Evaluation Question 1

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Our film, ‘Do Not Pass Go’, tells the story of a young, up-and-coming criminal by the name of Jacob, played by me, struggling to adapt to his new illicit lifestyle, and thus facing the wrath of two of his experienced (and much more successful) lawbreaking colleagues, Louie and Mitchell who act as his ‘mentors’.

Immediately, Jacob is portrayed as vastly inexperienced, yet still extremely confident, displayed within the ‘upbeat’ non-diegetic music playing concurrently with his ‘strutting’ towards the store, and when the character looks at the shop he is about to rob and slicks back his hair. This unnecessary cockiness blows up in Jacob’s face as he proves unsuccessful in the robbery, alluding to the comedic overtones of the film.

This initial scene establishes the movie as a crime-comedy, as the protagonist engages in an [failed] stick-up, conventions of a typical crime-comedy film are the used within the preceding 3 minute sequence.

The credits used did not distract from any significant action occurring on screen, but rather only the initial sequence of events, preceding the opening titles. The credits solely give the information of those involved within the acting and production of the film.

Our genre is clearly established due to the use of swearing for comedic effect as well as the cuts used. Immediately after requesting a cashier to hand over the money in the register, the clerk refuses and tells Jacob to “fuck off, [mate]” in order to display her discontent and Jacob’s inability as a criminal. This is immediately followed by the title sequence, connected by a sound bridge, in which the names of the characters are shown in different bright colours, to signal their individuality. These bright colours, reflect the colour schemes of other such comedy films such as ‘The Mask’ and to a certain extent, ‘The Italian Job’.

We used a conventional feature of a comedy film due to our use of slapstick, in which Jacob, is hit by a door opened by newly introduced character, Louie, causing a nosebleed to occur. This style of comedy was used in many comedic films within the turn of the 20^th Century and is prominent within many films such as ‘The Naked Gun’, and more recently, ‘The Pink Panther’.

A low-angle, POV, reaction shot immediately succeeded the impact to show Louie’s belief that he was not in the wrong regarding the incident, which in turn is immediately followed with a close-up on Jacob’s face as he lay bloodied on the floor, whilst the two other characters’ present seem not to care all that much, in an amusing series of events.

   Many props present within a typical crime film are present within this scene as Louie places a roll of assorted £20 and £10 notes onto the table, focused on by a medium close up; as well as a knife and ~£2,000 in £20 notes. These props confirm the film as one of a crime genre.