Shane Meadows research

• He was an english fim director screenwriter from Uttoxeter in Staffordshire, born december 1972.
• He started off making short movie clips with a friend before his talents were discovered.
• The majority of his films were set in the midlands area where he grew up as he knows the places, and although the scenes were set in a certain area they were shot elsewhere.
• A lot of his film ideas have come from past experiences so he is able to write in detail about what happend to him in his youth.
• He was nominated for a BAFTA for his hit film 'This is England' and won the British indipendant fim award.

American Beauty notes

Family- the family dont take any notice of the father and are not interested in what he has to say. They ignore him when he tries to speak. The family are also seen as creatures of habit as they follow the same routines, this is shown by the same music constantly played. We can see from family photos that the family used to be together and were once happy with the father in his rightful place, and also we can see that the father and daughter once had a close relationship.
Camera- the camera position slowly moves in on the family when eating dinner to make it feel like we are spying on them.
Diegetic sound- sound within the film
Non diegetic sound- sound over the top.

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• The main character of the film 'Lester Burnham' continues a theme of him being trapped throughout the film, we see him trapped behind behind bars as he is stood at the window and also when his reflection shows on the computer screen which suggests he is again trapped. Also when he is behind the screen in the shower, it is showing he is traped. He then sits in the back of the car when he gets a life to work, this shows he is at the bottom of the family hierachy.
• Colours also play a big part throughout the film, red, white and blue are constantley repeated to possibly represent the american flag. Neutral colours are also used when showing the bedroom, this could be to represent the dull and boring life they have. These boring colours are also used to make the brighter colours stand out more.
• A motif is also repeated throughout the film.