textual analysis

From watching both "Sket" and "Sucker Punch", i can gauge some similarities between the ways that women are represented throughout both films, but the purpose for the way they are represented are different. I believe that women in "Sucker Punch" are made to appear masculine for the purpose of visual style, and to make the film more entertaining, although some times contradicting itself with more feminine aspects. Were as "Sket" represents its women as masculine for the purpose of story and character arcs. The films both manage to pull off the masculinising of their female characters by using "Mes En Scene" (specifically the costumes) and cinematography, especially via the method of male gaze.

In the first hyperreality scene scene in sucker "Sucker Punch" were "Baby doll" is put into a oriental japan, and she is forced into a battle against three samurai mechs, it is the first example of visual effects to create a felling of masculinity. This is done by making "Baby doll" appear to have super human strength. Also she wields a samurai sword whilst fighting the mechs, the samurai sword can be seen as a phallic object which is a form of empowerment as well as the guns she uses, also phallic. Although the use of mes en scene and editing have been used to make "Baby doll" appear strong and more masculine, the cinematography still views her through the "male gaze", including allot of low angle shots of her backside, up skirt shots and the camera following her "form". Zack Snyder's use of costume in "Sucker Punch" contradicts their built up masculinity along with the cinematography. This is probably so they can "appear" manly (with their strength) but look feminine to be a more interesting viewing (via costume). However, the scene in "Sket" were Danielle and her crew beat up to guys who are hassling Kay, their masculinity is shown mainly trough the violence they deal out apon the two guys and the way they are dressed wit slick back hair and hoodies. The masculinisaton of the female characters in "Sket" is necessary for the story and how they are suppose to be represented, were as in "Sucker Punch" its purely to make it more interesting.

Not long after Kay meets Danielle and her crew she is put into a initiation to join Danielle's gang, this consists of Kay having to steal money from a near by store. Now, the act of thievery is not usually associated with female characters in movies (especially mainstream films) so having Kay have to steal at this point in the movie starts of the progressive masculinisation of Kay throughout the film, seeing as up to this point she is still seen as quite feminine. Also with the theme of theft is all the "Stolen item scenes" in "Sucker Punch". In this movie, "Baby doll" has to go into this hyperreality state (were most of the masculinisation of the women is shown in this film) whilst a item is stolen in order for them to escape the asylum. Now not only is the theory of theft being more of a masculine scenario still in play here, but also deception. Now the contradiction here is that in order to steal the items "Baby doll" must deceive the target with her dancing to distract them for the theft to be pulled off. So while a masculine act is being committed, a female act has to be done. This isn't the same for "Sket", its a matter of brute force, with no female deception involved.

In all the "Sucker Punch" hyperreality scenes, there is always conflict and violence. Acts of violence are a extremely masculine and are the main way throughout the whole of  "Sucker Punch". But they are completely irrelevant as the story could progress exactly the same, and are deffinetly only used for entertainment purpose. But, never the less, I'm going to compare the "Dragon scene" as it best supports my case. "Baby doll" "Rocket" and "Sweet pea" are seen in this scene fighting waves of orcs in a castle keep, they all use guns to fight which are again phallic objects, and show power and dominance. After fighting all these enemy's, "Baby doll" eventually fights a dragon, after a brief fight she stabs it in the head with her sword. This can be seen as a very masculine action as not only is the sword a phallic object but the final blow is a stab to the head, or penetration, again a masculine or phallic action. There are two main violent scenes in "Sket" but the best example is the last scene at a rave were Kay is Finlay going to get her revenge on the man who killed her sister. She plans to do so in a similar way to the "Dragon kill" from the other "Sucker Punch", as she plans to stab him with a flip knife. Again its a act of penetration and the flip knife is a phallic object. Both these scenes are representing the women as having a object of empowerment to make them appear masculine.

The whole story of "Sket" is driven by Kay wanting to get revenge on the guy who killed her sister. I saw this as either a "Women power" revenge or a "Family" revenge, because in "Sucker Punch" there is a somewhat similar scene were not only is "Sweet pea's" sister killed but also "Amber" and "Blondie". I drew a comparison of revenge, with it being quite a dark scenario i saw it as quite masculine but also as its a form of empowerment and drive. Also i saw a feminine aspect of emotion as when the deaths happen in both films, the protagonists seem to break down, i saw this as a overflow of emotion which is usually associated with women. Also the sudden surplus of violence afterwards that both characters dish out may be like a over compensation for the emotions and trauma that they both went through. Obviously in "Sket" the death in necessary but in "Sucker Punch" they aren't. Its at this point i noticed a pattern occur to do with how unnecessary most aspects of "Sucker Punch" are and how its more for entertainment.

Finally, in both films at the very end, both Kay and "Baby doll" become dependent on men again after all that happened. "Baby doll" ends up in the home of the highroller and after trying to escape him throughout the whole film, she decides to just give herself up and becomes dependent on him. Similarly in "Sket", Kay ends up back under the guise of her farther after Danielle is hospitalised. So after the protagonists are made to have the same power as men at the end of the two films, they have it all taken away and are back under a mans control. I noticed how both films finally end up contradicting themselves by doing this as it was all about man-like power being given to women, only to have it stricken away again. I thought that it was metaphoracal way of saying that "No matter what women do they will always end up under the rule of a man", which is true in this case. These particular scenes seem to show women as subserviant, asthough they are free to dream but they cant escape.

The representation of masculinity in the women of "Sket" and "Sucker Punch" is used for different purpose. In Sucker Punch the women are masculines for visual purposes, as you are meant to feel as if the women are being empowered so that they can conquer all the obstacles that they have to face. This can only be acquired by the characters becoming more masculine, but they are not necessarily for example Gun fights, sword play etc. "Sket" shares a similar concept of women having to be more like men to survive, but it is more for the actual narrative. All the fighting in "Sket" is necessary as the women are supposed to be shown as more powerful than men, but "Sucker Punch" rather than representing the masculinity of women it predominately uses visual style to create a spectacle. Also the films contradict themselves by having women appear masculine, to then either use the "male gaze" or take away all their power completely with no regards for what they have been through prior.

9 key frames

Evaluation

Q1. What were the aims of the script & 9 key frames? 

The purpose for the script is to create either a squeal or prequel, disruption or resolution scene of a previous indie film. In my case i made a disruption scene for a prequel to SKET. The script shows my MACRO of the representation of masculinity in women and what particular techniques are used, such costumes, props and juxtaposition between characters. I represented the masculinity of women in my 9 key frames by having my two actress be as different as possible (masculinity whys) to show the juxtaposition between the two characters. The key frames then go on to show a transformation in the more feminine character to show her developing her masculinity. I show this transformation via a montage of the masculine character "Stacy" training the initially more feminine character "Danielle".

Q2. What codes and conventions identified in the textual analysis essay were used in the script & 9 key frames?

I used the conventions that were originally used through out SKET, which were conventions of violence and the conventions of south london stereotypes. I showed these particular conventions by dressing my characters in hoddies, joggers and other types of "south london" related attire. I also colour graded the frames to show the bleakness of the and mysterious vibe of the original crime genre. My location also came into this as i picked a slightly run down council house to portray the conventions of a crime movie and of to relate to previous conventions of the settings in the original movie.

Q3. How was the location report used in the construction of the 9 key frames?

My location report was a extremely influential part of my 9 key frames. The particular settings and locations that i chose were very important in in the terms of how i wanted to represent my characters in them. Seeing as my characters are supposed to be south london girls who are quite burly and hardy, so i decided to set my 9 key frames in a council house and made it look a bit more "urban". I did initially have to re-make my location report because when shooting day came around, the original location became un-available.

Q4. How successful was the script & 9 key frames in achieving the aims?

My script and 9 key frames were relatively successful in terms of how i wanted to convey my MACRO through them. I managed to do most of this through my cinematography and composition to represent masculinity via juxtaposition throughout the frames. I do feel that i could have represented my macro slightly better making the montage based around something violent to better represent masculinity and include more conventions of violence. 

Shank (SKET Prequel) Pitch 2.0

Danielle has just found out that her father killed her mother (via visiting a police station to look into her mothers "mysterious" demise). She is walking home to find her father in the front room clasping a bottle of whisky/wine. An argument breaks out which results in her leaving home to stay with a friend of hers. in this transition of time. Her friend in juxtaposition is far more masculine than her, acting some what like Danielle does in the original movie. she acts like a sort of mentor (like Danielle is to Kay in Sket).

The 9 key frames will show the argument and all of the scenarios of which Danielle is put in making her more masculine over time. (E.g Her at a gym with her friend, or dressing more masculine)

  
Establishing shot
south London street, late afternoon, Danielle is on her way home from the police station after anxiously checking up on the recent case of her mothers demise 2 months ago, were she has just found out the cause of her mothers death was on account of her fathers drunken battery.

Danielle is in a state of fear and rage as she walks home from the police station to confront her father on what had happened to her mother. as she turns into the front door of her house barging open the door, and shouts to her dad on entry...

Danielle: DAAAAD!!??

*brief pause as Danielle scans the hall*

Danielle: DAAAADDD!!!??

It soon dawns on Danielle that her Father had left the house. so she then decides to go to her friend Stacy's house.

Cut to Stacy's house, and Danielle and Stacy are sitting in Stacy's room after Danielle had explained the situation and that she is lead to believe that her father had killed her mother. Stacy stands up and says..

Stacy: Look! your dad is a f***! ever since i first met 'im!

Danielle: What do i do!?

Stacy: i tell you what your going to do. your going to find him, and make him feel what your mum felt.

Danielle: But..But..i..

Stacy: No! im not having it! Your staying with me and first thin tomorrow im toughening you up!

Location Report

Stacy's room (Salisbury house/ Dan's room)

The reason i chose this location in particular is because it is a very it is a very simple "boys" room which when shown in juxtaposition with Danielle's character it will show how different both Danielle and Stacy are.
Also this is in a council area, somewhat similar to the location of the initial film. Keeping the same style of the original film.
It is fortunate for me, with this being a friends house, this location will be easily accessed and actually taking the 9 key frames will also be quite simple.

Danielle's House/Hallway (Salisbury house)

This location is going to be briefly used for the scene were Danielle can't find her dad once she arrived home. Id also like to think that this shot was used to show Danielle's abandonment from her father, losing the only masculine influence she has.
Iv chosen these locations as they both fit how i pictured the scene when i came up with the idea, you can see straight through the hallway to the back of the house. Again these are both easily accessible so there isn't any issue with me using either of these locations in particular.

Street shot (St Albans RD)

This is a relatively simple shot which is just going to have Danielle walking toward the camera. Easily accessible road, quite close to another location iv chosen. There are no specifics to this location, i merely needed a road on which to have this shot.

Gym montage (Leigh fitness suite)

Also, for a part of the 9 key frames, there will be a sort of  "montage" of Stacy taking Danielle to the gym. for this i will use the Leigh fitness suite. Iv chosen this because it is usually associated with men, and all the gym equipment available, it will be a good way to make Danielle appear she is becoming more masculine, so i thought this would be a decent place to shot this scene.
Considering this area is used rather a lot, it will be quite hard to gain access while its not really busy. on the other hand though, it would probably be good if it was busy, and had a bunch of men there because it would help the juxtaposition of my characters.

Transport and Planning