"Shifty" An Independant British Thriller

Shifty!

"Shifty" is a British film that was made in 2008 under the Microwave Scheme that was funded by the UK film council (since replaced by the BFI). The aim of the scheme was to provide young London film makers with a platform to make a small independent film. 

The rules of the Microwave Scheme were that the film had to be made in 18 days and with a budget of less than £100,000. "Shifty" was the second Microwave film to be released. "Shifty" opened in 51 small independent cinemas such as the Curzon chain and on its opening weekend took £61,000. The final box office takings were £143,000. Most of the film's profits came from DVD and television sales.

"Shifty" was distributed by Metrodome. £50,000 was spent on making celluloid prints of the film, administration and advertising. The intention was to attract two different audiences. The first audience was the middle class audience that regularly sees small independant films at independent cinemas. In addition they wanted to attract a new, younger urban audience. The audience had made "Kidulthood" and "Adulthood" profitable.

In order to target both audiences, Metrodome produced different trailers. Interestingly the trailer targeting the youth audience had a soundtrack oh 'hip hop' music. there was no soundtrack in the actual film. 

In addition Metrodome ran adverts on a pirate radio stations, used Fly Posters (these are illegal posters that are put up) and gave out 'business cards' which depicted shifty as a drug dealer and directed the recipient to a website. A music video to promote the film was posted on Youtube and a website was created and promoted on social network sites. 

Most controversially, the film sent out viral emails that identified the recipient as a potential drug dealer. The Advertising Standards Authority received a complaint and the emails were banned. However, the ‘bad’ publicity   helped to promote the film. 

Finally, Metrodome targeted the youth audience through a competition offering £500 worth of studio time to young musicians. The lucky winner had the opportunity to work with Riz Ahmed - a musician who starred in the film. 

The Plot of the Film.

"Shifty" is a thriller that builds slowly. There are three interwoven threads to the story. Chris (Daniel Mays), a young man in his twenties returns home to visit his best friend who he hasn't seen in a long time. An enigma is set up. Why why did Chris leave? We suspect something awful happened but are not sure.

Quickly we learn that Shifty became a drug dealer. As he finishes his "rounds" the film shows us a realistic image of urban life. The second thread to the story shows Trevor, who is a drug addict and is desperate for drugs. The audience are dragged in to his desperate search for drugs, which becomes even more desperate.

The third and most important plot involves Shifty being placed in danger by Glen who lies and claims Shifty is short changing his supplier. Shifty fears for his safety and the film builds towards a climax of tension. The final resolution to the film takes the audience by surprise. 

My Reaction to this Film.

I really enjoyed this thriller as it was very effective in the way they present the characters to show life in the urban area. I think that the fast scenes, where the action was very fast paced, were the best parts. I also think that the part where Shifty and Chris were sitting by the window in Shifty's house,

i think this scene is particularly successful in this movie as after all the intense action there is a short scene, which shows Shifty and Chris laughing together about the problems they had all day and this takes the viewers attention from the problem for a bit until we see the car driving to someones house, which would make the scene intense again.