Compare Narrative, Codes & Conventions and Style between Independent and Mainstream Cinema

Compare Narrative, Codes & Conventions and Style between Independent and Mainstream Cinema

The main difference between Independent cinema and Mainstream is that Independent does not receive financial backing from major studios whereas Mainstream does, however, it’s not just finances, the way the film is shot and presented also gives an indication on which kind of cinema it is.

For ‘indie’ films one of the main codes and conventions is using low budget sets which is seen easily in Clerks which was shot in the Quick Stop convenience store which director Kevin Smith already worked at, he shot during closing times after he’d served customers during the day for three weeks. Clerks had a production budget of $27,000, which Smith had to sell many of his beloved comics, max out eight credit cards and break into his college funds just to make. The film has a running time of 90 minutes, rated an 18 and is now seen as a critical success. Clerks grossed $3,151,130 at worldwide box office.

 However the mainstream film Pacific Rim cost a staggering estimation of around $190,000,000 worldwide gross of around £411 million. Pacific Rim was predominantly filmed in Pinewood Toronto Studios along with other action films like Total Recall. The film is rated PG-13, has a run time of 131 minutes and is seen to revive the old monster-versus-robot films. Pacific Rim had its success due star director Guillermo del Toro, who brought in audiences from his huge fan base, however, Clerks turned out to be Smith’s directorial breakthrough for his distinctive, different style. Smith cast his own friends as the main characters and also took on a small role himself; he even had his own family playing minor characters. Pacific Rim on the other hand cast Sons of Anarchy star Charlie Hunnam and also star of the big screen and television, Idris Elba who both has a substantial fan base.

Clerks track listing consisted of various new and previously released grunge, alternative and punk rock songs which would appeal to smaller audiences , whereas, Pacific Rim had a score made by Ramin Djawadi who’s known for his ‘grandeur’ composing tracks for both Game of Thrones and Iron Man.

Visually the films are nothing alike as ‘indie’ film Clerks was shot as a montage of black and white shots at limited camera angles which could of seemed like a lack of skill coming from the director however it worked well and added to the unique and quirkiness of the film and looks completely unpolished. The film relies heavily on a sharp, witty script and an amusing back and forth dialogue between characters rather than any action scenes. Pacific Rim on the other hand relies on huge, slick special effects fight scenes between the computer generated Kaiju’s and Jaeger’s. The dialogue consists of Independence-Day-like speeches about ‘cancelling the apocalypse’ as well is harsh jabs between two of the clashing characters; Raleigh and Chuck which is juxtaposed with the father-son relationship of Chuck and Hercules.

The plotlines are starkly contrasted with the utterly life like scenarios within Clarks and the ridiculously over the top story of Pacific Rim.