Research

Jack Miller Questionnaire

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/W88C7BP



Drug Use Among Young People in the UK

From these pie charts we can conclude that the number of children who try drugs is decreasing every year. In 2001 there are statistics to show that 29% of children aged 11 to 15 had tried drugs. Since then the number has been decreasing. 

Some people believe that by seeing drugs in the media influences children’s attitude towards drugs. Many are worried that children will think it is “cool” to do drugs or will feel pressured by their peers in to experimenting. 

 

We decided to look at the statistics to see if these worries were true. From this evidence we can see that this is not the case. Children are exposed to many forms of media from a young age, some things not appropriate. However, this has not had a negative effect on the younger generation. An example of this is the reduction in children trying drugs.

It was important for us to find these statistics before deciding to base our film trailer around drug use and the problems it causes. Although we are trying to depict the negative side of drugs it is important to see how we would be influencing our audience. Despite our trailer having a certificate we must still be cautious as media is widely accessable to much younger children. It would be ignorant to think that a certiticate would stop those who are too young watching our production. Therefore, it was an incentive to find out whether our media would have an adverse effect on them.

Questionnaire Results

Ken Loach

Ken Loach is a well known director who is most famous for his social realism work. He has directed and been involved with many films and television filmography. Often the work he produces is controversial even through it is a true depiction of real life stories and events. He has faced opposition because of the political angle he takes on some of his work.

It is very important to Loach that his work is a genuine view of realism. A unique habit of his is to hire actors that have more life experience so they can portray the characters in the way he wants. Another method he uses is not giving the actors the whole script. Often he would not give the script to the actor till a few days before the scene was shot. He feels it is important to shoot the film in the order it will be shown as it will make it easier for the actors to understand how the character is feeling as events unfold. He encourages them to express themselves naturally and honestly. By not revealing the whole scene to the actors it enables them to react in the way they think their character would in that situation. This means it is a genuine reaction. Sometimes, scenes appear not to be scripted in a Ken Loach film. In reality the script is written so carefully and is hardly ever improvised. It shows how much thought has gone in to getting the right dialogue to make it believable.

Loach has strong political views which also contribute to his ability to make powerful films based on reality. In a 2011 interview with the Guardian newspaper he said "It makes you angry, not on your own behalf, but on behalf of the people whose voices weren't allowed to be heard. When you had trade unions, ordinary people, rank and file, never been on television, never been interviewed, and they're not allowed to be heard, that's scandalous. And you see it over and over again. I mean, we heard very little from the kids in the riots. You hear some people being inarticulate in a hood, but very few people were actually allowed to speak". From this quotation it is clear that giving people who wouldn’t usually be heard a voice. It explains his inspiration to create films that a realistic. In this way he can portray what may be their side of the story and raise awareness about their situations. 

Films Loach Is Most Well Known For 

Poor Cow

Kes

Looks and Smiles

Riff-Raff

My Name is Joe

Sweet Sixteen

Route Irish

Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel

The use of a tunnel in our trailer was significant to highlight the journey our protagonists goes on during the film. We found a perfect location for this in London. We feel it really captures city life of youth who do not have much.