Green Street Hooligans - 3 Scenes Deconstruction

Background

Green Street Hooligans is a 2005 British/American independent film showing the conflict between the Americans and the British and how football in a major influence in our society, and the conflict that it causes.

First look of London - 7.24
Camera Angles 

• The audience are faced with long shots of the character, distancing us from them, but also creating the feel that we are in London ourselves, the city where people tend to avoid each other and avoid contact. 
• Establishing shots of the city are combined with the panning of the camera, allowing the viewer to gain a wider perspective of the city, like it's the first time they are in London, are also taking in the sights at the same time as the protagonist. 

Sound

• Paced classical music that tends to overlap with other sounds to create this distorted effect. Signalising a new start for the protagonist but also highlighting how daunting the experience might be. 
• In the shot of the busy tube, we see many people but no one is talking to each other, this use of no sound is effective to emphasise how isolated people in London can be. 

Editing 

• Jump cutting to see the different aspects of London, lots of these jump cuts to show the viewer that there is a lot to London, cuts from stations to well known aspects such as the tube. 
• Continuity editing is also used to show the development of time on the protagonists journey, and how lots of London can be seen in such a short pace of time. 

Mise en Scene

• We see the main protagonist's paper when he is on the train about Princess Diana, a very important topic in the eyes of the public.
• The police that are used in the scene are instantly recognisable and stand out against the bland outfits that the people in London are wearing. 

Fight 31.20

Camera Angles

• Mid shots are used so we can see the arms and faces of the people so we can see the emotion that they are feeling and the aggression that they are putting into the fight.
• Low angle shots are combined with this so that the viewer can see the legs kicking each other, and also if a man falls down, the camera instantly picks him up. 

Sound

• Shouting is heard from all members of the scene that are involved in a fight, this loud noise is produced by many so the sound resembles that of a football match.
• A fast paced soundtrack is used to increase the tension of the scene and makes the viewer anticipate what is going to happen. 

Editing

• Cross cutting was definitely the most effective method of editing to use within this scene. With this, the audience is able to see the different people fighting, and we can see the main protagonist trying to interact with the fight in the same way as the football hooligans. 

Mise en Scene

• A dark and dismal nature is used in the shot, the lighting creates dark shadows and adds a mysterious element to the scene.
• The characters are all shot in tracksuits, which allows us to create these connotations in our head of rowdy teenagers. 
• The location of the scene is very closeted, hiding the two opposing sides away from the rest of the world. 

Match Decisions 1.00.00

Camera Angles

• There are a series of medium shots used, that have a low density background so the audience can see the location that the characters are in, this shows them in their work professions and contrasts from the stadium setting that they enjoy being in. 
• With the close ups we can see how even in their paid professions, football still remains to be an important aspect in their life, by listening in to the BBC on the radio.

Sound

• Received pronunciation is coming from the radio, we can automatically infer that this is coming from the BBC as this is a common connotation. 
• The characters are quiet and this makes the atmosphere very tense as they wait and listen. 
• When they cheer that West Ham are playing Millwall, there are cheers that have the same tone and volume that would be found at a football match when a goal is scored. 
• Sound bridge is used to when the scenes are edited together.

Editing

• Paralleled editing is used so we see all the characters react to the radio station when they are at work, this is combined with the sound bridge. 

Mise en Scene 

• BBC news in the background juxtaposes the personalities that are connoted by the hooligans. 
• The jobs that are being done include a mechanic, a teacher and someone in a call centre. These are common British jobs that are used.