The thriller that we chose was based around an action/crime sub genre. Therefore, the main social groups represented consist around a stereotypical male dominated group. There are three characters in the opening of the thriller, all from ethnic backgrounds. Ethnicity wasn't a stereotype that we used in the making of our film.
- Crime boss/mob leader - between the ages of 25-35
The crime boss is shown to be the most powerful in the opening. He is equipped with a shirt and tie, not showing any parts of his body apart from the chin below. The mis en scene creates his status, as his limited appearance proves that he is worthy of holding a high status. When compared to the rest of the characters, We can see that his dress code is according to a middle class male, implying wealth and power. This is generally how a mob boss would tend to be seen, following the stereotypes of a working class male who has been associated in the crime life, making it from rock bottom to the highest peak.
He also gives a strong appearance not only through mis en scene, but also through sound. his voice is deeply toned, using simple vocabulary, to give away the crime sense. sophisticated language may have resulted in a softer disguise which would have taken away the hard on character that is being implied. We can hear the crime boss talk about taking away lives by giving his hit-man large sums of money, following the idea of contract killers and crime boss ideology. it also results in a violent lifestyle, surrounded by knife crime, gun crime and murder.
Although his screen time is the shortest, as an audience we are able to identify the social group that he represents as an individual. he represents a high status criminal, who would tend to have associates, people taking care of his finance, hit-men and more aspects a crime lord would have.
Looking at previous mob hit-men in the 1900's (Sicilian hit-men in America) such as Carlo Gambino, Tommy Luchesse etc, They all had similar things in common. Their dress code would be sophisticated but also strengthening their appearance as a Mafia boss. Money would usually be the main subject, revolving only around people who have wealth or access to wealth. Associates would be either family or close friends, keeping their social life restricted to only the people they can make a living out of. Settling down with a wife and kids are aims of some mob bosses, but not keeping them away from casino's, clubs and other similar forms of activities. women may be seen as the sensitive side of the person, someone that can help repair emotions and feelings. All of these aspects can be implied through less than a minute of screen time, due to previous stereotypes gathered from real life figures.
The mob leader is represented in a negative way as all the aspects of the stereotypical lifestyle contribute to this. However, in the crime world, mob bosses may be seen as role models, relating to the lifestyle that is lived. it generalises anti social behaviour.
- The hitman - between the ages of 20-27
The hitman is seen as a servant or slave to the crime boss. He is one who follows strict orders from higher ranks. The type of people he represents are unemployed men who do not have a source of income, resorting to crime and violence. however, a person like the hitman would show a person who proves that he is worthy of being payed for, by doing chores or jobs for members of one particular group. His ranks in the mob leadership is very low, meaning the lifestyle he lives is far more restricted than the lifestyle of the crimeboss, due to set boundaries. His wealth would not be very large, but enough to buy clothes, pay rent, eat and feed a family. therefore, his costume was urban based, containing a hoodedjacket, jeans and trainers. He represents a small scaled, discreet social group, as the things he would do for a living would be between himself, avoiding the law and sticking to the rules of the crime family he is involved in. In the past, this type of ranking structure was common, in America, England, Italy and Russia. mafia bosses were those who were capable of handling business. Most leaders started from the lowest ranks to the highest, and the ambition that the hitman shows are similar but in the modern day.
The outlaw occupation that he involves himself in represents a negative social group. the type of social group that is being formed are those that the media resent, such as gangs. Drugs, violence and money craving are things that people in similar social groups would feel the necessity to do and have. The aim of his role was to expose what people do or are forced to do. Negativity was not trying to be shown but was, due to the reality that surrounds us within society today.
- The victim - also between the ages of 25-35
The victim is the most important person when defining the social group he represents. he represents a group of victims, who suffer from abuse and violence. he portrays a strong person from a working class background who is a victim of criminals, with a past that could be almost traumatising. His character can represent various social groups within different ages.
He could represent a type of kid or teenager that does not have a happy social life, keeping their social life between social workers and family. although the character is shown to be an elderly male, his role in the film may imply that he may have had suffered a form of bullying in his younger years.
As he is shown to be elderly, he also represents elderly males in an urban area who suffer from poverty, engaging in criminal activities that backfire on them within the criminal society. the social group that he shows overall are negative but in a sympathetic sense. As a working class male, he may not have access to jobs in the urban area he lives in. Some victims of crime in real life are victims of criminals themselves because they engage in criminal activities that they cannot handle, just so that they can survive with food, shelter etc.
the final social group he could represent are former gang members (dropouts). this can be viewed upon positively, as his attraction to crime is now repelling towards a legit life, although he has to carry out crimes to to clear obstructions to live a peaceful life.
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