CR Questions- The End

https://docs.google.com/document/d/16wgVgYQvR85JtEsIfRCqTQGByjPAaZdoBxbBqbY-IfE/edit?tab=t.0

1. How do your products represent social groups or issues?

Our film represents social groups and issues by addressing mafias, death, and essentially karma. We address the issue of mafias and how they are dangerous for society. Mafias are practically criminal gangs that are filthy rich and through Tony Montana we exhibit mafias as well as their entanglement in death. We show what they go through in order to get revenge as well as even their day to day activities, such as playing poker in the meantime. We also give the mafias in our film an essence that makes them seem like they have money, the high bidding and the receptionist in Montana’s own home. We also show how mafia workers are so willing to do anything that their bosses ask of them, such as kidnapping Lorenzo and even being warned to not kill him- since that is what Russo’s workers would have done in the first place had they not been warned to simply knock Lorenzo out. We address their danger through the use of guns and exhibiting deaths- not only those of Montana and Russo’s workers, but also through the death of a big mafia such as Tony Monatana himself as well. He effortlessly kills Luka Russo for fun and dies for his crimes as Bianca Russo infiltrates the I Diavoli- as can be very commonly seen in mafias. They are full of death and crime. Karma gets to Tony Montana once Bianca Russo kills him after pretending to his nephew so that she could get vengeance on her brother who was killed by him mercilessly just earlier that day. 

2. How do the elements of your production work together to create a sense of ‘Branding’?

The elements of our production work together to create a sense of ‘Branding’ through many aspects. Whether it be isolating the film and breaking apart all of its elements, or looking at the whole picture and every aspect of the postcard, film, and website together. The film as a whole has many aspects that helped brand the Italian mafia comedy vibe we were going for. We had some use of Italian language throughout when it came to the names of the different mafias as well as through dialogue. It was also taken into consideration to use Italian names for characters in order to truly give off an Italian theme. There were different personas represented by each character that were meant to give off a sense of mafia boss and even some grammar was off in order to further accentuate the ‘immigrant status’ of most mafia bosses. There were guns involved and a little girl with a big gun for comedic purposes. There were also clips of laughter left in the film for comedy purposes as well. In regard to how our branding worked through the perspective of all three domains of media, there was a lot done to promote the film. On the postcard, website, and film, there were similar fonts and techniques of color grading used in order to make everything cohesive. We posted clips of bloopers on our social medias as well as the postcard and other information in the form of links in the bios. Our website had many awards from film festivals as well as pictures of the three group members in the project. There was a section with pictures from the film and a little summary as to what it was about. There was even contact information posted. The postcard included dates for the showings of the film and more information. These are all aspects of our production that worked together to create our sense of a mafia Italian comedy film in our branding.

3. How do your products engage with the audience?

Our film engages with the audience in multiple senses. Not just in the way that it is entertaining, but also in the way that there are many comedic timings that allow for the audience to be fully immersed and enjoying the film. Examples of this are the clips where there are actors laughing and acting at the same time that were left in because they were natural, raw, and hilarious. There were also ironic aspects such as Sarita, who was playing Gia and was super short and young, with a firearm ten times bigger than her. There were multiple scenes that should have been serious, but were full of laughter such as Bianca Russo’s poker scene where she asks who has killed her brother as she pushes everything off of the table. Our actress, Hillary, had to refilm that twice and laughed both times because she simply couldn't take it seriously. That doesn’t make or break the film, but rather makes it raw and honest, something that the audience can resonate with and laugh at.  These kinds of things kept our audience engaged during our film. The website had a lot for the audience to interact with. There were different tabs and sections in the website that led to different things about the film, such as contact information, the film itself, show dates, awards, biographies, a summary of the film, and so much more. There was a lot for the audience to interact with and explore. The postcard allowed for the audience to engage with show times, such as finding details for showings or sharing the information with others. Our social medias were full with pictures from behind the scenes as well as bloopers and sneak peeks. As the audience awaited the film, they also engaged with the process and progress of the film, which makes them feel as though they’re there every step of the way.

4. How did your research inform your products and the way they use or challenge conventions?

The research we conducted in order to produce the film in regard to conventions was tricky. We were using multiple aspects of different genres in order to really tie in what we wanted the final product to look like, and there were some conventions that created conflicts with others and essentially made it difficult to create a product that we were all content with. Comedy, action, and thriller in one was a very difficult process- but one that we were able to get through. Our research allowed us to have thriller aspects such as the praising of the antagonist and suspense, as well as comedy aspects such as contrasting characters, and lastly action aspects such as a clear goal, fights, and shootouts. There were more problems when it came to the lighting- since most thrillers require dark lighting and we used bright lighting. We also had to work really hard with our actors because it was difficult to decide whether or not the characters should be serious as a boss would be in the mafia, or slightly casual in order to maintain a comedic stance that would be easy to navigate into. We soon learned that a character could be serious and funny- through body language, reactions, etcetera. We exaggerated emotions, threw chairs to the ground, had funny deaths, and much more. So whilst we were still keeping alive the presence of all of the genres, we would still be able to deliver a film which we were proud of and happy with. In regard to how the story would be written, it was very hard to stick to a story structure that would make sense with so many different elements, since all genres had different structures. In the end, we mashed up a few sections from each genre and made a combination product.

So this is the end, Sappies...I'm really glad to have been able to spend these last two years with you. I love you all and hope to see you in the future when you watch one of my Oscar winning films. Our journey does not end here. But as of now, for one last time...

XOXO,

            Char