revision

Using your source material together with your own studies answer the following question, what are some of the issues for UK producers and Audiences in Hollywood’s domination of the UK film industry?

-       Companies such as NBC dominating the UK production (they own 67% of working title)

-       British Films suffer because of the lack of British distribution. (Welcome to the Punch (2013) budget 8mil, grossed 1.4 million because it only had British distribution.

-       Rise of the Prosumer – Gareth Edwards’ Monsters (2010)

-       Hollywood has spoon fed British audiences with high concept films such as Furious 7 (grossed over $1billion). This indoctrination has meant that there has been an Americanisation of culture.

-       Producers- finance- companies are co-production.

-       Synergy, Cross media convergence,

-       Exhaustion of Original ideas with the rise of trends.

Some of the issues such the domination of the production and distribution has made it extremely difficult for independent film producers because of America’s domination of the UK film industry.

Firstly, Hollywood’s dominance of distribution shows how Hollywood controls the means of exchange over marketing and social media. This can be seen with the example of Despicable Me 2's marketing campaign as they had a susbstancial budget of $76 million, and used a range of marketing techniques in the UK to make it 2013's top grossing film in the UK. They did this through a digital out of home campaign across UK shopping malls in which people were invited to interact with the on screen minions by controlling the minions through the use of a smartphone. From the smartphone the user can act like Gru, the controller of the minions in the movie, by using commands such as making the minions dance,wrestle or boogie with one another. Furthermore, the actions of the user can be shared on social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter therefore the film in being marketing to all of the users mutual friends as well as their followers further promoting the film. It comes to no surprise that the film grossed $15.2million on the opening weekend in the UK.

Furthermore, Hollywood's domination over distribution means that British independent films suffer as a result. For example, Welcome of the Punch (2013, Evan Creevy) was a truly British film as the focus on the film was that ever aspect of production and distribution was going to be British. The film included stars such as James McAvoy (Atonement, 2007) and Mark Strong (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, 2011) and had Ridley Scott as executive director. However, the film proved to be a catasphophe because of the lack of distribution. It was dubbed to have looked like an $80 million and initial reviews highly rated the film. The budget for the film was in fact £8 million however it only grossed £1.2 million in the UK and more shockingly only under £10000 gross in the USA. This is because the  distribution team had to heavily pay many American cinemas to exhibit their film however because most of the money was spent on that, there was no money left more marketing and promotion therefore the film could not rise and make a profit because so few American actually knew about the film. This demonstrates that Hollywood's control over domination of distribution.

Another issue to consider for UK audiences is that Hollywood over the period of the rise of the digital age, Hollywood has been able to establish its control all over every aspect of technology ranging from social media to other forms of technology as well as shaping the films that UK audiences consume. The rise of high concept films such as the Fast and Furious set of movies demonstrated that Hollywood can use the same idea repeatedly and can get away with it because Hollywood sheer control over the UK film industry has lowered audiences expectations. This means that audiences have become indoctrinated to accept Hollywood's films regardless of wether the film has any significant narrative or wether the film is visual art. The figures speak for themselves as Furious 7 was top of the DAR (digital audience ratings) in November 2014 after the release of trailer creating a significant buzz and exchange behind the film. Furthermore, Universal's use of synergy as well of releasing the soundtrack of the film also shaped the buzz around the film and only highlighting how Hollywood has such control over media platforms. In April 2015, Furious 7 grossed $1billion in 17 days and in the UK amassing to $200 million therefore it goes to show that Furious 7 controlled the DAR since November 2014 in the UK therefore it was able to control the UK film industry with high numbers of people going to see the film because of its online buzz as well as audiences becoming indoctrinated to these films and passively accepting them rather than challenging them.

In addition, UK production companies have to go into co-production with American companies in order for them to survive and make a profit. Companies such as Working Title, the most successful British film production company, only own 33% of the company with NBC Universal controlling the rest. Therefore the success of films such as Love Actually (2003) which operated on a £45 million budget grossed $60 million in the US, highlights the fact that Working Title need NBC Universal for distribution and funding as the success of this film wouldn't of occurred had it not been for NBC. This proves that Hollywood has altered the playing film and that UK independent production companies are reliant of these US companies in order to produce films, which are ultimately shaped by the American production company because of their financial input.

However, the rise of Hollywood has given way to the rise of the prosumer which has impacted heavily on audiences and producers alike. Firstly a prosumer is a producer and consumer of film an an example of the rise of the prosumer is evident with the release of Gareth Edwards' Monsters (2010). This film was made on a budget of $500,000 with Gareth Edwards providing all the technology required to shoot the film as well as many volunteers were used as actors to help lower the cost of shooting the film. Furthermore, Monsters in the UK grossed £348,577 on the opening weekend with a total gross of around $235000 in the US. This highlights the same problem that independent British suffer at the lack of distribution in the US due to the competitive and expensive cost of distribution however the gross on the opening weekend in the UK suggests that UK audiences are perhaps fed up of the high concept films of Hollywood therefore potentially with more British distribution, then in hand with the rise of the prosumer, the UK film producers and audiences can break the shackles of Hollywood and end its domination once and for all. 

Ultimately, issues such as America’s unbreakable dominance of production and distribution of UK films has affected UK producers an audiences because it has shaped the UK film industry into a way that Hollywood can use the film industry as a means of making money. Furthermore, because of control of domination, they have indoctrinated audiences to only respond and consuming these Hollywood high concept films and UK producers only can produce these types of films otherwise the production company would not survive (this can be seen by working title prior to their Polygram agreement in 1994, they operated on a  ‘hands to mouth existence’.) This is one of the many issues in which Hollywood acts as an all-powerful corporation over the UK film industry by starving the film industry of choice for audiences and independence of UK film producers.

FILM STUDIES AS DISORDER FINAL CUT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yLi39ARXVk&feature=youtu.be 

A link to my coursework hope people enjoy!!!

Revision of Section A

Convergence

NBC is a converged industry as it contains many different industries responsible for music, distribution, production, broadcast, cable, digital, film all full under the umbrella of NBC. This is describe as cross-media convergence.

This can be seen as being bad as it reduces competition as it creates film as a product rather than film being viewed as art.

Cas study: Furious 7

Got to Number 1 of Digital Audience Ratings at the end of the November with an estimated 47 million digital hits with the trailer being release. This created a huge buzz around the film.

After the release of the film in April 2015 and it has become one of the world's greatest earning films. This can be seen that the three days after the release with a gross of $147.1 million and after 17 days it broke the record of the fastest time to reach the $1billion mark in terms in revenue.
This is the highest earning film that Universal have EVER made as it is the most successful film in terms of revenue in its history.

Furthermore, because there was no pre-release behind Paul Walker or a tribute towards him in the film, the fans had to go to the film to see Paul Walker's last performance which created even more of a buzz behind the film.

Synergy basically means working together to achieve an objective that couldn’t be achieved independently.

Universal Synergy- Universal use co-production because there are more risks involved with releasing a film nowadays

Jurassic World: Production companies: Universal Pictures, Amblin entertainment (Spielberg)
Distribution- Universal Home Entertainment
Soundtrack- Universal Music
Game- Playstation 2, PSP - Universal interactive
Franchise- 4th in the Jurassic Park franchise
-Joint Venture with Legendary pictures who signed a multi-million dollar co-production/co-finance deal with Universal 2014.
- Other merchandise - toys, clothes, posters, books, all promote the film and benefit Universal financially.

reflective analysis 2.0

Reflective Analysis

Without doubt, our genre for our short film ‘Disorder’ is psychedelic and slightly horror. The genre has heavily influenced the decisions we made for our short film to reflect its hallucinogenic nature. We focused heavily on transitions that emphasise tripping effects to highlight the interference that these drugs have on humans. However, there is a greater message that we wanted to highlight. A film with a similar narrative is Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream (2000) and we wanted to portray a similar message about how a drug can consume an individual, leaving them isolated to become a distorted figure which is ultimately living inside a human body. In addition, what our group really wanted to achieve, while cinematography, is to imply the main character’s isolation from the real world and that he is in the wild and disturbing world in which his senses are altered to highlight his slightly shocking trip. We deliberately did this to show how a drug can consume and can make anyone succumb to the ugliest trips making the spectator bear witness to the true effects and eradicate the perception of reality when we follow the actions of Doug (the main character).  

In keeping with the psychedelic genre of our film, we really wanted our sound to emphasise the intensity and perhaps the adrenaline that Doug is experiencing but that the spectator bears witness too as well. Furthermore, the beats of the drum become more vigorous, prominent and intense; they reflect the narrative as they represent the demonic visions in the film.. I wanted the spectator to appreciate yet understand the subtle messages which were portrayed in the film, for example, I wanted my spectator to recognise and acknowledge the change in beat or the reasoning behind the changes of music from heavy and powerful music to when it gradually becomes more forceful. I would like my spectators to make the link that an action moment or ‘Hollywood’ moment is going to occur when the sound becomes distorted.

Our group was only composed of two people; therefore we could effectively agree and compromise with one another as well as effectively establishing narrative with us both focusing on our separate micro features. As I focused on the micro elements which are associated with post-production, I was still able to work on features such as mise-en-scene and help shoot the film as we would have liked it. Furthermore, because I worked heavily on the script, I was able to shape and help the mise-en-scene for the party scene in which I was able to provide the lighting and a suitable location in which to film.

My understanding of editing and sound has improved as not only have I improved my Final Cut Pro skills but more importantly I have learnt how to appreciate editing and its value. I think that without the editing we couldn’t reflect the narrative.  I understand the importance of sound as well as we use sound to create emotion as well as intensity. Furthermore, the message we wanted to convey to our spectators through editing and sound was the hallucinogenic effects of unknown drugs and the disturbance or ‘disorder’ that they bring.

Initially, our group hadn’t considered the use of deer in our film however we adapted to the situation and location, (Richmond Park), therefore we added the deer because we felt that it would add to the deeply disturbing visions that the spectator views. The addition of the deer highlights the disconnection of nature of our main character because through the editing, by changing the saturation of the images of the deer scenes, as well as making the picture more vibrant throughout these scenes, indicates to the spectator that it is still part of trip. A greater meaning that the main character is suffering from his own troubled problems and maybe he has reached his own personal hell in which he has no control over his actions and the drug has completely overridden all of his control his senses. To highlight that he is suffering from an outer body experience, we use the effect of a shadow to imply
that he is overtaken by disorder, powerless to stop himself from the consequent actions.

Reflective Analysis

It needs to be 750 words and should be reflective analysis to your contribution.

To highlight Doug's tripping, we use a series of transitions which distort reality, reinforcing the genre of a psychedelic and . For example, we usea range of colours as

Reflective Analysis

Without doubt, our genre for our short film ‘Disorder’ is a psychedelic and slightly horror. The genre has heavily influenced the decisions we made for our short film as to reflect the hallucinogenic nature of our film, we heavily focused on transitions that emphasise tripping effects to highlight the interference that these drugs have on humans. However, there is a greater message that we wanted to highlight. A film with a vaguely similar narrative is Darren Aronosky’s Requiem for a Dream (2000) and we wanted to portray similar message of how a drug can consume an individual and leaving them isolated to become a distorted figure which is ultimately living inside a human body. In addition, what our group really wanted to achieve is through cinematography to imply his isolation from the real world and that our protagonist is in the wild and disturbing world in which his senses are altered to highlight his slightly shocking trip. We deliberately did this to show how a drug can consume and can make anyone succumb to the ugliest trips making the spectator bare witness the true effects and eradicate the perception of reality when we follow the actions of Doug (main character).

The intended audience for our film was mainly 16-25 year old male (demographic B-C2) but also female as well, but we focused more on the male demographic hence we used a 17 year old male as our main character for our film. Furthermore, I believe that this demographic would engage with this the most and with some of my friends in this age group stated that they enjoyed and connected with our film.

In addition, the psychedelic genre of our film, we really wanted our sound to emphasise the intensity and perhaps the adrenaline that Doug is experiencing only but the spectator bears witness too as well. Furthermore, the beats of the drum become more vigorous, prominent and intensive; it reflects the narrative as it represents the demonic visions in the film as well. I wanted the spectator to appreciate yet understand the subtle messages which were portrayed in film, for example I wanted my spectator to recognise and acknowledge the change in beat or the reasoning behind the changes of music from heavy and powerful music and when it gradually becomes more forceful, I would like my spectators to make the link that an action moment or ‘Hollywood’ moment is going to occur when the sound becomes distorted. An example of when this powerful use of sound was when we used the grass to dominate the frame to demonstrate intrusion and to highlight Doug's intrusion and disturbance of nature we used a high frequency noise which is a signifier for Doug entering the unknown where he is not welcome therefore by using the high pitched sound only reinforces Doug's unwelcome. 

Our group was only composed of two people; therefore we could effectively agree and compromise with one another as well as effectively establishing narrative with us both focusing on our separate micro features. As I focused on the micro elements which are associated with post-production, I was still able to work on features such as mise-en-scene and help shoot the film as we would have liked it. Furthermore, because I worked heavily on the script, I was able to shape and help the mise-en-scene for the party scene in which I was able to provide the lighting and a suitable location in which to film in.

My understanding of editing and sound has improved as not only have I improved my Final Cut Pro skills but more importantly I have learnt how to appreciate editing and its value. I think that without the editing we couldn’t reflect the narrative.  I understand the importance of sound as well as we use sound to create emotion as well as intensity of the film as well. Furthermore, the messages we wanted to convey to our spectators through editing and sound was that the hallucinogenic effects of unknown drugs and the disturbance or ‘disorder’ that they bring.

Initially, our group hadn’t considered the use of deer in our film however we adapted to the situation and location, (Richmond Park), therefore we added the deer because we felt that it would add to the deeply disturbing visions that the spectator views. In addition, the addition to the deer highlights that the disconnection of nature from our main character because through the editing by changing the saturation of the deer scenes as well as making the picture more vibrant throughout these scenes indicate to the spectator that it is still part of trip or a greater meaning that the main character is suffering from his own troubled problems and maybe he has reached his own personal hell in which he has no control over his actions and the drug has completely overridden all of his control over himself. To highlight that he is suffering from an outer body experience, we use the effect of a shadow to highlight that he is no longer in control of himself anymore and that he is overtaken by disorder, powerless to stop himself from the consequent actions. Furthermore, the long shot used of Doug cleaning his face in the lake was not anticipated or planned however we included it as it can be interpreted to signify that Doug is attempting to cleanse himself from the drug by essentially 'washing away his sins' in an attempt to end his never-ending nightmare.

Overall, I think that I managed to develop my micro elements (editing and sound) to really create a short film in which I am rather pleased with the outcome of the film as well, as our group managed to expose and utilise micro features to the best of our ability meaning that ultimately we were happy with the final outcome.

ms sharpe essay

What is significant about setting and/or place in your chosen American films?

Without doubt, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969, George Roy Hill) and Thelma and Louise (1991, Ridley Scott) both heavily focus on iconic locations, such as the grand canyon and the endless mountain ranges in Mexico, to establish genre, as well as establishing the theme of freedom and representation of gender.

Firstly, Maria Sturken (film critic analysing Thelma and Louise) states that ‘Thelma and Louise is a film about space, both the wide open space of the American West and the confining interior space of the home.’ This can definitely be seen by Louise being trapped in the workplace and Thelma being trapped at home, yet as the film progresses Thelma and Louise’s journey shows how they become liberated as there are numerous open wide shots of both of the women in the Thunderbird 66’ driving across the landscape. Furthermore, the ending of Thelma and Louise is in such an open location that it is implied that Thelma and Louise have reached the pinnacle in their journey for liberation and whilst they may have been caught up by on the police, both characters exchange kisses and hugs before Scott cuts to an extreme wide shot in which the Thunderbird 66’ appears miniscule at the centre of the frame therefore implying that because there is so much space, Thelma and Louise are truly liberated and free from their problems meaning that it seems fitting that the film ends with them driving off the cliff as it suggests that whilst they may not survive the fall, Thelma and Louise are still continuing their journey after the end of the film only making the ending of the film more mythical. On the contrary, Butch and Sundance is almost an opposite in terms of opening and endings. Whilst the narratives are virtually the same (on the run) the opening of Butch Cassidy and Sundance are much more open and the men are free to roam and be outside whilst in Thelma and Louise, Louise is trapped in the restaurant and Thelma is trapped at home by Daryl. With Butch and Sundance going on the run all the way to Bolivia, the use of cinematography by Connie Hall implies to the audience that they are trapped and ultimately they no longer have any freedom or liberation which suggests their entrapment when they die. In their final scene, as well as being trapped by the army, Butch and Sundance are trapped within the frame as they appear as diminutive figures with the shadow occupy most of the frame. This high angle shot of the room demonstrates that their journey is over as they are finally trapped which goes against the genre of a western as in typical westerns the final shootout is usually outside with many passers-by being witnesses to the finale.

In addition, the significance of the locations in Thelma and Louise can be used to demonstrate the representation of gender in the film. Scott cleverly shoots most of the film on the old dreamy ‘Route 66’ type highways making the viewer really admire the beauty of the mid west. Furthermore, the beauty of the landscapes which are portrayed by picturesque wide shots at sunset as the bold orange colour of the sun merges into the landscape, with the mountain ranges piercing the land as well as revealing the land’s vastness and its liberty that it provides to Thelma and Louise. Also, since this is a road movie, it sticks to the convention that the road is territory for men and that women do not belong on the road. However, whilst Scott doesn’t destroy this convention, he simply makes the road a form of a challenge for the women so this only heightens the significance of their emotional journey as always on the road they are pinned back by obstacles (the attempted rape, J.D stealing the money and the police tracking them down). Scott uses the road as a way of implying that perhaps that the road is no place for women or that the long path and journey of freedom for the women is full of obstacles giving a greater meaning and significance of their sacrifice because by embracing death, both of the characters are embracing their true freedom.

By contrast, Butch Cassidy and Sundance stick to the genre of a western with the men being the free and predominant figures in the film with women as second class citizens, as mainly women are prostitutes in this film indicating how there is no gender equality. Furthermore, because the main characters are outlaws, Hill, captured by the cinematography of Connie Hall, was able to demonstrate the men’s freedom and lack of place in society by them on the run in the run through the vast and barren mountain landscapes of the mid west. Many wide-shots that are used show the men as small dots with a trail of dust behind them as well as only occupying a fraction of the frame which suggests the land has swallowed them as well as providing them protection from the super posse and ultimately suggests that they are free as a result of it. Even in Bolivia, with the frames of the camera dominated by lush green as well mountainous terrain not to dissimilar to the mid west.

Another point that could be made is that whilst Thelma and Louise's journey develops, as the landscape becomes wilder, so does the women's appearance. This can be seen that both women ditch their original clothing at the beginning of the film such as Louise's headscarf and Thelma's dresses are swapped for jeans and vests instead. Whilst this occurs the women venture further from the city or civilization and they head of into the wilderness of the Grand Canyon which makes them go slightly nomadic as they cut off from civilization and it ends up only the main characters embracing the inhospitable wasteland of the Grand Canyon therefore their journey as well as being a journey of freedom can be seen as a journey of the women embracing nature and disengaging with society.

Ultimately, the locations of the film are extremely significant as without the locations of the road or the vast mid-west countryside then both of the films would not be able to establish the genre of the films. Therefore, if Butch Cassidy didn't have the huge mountain ranges or if Thelma and Louise didn't have the 'Route 66' type highways, then both of these films would have not followed the conventions of the genres of the films therefore this is why the locations of these films are extremely significant.

Working Title Research.

Working Title was formed in 1984 by Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe (who left in 1992 and Eric Fellner became co-chairman with Tim Bevan.)
Working Title's first known film is 'My Beautiful Laundrette.' in 1985 which was nominated for an Oscar.
Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner are the current co-chairmen of Working Title and they are considered to be vital to the film industry as they have successfully managed to make Working Title an international brand as well as the most successful British production company ever.
Universal now own part of Working Title as Universal owns PolyGram. PolyGram was arguably the foundation for Working Title films in the American Film industry as without its investment in the distribution rights in Working Title films, the WT franchise would of never have been able to break the ice in the American film industry. This can be seen with the success of films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994 Mike Newell). Four Weddings and a Funeral had a budget of $4.5 million and grossed $52,700,832 (USA) and grossed £25,532,239 (UK) and finally $245,700,832 (worldwide).
Universal have invested over $2bn into WT over the last 10 years and WT are allowed to make any film with a budget up to $35million before consultation with NBCUniversal.
Les Miserables (2012, won 3 oscars), The Theory of Everything (2014, Eddie Redmayne won an oscar for best actor), Atonement (2007 won an oscar)
Most notable WT films include: Love Actually, Notting Hill, Bridget Jones Diary, Four Weddings and a Funeral, About a Boy, Fargo, Mr Bean films, O Brother, Where art Thou?, The Big Lebowski, Hot Fuzz, Sean of the Dead, World's End, Attack the Block, Atonement, Pride and Prejuidice, Senna, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Les Miserables.
WT have managed to have a successful relationships with key figures in the world of film. For example, their relationship with the Coen Brothers and Richard Curtis contributed to a large part of WT success. Furthermore, their co-productions with Canal+ means that NBCUniversal can distribute Working Title films in France.
WT usually produce about 6 films per year in which they tend to fall into the Drama genre with many having aspects of romance and a sense of reality to them.
The 4 most recent WT films are: The Theory of Everything, About Time, Rush and Closed Circuit. The significance of these films are that they are all Drama genre.