Practical Production Research (Aman)

1. About the text...

What is the text? When was it produced? Who produced/directed it?
The text is a clip from the film 'The Usual Suspects'. It was directed by Bryan Singer and released in 1995.

Who is the target audience? How do you know?
The target audience is middle/working class middle-aged men. This is because: all the main characters in the film are males; it is set in an 'every-day' location; 'every-day' clothing is worn; the film has a very complex storyline which teenagers in particular would not find appealing.

Where would you usually expect to see this text? What channel? Time? etc.
When released, in a cinema. Now on DVDs and any channel really which plays movies. Shown after 9 due to it's 18 certified rating.

2. Different features it has...

What is distinctive about its camerawork, editing, sound, mise-en-scene, etc.?
(Mise-en-scene) What is supposed to be a serious scene is made out to be comical as a result of the characters' approach to the scenario. Each character is dressed moderately average. High key lighting is used. (Sound) Diegetic sound used in the form of dialogue, non-diegetic sound used in the form of the voice-over. A long shot is used when showing all the individuals. A close up is used when showing one individual. Straight cuts are used.

What typical conventions of its genre does it use?
In this particular clip, the setting - A police station.

What elements could you appropriate (borrow) for your production?
The long shot which shows the group as a whole. The close-ups when concentrating on one individual. The voice-over which will aid narrating the scene.