Alex Barker - Audience - Mixtape

Mixtape

Audience

At the start of the sequence we are shown our first character. A close up shot of a young boy who age is not mentioned but can assume of age 13. We see he is listening to music through a set of headphones from a mix tape. Throughout the extract we assume the intended target is for British people. For example the use of diegetic sounds such as the British 60s music from the mix tape can tell the audience that the location as well is set in Britain due to the character voices and mise en scene such as magazines of Britpop bands. We can assume it is set in the 90s as Britpop music was highly around in the 90s. Also this is mainly due to the fact that a large number of children under the age of 13 or so would have had familiarity with cassette tapes and less with the methods of making a mix-tape due to the technology advancing. Another example of the British element to the target audience is strengthened by the fact that the song played is by the British band The Kinks, so assumedly few worldwide audiences would be able to relate to that. Because we only have 3 characters in the extract we can guess from their clothing that there social class is working class. Another example to prove this is that throughout the film there are block of flats in an urban area (judging by the style of building). We can tell that the setting is very much working class, with the characters as well living in modest flats on a basic street. Because of this many of the audience despite may not have a lifestyle the same as this can relate to this.

One of the most remember able edits in the film is the slow motion shot of Ben leaving his door.  The idea of the slow-motion is that it gives the importance of Ben’s every movement and action.  It also makes the look of commitment on his face far more accurate.  This makes the shot is very exaggerated, as he is about to embark on a long journey to deliver the mixtape, when in fact, he is just simply going to the other end of his garden and turns right into the next one along.  However the director used this to give representative of the state of mind of a care-free child.  It is as though he will do anything to deliver the mix tape no matter what as if his entire future with Lilly depends on it.

With the conncection Ben has to Lilly you could argue that the film is a love story despite the fact that both the charaters never interact with each other. Instead they showe the same enjoyment of the mix tape. This shows innocence of the young charaters compared to some people can be shywith each other. The use of Lily’s Mother is the bridge that connects Lilly and Ben togethor. Without her the mix tape would not be with Lilly.