Media Essays

Text: Slumdog Millionaire 
Question: Genre 
Essay: Directors are so important when it comes to making a film. The reasons why are that they shape how they film is made and completed, meaning that they have control over most things that happen in the production and mostly have control over editing. They have an influence on the cast and crew working on the film which in turn will affect how it is made and produced.A director can reinforce and emphasise themes, by giving scripts the meaning that they want and also control the mode and tone of the film. Motifs and images often occur in the directors films. For example Danny Boyle, the director of Slumdog Millionaire is known for using Ewan McGregor, John Hodge and Alex Garland in his work. He also as certain themes such as crime and breaking the law and also escaping something in life. There are various visual styles in Danny Boyle's work that occur throughout his different films such as close-ups, chase scenes at the beginning of a film and Iconography, in which he sometimes creates his own. There is plenty of evidence that suggests that Slumdog Millionaire is in fact a romantic drama. For example, the near kiss at the end of the film is a typical convention to a romantic drama. Also the use of close up and the fact that the idea of destiny is constantly repeated throughout the film. There are clear influences from Bollywood films on Slumdog Millionaire. Bollywood normally refers to Hindi speaking cinema and is one of the largest film producers in the world and is a mix of the old name Mumbai(Bombay) and Hollywood. The usual conventions in a Bollywood film would include star crossed lovers, angry parents, kidnappers, conniving villains and siblings separated by fate.Traditionally there is no sound recorded on the set of a Bollywood film and is normally recorded in a studio.There is always a dance sequence in a Bollywood film and the hero/heroine will always perform with a troupe of supporting dancers.This is a convention of Bollywood that has made its way into Slumdog Millionaire. At the end of the film there is a dance scene which is known as the Jai Ho routine. The scene is an obvious homage to Bollywood through the dance sequence which is traditional Indian dancing fused together with western influences. There is a dance troupe behind the two main characters and the mise en scene of the scene transforms the old train station that it takes part in to a and explosion of colour. Characters disappear and reappear in certain shots creating a surrealism expected in Bollywood dance scenes. The actors that play Jamal and Latika throughput the film also appear and can be seen as a partly playing tribute to that part of the characters lives. Prem and Mamon take the part of the conventional conniving evil characters normally seen in a Bollywood film. The theme of fate and destiny also runs throughout the film which is another influence borrowed form Bollywood.= including the theme of long lost relatives an loved ones. Some people have criticised the film for being little more than a glorified advert for the successful gameshow Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Celador who is the producer of the gameshow was also one of the lead production companies for the film . Some felt this justified the criticisms of the movie as a commercial promoting a brand. However, the show can be seen as a plot device in which the story and the characters are built around. The uniqueness of WWTBAM makes it perfect tpo tell this story. The mise en scene, camera and editing for the part of the film that the gameshow is featured juxtapose Jamal's life in Mumbai. The questions progress like chapters of a story and provide opportunities for new sequences and new character developments. The multiple choice seems irrelevant as he only has one choice to make as he already knows the answers, this reinforces the them of destiny as for him to choose would be the opposite of fate. The use of the choice 'Phone a Friend' creates dramatic tension and places the enigma code Will Latika get the phone in time? The climax of the movie is the moment in which they speak on the phone. Ask the audience provides the audience with the character development of Prem and how he will do anything in order to prevent Jamal from winning the game.He sees Jamal as a threat to his image and reputation.It is at that moment that he is presented as the villain in the plot. Ask the audience shows that Jamal has no former education and is used to develop his character. There is also elements from romantic dramas that are present in the film. For example, Iconography such as the kiss at the end, however this can be argued as being a Bollywood influence as the characters are not seen kissing as it ends just before they do. Latika fits into the Propps character type "Princess', Jamal is always trying to save her and she is won at the end just as the money is. There is no open ended narrative ending and all lose ends from throughout the film are tied up which is a convention seen in a typical romantic drama. 
Completed: YES Word Count: (Highlight essay, look bottom left corner) 892 Grade: