Script Never Back Down

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media

Unit 26: Film Studies

Assignment 1: Film Analysis

Naveed Hussain

·         A Brief intro to your chosen film – synopsis etc + some info on stars and directors including any relevant theories that might be used to explain their effect on the film

At his new high school, a rebellious teen Jake Tyler is lured into an ultimate underground fighting club in a Backyard Fight, where he finds a mentor in a mixed martial arts veteran. After receiving threats to the safety of his friends and family, Jake seeks the mentoring of a veteran fighter, to train his mind and body for one final no-holds-barred elimination fight with his unrelenting personal nemesis and local martial arts champion Ryan McCarthy.

Director: Jeff Wadlow (born March 2, 1976) is an American film director, screenwriter and producer. He is best known as the writer and director of the 2013 superhero comedy film Kick-Ass 2.

Writer: Chris Hauty is an American screenwriter. He is well known for writing the first never back down and also the sequel

Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco (1996)

Never Back Down (2008)

Never Back Down 2: The Beat down (2011)

Cast

Sean Faris as Jake Tyler, a trouble-prone teenager and the protagonist

Amber Heard as Baja Miller, Jake's love interest

Cam Gigandet as Ryan McCarthy, Jake's rival and the film's antagonist

Djimon Hounsou as Jean Roqua, Max's mentor who agrees to train Jake

Evan Peters as Max Cooperman, a classmate who introduces Jake to MMA and befriends him

Wyatt Smith as Charlie Tyler, Jake's younger brother

Leslie Hope as Margot Tyler, Jake's mother

     

·         An analysis of narrative structure including: character roles and functions. Is the narrative linear and how is this constructed

·         Beginning – At the beginning the hero of the film is not shown that way at the start. Jake Tyler is seen as an aggressive yet emotional character. When the opposing team player mentions his dad that’s just passed away that triggers him straight away and he goes for a brutal hook. That one hook is what creates and begins conflict between himself and Ryan McCarthy.

·         Middle – Throughout the film he is now known by everyone by the fight that he had at his own school and a fight that happened between himself and now his new arch enemy Ryan McCarthy. However he is not left alone because Ryan is always on his back. Therefore Jake has to do something about it. Throughout the main story of this film they mostly use medium and close up shots

·         Ending – After the big final fight. The rivalry has ended. And as you can Jake and Ryan have nodded heads to each other. Showing there is respect towards each other despite all that has happened. This is shown more clearly by the bright music that is being used and smiles everywhere

·         An analysis of how the film conforms to genre or not!

·         From the research I have done on this film it is action/adventure, drama, sports, thriller, drama and teen film. In my opinion action is a genre that fits this film perfectly. Throughout this film I would say the some of the genres I've just mentioned fit this film perfectly some not so much. For example this film is certainly an action packed story.

·         Why choose this film?

I choose the film this is typical story to everyone that has been through it. You move, everything is new, no one knows you and therefore they decide to bully the new kid. However this story is told through the art of martial arts and I am lured in to these kinds of films; stories that are told by involving martial arts.

·         Use as many clips and illustrate your talking head as you want

·         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LYaYTydjI0
Where he noticed by everyone at his new school for having a fight at his previous high school
·         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tadPUnKWhyI
 First fight in a new area
·         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktqosGrS1JY
   Training for beat down fight against nemesis Ryan McCarthy
·         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdIrzmKDJ8g
   Beat down Fights
·         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuL48HfF2UU
 Ending scene

Sinister Overview

The film that makes you look back wherever you go. I watched this the day it came out. not just saying this. Whenever I was at home I use to think he was following me everywhere and was watching my every step. That is how scared I was.

Now in the majority of Horrors/Thriller films they are based in a house, a cosy warm family home. But yet again the creators of these films   flip the tables and make it the exact opposite. The use of exaggerating bright colours at the start and then slowly changing throughout the film making colours, costumes and make up look more dull and boring to set the mood.

The use of one person in the shot not only that but in the night makes it that more frightening.

Always in a horror/thriller they always start off happy and as you can see in the picture above it shows a family together everything looks fine what is there to worry about. However that is what exactly the creator wants to take you in the wrong path and persuade the audience that nothing is going to happen. But good things come to an end and then you must go through hell and torture. That's why I chose this next screenshot that is shown during the film. The two pictures do not connect and don't show any similarities. Which picture do  you think is more daunting and scary. The use of light only being shown on that one figure and on nothing else.