Unit
G322 – Section B – The Film Industry
To
begin comparing both ends of the industry to use this as a model. Create a two
column comparison between your low budget film and your blockbuster
Although the
institutions are clearly very different there are some similarities which you
need to be aware of so make sure you have a clear journey from planning to
exhibition of both your case studies.
Here is an example,
answer each bullet point with facts from your own films and this will serve as
one of your revision sheets.
FILMS
Ill
Manors / Skyfall
Any
Similarities
between the two films in terms of genre
and narrative
· They’re
both British films – Ill Manors is more ‘British’ than Skyfall (deals with
social issues and themes relating to British society).
Funded and filmed in Britain.
· They
were both filmed predominantly in Britain.
· Both
enjoyed strong opening weekends at the Box office
· Large
British cast in both.
· They
both have a high profile musician linked with the film whose music was released
close to the
film’s release.
Ill
Manors / Skyfall – Differences
between the two films
in terms of genre and narrative
· Different
genres – Skyfall is an Action/Adventure and Ill Manors is a gritty social
realist drama.
· Bond
is a part of long running (47 years
and counting) franchise. Ill Manors isn’t.
INSTITUTIONS
BBC
Films & Film London Microwave /Sony – Similarities
· Both
involved in film production.
· Both
are companies whose main goal is to make profit – both are driven by the bottom
line.
· Both
split production
across different companies “film is fundamentally a collaborative
medium”.
BBC
films & Microwave / Sony – Differences
· Budget
– Ill Manors £100,000 Million
· Skyfall
$150-200M.
· BBC
Films and Microwave are low budget independent film making companies
– Sony is a major global conglomerate with a diverse range of
interests.
· Sony
work on lots of films each year such
as…..enabling them to spread their risk; BBC Films and Microwave only work on a
few each year (what other films have they made?)
· Sony
are involved in production (MGM), distribution (Columbia Tristar and Sony
Pictures Entertainment) and exhibition (Sony Blu-ray machines/ Sony DVD Players/
Sony TVs / Sony phones.) THIS IS CALLED VERTICAL
INTEGRATION.
BBC
Films and Film London Microwave are
ONLY involved in film production.
Sony
– well established. Microwave – new company in its infancy.
Sony
are better placed to withstand losses. BBC Films and Film London Microwave
cannot sustain losses.
Sony
make films with leading directors – BBC Films and Film London Microwave focus on
new directors.
BBC
Films and Film London Microwave films will mainly be distributed in the UK to a
selection of cinemas
Sony
– makes films distributed globally and internationally
AUDIENCES
BBC
Films and Film London Microwave
–
AUDIENCE
DIFFERENCES
· Skyfall
was aimed at a huge mainstream
target audience:15 – 55 year olds. Core male target audience with a wider
secondary female audience, straddling broad cross sections of class, ethnicity
and sexuality.
· Ill
Manors
was aimed at a niche
audience – urban 16-24 year olds, heavily pitched at a male
audience.
· Skyfall
is aimed at an international audience so the dialogue/script is less specific
than Ill manors which uses contemporary urban colloquialisms.
PRODUCTION
/ DISTRIBUTION / EXHIBITION
BBC
Films and Film London Microwave – PRODUCTION
DIFFERENCES
· Skyfall
had a huge budget – Ill Manors didn’t.
· Skyfall
used a host of well known famous ‘stars’ – Daniel Craig, Judi Dench etc – Most
of the cast of Il Manors were
unknown or first time actors (apart from the main star) so cast were less
recognizable.
· Skyfall
used exotic and varied locations round the world – Ill Manor’s setting was much
more geographically specific, as exotic locations weren’t called for in the
story.
· Skyfall
used a lot of expensive special effects. Ill Manors didn’t.
· Skyfall
utilized product placement within the film – Heinekein, Coke, Aston Martin,
Omega. Ill Manors didn’t.
· Skyfall
had expensive action sequences – highly produced fight and chase
scenes. (writing off various cars!) Ill Manors’s dramatic scenes were less full
of action.
Ill
Manors / Skyfall – DISTRIBUTION
DIFFERENCES
· Skyfall’s
marketing campaign was huge and extensive. Ill Manors’s marketing was very
specific and highly targeted.
· Skyfall
used synergy Eg Sony PS3, phones, games, DVD, TV, soundtrack and film were
released at the same time. Whereas Ill Manors didn’t/couldn’t use synergy to
the same extent by releasing just the DVD and soundtrack at the same time as the
film
· Skyfall
had a series of huge international premieres – all over the world. Ill Manors
didn’t.
· Skyfall
used cross promotion through a range of companies all advertising Skyfall –
Heinekein, Omega, Sony TVs, Coca-cola, etc. Product placement earned
$50Million
plus ($44 M for just Heinekein alone)
· Sony
had blanket advertising with tease trailers in cinemas, TV adverts, newspaper
and radio adverts and interviews with main stars
· Ill
Manors had much smaller advertising.
EXHIBITION
DIFFERENCES
Skyfall opened in 580
cinemas – over 1000 screens in the UK and Ireland
Skyfall broke box
office records and overtook the highest grossing film of all time, Avatar in
terms of takings on opening night and opening weekend and overall profits
globally.
Skyfall landed
straight into number 1 spot on UK DVD chart. Quantum of Solace did too and hit
number 2 on Blu-ray chart and became the UKs biggest selling DVD and Blu-ray
release of 2009. A worldwide box office phenomenon, broke countless records and
now scores as the top grossing film of all time.
Ill Manors didn’t
break box office records, nor did it get to top of the DVD or Blu-ray charts on
day of release.
It played in much
fewer, selected and niche cinemas.