Sweet Sixteen

Please read through the production notes on Sweet Sixteen and the review and then write a review. Within this review you must include a detailed section on the following aspects:

• Is there a sense that the lack of opportunity that the characters have is what leads to their crimes?


• Do you feel the characters have less chance of success - explain your response.


• How much does the area you live in lead to criminal activity and how is this explored within the film?


• How is family life portrayed within this film, what impact does it have upon the characters?


• How is social class explored within the film?


• How is crime explored within the film?

I would also like you to discuss all of the usual aspects you would expect to find in a film review e.g. performance, mise-en-scene, micro features, editing, cinematography, setting, music etc

Living With Crime

Within this unit of the AS Film Studies course you will be expected to do the following:

British Film: Social-Political Study
Prescribed study for examination up to and including Winter 2012: 'Living
with Crime'
This study allows for an exploration of films in which characters are caught up
in crime or are living within a culture of crime. While allowing for a study of UK
crime films from a genre perspective, the principal focus should be on social
and political issues raised by the films. In some cases the narrative may
concern characters being drawn in to crime or trapped in a crime culture or
trying to resist crime. Films may include Sweet Sixteen, Bullet Boy and
London to Brighton. Alternatively, older films such as Performance and Get
Carter may be studied. Questions that may be raised include ones relating to
gender, race and class. The candidate must show a detailed knowledge of a
minimum of two films.

The first film we will be watching as part of this unit is "Sweet Sixteen".

EXHIBITION QUESTIONS

1) Why are there no viable arts/independent cinemas in many areas? Why/how is Southampton able to sustain the Picturehouse (Harbour Lights).

2)What is the relationship between movie going and video/dvd/blu-ray hire/sales?

3) What does the programming of the Sky movie channels and Film Four respectively say about the relationship between pay television, niche marketing and consumer behaviour?

4) What is the most appropriate response Contemporary British Cinema can make to Hollywood dominance.

5)Should British films be distinctive at the expense of profitability ir profitable at the expense of distinctiveness?

6)Is it possible for British films to be both distinctive and profitable? If so, how ?(please use examples in your response)

There are handouts on British film in the class room!

DISTRIBUTION QUESTIONS

1) How has Hollywood come to dominate world markets?

2) Why do i get to see the films I do at the local multiplex?

3) Do we get to see the films we want (demand led) or do we see films that are provided for us (supply led) and why?

4) Why are more people going to the cinema today?

5) look to see whether films hold there positions well in the charts over a few weeks or whether they fall away quickly. What reasons can you come up with to explain this success or failure.

PRODUCTION QUESTIONS

1) How has the status and power of stars changed over cinematic history?

2)Take any film you have seen recently and find out who produced it. Then try to find out more about this person. What was their role on this particular production? What have they and others got to say about their involvement and contribution? What projects have s/he been involved in previously, were these ventures successful?

3)Why are certain kinds of films guarenteed to make large profits and others high risk?

4) Which genres are currently popular/unpopular and why?

5) Why was Hollywood under the studio system so successful?

6) What hads been lost and gained as a result if the replacement of the studio system by the producer/agent/deal system?

7) How and why has hollywood again become vertically integrated?

8) What are the consequences of vertical integration?

Please respond to these questions fully - the links on the blog should help your research.