by Isabelle Fawcett

1. by Isabelle Fawcett SOCIAL REALISM

2. Social Realism This is a link to the definition of social realism which I think is a perfect description to what it’s all about. http://www.suite101.com/content/social-realism-in-british-film-a39973 - Social realism in films is representative of real life, with all its difficulties. The stories and people portrayed are everyday characters, usually from working class backgrounds. Typically, films within the social realist canon are gritty, urban dramas about the struggle to survive the daily grind. Social Realism manages to create pure discomfort to watch. Showing raw, gritty drama which is representing the realistic troubles of society often through a new perspective.

3. Time Line Fish Tank Directed by Andrea Arnold Corina Corina Directed by Jessie Nelson Bullet Boy Directed by Saul Dibb Kes Directed by Kenneth Loach 1994 2009 1970 2004 1982 2006 London To Brighton Directed by Paul Andrew Williams 1961 Made in Britain Directed by Alan Clarke 2000 A taste of Honey Directed by Tony Richardson Requiem Of A Dream Directed by Darren Aronofsky

4. Key Conventions Main characters- The characters typically used in Social Realism films are portrayed to an exaggerated extent which get’s a point across. This can be through either class or religion and can be suggestive to political views. They don’t tend to be well know actors. Setting- The setting tends to suit the character and build upon the background in which they live in. This is often used to portray a character of working class who is living in a run down area or somewhere which is not safe in a city.

5. Narratives- The narrative usually is shown through a perspective of a particular character who is living in a modern society and is dealing with contemporary issues. This Includes aspects such as money, sex, drugs, prostitution. Ending- The ending is doesn’t usually end on a happy note but shows us the raw gritty possibilities that we are often shielded from. Visual and Camera work- The shots are very expressionistic and allow the audience to empathise with the characters.

6. Target Audience The target audience definitely depends on the specific film, this is because of the characters and who the audience is empathising with. Because the footage is usually very graphic it can only be watched by an audience over a certain age. This can vary though out as young actors are quite often used, this then appeals to a younger audience for example ‘Kidulthood’ made in 2006 Directed by Menhag Huda. Social Realism films give insight on different lifestyles usually focusing on people living in relative poverty. This is appealing to a middle class or upper class audience who are interested in knowing about the types of struggles other people are going through daily.

7. Billy Elliot and London to Brighton! Both films include a child of a similar age however are aimed at completely different audiences. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoiVEyCosEE - Billy Elliot http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU3G7EEFnwQ - London to Brighton Clearly shown in the trailer Billy Elliot has been aimed as more of a family film, the music and the sense of a happy ending reinforces this. The empathy with the character of Billy is very early for the audience and throughout the trailer you learn that all will end well. London to Brighton however has a very slow piano music as its background which gradually builds up, this and the footage together is allowing us to immediately understand it’s not aimed at a broad audience. The ending is shown as a negative with the impression that it doesn’t end well. The film probably is targeting at an audience of middle class aged around 15+

8. Contrasting social Realism films Billy Elliot and London to Brighton! These two trailers were both made within six years of each other yet they are shown in a completely different way. This could be because of the target audience and the major difference in how they are trying to bring appeal to the overall film.

9. Fish Tank (2009) Directed by Andrea Arnold Fish Tank has highly inspired our research and is a perfect example of a modern day social realism. The film focuses on a young girl living in an Essex estate. For our film promotion package we aim to create the same similar feel by revolving it around our main female character. A young troubled girl who get’s herself involved in prostitution and many more troubling situations.

10. Looking at London to Brighton trailer in detail http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU3G7EEFnwQ Gender is strongly presented throughout the entire trailer. Immediately we are introduced to the two main protagonists who are both females, one woman and one child, both homeless. The trailer shows the two females desperately doing anything to get money, and running away for their freedom. This is in strong contrast to the male protagonists who are shown to be powerful, abusive, and in control. London to Brighton is a typical low budget British film and this shows through the trailer in many ways. The trailer helps us to recognise this as it doesn’t use any big block buster special affects. It also uses many British reviewers in the titles and mentioning that it’s presented by the UK film council.

11. Looking at London to Brighton trailer in detail http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU3G7EEFnwQ The trailer promotes the film to its target audience in a number of different ways. The music sets an atmosphere typical to the genre which will appeal to a target audience who watch social realism films. The titles between scene shots show review quotes letting the audience know what critics have thought of the film. The end title slide gives the films website, the production company and the films title ‘London to Brighton’. This is a good way of giving the audience more information if they would want to follow up on it and investigate more of the film themselves, creating a buz.