Thursday 10 March 2016

MEST1 Section B: Institution Research


Ill Manors: Funding and production budget
  • What was the estimated budget for Ill Manors?
The estimated budget for Ill manors was £100,000.
  • Where did the money come from? 
The film was funded by BBC Films, Film London Microwave and Aimimage. 
  • How did the Ill Manors budget compare to a Hollywood blockbuster such as Skyfall?
The budget for Skyfall was $150-200 million whereas Ill manors had a much smaller budget of £100,000.  

A Field In England: Funding and production budget
  • What was the estimated budget for A Field In England?
The estimated budget for A Field In England was £300,000.
  • Why did A Field In England manage to secure a higher budget than Ill Manors?
A Field In England had a higher budget because the director had more experience therefore production companies were willing to fund him. 
  • Where did the money come from?  
The film was funded by only one production company which is Rook Films. 

Film London and Microwave Film
  • What is Film London and why does it exist?

Film London is London's film and media agency - sustaining, promoting and developing London as a major international film-making and film cultural capital. 
Film London’s objectives are to:

-Grow the film industry in London
-Maximise investment in London through film
-Sustain London’s film culture
-Promote London to the world through film

  • What is the purpose of Microwave Film?
Microwave fund films; they give development and mentoring support to all of the short-listed projects, as well as production finance and distribution support to the final commissioned films. 
  • Choose one film funded by Microwave film and explain how it compares to Ill Manors (similarities and differences)
Shifty is a British urban thriller, written and directed by Eran Creevy. Set on the outskirts of London, it follows themes of friendship and loyalty over the course of twenty-four hours in the life of a young drug dealer. This film follows a similar narrative to Ill Manors and also had the same budget. However, it made less profit than Ill Manors through box office. 


Vertigo Films and Warp Films
  • What are the most successful films Vertigo Films has been involved in?
-Streetdance 3D 
-The Football Factory
-Monsters
-Horrid Henry: The Movie
-The Sweeny
-Bronson
  • Why do you think those films were successful with their audience?
These films were successful with their audiences because they were promoted according to the target audience. 
  • What different film genres has Vertigo Films worked with?
Vertigo Films have a range of genres to suit audience taste.
  • Where did Warp Films start out?
Warp Films is an independent film and television production company based in Sheffield & London, UK. It was established by Warp Records partners Rob Mitchell and Steve Beckett. It was created with the financial help of NESTA. 
  • What are the most successful films produced by Warp Films?
-Four Lions
-This Is England
-Exhibit A
  • How have Warp Films helped to develop new talent in the film industry?
Warp Films were working quickly and spontaneously with low-budgets to help talented and innovated artists. Warp have played a massive part in keeping vibrant and successful films in the British cinema, they brought what wasn't seen as "mainstream" to the public's eye and helped these films become well known and successful. 
  • What titles have Vertigo and Warp Films produced that are similar to Ill Manors? Explain the similarities - it could be in terms of audience, location, content or genre.
Some films both Vertigo and Warp Films have produced that are similar to iLL Manors is: Spring Breakers, this has a similar target audience as it would appeal to the younger generation (16-25). Another is, The Sweeney as it's a British Film. Also, both films are Drama's/Thrillers. 

Certification: BBFC
  • How does the certification process work at the BBFC?
A group of examiners sit down to watch the film and they rate it against the following three checklist points; general context - plot, characters, outline of individual scenes, timings of key moments, including camera angles, type of shots, on- and off-screen moments and bad language, sex and drug references.
  • Think about the certificate of Ill Manors (18 certificate). What is deemed acceptable for an 18 certificate? What is the difference between a 15 certificate and an 18 certificate? 
 -Very strong violence
 -Frequent strong language (e.g. 'f***') and / or very strong language (e.g. ‘c***’)
 -Strong portrayals of sexual activity
 -Scenes of sexual violence
 -Strong horror
 -Strong blood and gore
 -Real sex (in some circumstances)
 -Discriminatory language and behaviour

The difference between the 18 certificate and 15 certificate is that films rated 15 have restrictions as to how much of the above can be shown and some of it can't be shown at all. 15 certificates are suitable for people 15 years of age and over. 
  • Why was Ill Manors given an 18 certificate? How might this have affected the Ill Manors target audience and commercial success?
Ill Manors was given a 18 certificate due to the amount of strong language and the portrayal of sexual activity. This may have affected the iLL Manors target audience as it may have appealed to younger kids starting from the age of 16 and they wouldn't have been able to view the film as it has a 18 certificate. This therefore, could lower the commercial success due to fewer people seeing the film. 

  • What was the certificate for A Field In England? Why was this certificate awarded?
The film contains very strong language throughout, there are scenes of fighting, including shooting, graphic images, sex references, and uses of drugs.
  • What are the advantages and disadvantages for a film in being given an 18 certificate?
Films given a 18 certificate could limit the success and profitability of the film as when released in cinemas, younger audiences would not be able to see it.

Wednesday 9 March 2016

A Field In England: The Appeal Of Arthouse Film

  • What are some of the suggested audience pleasures for arthouse film?
Arthouse films mainly appeal to people who are more artistic rather than someone who is'commercial in character'. Arthouse films are normally appealing for its narrative purpose, whereas, Hollywood films are appealing mainly for just the entertainment. This therefore, means arthouse films appeal to artistic people. Furthermore, arthouse films are less concerned with action and focus more on reaction. In addition, some arthouse films are foreign, and due to this subtitles are needed, which may be found off putting by the audience. However, the theorist Bourdieu disagrees and believes that having these subtitles gives the individual cultural capital and is one of the ways in which social class is emphasised.
  • Why do some audiences struggle with arthouse film?
Some audiences struggle with arthouse films due to some of the films being foreign. Due to them being foreign, the use of subtitles are needed which may distract the audience from watching the actual film, and instead they'd be focusing on just the subtitles. Furthermore, arthouse films are seen as high-brow due to the films being artistic. Also, due to the narrative being fixed. Therefore, the audience wouldn't be able to keep up with the film. 
  • To what extent is arthouse film only for the middle classes and older audiences? Why might this be the case?
I think that arthouse films mainly appeal to middle class and older audiences as the narrative of the films have a deeper meaning and care about the reaction of the audiences instead of the action in the film. In terms of psychographic groups i think arthouse films would appeal to explorers as the films would appeal to someone who is open to different types of films. 
  • What type of audience would A Field In England appeal to?
I think that it is targeted at the older generation due to the setting of the 17th century and the use of the black and white filming. In terms of demographics it would appeal to more of a middle class, ABC1 audience. However, you could argue that it could appeal to the younger generation as there is use of drugs, which is stereotypically linked with the younger generation nowadays.