London to Brighton-Wigley

1.      How does the trailer use media language to establish the films genre?

One way the trailer uses media language to establish the films genre is though the sound. High tempo music is used, this relates with the fast editing and quick camera shots and helps to relate to genre of thriller because of the fast passé in which things are going. Also the diegetic sound of the gun shot at the end makes the audience jump, which is a big feature of a thriller. Also the use of the piano at the beginning is quite sad and slow which would create sympathy from the audience which would relate to another code and convention that the genre drama uses.

Another genre that is represented in this trailer is drama. This is done through the types of camera shots. For example the use of close-up shots are used throughout. It adds to the genre of drama because it focuses on the facial expressions and shows the emotions of the characters which is all sad and frightened which you would normally get in dramas. Another very good shot was the use of a wide shot. The wide shot showed the relationship between the different characters for example when are walking into the hotel. The little girls face is frightened and quite scared. This connotes she is unaware of her surroundings and also doesn’t know what’s going on.

One other way media language helps establish the genre of the trailer is the review extracts. The review extracts mention drama and thriller. Therefore giving the audience some sense of what the film will be about.

The lighting also helps to establish the genre of the trailer. The type of lighting used is low key lighting and is all quite dull and dark. The darkness connotes “sinister” events which we as an audience expect from the genres thriller and drama.

2.      How is gender represented in the trailer?

Both of genders are presented as total opposites of each other; they contrast with each other. The females are presented as the weak, inferior gender, whereas the males are represented as powerful and superior. An example of this is the shot of the male leading both females into the hotel room. He is in front of them connoting that he is more important than them and that he is the leader, the boss. Also the male characters are shown as dangerous people. The scene when he is holding back the little female character connotes that males are the ones in charge, they are the dominant ones. Also there is a scene shot of a male figure holding a gun to the camera. The shot is a low angle shot and the use of this is it emphases on the power of the male. Also the gun connotes that he is evil and dangerous.

The women are presented as sex objects and weak people through the way they are dressed and how the male characters always have them under control, and they are shown to be sexually promiscuous (prostitutes). They are also shown as desperate as the female was sitting on the streets with a cup in her hand connoting she isn’t rich and that she’ll do anything for money.

3.      In what ways is the film London to Brighton typical of a low budget British film?

We can tell that it is a low budget film because of the use of unknown actors. The actors and actresses used in this film are unfamiliar and the audience will not be able to recognise them. This means that the film makers didn’t have enough money to hire well known actors that the audience can relate to.

Another way to tell is the setting. The setting/ location didn’t have to be made from scratch or hired out. It was local public toilets and the streets. This shows not money was put into the setting and locations as they are slum areas, rundown locations. It is a natural setting. However this setting was perfect for the film as it help to set the scene of the films story line.

Furthermore the costumes and make-up are quite simple and ordinary. If it was a high budget film you would see more glamorous suits and dress that they wear but in the film everything is kept to a minimum.

In addition the story line itself gives it away that the film is of a low budget. A Hollywood film wouldn’t create such a realistic film, they would glamorise everything. For example; instead of showing prostitutes as ugly weak women. Hollywood would show them as beautiful, sexy women, with extremely gorgeous clothing, with perfect hair and make-up. They wouldn’t create a film which some audience may not like. They would have a lot more to lose, whereas a low budget British film doesn’t have much to lose so they are able to take the risk of making this type of film.