Film 4 - Distribution

2002 Big Chances

• Tessa Ross
• Need to boost annual investment through third party partnerships
• Will no longer distribute its own films

Today

• Ross has secured an increased budget from £8-£10m a year to £15m
• Make between 6 - 8 films a year
• Set up a low-budget studio with the Film Council and distributors Optimum: Warp X (digital production house)
• Working across TV and film drama also allows for economies of scale and cross-fertilization

Partnerships

• Ross sees Film 4 as part of a wider creative community with, for eg, ‘Working Title’, the BBC and BBC Films
• Partnerships with Distribution companies

Warp X and Film 4 Hub

• Warp X - A Film 4/UK Film Council joint project with the Sheffield-based indie Warp - that can finance three low-budget films a year

Editing - Memento

The film show’s man at the start holding a picture, using an extreme close up to show this. He then shakes the photo as it a Polaroid’s photo. It that become’s apparent that the movie is being played in reverse. After this we understand that the man suffers from sort of memory loss. He overcome’s his problem by making notes over his body and over the room.

Through out the start of the film he has having flashbacks like he is overcoming his illness. Close up’s are used a lot during the start to impact on the viewer of a certain detail. He solves the issue by reading the notes on his body and writing them down on the photo’s. This is repeated, step by step each time it’s played.

Distribution

Distribution

Tony Angellotti

• Films are made with the audience in mind
• Audience decide film choice, stars and etc

Toby Miller

• Hollywood anticipates tastes + forces them
• Distribution + promotion is the key to financial success

What I think

I think that a film with a good trailer and a good amount of advertising makes me want to go and see a film.

What is film distribution?

It describes everything that happens in between production and exhibition

Promotion

Above the line - Advertising such as trailers, funded as part of the project

Below the line - Not paid for

Is it all fair?

• The bigger companies control distribution over their own products
• Films are loaned to Cinema’s on a finite period

Five major distributors dominate the UK film industry

1. United International Pictures (Universal is part of this company)
2. Warner Brothers
3. Buena Vista
4. Twentieth Century Fox
5. Sony

(Above) All American

Key points

• Roughly 9 out of 10 films seen in the UK are viewed as a result of these distributors
• In most cases these distributors are directly linked to the Hollywood production companies who make the films AND exhibitors who prioritize Hollywood films over others for profit
• Usually the blockbuster films we are familiar with are distributors via ‘blanket release’. so even if a small UK independent company manages to get its product into Cinema’s, it is usually competing for attention which one or more films that take on the status of an ‘event’.
• One of the outcomes of the above distribution arrangement is that half of the films released in Britain do not reach the whole country.

Problems smaller companies face

• Every films shown in a Cinema is a separate ‘print’ of the film, projected via a reel
• Cost smaller companies a lot of money

Does marketing really matter?

Despite bad reviews, lavish marketing ensured that Pirates of the Caribbean 2 made over £50 million was made in the UK box office, and 1.5 million copies of the DVD were purchased in the 10 days after release

The Black Knight

It broke all kinds of records for Viral Advertising

Cost to make £185,000,000

Shown on 4336 screens

The Piracy Problem and Film Distribution

• 10% increase each year in revenue lost illegal distribution
• Make Problem
• UK high degree of DVD piracy.
• Answer
• Digital filming and projection

Digital Distribution Advantages

• Promises to transform the film industry more than any other technological chance since sound
• Once it becomes the norm to download a film via broadband, the only potential for a new form of ‘blanket distribution’ it obvious - not only do you no longer need multiple prints, you can also bypass the Cinema’s (although the big screen offers a separate experience this likely to remain attractive)
• Digital film has the advantage of offering identical versions of the film to each viewer, and this will without doubt save billions of pounds at the distribution phase. So no more wear-and-tear of copies.
• Another advantage of digital distribution will be control and security and eradication of the pirate cinema-goer with a hidden camera
• Simultaneous global distributions by the internet will put an end to this ‘time gap’ and thus it’s exploitation by pirates.

www.launchingfilms.tv/distribution.php

www.christophernicholson.com/downloads/distribution.guide.pdf

Marketability simple means identifying the target audience

Media partnership - decide who is best to link up with

45+ audience take about a week to go and watch a movie

Teenagers are more spontaneous

Advertising through either the press, TV, internet, radio, free forms, free screening and word of mouth.

Moral Panics, Hypodermic Theory And The Passive Audience

Moral Panics, Hypodermic Theory and the Passive Audience

Billy and Rupert

Topic:

Columbine High School Massacre

Issues and Debates:

How the first person shooter game called ‘Doom’. 2 teenagers were already being punished and that the massacre was a relief of stress. They thought they were influenced by already existing products and people such as music and movies.

Matt and Abbie

Topic:

Skins

Issues and Debates:

Teenagers, after watching the program, want to to go and live their lives like it.

Tom and Rhys

Topic:

Man Hunt

Issues and Debates:

How people who play the game might think it’s acceptable to act out the contents of it.

Sam and Emma

Topic:

Paranormal Activity

Issues and Debates:

People believe it’s all real and some people drive themselves to suicide.

Xtranormal Video Script - Facebook

Lindsey

Facebook is the 2nd most used website in the world with over 400 million accounts. Not only that but it is linked to thousands of external websites which allow you to like articles. People use them to socialize and to keep up to date and in touch with family and friends. But there have been huge issues and controversy surrounding it as its popularity has increased. Professor Arnold Geller is here with us to tell us his passionate views against Facebook and it’s problems.

So Professor, what are the problems with Facebook?

To start with there is a complete lack of security. All good information and personal details are exposed. You can find out almost everything about people that they share. This is dangerous for more vulnerable people such as children. Because its on the internet as when, regardless of if you delete it they will always be a hard copy. This is especially bad for photo’s you’ve accidentally uploaded or if you want to delete your account it’s very difficult. With hardly any privacy you are at risk. People can post information about themselves, but this puts them at risk. A recent case in a national newspaper reported a year old had had her identity stolen on Facebook. A women set up an email + Facebook account in her name, stole and edited pictures of her on the internet, and added all her friends and family. She started a 17 month affair with a man and claimed to be the mother of her child. She was found out when the man tried to meet the unsuspecting real Carolyn. The women turned out just to be a gan who’s dedication accounts spiraled out of control. But if this  is what someone with no harmful motives can cause, imagine those who want to cause harm do.

Another example is the girl who advertised a house party on Facebook and had 21,000 people confirm they were coming

Another big issue has been cyber-bullying. Many people, particularly then, have suffered due to severe abuse being sent over Facebook. Although Facebook takes steps to prevent it, it is impossible to monitor and we often stories in the news when it gets out of hand. People have lost their jobs through employers seeing inappropriate pictures or profiles. Overall Facebook is very dangerous if the wrong people use it for the wrong reasons which is why it is controversial.

Thank you. That was Professor Arnold Geller telling us of the problems with Facebook.  

What Is A British Film?

What is a British film?

• A Setting in the UK? or
• A focus on British people abroad? or
• A predominantly British cast? or
• A Storyline about some aspect of British life? or
• Based on the work of a British author?

The Importance of a National film industry

• Significant returns for the UK economy through film making, inward investment, film exhibition, DVD rentals and sales, film exports

• The UK Film Council estimates that a successful Brit Film will make up to 70% of its revenue outside of the UK

British Cinema and Hollywood

• British film production companies have co-production and distribution with Hollywood studios

• ‘British’ films can be funded and distributed by US companies

• Decisions on which British films to produce and how to market them are often based on the tastes of both domestic and American audiences

Avatar - Marketing Facts


 


Avatar was given a $237 million + $9 million budget to work with. Over the time it’s been released it has made a gross revenue of $2,772,598,443. The $9 million extra was for the re-release of the movie as in a weekend it had turned over massive amounts of money.

Books

The movie itself was based on an already existing book. The book itself is about a confidential report into the biological and social history of the planet Pandora. Having this book already released would of helped the movie into being an already success.

Video’s Games

There is also a video game been made in 2007. It was released in every platform including iPhone thus maximizing marketing.

Ethnicity - Hotel Babylon

Hotel Babylon

Camera Angle’s

Mise En Scene

Lights - Dark

Props - Matching the environment

Settings

Representation good/bad

Character’s

Japanese Man - Pervert, paying (European) maids to strip

Black guy - Speaking in slang, smoking weed, partying

Posh man on the toilet - Angry, posh accent

Chef’s - Bad person wearing black and good one wearing white

Xtranormal Video: Facebook

http://beauchampmedia.ning.com/video/hotel-babylon

The Male Gaze

The Male Gaze

Questionnaire

Question	Response
1. Do you go the Cinema?	Yes: 8 No: 2
2. Do you go with mates?	Yes: 9 No: 1
3. If the option is presented, would you much rather watch the moving in 2D or 3D?	2D: 4 3D: 6
4. Do you prefer a British film or American?	British: 3 American: 7
5. What rated films do you primarily watch?	U: 0 PG: 0 12: 2 15: 6 18:2
6. What genre of film do you primarily watch?	Rom Com:3 Comedy:3 Action:2 Thriller:1 Sci Fi/Horror:1
7. Do you follow film stars on the internet?	Yes: 7 No: 3
8. If yes, how?	Facebook: 6 Twitter: 3 Individual Website: 1
9. Do you search for movie trailers on the internet?	Yes: 9 No: 1
10. Do you review movies online after watching them?	Yes: 1 No: 9

Is Max A Stereotypical Teenager?

My first opinions on Max is that he isn’t a stereotypical teenager. He stands out from the rest of the crowd, being a much more involved character with the school. A stereotypical student wouldn’t be expected to show as much enthusiasm as Max does, but much rather, the opposite, be out socializing with friends, at party’s and meeting girls. Of those stated, Max seems quite contempt with being, what is commonly called, a geek.

He takes part in as many after school activities as possible;

• Editor In Chief Yankee Review
• French Club President
• Model USSR
• Stamp Club
• Debate Team
• Lacrosse
• Calligraphy
• Astronomy
• Fencing
• Track
• Choirmaster
• Bombardment
• Kung Fu
• Trap and Skeet
• Beekeeping
• Yankee Racers
• Drama
• Flying

In his activities he is very much involved, for example, wearing all the costumes and dressing up in the Russian hat when demonstrating an international debate.

A ‘regular’ teenager wouldn’t take part all of these activities. Mainly teenagers attend the more sporty activities, such as Football or Hockey. In my opinion, Max takes part in all of these after school activities because he feels he is socially outcasted. As you see at the start of the film the person following him around is a lot younger. Max probably feels that he empowers him, make him more of an idol or hero figure.His social image, in my opinion, would be pretty poor. He seems like he would much rather stay in his room and study in stead of being out having fun like a ‘regular’ teenager. 

The way Max also interacts, and his mannerisms, with other Human beings are very formal. He acts as if he of an higher education or social class. With the typical classes that are to big for him, that directors use to portray the geekier students and the blazer. A blazer is seen to be for formal occasions like important meals for work and meeting someone important. Also, on the blazer, gold buttons are sown on, this indicates that Max takes a lot of pride in his physical appearance using more expensive materials.

In the short montage uses the C’s a lot to show the viewer about Max’s life. The Camera Angles of the montage are fair basic, mainly using medium shots to show Max and the activity, this makes it very easy for the viewer to follow instead of just random clips playing one after the other. This is also the adds to the use of the Continuity, making it all flow increase view-ability. The cutting/editing of the montage is fairly simple as well, making it flow using shot after shot to lower the risk of boredom with the viewer.

The way Mise-En-Scene is used in montage adds a huge amount of detail to the viewer. The way the props are organized in the background and where he stands all add to the final image of the montage. The props are made to be the centre of the screen then he is to the side demonstrating them.

Evaluation

I think my magazine went well, with the use of various colors and texts working well together. It is a simple but straight forward layout. Nothing to complex for the reader. To make my magazine better for next time I could better manage my time.

Pre Production

I made a sketch of the magazine illustrating the possible, but more likely layout to the final piece. I choose the color because they all work together as do the text. The all make a final piece with nothing too bold but nothing to shallow.

Production

I achieved the making of the magazine by using the image editing suite called Photoshop CS5. This program allows me to use a wide variety of editing functions such as gradient fills and many text effects. For my magazine I used a gradient fill, text editing and layering. This all helped me maximize the look of my magazine by making it appeal more the reader.

Post Production

I have created a school magazine. Within the magazine I shall include stories which are happening in real-time around the school, such as The New Head-teacher, and Where’s The New Reception? These titles, in my opinion, will make the pupils interested in reading the magazine. The contents will include all the sub-titles in an interested layout, instead of a more boring approach with just a list.

Intro - Magazine

Our task was to create a school magazine. The magazine had to to be new and fresh, making the pupils of the school intrigued and wanting to read on. Within the magazine we need to include stories and other headlines.

Magazine Covers

These, above, are demonstrations of 5 different magazine covers. The 5th picture, Maxim, particularly demonstrates the 3 colour palette rule.

Preliminary Task - Video Work

• Continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue.

• This task should demonstrate match the action, shot/reverse shot and the 180-degree rule.

Elements of Storyboard Frame

• Frame/Shot Number
• Settings
• Shot Type
• Camera Directions
• Camera Angle
• Camera Directions Into Next Frame
• Add An Image To Show the Camera Angle
• Frame Connector To Show Flow
• Editing Notes
• Camera Direction Arrow (Tilts, Pan and Zooms etc...)

Shots To Include:

• Long Shot
• Medium Shot
• Close Up
• Extreme Close Up
• Match On Action
• Over The Shoulder
• Shot/Reverse Shot

The 5 C's and Different Types of Shots

Language and Forms, Genre, Representation and Audience

5 C’s

Camera angles

Continuity

Cutting (aka editing)

Close-Ups

Composition

When ‘telling’ the audience where the film is set use a long shot. This  lets you show all the important info.

A medium shot is the most commonly used in cinema. Its is used to show any character interaction.

Something/someone important to how the audience then use a close up.

Continuity

Generally refers to a visual errors. In very basic terms it means having a character in a red top one second then a blue top the next. 

Cutting/Editing

Essential otherwise films would be in real time and never end.

Its allows a director to change locations.

Main use is to either add pace to a scene to make it exciting or to slow it down for dramatic emphasis.

• Gender
• Age
• Ethnicity
• Sexuality
• Class and status
• Physical ability/disability
• Regional identity

Camera Angles

Continuity

Continuity is a clip of footage that follows a logically timeline. Without any errors and time jumps.

Cutting (AKA Editing)

Close Ups

Composition

The way everything is put in every frame.

StoryBoards

Above is the Storyboard which we had to follow in order to complete our work. As you can, we had to record the a person walking down the Corridor, into and through a door, then a short discussion between them and a second person using various camera angles and shots.

Film AS Preliminary Task

In our task, we had to shoot a scene which involved in a person (Tom Simpson) walking down a corridor. We then had to shot Tom opening a door. Walking into the room. Then walking to the chair. After this a short interview is carried out between Tom and Sam. 

We had to use various camera shots such as:

• Midshot
• Longshot
• Close Up
• Extreme Close Up

About Me!!!

Hello my name is Ollie Pick and I like playing computer games.