This is my media film project here, and the task was making a movie about stereotypes. And so this is the stereotype of teenagers, you know, waking up late, being sad, drinking, having sex blah blah. It doesn't really make a lot of sense but I copied the skins theme titles so whatever. If you feel like getting some insight into what its all about, I've included the written work I had to do for the making of. (Forgive if it sounds like pretentious bullshit, it was for school.)
Intention
The story is about teenage life and the struggles that teenagers in modern times face. The stereotype of teenagers is that they are lazy and reckless. Portrayed by the media, teenagers are nothing but trouble. However, teenagers lives are really conflicted by their emotions and sense of right and wrong. Adolescence is a time of discovery, idealism, conflict, friendship and lust.
The story is about a teenage girl and a “typical” day in her life. She wakes up in the afternoon and puts on her clothes. Troubled by the problems that she is facing, she goes for a walk. During this time, her friend Dylan calls her and asks to see her to sort out their relationship difficulties. They decide to just be friends and spend the day together. The locations they visit all symbolising an aspect of teenage life. Dylan’s friend invites both of them to a party and they travel to the party location. The party takes place in front of a projection of different symbolic images (such as galaxy – which symbolises loneliness) where they engage in the stereotypical (depicted by the media) teenage acts such as binge drinking and sexual relations. The film is a short narrative, however it is also somewhat experimental by the symbolism in each setting. The purpose of the film is to educate the audience that teenagers are not irresponsible and careless delinquents. Teenagers face a daily struggle in a search for identity and meaning, and we are able to produce a free and bright future.
Medium
The equipment used was a hand held Mini DV Camera – Panasonic NV-300 tape video camera on a Manfrotto tripod, edited with Premiere editing software.
Audience
The intended audience would be teenagers, male and female, themselves so they can relate to the message being conveyed. Also the adults who have forgotten what it is like to be a teenager. The film would be intended for western cultured people because the locations in which it is filmed is in an urban and city environment. The frequent change in location will continue to keep the viewers interested. The film has a distinct rhythm that engages the audience.
Style/Genre
The film is more of a music video or an experimental film. Perhaps it could be considered as an adventure mockumentary. The film also includes aspects of non naturalism with the projector screen scenes and occasionally acknowledging the camera.
Techniques of engagement
The audience doesn’t really have an opportunity to emotionally connect with the characters, yet some of the audience may relate. The film is focused on observing the teenage life style. The time remains consecutive throughout the film, beginning at two o’clock in the afternoon and concludes at sunrise the next day.
The camera remains eye level most of the film, however I experimented with a few different angles.
Setting and location
The film follows Darcy through her daily life so there are many different location changes. It ranges from Darcy’s house, to alley way, to on the bus, to the café, to a graffiti alley way, to a hill, to the Yarra river, to the train tracks, to the party location, to St Kilda beach. The film is mostly filmed in the sunlight, symbolising happiness and warm fulfilment. The constant change in location keeps the viewers engaged and the film meaningful.
Titles
Teenage Crime
Teenagers get blamed for a lot of things by society – rightly or wrongly. The characters are just going to party, have fun and enjoy their great years as a teenager without causing trouble. Therefore they are making up for teenage crime by not being a part of it.
Lighting
The lighting in the day time remains the same because most scenes are shot outside. The only time the lighting significantly changes is when the projector screen is on and the lighting needs to be only coming from the images projected on the wall to get full effect.
Music/sound
Teenage Crime – Adrian Lux
The song being played over the top is relevant to the message conveyed in the film. “We don’t sleep when the sun goes down, we don’t waste no precious time. All my friends in the loop, making up for teenage crime.” I chose not to use narration or sound to focus the film on the visual perspectives and make the film a lot simpler to make.
