Research into Crime Plot Lines

 As a group we sat down and looked at all of our research. When looking at our research we noticed that we were limited on research in crime and detective plot lines. This is when we realised that we should do some more research before before we go onto the planning process of our opening two minutes scene By doing this we would then have a better understanding of the plot lines of crime/ detective films.
 When deciding to carry out some more research we also put together some questions that we would link about when watching the trailers of some films. The questions which we came up with were: What tye of characters are there? What is the main topic that the film is based around for example money,drugs,investigations etc.

The City of God (2002)

'Two boys growing up in a violent neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro take different paths: one becomes a photographer, the other a drug dealer.' Provided by IMDb
"1970's: Li'l Zé has prospered very well and owns the city. He causes violence and fear as he wipes out rival gangs without mercy. His best friend Bené is the only one to keep him on the good side of sanity. Rocket has watched these two gain power for years, and he wants no part of it. Yet he keeps getting swept up in the madness. All he wants to do is take pictures. 1980's: Things are out of control between the last two remaining gangs...will it ever end? Welcome to the City of God. Written by Jeff Mellinger <jeffmellinger@astound.net> "   Provided by IMDb

 Topics,Themes are ideas

• War- fighting 
• Conflicts 
• Based on a true story 
•  Covers the factors of life
• Charting the growth of gang members from child hood until adult hood

Key Characters 

• One man who inflitrates a war
• One man becomes a photographer
• Police and Law

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

'Two imprisoned men bond over a number of years, finding solace and eventual redemption through acts of common decency'. Provided by IMDb

Themes and Ideas

• Punishment
• Fightning
• Religion
• Freedom- A better life 
• Relationships- how the two men bond in prision-The friendship between Red and Andy
• Determination- Andy uses a rock hammer to try and break out of the prision.
• Institutional Evil- the cruelty of the guards and of the other prisoners

Key Characters

• Barristers
• Guards of the Prision
• Two prisonsed men who have commited crimes for different reasons
• One of the prisoned men was put in prision for killing his wife and her lover

Similarties

•  Both of the two films are related to punishment
• Both are realted to
•   A Good side an an evil side- Two men in prision and then the friend is trying to keep him on the good side of sanity.

Differences

• In City of God is based around romance
• The Shawshank Redemption is based around crime and being able to get a better life.

From watching these two clips, I now understand what needs to be included into the plot of a film. This will help myself and my group, as we will be able to now put together a good plot, so that our opening two minutes are effective. From choosing two films that have a time difference between them it shows me how films have changed yet still follow the same type of themes. I have also learnt how a few mintues of a film can show many themes.  From this task I am now able to take this information and discuss it with my group. This will help us as we can now use this inforamtion to help us  think about what our main plot line is going to be.