How far does the impact of the films you have studied for this topic depend on distinctive uses of film techniques? [35] 

City of God, directed by Fernando Meirelles uses distinctive cinematography to show the uncertainty of living in the City of God. For example, in the opening scene of City of God, the scene starts with complete darkness and then flashes to an extreme close up of a knife being sharped on a stone. The use of this can suggest to the audience that everyone in the City is living on a knifes edge, and everything is uncertain. Knifes have connotations of violence and weapons,which are a big part of the film, and gives the audience a first glimpse of what life is like in the city.The use of the fast editing could imply that life goes by like a blink of an eye in the City of God and peoples lives are short, due to violence. 
The Director also gives the film a sense of hopelessness. In the opening scene, a chicken is tied to a pole, this could suggest that everyone is caged into the city. The use of the cuts and shots of chickens being killed and plucked could imply that in the City of God you have no choice but the stand by and watch people like you get killed. When the chicken escapes it gets followed by a crowd of people, which could imply there is no escape from the City as when you try someone always brings you back. The director uses floor level tracking shots of the chicken when it escapes as it puts you into the position of the chicken, the low angles give the City a maze like affect which adds emphasis to the caged and trapped feeling that is placed on the scene. 

How far does the impact of the films you have studied for this topic depend on distinctive uses of film techniques? [35] 

City of God, directed by Fernando Meirelles uses distinctive cinematography to show the uncertainty of living in the City of God. For example, in the opening scene of City of God, the scene starts with complete darkness and then flashes to an extreme close up of a knife being sharped on a stone. The use of this can suggest to the audience that everyone in the City is living on a knifes edge, and everything is uncertain. Knifes have connotations of violence and weapons,which are a big part of the film, and gives the audience a first glimpse of what life is like in the city.The use of the fast editing could imply that life goes by like a blink of an eye in the City of God and peoples lives are short, due to violence. 
The Director also gives the film a sense of hopelessness. In the opening scene, a chicken is tied to a pole, this could suggest that everyone is caged into the city. The use of the cuts and shots of chickens being killed and plucked could imply that in the City of God you have no choice but the stand by and watch people like you get killed. When the chicken escapes it gets followed by a crowd of people, which could imply there is no escape from the City as when you try someone always brings you back. The director uses floor level tracking shots of the chicken when it escapes as it puts you into the position of the chicken, the low angles give the City a maze like affect which adds emphasis to the caged and trapped feeling that is placed on the scene. 

does John Hughes' recurring theme of 'alienation' make him an auteur?   

   

projector: picture of John Hughes  

   

   

Speaker: John Hughes is most famously known for his dramatic comedies that with an optimistic approach show the life of teenagers and the life they live. The Breakfast club holds the legacy of being one of the best teen films ever made (13) with its insight into the teenagers home life and the emotions they bottle up. In a decade that revolved its films around films about killers and sex lusting teenagers it was good to have teenagers portrayed as just normal kids who have there own problems and change peoples outlook on them (16). Thought many of John Hughes films he uses the theme of alienation on his characters, he makes them outcasts and exploding with teenage angst, making all his characters relatable to the audience the films are targeted at, but they do not only appeal to the younger generation, his films have a certain element about them that draws every type of person in, maybe its because everyone routes for the underdog, which many of his characters are.  

An auteur is a person, usually a director, who was able to stamp his own identity upon a film despite the commercial pressures within the studio system, whose individual style and complete control over all elements of production give a film its personal and unique stamp. John Hughes fits all the criteria for this as all his films have running themes, such as misunderstanding, high school, stereotypes and neglect, he also uses one actress, Molly Ringwood, in many of his films. Hughes style is recognizable to anyone who has seen his films, and in the time that he made his films, put a fresh new look onto films of that decade, he did not falter to the pressure of demand and brought something that would envetually become some of the most iconic films of this century , shining new light onto the real life of teens and high school and the problems they face, educating every generation of what it is like, but with a witty and comical feel to it as well, many of his films have an element of romance in, with the underdog coming on top at the end, which supports his audience as most people feel like an underdog so they seem themselves and identify with his characters, helping boost his success by relating to his audience better. 

   

   

Projector: clip from The breakfast Club (1) [6 mins 13 secs]  

   

speaker: This scene is a major part of John Hughes legacy, in the scene you can clearly see and hear the teens talking about how they feel isolated and misjudged, how they follow the stereotype and live up to expectations to make other people happy. Brian, who is the stereotypically geeky kid, starts the scene by talking about when they start school on Monday, are they all still going to continue the friendship that they started that day or are they going to go back to there stereotypical groups they belong to. You can tell by all the characters faces, which are shown one by one as he asks the question that even though they all want to stay friends that they wont because high school is based on cliques and clicks that they all belong to (7), and for them to break the barrier that is built up by society would alienate them more than they all ready feel. John Hughes alienates his character in the film, which overall makes them more popular to his audience and more relatable, which in the end made his films the success they are, because people can relate and understand the character and use them as support and an ecape from there lifes, and get involved in someone elses life that is going through the same thing, and since John gave all his films a happy ending it gave hope to his audience.  

   

  

projector: pictures of sixteen candles(2) and Ferris Buellers day off(3)  

   

  

speaker: another two examples of teenage angst in Hughes films is Ferris Bueller and sixteen candles, in Ferris, the protagonist fakes illness and takes a legendary day off school, with his principle chasing after them(3). In sixteen candles, the protagonists family forgets its her birthday and she is granted 16 wishes to use by the end of the day, which starts to get messy (2). Both main characters hold a lot of angst and both have the theme of misunderstand from adults, Ferris is assumed to be a trouble maker and both parents in sixteen candles are absent, in a way both characters act out for attention.   

Not on was Hughes films entertaining, they also taught a generation, which were being brought up in a time of Hollywood being obsessed with sex drugs and crime, the clicks and cliques of adolescence, for example, The Breakfast Club taught us that no matter you group you belong to, you can find common ground with anyone, in the scene where they are all sitting down talking, each of the characters have problems going on, such as Brian tried to kill himself because he got a B on a test, another is being pressured into the jock lifestyle, one is getting beaten by his dad and another is bullied for how she dresses and acts, but at the end of the film they all make friends and hope to continue the friendship after school starts again on Saturday. He showed teens that its okay to be unusual and angsty, its part of growing up, and everyone is going through it, it also taught teens and parents alike that adults and youth don't see eye to eye, but its okay because it happens to everyone, such as in Ferris Bueller the principle is so convinced that Ferris is misbehaving that he devote his whole day to finding him out, he just assumes that he is up to no good.(14), Hughes wanted to help and support the vunerable and confused youth and show them that they aren't alone and in the end everything will be alright, at the end of his film the underdog always wins, like in Sixteen Candles, the underdog gets the boy, which normally its the other way around, which shows that he wants to break tradition and give his films a more realistic approach, Sixteen Candles ends with the protagonist getting picked up by the good looking boy that she likes, show that in the end things will turn out the way you want them, you just have to keep trying.   

   

  

projector: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZGWitqn9ds (12)  

   

  

Many of Hughes films are critically acclaimed for the realist picture of youth and angst that he shows, winning over the hearts of many, not only did it give him multiple film contracts with big companies, it also won him the title of the king of angst. A lot of his films star Molly Ringwood, who in an interview (11) talks about how unorthodox his approach to film was and how he helps different views and politics towards films and the characters he created. This approach cause a significant change to the social and cultural deportation of teens in cinema, in the current decade and decades to come. (10) All of Hughes films take place in a town he created, which almost helps link all the characters up, and shows that every type of person has problems. (6) He uses stereotypes and recurring themes to push forward to the audience that everything is not as it seems, that people who seem happy may not be, this is also empathized by the recurring them of neglectful parents and acting out for attention, this may of also taught parents that they need to pay more attention to thee kids. Many film makers started taking on Hughes style through out the years, for example, Clueless, which was released in the 90's, has many elements of Hughes films, such as sterotypes and underdogs, neglectful parents and high school, Hughes shaped a whole new genre of film which to this day is still popular.  

   

In conclusion, John Hughes is an Auteur as he uses reoccurring themes throughout his films and fits the criteria for an auteur, John puts a personalized stamp on his film, which is recognizable to anyone, he makes films in his own style and a passion for depicting the true life of a teen, through angst and alienation, over the years he taught many generations about the struggles of puberty and the stereotypes and cliques of youth. His constant use of misfits and underdogs helped support and entertain generations to come and help educate those that feel alinated themseleves that its okay and everyone goes through it, his films will go on to be legandary for years to come and will continue to help and entertain the audience, giving them hope with his witty and uplifting films, and happy endings, Hughes will remain to be one of the best directors of his time and the king of teen cinema.  

   

   

A2 film studies coursework 

  

does John Hughes' recurring theme of 'alienation' make him an auteur? 

  

1. The Breakfast Club; I chose this film due to the fact that the main 5 characters are all in detention, being punished for going against the rules, this feel outline and describes the issues that the characters are going through and outlines the social issues for teenagers in the decade that the film was made. All the characters feel misunderstood.  This is a running theme in Hughes films as all the main characters are misunderstood and misbehave to compensate for it.  

2. sixteen candles; this film shows the anxiety that girls feel towards sex and popularity. The main character in this film is struggling with her family not paying attention to her and the anxiety she feels towards losing her virginity as she sees it as something you have to do it at 16. The film takes small problems and blows them up to the way teenagers think. This film uses the common narrative of Hughes films, for example, parents and kids never understand each other, but always ends with a happy ending, such as The Breakfast Club, who all suffer problems with parents. 

3. Ferris Bueller's day off; I chose this film as Ferris is an outcast that just wants a day to feel extraordinary, in the film Ferris take a day of school by calling in faking to be sick, which I'm sure many of the audience can relate to. He goes on a big adventure travelling the city and doing fun thing that many of the views would dream of doing. The film follows many of Johns themes, such as the underdog finally gets the girl, which he does by a big dance number at the end. This film will be useful because it shows Ferris as alienated and doing something that he has always wanted to do, and coming out on top at the end of the movie. 

4. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/08/movies/08appraisal.html; This article highlights how john Hughes' films capture — with a winning mixture of optimism and melancholy, with a generosity of spirit tempered by a punitive sense of right and wrong — something essential in the experience of youth. I will use this to further my point that John alienates his characters but always makes them the winner at the end of the film. This will be useful as it helps make the point that Hughes captured the teenage generation in the right light and made people feel more accepted.  

5. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/john-hughes-teen-angsts-1980s auteur/article4310797/; This article discusses about how John Hughes not only took teens seriously as emotional beings, but also as consumers. It also discusses about how John gave teenagers hope by, showing  us the dark corners of his characters' lives, but always with these joyous, possibility-filled endings. I think John Hughes wanted to tell teenagers, I understand these years are tough but here is the path you could take to find happiness. This will be useful as it highly that Hughes aims this themes and narratives at the teen audience and try to show them that its okay to be different.  

6. http://www.atthecinema.net/directors-cut-john-hughes; This article discusses about the common themes and places running through all his films, such as they are all set in a mythical town, and have a constant running theme of public school and neglect from parents. I will use this to back up my point that he is an auteur as he uses running themes through out his films.  

7. http://www.npr.org/2009/08/07/111646695/director-john-hughes-was-philosopher-of-puberty: This article discusses about how john Hughes is he Philosopher of Puberty, the Auteur of Adolescent Angst. it also discusses about how it confides to common stereotypes of teen films such as different cliches and groups, and follows the stories that the unpopular underdog gets the girl in the end. I will use this to back up my points that Hughes uses alienated characters in his films.  

8. Andrew Bulters film studies; This book explains auteur theory and the origin of the theory it explains what it actually is and how it is used. Fore example it states "An auteur was a person, usually a director, who was able to stamp his own identity upon a film despite the commercial pressures within the studio system, this gives a clear explanation on what the theory is and uses different auteurs to explain the theory better to the reader. I will use this to show that he follows the criteria.  

9. John Hughes: A life in Film; This book discusses about John Hughes life and his ideas behind the films and the impact they had, the book uses the statement that John Hughes said There's no way I'm going to end a movie on a negative note, which shows he is an auteur every move he makes has to have a happy ending . This will help backing my point that his films follow a narrative structure.  

10. John Hughes and Eighties cinema; This book goes into full length analysis of John Hughes films , it analysis pictures and discussing their social and cultural significance in the wider context of the decade and his prominent contribution to cinema. The book concludes with a detailed analysis of Ferris Bueller s Day Off, a film which is considered to be among Hughes most critically successful works and also one of his most structurally refined. This will help me explain how Ferris contributes to Hughes style.  

11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jat1jXjU4dg; This interview is Molly Ringwald, the actress that plays many of the female leads in John Hughes films, talking about working with director John Hughes. The director's unorthodox approach to Hollywood and comedy, and the mysterious politics of Hughes are discussed with Ringwald in this excerpt from the Talk Show interview, hosted by Harper Simon. This will help as it gives an inside view of the production of Hughes film.  

12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZGWitqn9ds: This video talks about Hughes' realistic depiction of high school life was a hit with teens, winning popular praise and critical acclaim. The film led to a multiple-picture contract with Paramount for Hughes, as well as the creation of Hughes' own production house. Sixteen Candles became the first in a string of Hughes films set in or around high school, including The Breakfast Club (1985), Pretty in Pink (1986), Weird Science (1985) and Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986). This will be useful as it includes all my focus films and talks about the common setting of high school.  

13. Teen Movies: American Youth On Screen: This book has a whole chapter on John Hughes and his movies. It discusses about how and why his movies are iconic and the way he portrays his characters.It praises him on his realistic representation on youth and the standards that he has set for future teen films. On of the main focuses in the chapter was the legacy of The Breakfast Club and the title it still holds of being one of the best teen movies around. This will be useful as it talks about the impact his films had on a generation.  

14. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kevin-smokler/john-hughes-the-audacity_b_261699.html: This article discusses about how John Hughes taught a generation a lesson about cliques and classes. It states that he alienated his character in The breakfast Club and how one of his messages in every film made by John Hughes is that parents and kid do not understand each other and never will. I will use this to further my point that he alienates his character so that the audience can relate.  

15. Don't You Forget About Me: The documentary discusses about the journey of a group of young filmmakers who go on journey into John Hughes work, documenting their search through interviews of the people with whom Hughes had worked and fans of his films. Those interviewed include Ilan Mitchell-Smith, Ally Sheedy, Judd Nelson, Kelly Le Brock, Mia Sara, Alan Ruck, Kevin Smith, Roger Ebert, and Jim Kerr of the band Simple Minds. This will be useful as it gives views of people who worked along side him and got a better view of his ideas for the films and intentions.  

16. http://www.rogerebert.com/rogers-journal/john-hughes-when-youre-16-youre-more-serious-than-youll-ever-be-again: I am using this magazine article as it discusses about how after many films about killers and sex lusting teenagers it was good to have teenagers portrayed as just normal kids who have there own problems and change peoples outlook on them. It discusses about how they are all targeted to teens and for them to finally be taken seriously. This will help with my point as it shows that all his films are aimed for a certain type of audience and it has a serious element of a teenagers life.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                           

REJECTED ITEMS  

Home Alone: I rejected this film as it does not involve a teen and doesn't involve school or cliques, which are the main themes of John Hughes films. The film is also set in New York and not the imaginary town that the other films are mostly set in. The film does not link to any o the other films and only involves the parents and children not understanding each other.  

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ywsajx7jqAMC&pg=PA19&lpg=PA19&dq=are+john+hughes+films+repetitive&source=bl&ots=wNjvaObHN6&sig=jqm26J7jvtzUqmBvGtZ4ctx3cpM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiI9NnV68DPAhWnK8AKHUZxAGEQ6AEIMTAE#v=onepage&q=are%20john%20hughes%20films%20repetitive&f=false: I rejected this item as it talks about how John Hughes' representation of females in teen movies are repetitive and are all " daddys girls". Even though it talks about the clique of girls in films, it doesn't talk about the individuality that each of the characters have and how they are alienated in the films.  

http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/11/how-home-alone-ruined-john-hughes/415623/: I rejected this as it only targets John Hughes home alone. Even though it proves a point that Home Alone ruined the genre that he was best known for, it isn't relevant to my question at this time. It also doesn't mention my chosen films that i am using for my answer.  

Theories of Authorship: I rejected this item as I already have a book on this subject and already have enough quotes from the book that I do not need another one. My first book explains everything I need to answer my question. 

Uncle Buck: I rejected this film as it has nothing to do with the point I am trying to make and is a completely different  genre of film. It doesn't have any of the key elements that any of my focus films has and the main character is a man not  teen. although it has the comedy element most of his films have, it is not a teen movie so is not relevant.