Crime Genre
Francis Ford Coppola was born in 1939 in Detroit, Michigan, but grew up in a New York suburb in a creative, supportive Italian-American family. His father, Carmine Coppola, was a composer and musician. His mother, Italia Coppola (née Pennino), had been an actress. Francis Ford Coppola graduated with a degree in drama from Hofstra University, and did graduate work at UCLA in filmmaking. He was training as assistant with filmmaker Roger Corman, working in such capacities as sound-man, dialogue director, associate producer and, eventually, director of Dementia 13 (1963), Coppola's first feature film.
He is responsible for directing famous crime films such as The Godfather pt ii and part iii. These films are often shot in low light to suit the mood of the genre. Acompanied by fast cars and expensive suits, the crime genre explores dirty business using the finest of tools.
Sam Mendes is another famous director in the crime/ action genre I wish to explore for my opening. Directing films such as The Road to Peridition a very famous crime film exploring once again mafia/ gang like life. A recurring presentation I have found from these films they contain very graphic and erratic violence. And although very violent at times, the mentality and story being presented will often be the most captivating and tense moments. The opening of many gang films consist of the protagonist or person in power being presented first in a peaceful setting which will often turn to a dark place, this initially creates a lot of narrative enigma.
Camera shots are often smooth and hand-held camera in traditional crime films is rare as the violence is meant to seem organised and professional, like business. This is achieved through the use of long shot angles and very organised and smooth camera movement, action scenes being very abrupt and brief.
Steven Knight has been a third director I looked into. Creator of Peaky Blinders and Redemption (2013) Steven is a British screenwrite. In many of his films he also explores night time filming and many of his scenes use smoke and haze to create a very mysterious and unclear shot almost an attempt to mask the character.
Soundtracks in crime films are often guitar based or on the other hand are often peaceful which links to the smooth shots and organised and "clean" violence
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