Plan B- Ted Ex talk

What are Plan B's beliefs/politics? What are his values/ideologies? 

Ben believes that everyone has a reasons for what happens, we talk about his like and explains that he came from a dysfunctional family and that he got kicked out of school. Ben explains that he did not have respect for authority such as police and teachers, the reason for this is because he felt he and others were ignored by society. He explained there was music that we listened to and it was used to guide us and we grew up, not all music positive but glamorises the street life of guns, gangs and drugs. But there was also other music which was more like poetry known as Conscious hip-hop change his life just one sentence could change your life and this has made him want to change things that he didn’t agree with. We did not agree with what was happening in the media but he understood there were reasons behind them such as parents being on drugs alcohol and some kids have been abused mentally or even physically. We wanted to make change he therefore made his album and to help guide kids and for his music to be seen as a father figure so that kids can do well, but to communicate with kids you have to swear and talk about violence as that’s what attract them but behind his music was a bigger picture exposing the truth of gang cultures, drugs and guns. He believes that mainstream music is glamorising the street life and that ben wants people to see and realise that they can succeed and that this the street life is not the way forward. Ben wanted people in the local area to be in the film and found that there was a lot of talent but the 2 boys were considered for the film but only one was successful and the other had not but the cast director has seen his talent and took him on as the main role in Topboy.

Who is the target audience of the TEDx lecture? Demographics? Psychographics? How do you know? How does this compare to the audience for his music/films?

The target audience for this lecture I believe is  E,D,C2,C1 and B this is because of the messages that Ben is trying to get across what he feel are the issues within the media but also that young people need to be helped. Also the part about the riots appeal to people in the C1 and B demographics as they felt the teenagers were folk devils and hooligans. The Psychographic target audience for this lecture Is mainstreams, aspirers, strugglers, explorer and reformers, the reasons I have chosen these groups is because they are people who want to success but reformers are types of people that make judgement based on their own awareness not on what the media show. I believe that it is the same for his movies because his movies are there to help create awareness of not glamorising street life but also helping people to understand that it is easy for the media to point out the negatives but not explain the whole story of everything but also to help people realised that there are reasons behind every action. His music is very important also as he said it there to help guide people and to help them realise the truth of street life, his films also are there to do the same thing and to help create awareness to teenagers and adults.

What does Plan B say about the media? Explain how this can be linked to Cohen's media theory of moral panics? Read this summary of moral panics and the definition from Wikipedia and use them in your answer.

Cohen media theory of moral panic is that a moral panic occurs when a “condition, episode, person or group emerges to become defined as a threat to societies values and interests.” Ben says that there is demonization of the youth throughout the media, and that people are falling for it. Ben then talks about his experiences with and explains that “if you have had no direct contact with these kids that ben is talking about how the hell can you judge them? Because you’re only judging them based on something you read in the newspaper, aren’t you? This can be linked to Cohen theory because people believe that if one youth was to something then everyone is like that and therefore youths are seen as folk devils. For example the London riot is an example that was used by ben that the youth have started riots and looting because they have no choice all the youth centre and summer school and been shut down and mean that kids have nowhere but the streets to go. The riots had made people think of youth more of folk devils due to the media and how the media portray them.

progress report

work completed in last 7 days:
 we have done the photo shoot to get front cover and double page magazine shots.

Next steps:
i need to start on my print work and filming for our media C/W  which will be starting on Saturday

Responsibilities: 
everyone needs to take part in filming.

ILL Manors behind the scenes

1) What does this tell us about Plan B's intentions in making the film? 

Plan B intentions were more then what met the eye, in behind the scenes footage we understand that the film was made to educate audience rather than entertain. Plan B also explain that’s this film is not made for the people who were in the riots but those who were not, to show them that actions that are committed are due to lack of options and mistake that led them to their actions. They also wanted to change the fact that people felt that a life of crime was glamorised and cartoonised.

2) What do we learn about the production process for Ill Manors?

The film started off as a song representing scene of rap and to help explain what was happening it was then later shown on E4 music and become a big hit. It was then converted into the film but had Plan B’s music integrated in to the film as this was done to attract his fan base it also mean that more people would watch it . The script was written by plan b and initially started off as 20 pages the rap has taken the 20 pages and made it in to a rap explaining everything on the script and then into a low budget film.  

3) What can you tell about the possible target audience from this short documentary?

From the short documentary I was able to establish he audience type for this film would be aimed at people in social demographics groups E,D and C2 after watch the behind the scenes footage I now believe that the film is aimed at people in the groups of E,D , C2, C1 and B this is because it was explained that the film was an eye opener to help show people the trust and that the real story is and why some people get involved in life of crime but also that everything is not as black and white as it seems.

4) Does the film successfully do what director Ben Drew (Plan B) set out to achieve? Explain your answer with reference to both the film and the making of documentary.

After watching the behind the scenes footage of ill manors I believe that Plan B was able to show what he wanted people to see and to help educate audiences about a life of crime. The film was used to help improve the stereotypes of teenagers but it’s also arguable that the film also strengthens negative stereotypes on teenagers. The film has shown to be more of a success the behind of the scenes footage explained that Plan B grew up in a rough area was surround my all the different aspects that were shown in the film. Therefore he can be seen as an Auteur  as he has directed this film based on his experiences which therefore makes the film more authentic and allows the audiences to relate to more.

ILL Manors trailer

What are the typical codes and conventions of film trailers - what information is usually provided?

The general codes and conventions of film trailers are to be able to establish the genre of a film and to work out the plot of the film. The trailer helps to establish the overall setting and to show footage which may attract the audience to watch the film, it also helps the audience to be able to establish summary of the film.

How are trailers distributed?

The trailer is distributed through the films website, through YouTube , social networking sites such as face book and twitter and on TV

How does Ill Manors use trailer conventions?

The film uses the use of text on screen to help create a scene, “we are all product of our environment…..some environments are just tougher than other”. This helps create a mood for the audience and also help to suggest the audience and what it may be about. We are then introduced by the main character of the film, going in to a house the following scene make references of drugs which help suggests what the film may be about. The scene of the police and prison suggests they are selling drugs and got caught and that just ice had been served. The scene of girl leaning in to cares suggests that there me aspects of prostration in the film. The way of plan B is shown in a rear view mirror which suggests that he may be in the film it also help audiences to establish the director and attract his fan base to watch the film. The black & white films and babies being shown suggest that each person has previous life and that there is more to what meet the eye.  The uses of guns are shown also to help emphasis the use of drugs, money and power.

Who is the target audience? Does it have a unique selling point or use particular techniques to appeal to the audience? Consider the way the scenes are edited together – does the trailer give away any clues about the narrative? Are the main stars visible in the trailer? Is there information about the director of the film? Is there information about the release date? Is a narrator’s voice-over used? 

The target audience for ILL manors would people who are aged between 16-28, this would also appeal to people in social demographics of E, D C1, and C2. The unique selling points of the film i believe is the use of have several narratives for each individual character. The scenes are editing showing a snippet of each character and showing a bit of their story such as shown as a baby. The trailer does not give very many clues on the narrative however it informs the viewer of the character and what the film could be about. All the stars are shown in the trailer who therefore means that viewers are introduced to the characters and are able to know a little more about each character. In the trailer plan B also know a plan B is shown in the view mirror of the car, which means for people that know him would be able to recognise him just through that scene. At the end of the trailer the date of release is shown which is "June 6th" which also has a strobe effect which means it attracts the audience to it. A rap is used in the background in where the words of the rap fit the scenes of the trailer which help explain the narrative.    

How has the genre of the film been represented through characters, settings, lighting, colour, music/dialogue, camera shots/movements/angles and editing?
The use of appearance of the clothing has been used which helps establish what type of genre the film is, the use of urban clothing suggests that it is an urban film . Also the setting would show the genre of the film the use of estates suggests that it is about low income areas,  the setting of the house that are shown and the conditions they are in show that they run down which can again suggests low income area

MEST 1 Feedback

grade-D

Mr Bush feedback-

WWW-good analysing of sound and editing
EBI-missed opportunities to discuss audience theory. Re-do Q4

The program can be seen to inform its audience in two ways one way being to inform about the penguins and the second being inform the audience on the struggles that the camera crew faced when the program was being filmed. The voice over that has been done by David Attenmborough add an informative aspect to the the program. Frozen planet educated through the use of commentary , David Attenmborough  gives information about the penguins but also on the camera crew. by exploring the difficulties that the crew had faced and to what extents that had to go in order to be able to get the shots. Entertainment was created through the penguins such as showing funny aspects of the penguins, flying out of the water on to the cameras men. "getting attacked by the penguins" is a quote take from the extract and which helps add to the humour. another example of how frozen planet has been used to entertain is where the slow motion has been used in order to show the belly flop "biggest belly flop". these are examples of how the the program informs , educates and entertains its audience. the audience for a program like Frozen planet would be using social demo graphics would be people in the E , D , C2 , C1 categories as it shown on a Wednesday at 9pm  

MEST2- progress report

Work completed since 6^th January-

Since the 6^th January we have completed the script, shot list story board and half completed the Mise-en scene. We have had to meeting with Mr Halsey regarding our work, we received feedback on ideas that we had such as the police scene, Mr Halsey stressed the importance that the police scene should look realistic other it won’t look good. We also had a meeting amongst ourselves so that we were able to create the script, shot list and story board..

Incomplete pre-production tasks-

Everything has been done

Next steps/ action plan

The next steps that we are going to carry out will be filming and taking images for our print media work.

Date filming will be complete

The filming will be completed 2^nd February

Date editing will be complete

Editing will be fully done by the 14^th February

ILL MANORS-film review

Ben drew directed ill manors, Ben Drew is also known as Plan B. Ben is not only a director but is also an actor that has come in films such as, adult hood, the Sweeney and ill manors. Ben had started off as a singer who then started to rap , his song “kidz” came in adult hood which then led to ben being part of the film playing the character Dabs. Ill manors was the first film that ben drew had directed also was shown in last 5 seconds as the taxi driver. The film had shown great success with a budget of £100,000 ill manors was number 9 at the UK box office, and had a gross of 256,288 domestically. Ill manors earned a total of £453,570 after eight weeks at the box office.

Riz Ahmed is well known rapper from Wembley he is also a well-known actor and has come in films such as shifty, four lions and ill manors. Riz Ahmed play the lead roles in ill manors.  The character shows that change can always be made even in the toughest of situations. Riz Ahmed hangs around with gangs and other people trying to rectify problems that other people have, however Riz starts to try and make a change by helping people by giving money or by returning a baby to the real mum. He also helped people around him to do the right thing. Over all his role in the film is to help those around him in order to better his and other people’s lives.

The film is about young people of ages between 15-28 who are trying to make money through the use of selling drugs and prostitution. Others are selling themselves in in order to get money to buy drugs. The plot of the film is that each person has a story of how they have become what they are and how it happened. Riz Ahmed the main character in the in the film links with the stories and is helping them to better themselves in order to become better individuals. Through his action he impacts the people around him by making the right decisions that they wouldn’t normally make in the film. However in the film the character ED goes back in to the pub to save the baby, he then get boxed in as rubble fell in the passage which meant the only way out way through the window. He first saved the baby by throwing a towel down and then called Aaron (Riz Ahmed) who caught the baby. While trying to save his own life he slipped and fell to his death.

The character have a few main character who are ;Riz Ahmed as Aaron,Ed Skrein as Ed,Keith Coggins as Kirby,Lee Allen as Chris,Nick Sagar as Marcel, Ryan De La Cruz as Jake, Anouska Mond as Michelle ,Mem Ferda as Vladimi ,Nathalie Press as Katya. Two of the main characters that is film is based around is Chris (lee Allen) and Kirby (Keith koggins) there actions lead to others stories linking in. Riz Ahmed therefore helps rectify the mistake of Kirby and Chris.

The genre of the film is a crime drama, however it was aspect of humour as well. The crime that takes place is selling drugs, prostitution and murder. Bit of humour I believe were used in order to make it not to serious but again appeal to more than one audience types. My expectations for the film were that it could be a film based purely on drugs and murders however it was about other stuff also such as prostitution and also humour. The mood was established based on the scenes.

The sound track that were used for made specifically for the film, which meant that each song had significance when played at the correct scene. The songs helped to create an atmosphere as the song had relevance to the scene, the tempo lyrics also helped establish the mood of the audience. The music also helped to understand what certain scenes signified.

The film is aimed at young teenagers I think, this is due to the use of drugs, gangs, money and prostitution. The film is there to inform and educated people of what actions can lead to and what can happen if you do the same. In other ways I think it’s there to educate adults of ages 30 and above this is due to the use of the characters. The characters explain a story which suggests how they become how they are and where they are. An example is of ED and Aaron living in a home, were both selling drugs in order to make money. I believe it helps educate people why people in real life do that and what leads them to doing it. In another ways it educates people about what’s happening on the streets of London.