the film industry are tremendously successful in
the Box Office such as the Avengers or Hunger Games. These movies have massive
marketing budgets and are bound to be successful as they have a large following.
It’s unfortunate how some great pieces never make it big due to Hollywood
entirely dominating the industry. Some films neither become famous nor get the
gross they truly deserve. But only the people who’ve seen these films know how
precious they are and cherish them. And that’s the entire idea; grasping the
audience and spreading a message and not in it for the money.
Heretic
Film has a website that shows their previous and current production work as
well as trailers and the crew on board. Our website is somewhat similar to
theirs. It focuses on the films that we’ve worked on and details about our tiny
but efficient workforce. Not only should the actors, writers and director be
praised for the end result but every helping hand that made the movie come to
the screen from a couple of lines on a piece of paper. Any contribution to the
films are much appreciated.
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