Research - The Running Man

The film starts off with rolling titles on screen, telling the viewer what time period it is and what state the world is in which includes mentioning the fictional game show ‘The Running Man.’ At a low angle then it shows a helicopter flying over. Lots of close up shots are used showing the navigation of the helicopter and cuts to soldiers inside readying their guns showing that they are preparing to use them. An extreme close up is then shown of the main character Ben Richards (Arnold Schwarzenegger). He is told to move in the check out with co-ordinates. The scene shows the full helicopter with all the men inside then flies off screen. An extreme close up on the helicopter monitor is shown of lots of people gathered in one place in a food riot. An extreme close up of Ben’s face is shown when he is told to ’eliminate anything moving’ and he is disgusted with the order showing he is different to the others in the helicopter.

 

He refuses the order and says “I will not fire at helpless human beings” which shows that he is a good man and shows that the way he is treated is unfair and untrue throughout the rest of the film. The scene cuts to the soldiers in the back who look at each other in disbelieve. Another extreme close up is shown of Ben’s face. Another extreme close up is shown of the man next to Ben who is told to detain Richards and follow the orders. A close up of Ben’s fist hitting his face is shown, showing that he is strong. The two men grab Ben and pull him into the back of the helicopter, which is shown in a side angle. He then continues to hit three men in the face and each hit is shown by an extreme close up. Ben then slips and has his upper torso hanging out of the helicopter. A shot of the ground below is shown to see from how high up Ben is hanging, then cuts back to Ben in a medium close up who is hanging upside down out of the helicopter. It cuts back to show the two soldiers who were sitting in the back who pull Ben back in. An extreme close up is shown of Ben’s face when he is pulled back in. We then see a point of view shot of what Ben can see of one of the men standing above him. He says ’See you in hell’ and hits Ben in the head with a gun. The impact of the gun hit’s the screen and the screen goes back and starts up another area.

 

Lots of different shots of men working in a prison are shown and different title is shown in each scene. The first is to tell the viewer where the new area shown is which says ’Wilshire Detention Zone 18 months later.’ We see Ben again, he has grown facial face and has got really tanned showing the effect of staying in the detention zone for a year and 6 months since the first scene in the helicopter.

Initial Ideas

This is a spider diagram of the initial ideas we have had for our project. Also we have included some points that we will have to consider for further planning. This diagram will help us decide what parts we want to use when we come to make our final plan.

BBFC – British Board of Film Classification (Target Audiences)

The BBFC is the organisation that rates films. Films are often produced to meet a target audience. The ratings for these films are Uc (Universal Preschool), U (Univeral), PG (Parental Guidence), 12/12A (Persons 12 or older), 15 (Persons aged 15 or over), 18 (Persons aged 18 or over) or R18 (Persons ages 18 or older, restricted release due to graphic, often sexual, content). These ratings are usually given based on certain criteria such as theme, language (often how vulgar it is), sex, violence, horror and drugs.

Uc/U – The universal ratings are given to family friendly films, which implies little violence, sex, drugs or any other theme, which could be considered unsettling for younger audiences. Uc is applied to films, which are considered suitable for preschool children.

PG – Parental guidance is a rating given to films which contains scenes that may be upsetting to small children. There must only be implied innuendo and a small amount of natural non-sexual nudity. Horror should not be intense or prolonged. The film must not glamorise or show any techniques, which children may attempt to copy that could be dangerous.

12A/12 – Strong language is allowed but must be infrequent. Violence may be shown but not dwell on pain or injuries. Nudity is allowed in a sexual context if it is brief. Imitable techniques must not be glamorised by being shown harmless (Such as combat).

15 – Drug use can be shown but cannot promote the misuse of drugs. Strong language is acceptable so long as it is used in correct the context. Sex may be portrayed so long as it does not go into great detail. Nudity is allowed in an educational manner or briefly in a sexual manner.

18 – The 18 rating does not have any limits on suitable content. An 18 film can be any type of genre. An 18 film may show violence and sex so long as it can be justified.

Research - The Italian Job

The opening to this film starts with an establishing shot of the Alps which is part of the iconography, it begins with a tracking shot which moves from a low angle to a high angle showing a piece of road and a red sports car driving down, this hints that the driver is quite wealthy. We are shown more tracking shots of the car interlaced with first person views inside with the man driving. There are also several shots onboard the car and close ups inside the car of the driver.

The titles appear from the driver’s perspective starting with the production company’s name followed by the names of two important actors in the film (Michael Cain and Noel Coward). The names are shown in red which could represent a sense of danger, it also highlights the names as the positions are in plain white. The names are then followed by the large movie title ‘The Italian Job’. The actors and then the production assistants are then credited before the final title, which credits the director (Peter Collinson).

At this point a calm soundtrack of music plays over the sound of the car and instils a sense of tranquillity for the viewer. This effect is used in contrast to the latter part of the scene when the music fades to the sound of the car entering a tunnel and crashing into a bulldozer waiting on the other side.

The organised state of the gangsters on the other side of the tunnel represents a large ruthless organisation as the wreck is then pushed in flames down a hill into a small river. We’re shown a clip of the gang leaders standing on the deceased driver’s glasses which emphasises superiority and that the driver has been wiped out. It shows fear for the mafia leaders standing over the wreck in smart dark suits.

The sound we hear is diegetic as we can hear the sound of the car engine. The music we hear is non-diegetic, as the actors on screen can’t hear it. A loud wheel screeching sound is heard showing panic in the driver as he breaks to try and avoid the bulldozer followed by a loud rumbling crash sound as the driver failed to break in time. As the car is totalled and rolled down the side of the hill, a dramatic music begins to play over the low angle view of the mafia, which again helps build a sense of superiority. The mafia then sarcastically throw a wreath down in memory of the deceased man.