Crime Drama

A crime drama can be defined as a film that involves various aspects crime and the criminal justice system. An example of this genre is "Law Abiding Citizen" 2009, F. Gary Gray. The film involves a man whose wife and daughter are murdered and the man responsible getting away with it due to loop holes in the justice system. He then seeks to get revenge not only on his family's murderer but also the law. These sorts of films are typical for having lots of twists and clever events that make the audience think about the criminal justice system. When all linked together there is often a dramatic event that could affect a great amount of people that results in the authoritive figures relying on that of a normal person, or even a criminal for answers to resolve the situation.

Another film that loosely follows this genre is Saw. A criminal serial killer making the police force's job a lot harder than it should be due to his own intelligence. This genre will be the main influence for my short film, even though it will be slightly turned around as the justice system will be using their power to literally get away with murder.

Examples of postmodernist films

The Opening to a german postmodernist film 'Run Lola Run'


This film demonstrates postmodernism in the way it blends animation and real life throughout. The way it goes from real people to animation is a postmodern technique as it is out of the ordinary, a particular postmodern approach. The beginning where the music begins, it is kept in time with a ticking of a clock made to sound like a beat. This is very unique and different to that of other films. The part where the crowd is sped up and then it freezes on particular people is not true to real life. This applies to the part of postmodernism that keeps the audience at arms-length so that it is not taken to be real. This is also true to when the policeman kicks the football up and the crowd form a shape to spell the name of the film. It then goes into animation for the theme tune which also is not true to real-life, it makes the audience not take it too seriously. The credits of the actors then come up in time with their suspect photos being shown in flashing images, again making it not seem realistic.

Postmodernism

Postmodernism can mean many different things. It often refers to borrowing from previous texts and making it new. Postmodernist films are not like that of Hollywood, Hollywood films are carefully edited to make the audience forget that it is a film and feel like it is real. Postmodernism however constantly keeps the audience at arms length as a constant reminder that it is fiction. It draws attention to itself as being unique in construction, this makes it playful. It also uses intertextuality to blur the boundaries of different genres. It creates a relationship with the audience in making reference to their knowledge of film. Postmodernism can challenge the chronological order that events should take place, it rejects 'High Culture', such as opera performances as these can be formulaic, at the same time that high culture rejects postmodernism. The way it is laid about but takes a different approach to it. For example, in 'A Knight's Tale', set in medieval times, has a scene with 'We Will Rock You' playing. This mix of event order is what postmodernism is all about. Postmodern films can make us see that there don't always have to be generic rules that every film has to follow.

I hope to use postmodernism is my short film through the language used by the characters. I want them to make an explicit reference to a horror film, (the policeman saying to the suspect that he is acting as though they are in a film). This will enable to acting style to be a reference to already existing texts and the language confirming that. I aim to blur the boundaries or genre, with the two scenes intertwined, one being that of a typical horror with a masked killer, and the other scene being more of that of a crime thriller. Not in content but style of having a twist at the end similar to 'Law Abiding Citizen', being a crime thriller/action movie.

Narrative Theories Powerpoint

Claude levi strauss

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This powerpoint is research on Claude Levis Strauss and Edward Branigan, who both had different ideas on narrative theories.

My Ideas Board

Storyline Short Film

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