- Film created in 2007
- Directed by Donal
MacIntyre - Follow up of 'Home With The Noonans' (Dominic Noona)
- Documentary Film
- Gangsters in Manchester
The main character Dominic is both an antagonist as well as a protagonist.
Opening: Establishing master shot showing the night of Manchester, it displays the area in the night period to imply bad things traditionally happen at this time. Traditional conventions of a film is used in the documentary such as the titles. Sound effects such as a sound Bridge and voice over is used after the master shot to flow into next shot of Dominic standing in the center of two others and dressed in suits explaining who he is. Many documentaries use the two sound effects; images and videos are shown with the narrator talking about the situation or story. To illustrate Dominic's power he is always positioned in the center emphasising control over everyone in North Manchester.
Upbeat music of rap/ hip-hop plays when the main title appears, this music is associated with gangsters although the people involved are all Caucasian and from Manchester, not the usual stereotype. The title is shown in a projected format as well as it bold and oversized implying the Manchester gangsters are larger than life. The three walk down a urban, dark street area, a place where good people do not go it is the underclass area. A low angle is then used to again emphasise the dominance gangsters in this area have.
Another place where he is showing his power is when standing above the crowd in the hacienda club showing power and control of everyone in Manchester.
A cutaway shot is also used to hands showing his gold chunky jewlerry that is stereotypical of wealth but working class wealth (stealing) as well his unhygienic nails. This is not the typical Hollywood, Italian gangsters such as Al Capone whom tend to be clean cut, wear expensive suits and sometimes a hat.
Different frame shots are used to get a close up of Dominic's facial expressions, this is very realistic as it displays to the audience their true feelings.
In the documentary film, he explains some of his personal information including:
- He has two children with different women
- Has bullet proof vests which he wears on a regular basis for protection
- There are 14 Noonan's and they lived in a 2 bed house, therefore the mother burnt the home down to get a better sized home for the family
Moreover in this type of production a lot of archive footage is used to give the audience evidence for the actions, this makes the documentary more intriguing to watch as well as makes it more reliable.
This production challenges the convention of a traditional documentary film as a crane shot is used. This is unusual to have in this production type as the camera angle usually used is hand held. A montage of images that are perceived as they are from newspapers are also shown to evoke the sense of realism.
Music from the film 'Pulp Fiction' and the band Oasis is used in the documentary to compliment the scene of action and interviews.
There are 20 members in the crew and Dominic states that he trusts the younger generation more as they are loyal and respectable and also passionately said he would die for them and they would do the same.
Dominic Noona gets involved with a situation whilst being filmed, he is arrested by the police for unusual activity. Noona often feels victamised by the police over any event or action, however he put himself in that position. A hand held shot is used at this point to demonstrate fear and the run from the police, this was very beneficial to Donal MacIntyre as he was able to get real life action on screen to interest the viewers. Good things about a documentary is they are able to obtain realistic footage at the spur of the moment, it is not structured as it gathers a broader audience because nothing is fake.
Whilst doing a personal interview a 360 degree shot is used, this is hardly used in any production especially a documentary however it worked well because the setting and set up was formal and professional looking which made the shot work.
In Manchester people with issues with others do not go to the police, they go to the big gangsters such as Dominic as people feel he sorts the issue without getting the 'grassers' worried for their life. The police give a warning whereas gangsters such as Dominic sort the social problems. He tends to be rewarded with food such as breakfast and lunch which is not the stereotypical payment a 'gangster' usually receives, the convention is a great deal of money.Another benefit with documentaries is the camera-person is able to get shots of conversations without the main person feeling as if they cannot speak to anyone. He unfortunately tells the interviewer about his troubled childhood at boarding school. At the age of 13 he was brutally gang raped by 6 people everyday for weeks on end. This disturbing event may have impacted him to act in such a way at this age as well as making him homosexual. Although he is seen as 'mean' and 'scary' he is still traumatised by the event of his childhood and regualry has nightmares; this shows his protagonist streak of being a victim.
Being a gangster means there are many deaths involved, his elder brother was stabbed twice a week after his trial where he was declared not guilty. He committed 27 murders however denies this is a untrustworthy way, this suggests he has no remorse and you could say psychopathic. As the gangsters are well known in Manchester, if one of Noona's gang member had died a big ceremony would take place in which many schools, businesses and roads were closed. Everything was extreme to respect the member, Dominic had held his brothers and other family members funeral.
Overall after analysing documentary film and well as this film in particular they tend to use the typical conventions of a documentary production as well as challenging it in an appropriate and effective way.
Author: Kiran Paul
