Production Question

1) How has the status and power of stars changed over cinematic history?

The bigger the star is demends on how much force they have on the producer/director. They are able to enforce decisions.

2)Take any film you have seen recently and find out who produced it. Then try to find out more about this person. What was their role on this particular production? What have they and others got to say about their involvement and contribution? What projects have s/he been involved in previously, were these ventures successful?

I have chosen to focus on the producer of Alice in Wonderland, Tim Burton. Butron has produce many films such as: 9, Corpse Bride, James and the Giant Peach, and Batman Forever to name just a few. Tim Burton also directed Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005). Many of Burton's film are very dark. I think that Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was unsuccessful compared to the original film.
 3)Why are certain kinds of films guarenteed to make large profits and others high risk?

Teen age based films and sequals are classes as a 'safe bet'. This is because they are usually successful and appeal to the audience because they tend to follow the same storyline each time.

4) Which genres are currently popular/unpopular and why?







5) Why was Hollywood under the studio system so successful?






6) What hads been lost and gained as a result if the replacement of the studio system by the producer/agent/deal system?






7) How and why has hollywood again become vertically integrated?






8) What are the consequences of vertical integration?

Is Cinema Dead?

Pros

• 3D film are bringing the audience back to the cinema as they cannot expierience this feature at home.
• Orange Wednesdays bring people back to the cinema as you only have to buy one ticket and can get another free.
• You can spend Sainsbury's Nectar points to buy cinema tickets.
• You can spend Tesco Cub Card points to buy cinema tickets.
• See Films First also offers exclusive access to memeber who are signed up to see a film before it premiers to the public in the cinema.

Cons

• Love Film offering a DVD rental service in which you order DVD's and they are sent directly to you and then you send them back once you have finished with them. Love Film is only a small subscription a month and allows the viewer to watch the film in the comfort of their own home.
• Sky Movies also allows you to watch the film in the comfort of your own home for no more than £5 and you can have as many people as want watch it for that price.
• Being able to download the movies illegally via torrents has also 'killed' the cinema as these sites are widely available to the public. However the films are not good quality and have peoples heads in. Some internet providers are cracking down on illegal film fownload e.g. Virgin.
• Dvds/Blu-Ray sales

British Cinema - Shaun of the Dead

What yeat was the film released in the UK?

• Shaun of the Dead was released on the 9th April 2004

What year was the film released internationally?

• 24th September 2004 (US)
   - It was available worldwide by July 2005

What genre would you consider this film?

• I would consider this film as being a hybrid genre of a combined horror and comedy

Did this film cater to an increase in the popularity of this genre or was it trailblazing?

Who directed the film?

• Edgar Wright

Who was the producer of the film?

• Nira Park

Are all of the above british citiezens?

• Yes, both the producer and director are british citizens. Wright and Park have also work on 'Hot Fuzz' together.

Which production companies were involved in the film and where are they based?

• Working Titles Films - UK
• Studio Canal - France
• WT2 Productions - UK
• Big Talk Productions - UK
• InsideTrack 2 - UK
• FilmFour - UK

Who funded the film?

• Original Screenplay

Which studio was the film made in? Is this a British studio?

• The film was made in Ealing stuidos which is based in Ealing, London 

• The film was also filmed on many different locations in London:
  - Archway
  - Deptford
  - East Finchley
  - Hampstead
  - Highgate
  - Hornsey
  - Monson Road (Pub exterior of The Winchester)
  - Muswell Hill
  - North Finchley (Shaun's retail outlet)
  - Weston Park

How was th film publacised in the UK?

Was the film marketed in terms of the stars in the film?

Are there any international stars in the film?

How was the film marketed internationally?

Was the film a success internationally?

What were the opening weekend figures for the in the UK?

• Shaun of the Dead took £1.6 million in its first weekend in 307 cinema in the UK. By mid May the film had netted £6.4million.

When did the film open in the UK?

• 29th March 2004 (Premier)

Which companies distributed this film in the UK?

• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2004) (UK) (DVD)

 Which companies distributed this film internationally?

• Focus Features (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Mars Distribution (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• NFP Distribution (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Neue Filmproduktion (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Odeon Films (2004) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Premium Cine (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Rogue Pictures (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2004) (Canada) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• RTL Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing) (RTL7)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Argentina) (all media)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (2004) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Findland Oy (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Findland Oy (2004) (Finland) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment(2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

How did the producers attract an audience to this film?

Hollywood Case Study - Focus Questions

Shrek (2oo1)
Directed by: Andrew Adamson/Vicky Jenson
Written by: William Steig (Book 'Shrek!')/Ted Elliot/Terry Rossio/Joe Stillman/Roger S.H. Schulman

• Shrek is based on a 1990's book, Shrek! The book is written and illistrated by William Steig. The book was about a young ogre who finds the ogre of his dreams. The young ogre then goes on to leave home and see the world.

• Shrek had a budget of $60 million
• Actor Salaries:

- Mike Myers (Shrek) - $3 million
- Cameron Diaz (Princess Fiona) - $3 million
-Eddie Murphy (Donkey) - $3 million

• Production companies involved: Pacific Data Images.
• The genre of Shrek is a hybrid as it contains more than one genre. The genres involved are: Adventure, Comedy, Family, and Animation.

• Shrek contains many different soundtracks, some popular and some unknown. The main songs which consist of:

- 'I'm a believer' & 'All Star' - Smashmouth
- 'I'm on my' - The Proclaimers
- 'Hallelujah' - Rufus Wainwright 

• There are also many other popular music acts included in Shrek. These are all used in the final scene, 'The Shrek kareoke dance party'. These include more popular and well known songs like:

- 'Like a Virgin' - Madonna
- 'YMCA' - The Village People
- 'Who Let the Dogs Out' - Baha Men

• It took just under 3 years for Shrek to be fully produced and ready for release.
• The film had a high budget due the amount of CGI (Computer Genterated Imagery) that was needed to create the movie. Each aspect of the movie is created using CGI, each character had their own profile which took 275 artists, computer animators, software developers and engineers at PDI/Dreamworks. 
• The characters are easy to understand, which will appeal to a broader audience, especially as it is a family aimed film. This means that children will not be questioning what is happening, they will have a full udnerstanding. The plot is also easy to understand and follow, it is based on a book which does not have to be read at all to understand the film.
• The distribution company for Shrek is DreamWorks, who are also the distributers of 'Madagascar' and 'Flushed Away'.
• Shrek used many different marketing features to advertise the filme. Poster were made, a trailer was released, you could also purchase shrek related products:

- Ogre ear headbands
- McDonalds Happy Meals
- Pens, Pencils, Pencil Cases
- Soft plush toys
- Soundtrack CD's 
- Pyjamas
- Fancydress costumes

• Most of the films publicity was brought through the advertisement of the films poster and the trailer. However the actors and actress' also brought in the publicity as they were well known and all three main charcters have all had big roles before. Andrew Adamson also was linked with publicity after his success as the director of the 'Chronicles of Narnia'.
• Shrek was released between 22/04/01 and 15/12/01 all over the world:

- USA - 22/04/01 = Premiere
   -16/05/01 = New York and Los Angeles
- Australia - 21/06/01
- UK - 29/06/09

• Japan was the last country to release Shrek on the 15/12/01
• Shrek made $42,347,760 in its opening weekend, it made the film the highest grossing film of the week at that time. Shrek was second highest grossing film of that year with $484 million worldwide. Shrek was so popular in stayed in cinemas for 29 weeks.
• Shrek was released in cinemas, and was then later released to buy on DVD and more recently on Blu-Ray. Shrek has also been made into a theatrical preformance in the United States. The film is followed by Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, and also Shrek Forever After: The Final Chapter. Shrek has also been made into a few mini films too, e.g. Shrek the Halls. Universal Studios also holds a 4-D showing of Shrek, Shrek 4-D.

 

Unit 3 - The High Concept

1. 'Post Generic' Filmmaking
Top Gun (1986, directed by Tony Scott) is an example of a High Concept film. The High Concept model is represented as a ten-point formula. The film is made up of 3 genres: Action, Romance, and Drama which therefore makes the movie a hybrid genre because it has more than one genre. By combining these three tradional genres together the film is more likely to appeal to a wider audience: the action is likely to draw in the male attention with the drama and romance will attract the female attention. Doing this could also make the film more popular therefore earning more.
Top Gun is based around the character Maverick (Tom Cruise). Mavericks confidence is knocked when he is trying to win the Top Gun trophy with his best friend Goose (Anthony Edwards) dies in an accident during training. The movie focuses on how maverick's confidence is knocked and what he is now going to do with his career as he feels he is unable to go on with out Goose. however it is built back up again when he falls for the teacher Charlie (Kelly McGillis)
2. Use of extended montages
An extended montages are used to show the passing of time. The use of extended montages are becoming more commonly used in High Concept films. InTop Gun to show the use of extended monatges 'Highway to the Dangerzone' is played and then it shows the passing of time. A good example of this is at the start of the film when the fighter planes are being prepared for take off while 'Highway to the Dangerzone' is playing to the time passing by.
3. Design reflects advertising styles
Advertising is very important to making a film profitable. Top Gun was an early High Concept film, meaning that not a lot of money was spent on advertising as it would be today in a top Hollywood film. Top Gun released posters alongside the film, these posters were very simple and showed very little of what the film was about. The main poster showed Maverick and Charlie together with a fighter plane under the movie title. Another poster shows Maverick and Charlie again but on a motorcycle with the American flag flying in the background. This poster could be connotations to the film with the American flag showing patriotism to the audience.
4. Easily replicated in publicity
The trailer for Top Gun shows when they first arrive at Top Gun, it shows an introduction to what Top Gun is about and what they do. Further on into the trailer it shows some of the fighter planes in action. The trailer shows some of the storyline but does not give away the ending, it also introduces the main character of the film to the audience.

Fargo

Fargo is a 1996 thriller/crime film directed and written by Joel Coen. The film was also written alongside his brother Ethan Coen. The film is set in Fargo, a tate of North Dakota. The film is based around a car sales man, Jerry Lundegaard who hires 2 men to kidnap his wife. The kidnap is all part of Jerry's plan to get an $80,000 ransom of his father-in-law, the ransom is to then be split between the 2 men and Jerry.

The film starts off with a longshot of a very snowed up road. The long shot shows time passing by as a car is being filmed getting closer and closer. The long shot is cut with a small tracking shot of the car towing another car. There is also music alongside this shot, the music is very big and dramatic however it could also be seen as a bit sad and content. The music is a composed piece of what sounds like classical music, however it is made more dramatic through the drums which are introduced. When Jerry walks into the pub to meet the 2 men his hired the music is suited to the conversation. The conversation is very dark and menacing, this contrasts to the music as the music is very dramatic.

The first proper scene we see is set in an old bar in Fargo. The bar is set out just like a proper one, with people playing people and other customers having a drink. This makes the scene more realistic. The lighting in the bar is very dark and dim. Having the lighting dark and dim creates an atmosphere that tells the audience things aren't right between the characters and something is going to happen. The bar also has a smokey atnosphere to it because Gaear Grimsr (Peter Stormare) is sat there no intention of listening to what Jerry and the other kidnapper are talking about, he just sits there half asleep with a cigarette in his mouth.

The film is set in Fargo, North Dakota. Here the climate is very cold which means there is a heavy snow fall. This results in all the out door set scenes are all around or in snow. The snow makes the film more interesting. It's more intresting because it is more attention-grabbing when someone is murdered or gone missing. Having snow as one of the main features of the film creates the tension of finding the missing persons as it is harder for the police to find them. Knowing where the film is set also makes the film feel more realistic and dramatic. This is because the plot is based around a true story, the will make the audience more aware and intrigued.

I enjoyed what i saw of this film. I got really interested into what was going to happen with each of the characters. The storyline made me what to know what was going to happen next. I didn't really think there were any boring parts to it, however there were some scenes which should have been a little shorter as they got a little bit dragged out. I think that the snow and the music made the film. This contrasted with what was going on in the film and helped tell the story.

The Graduate

'The Graduate' is a 1967 film directed by Mike Nichols, Staring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft. The film is based around 'Benjamin' a 21 year old college graduate. Benjamin is very worried about his future career, as he does not want to continue with what he is doing. It does not help that his parents have very high expectation of him in what he is currently doing. The parents celebrate his graduation with a 'homecoming' party where his fathers business partener's wife is there. Benjamin soon later falls into Mrs Robinson's seduction when he drives her home, which leads to the two having an affair. Mrs Robinson is very powerful compared to Benjamin. She takes control of him and is able to lead him on through the affair. Mrs Robinson has full control of his mind. The affair is soon broken off, but it doesn't end there. Benjamin falls in love with the Robinson's daughter, Elaine. However when the affair ended between him and Mrs Robinson because Enjamin had fallen in love with her daughter Elaine, Mrs Robinson forbid him from seeing Elaine.. This results in an uproar between Mrs Robinson and Benjamin. Elaine later goes off to universsity, where she meets and gets engaged to another man who Mr and Mrs Robinson actually like. Benjamin drives miles to prevent the wedding going ahead, but he is to late. Elaine is already married, but Benjamin put up his fight and managed to leave with the women he loves.

The film is introduced with a tracking shot, which follows Benjamin on the escalator. During the opening scene many close up shots are used to show Bejamins fear and worry over his future career, and what he is going to do. The close up shot is used to show the facial expressions that will allow the audience to percieve Benjamin's mood, and also personality. A point of view show is used in eyes of benjamin showing what he captures when he walks through the door to a lot of family and friends congratulating him. There is a brilliant shot at benjamin's birthday party when he is presented with a scuba dicing suit and his parents just insist he wears it now. The view we see is from Benjamin's eyes when he is under the water and looking out at the party guests. We can also hear the diegetic sound of him breathing as he is in the water.

Near the begining there is the sound of bubbles coming from the fish tank positioned behind Benjamin. The bubble sound is diegetic sound as it is a sound captured on the film. A soundtrack which is non diegetic sound is added in through out the film. It is the same soundtrack which is played through the running of the film. The song was written by Simon and Garfunkel. The soundtrack shows emotion through out the film, as when it plays in is interlinked with the scene at the time.

In my opinion the film could of had a lot more to it. The film really did not have my complete attention at any time. There is definately room for improvement within 'The Graduate'. I think there could of been a lot more drama when the affair came out, it was all quite calm which just wouldn't happen. I also think that Benjamin and Elaine's love was all a bit fake to begin with. He was having an affair with Mrs Robinson one minute and in love with the younger Robinson, Elaine the next. I would never chose this film to watch myself, however it was semi intresting to see what unfolded with the Benjamin/Mrs Robinson relationship, but that really was a bit disapointing. I don't think i would watch this film again, unless it was necessary.