Researching parkour

Parkour techniques used in film “You want to move in such a way…as to help you gain the most ground on…something, whether escaping from it or chasing toward it.” Basic free running moves learnt: Dive Roll The dive roll is a basic technique for free running and parkour.

It is definitely a skill that requires training and practice. An improperly executed dive roll can result in injury and loss of cool points. The ideal parkour dive roll can break your fall; maintain momentum and link to other free running combinations. Start in a kneeling or squatting position and place both hands on the ground before you. You want to roll across your back diagonally, not from top to bottom. This will reduce stress on your spine and prevent injury. Rolling across the back diagonally, using your hands for stability, distributes the weight of your fall across a wider area.

Speed Vault Free running is all about the ease of movement and speed vaulting is probably the most widely recognized free running technique.

It is one of the most basic vaults you can perform. It’s called the speed vault because you don't lose momentum as you traverse obstacles and barriers. It’s performed by leaping over an obstacle like a track and field hurdler. The leap must come first and requires some guts to leap at an obstacle at full speed with confidence. Your legs are tucked beneath your body and slightly to the side. One arm is used for balance as you place a hand on the barrier. If you throw your legs out to the right, then your left hand is used for stability and vice versa.

Quadrupedal Movement Quadrupedal movement is an essential basic move for traceurs because it promotes balance and ease of movement.

Quadrupedal movement mimics the locomotion of cats and other four legged animals, who are natural climbers and runners. Running on all fours will help maintain your momentum after large jumps. It can also help you traverse narrow rails and ledges. From a fitness perspective, quadrupedal movement works out your shoulders, arm and leg muscles. You'll find that running on all fours can be a valuable linking maneuver that transitions your body from a bipedal running position to more difficult vaults and flip positions.

Precision Jumps and Climb Ups Precision jumping and climbing are some of the most basic parkour and free-running movements.

Practicing these fundamentals will make you a much better traceur . Precision jumping involves leaping to a point and stopping, ideal for heights and dangerous ground. For long distance precision jumps, you might feel compelled to perform a dive roll afterward to manage your momentum. A great technique to practice is the climb up. Your progression will go from scrambling up by any means necessary to a controlled climb up with one fluid motion. Leap to an overhang, gripping the edge with your hands. Use your feet to stop your momentum and give you added traction.

Target audience/ Focus group

Target audience/Focus group The chosen target audience for my opening sequence will be for boys and girls. The age range will be around 15-18 years old. I feel this is suitable as there is some bad language used and violence, also the narrative and story is about the London riots. The London riots consisted of mass destruction, theft, and severe casualties.

 I’m using my focus group to help me understand social dramas and find out what the audience looks for in social dramas such as mine, and how they feel about the London riots. London riots: young people voice their frustration through the use of violence and destruction. The riots were a perfect chance to get society as a whole to start noticing and listening to their opinions. This is totally relevant to my piece as it is about the riots and it unravels society’s problems with using one character. Interviews were taken place shortly after the riots with a random selection of people here is what they had to say.

 Leroy, 20, Clapham, south London I watched the rioting. I don't condone people burning down houses but at the same time what can I say to them? If that's what they feel they need to do to get people's respect and get noticed, I'm not going to argue with them or blame them for what they are doing. I'm angry and frustrated. I feel the same as them. Angry with everything – society, police, and the way they treat us. They don't treat us like human beings. I've been stopped and searched and I've refused to give my details, and because I don't give my details the police officer says he's taking you for a strip search. I can't tell you why everyone decided to do this now but it has been a build-up over the past few years. Especially for people in my age group and younger.

 Nas, 28, involved in riots in Brixton, south London There are different reasons [why people rioted], some are doing it for the right reasons, some just for the sake of doing crime, people have had enough. But even the people taking advantage have a reason. It's very hard to get jobs, these people are from poor areas, have nothing, they want stuff for free. Other people, like myself, have had enough of the government. It's self-explanatory – the government doesn't care about us, there are no jobs. I don't think people are protesting in the right way. I saw people from 13 to 30 there. I saw every day, normal people in the shops, helping them. Everyone has had enough of paying taxes so the rich get richer. A lot of trials and tribulations led to this, people think everyone has no reason. It can't get worse for us, people in the ghetto. No one cares about us so what are we supposed to do? There has always been a big gap between youth and the police. We're trying to get their attention. People are crying out for help. I thought I’d find two separate interviews. One person understanding what motivated people to do this but choosing to not be a part of it and a person that was severely frustrated and had to be a part of the riots to express his anger and struggle. This interview Gives a good understanding of what’s going on in these people’s heads.

Researching other opening sequnces

Introduction: Researching other opening sequences: The first opening sequence that has inspired me to do something similar is district b13.

 District b13 opening chase scene is mainly made up of well choreographed stunts and abstract camera angles to create epic chase scenes. I have chosen this scene as I feel the use of parkour sets up the film brilliantly as it gets the audiences adrenaline rushing and excitement flowing.

 I would like to recreate a similar scene as I want the audience to feel the same way but I know it could come across as a slight problem as did not have the budget to make something as grand as this but I will rely on the use on creative camera angles and good location similar to district b13’s. I am going to research deeply into Parkour skills and experiment with the ones I feel that will work best and look effective on camera.

In this opening scene the use of backdrop and landscape is used a lot to create a much grander and epic feel and to link with story of the film being a gritty, urban action thriller. Safety is probably the most important thing at this moment in time while planning. I will prevent any injury from happening with soft mats just encase anyone falls and I will advise the rest of the actors to wear protective equipment under their clothes. I will also make sure they won’t be visible through clothing to make it seem like these characters are in a real life chase.