Sound
Dialogue plays an important role in representing this social group as being uneducated and aggressive. The group of boys use a particularly
restricted code of language, with more slang and insults being used than the single boy's speech, who speaks with the same kind of accent
but does not swear. This tells us that the group of boys is aggressive before we can see their behaviour - the use of the words "black attack"
and "what do you have to say for yourself" are said in a sarcastic tone which further emphasizes how they are likely to act.
The age group is shown to be dangerous when the boys are running after the other boy by the selective sound used, such as heavy breathing which implies fear. The background music further emphasizes this as the volume increases; it starts off quiet when the boys begin their chase and increases heavily when the camera cuts to the boy being chased. In addition to the tempo of the music speeding up slightly, this gives the audience an idea of what is going to happen.
When the boy is discovered, the music volume and tempo increases again, but this time gives the impression of fear and pain. Coupled with the camera angles which view the victim from a low angle, showing him as defenseless, and his dialogue when he asks the girl to help him, this shows the audience as the age group being victimized and being scared.
Silence is used to concentrate the audience's attention on the idea that this age group is aggressive. When they are first introduced the music fades to silence which allows us to focus on their dialogue to each other, which has a restricted code and uses a lot of slang - e.g. "Stupid... what kind of dumbness is this?" - and their actions towards each other, which is violent and shows us how they act physically. The scene is silent when medium-long shots and close up shots are being used so we can see how the actors move and act towards each other and how their facial expressions change so we are able to feel more intimate with them, thus focusing on the idea of aggression.
Editing Techniques
The cutting rhythm of the clip is overall quite slow and does not increase very much; this brings the audience's attention to the smaller
details and allows them to see how the idea of fear is being represented. The slow rhythm allows us to see in one shot the single boy's
expression which is scared, and the boys appearing in the background and approaching him, which gives us a stronger sense of
how the boy is feeling. As this clip is using a close up shot of the boy's face, we feel more intimate with his character, which gives an
overall stronger impression of his fear.
Another editing technique used to show fear in this clip is the motivated cut which occurs at a close up, allowing us to see the actor's expression clearly. While he was previously smiling, he suddenly changes and his expression becomes more wary; we can also hear dialogue in the background from another person which we assume causes the change in the character. What we can hear before the scene changes is slang, which tells us the new characters are either uneducated or aggressive, and heightens the idea of fear as we do not know what is going to happen next.
In addition, we are told that this age group is rude due to a reaction shot which shows how a younger character responds to someone else interacting with them. We first hear the dialogue of the other character before the scene cuts to a close up of the younger character, so we can clearly see how she reacts to him - her expression tells us she is annoyed and she talks back to him with an emphasis on how she speaks, which is a more restricted form of language. While this also tells us that she could be less intelligent than other characters, it shows us how she might respond to everyone and in turn shows us how the age group talks to other people.
Mise-en-scene
The clothes that the boys are wearing give the impression that they are all fashion conscious and troublemakers, as they are depicted as
wearing the same things that teenagers tend to wear on the streets. This includes expensive footwear and jackets that conceal objects
(such as knives in this extract) that are commonly associated with this age group and people who cause trouble or harm to others. In
addition, the group of boys are all wearing similar-style clothes which could mean that they are part of a gang, further emphasising the
idea that they are troublemakers. As well as this, the boy who seems to have the most authority within the group is wearing a very bright
coloured jacket that is almost red, which often symbolizes aggression or violence.
The idea that this age group is aggressive is also shown using close up and medium close up shots, which show us the actors' facial expressions and body language towards each other and to other people. From this we can tell that the single boy is the least aggressive as he uses non-threatening gestures while he is on the phone and smiles while talking, as opposed to the group of boys which glower and push each other. When the group of boys surround the single boy a medium shot shows them boxing them into a smaller space, as well as looking threatening and their gestures imply that they will act violently. However, the single boy has withdrawn body language, such as pulling his shoulders in to look smaller, while he is being spoken to, and looking away from the boys' faces as he is spoken to.
The age group is represented as being less emotional and uncaring with the way the actors are place in regard to each other - although the group enters a very close proximity with the single boy it is not a particularly intimate moment as their actions are aggressive. After this incident the two groups keep their distance from each other; the boys are on the opposite side of the street and the girl does not get very close to the single boy once he has been stabbed. In addition, the girl pushes the older man away once he gets too close, implying that he is in her personal space. Bceause the characters stay away from each other,the audience is given the idea that this age group is cold and unfeeling toward others.
Camera work
The use of camera work enables us to see that the age group is aggressive and confrontational as the camera is shooting from a higher angle when the group surrounds the single boy. As well as looking down on the boy we get the impression that he has very little power in this group
and that he is feeling uncomfortable; as well as this the shot is a medium close up and we are shown how close everyone is standing to each other as well as the expressions of the characters, with the single boy looking worried and defensive. In addition, we
can see that the main character is standing in the middle of the frame being surrounded by the other boys, who are taking up more space,
which further emphasizes that the group of boys is very confrontational:
Another way that the camera shows us that social group's aggression is the tracking shot, which expresses panic and worry. The parties are each being followed by the camera to show that they are moving; the actors' movements show how fast they are going and what they are doing at the same time, which emphasizes aggression (for example facial expressions and body language). As can be seen in the below still, the group of boys have their hands in their pockets and are running, which shows that they are hurrying but not afraid.
Alternatively, age is also shown as being hardworking with a long shot that shows him walking away from a sports center, implying that he is conscious about his education and is willing to work. Additionally, he is shown as being caring with a close up that shows his facial expressions when he is smiling and non-threatening gestures such as waving his arms. The dialogue also contributes to this with "you know I love you" - overall he is shown as being a person who cares about others.
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