Films Profit

Source - http://filmmakermagazine.com/82728-only-7-of-u-k-films-earn-a-profit-claims-bfi-report/#.UqRKdpEeXjQ

The stats showed that just 3.1% of films with budgets under £500,000 turned a profit. The numbers increase as budgets rise:

£0.5m-£2m: 4.1%
£2m-£5m: 4.6%
£5m-£10m: 12.1%
£10m+: 17.4%

Ultra-low-budget films — those under £500,000 — did especially poorly; the report claims that only 3.1% of films in this category earned a profit.

Regardless, the central point of this report is one that has relevance to American indie producers. Were such a report to be generated here, I wouldn’t be surprised to see ultra-low-budget films also as the least profitable, despite their diminished costs. BFI acting head of research and statistics David Steele predicted at the conference that wide release films would increasingly dominate the theatrical landscape while independents would be consigned more and more to VOD. I don’t doubt that’s the case either; the challenge for indie producers in both U.K. and America will be to develop distribution plans and revenue models that market effectively — and profitably — in digital marketplaces.

Green Screen

The use of the green screen in our film.

We aim to use a green screen in our film to create the effect of a news report, focusing on the theme of bullying, this helps with the realism of the film and will create a strong effect and help the audience relate on a more personal levels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Does a Green Screen Work?

 

It does not have to be green. The technique can be done using any color, even colors which are outside of the spectrum of human vision (as long as you develop a camera that can pick it up). Green is used often because it's easiest for most modern cameras to pick up, giving the editor the cleanest possible image.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is a Green screen.

 

Green screen refers to a technique used to make people look like they are somewhere they aren't. The primary subject is filmed against a plain background, which is normally either green or blue. The background is later replaced with the background of whichever place the subject needs to look like they have gone to.

Synergy

Synergy is when the interaction of two or more forces working together creates a greater effect than the sum of their indivisual efforts.

Media synergy is the way in which different elements of a media conglomerate work together to promote linked products across different media.

Synergy works when different elementswith a media conglomerate promote create linked products.

Cross media convergence and synergy is important to institutions and audiences in many ways such as production. Working Title films is part of a conglomerate with Universal Films owning 67% of Working title (Horizontal Intergration). This means they have access to a higher budget and new technology such as 3D and 4D cinema releases and better CGI effects.

Institution like Working Title have advantages of using 'Cross media convergence' to make more money in the box office, DVD sales from different countries and having better advertising methods.

Synergy is a important factor in our film as we are focusing on working with a variety of other film production, companies and funding companies to enure our film reaches our targets.

BFI

The BFI  use Lottery funds to nurture and invest in a diverse mix of first-class filmmakers UK-wide; to discover and develop new talent; and to support the production of a wide range of films that will enrich British film culture and define Britain and its storytellers in the 21st century, for the benefit of audiences at home and abroad.

They  support UK distributors to help ensure that the best British and specialised films connect with a wide range of audiences across a range of platforms throughout the UK.

They support sales companies who are premiering new UK films at key international film festivals and markets.

 Investing skills across the film sector and support inward investment and film exports, helping the industry to remain competitive, especially on the global stage.

Teaser Trailers

A teaser trailer is a short version of a movie trailer that is designed to pique the interest of the audience, getting potential viewers excited about an upcoming film. Teaser trailers are typically released months in advances, sometimes as much as 18 months before the expected release date of the film, and they are used to build anticipation and curiosity about the films they advertise. These trailers can be seen before feature film in some movie theaters, and they are also released onlnie and shown on television.

Classically, a teaser trailer lasts between half a minute and a minute. It may include footage from the film, often in a rough stage since the film has not been completed, or it may use entirely new source material. In some cases, a teaser is simply an abridged version of a regular movie trailer, including the film's tagline and key footage in a condensed version that is more television-friendly.


One of the most viewed and best examples of a 2013 teaser trailer is 'Anchorman 2', http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ-JX-7B3uM , reaching over 7million views and only being 1 minute long. It also does not behold any footage from the film but is instead the first information and release to the audience of the confirmation of an 'Anchorman 2'.

Storyboard

Trailer Analysis - Ill Manors

 

 

 

 

Selling our film - Basics

Do you have the means to distribute directly? 

In todays society of film making, a film distributor will rarely take on a film makers first film. But with todays modern technology films can find success for almost free, such a Paranormal Activity, posted on YouTube and picked up by a director, turning over a major profit. Our film however is incredibly low funded and worth the money we ask for compared to other films as we are only asking for 50,000pounds of which would go mainly towards staff, actors, equipment and renting out locations, we feel although it is a small budget, it can still make a lot of profit.









Is there a market?

From research we have found that social realism is a lot more popular than may of been first thought, with all ages available for selling to. We then looked further into what the story lines of the films were and found that the majority is something is either 'normal' at the begin, only to go wrong and be solved again, working along with Todorov's theory as well as having Propp's character roles, or there is something wrong, it is tried to be solved, and ends up still being wrong or worse. We then realised there was a space in the market and worked our storyline around that gap.










How do you structure the release?


We plan to release our film mainly through digital technology, being the most common used thing on the internet with millions of views per day, social networking sites such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, and best of all they are free. Other than social networking we will take our film to film festivals such as Sundance and small independent ones around the UK. We can also sell our film through trailers, teaser trailers, posters, billboards and public transport posters, all making our film available to the public.

Social Realism through the ages

Keanu Reves on "The future of Cinema"

This article shows how cinema is every changing and how digital technology is completely changing and affecting the face of cinema and film making worldwide.

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/feb/14/keanu-reeves-future-of-cinema

Our film and Propp's character roles

Our film again subverts the stereotypes of characters, the audience is not given anyone that they could call a 'hero', they are instead shown to depress and sad individuals who they follow the lives of. There is no villain, donor, dispatcher, father, princess, helper, red herring or anything of the kind, other than themselves, again showing how this stereotype has been completely subverted.

Our film and Todorov's theory

Our film does not completely subside with the typical narrative by Todorov which was ;

1. Equilibrium             A state of normality
2. Disruption               An event disrupts the normality
3. Recognition             The hero recognises the disruption
4. Complications          The hero meets problems in trying to restore the equilibrium
5. New Equilibrium     The hero restores a new state of normality

The only part of this theory that our film goes along with would be 'The Hero' meeting his problems in trying to restore the equilibrium, and even this is vague. Our films starts out with sadness and depression and focuses on it throughout, eventually ending in a state of happiness, but at no point is there a level of society that the audience could call 'normal'.

Our Genre

British social realism is a genre that concentrates on issues that are alive in todays society which is represented by different beliefs. We are presented with common themes such as money, drugs, reakups, sex and prostitution, social standing, religion and politics. These themes are now incredibly popular in the genre today, but were no all involved in earlier social realism story lines.

Social realism target audiences depends upon the films forms and conventions, because of the fact that social realism often uses young main characters, the film now appeals to a young/teen audience, ages 13-20, because the film concentrates and follows modern youth. Older British social realism films such as 'Happy Breed' (1944) and 'Spare Time' (1939) would appeal to an over 50 audience, although this is now a rare genre for the over 50 audience, but this does however also show that social realism has a very broad audience, as it can appeal to all audiences. 'Billy Elliot' however was a film that appeals to everyone, and families especially. Trainspotting on the contrary would only appeal to an audience 18-30.

History of social realism - Britain's contribution to cinema in the 1930s lay in a state sponsored documentary tradition that would feed into the 1940s mainstream. Producer Michael Balcon revived the social distinction when he referred to the British industry's longstanding rivalry with Hollywood in terms of 'realism and tinsel'. Balcon, in his position as head of Ealing Studios, would become a key figure in the emergence of a national cinema characterised by stoicism and verisimilitude.

Combining the objective temper and aesthetics of the documentary movement with the stars and resources of studio filmmaking, 1940s British cinema made a stirring appeal to a mass audience. The New Wave was symptomatic of a worldwide emergence of art cinemas challenging mainstream aesthetics and attitudes. identified with their directors rather than with the industry, the New Wave films tended to address issues around masculinity that would become common in British social realism.

 

                                   

Our film poster

Our Pitch - Utopia

Utopia pitch from Morgan-R

Promoting and Advertising our film

We will promote our film through a variety of technology and public advertisement -

- Social media - We will aim to use websites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube

- Film festivals - We will aim to show and promote our film via various film festivals such as the East End Film Festival, Sundance and the International Film Festival Rotterdam.

- Public Advertisement - We aim to catch the publics eye through advertisement such as our posters on billboards, on TV breaks, and adverts at cinemas.

We also hope to receive more publicity through our distributor, Lionsgate, we feel that we will be able to gain more audience as they are a high ranking company, releasing high grossing films such as The Hunger Games, Kick-ass and Saw. Having such a variety of films makes it seem as if our British Social Realism film would be a great addition to there films, even though it is not a British company.

Codes and Conventions

The codes and conventions of British Social Realism;

- Real life and relateable topics that an audience can understand and empathise with the characters on.
- Believable topics and storylines - if the audience loses belief in the film, it will lose authenticity and they will lose interest and word of mouth will be negative.
- The plot will often involve a lower class/working class people
- The plot should be realistic to a lower/working class perspective
- A hand held shot or point-of-view shot will often be used to give the film a documentary feel and to show the characters feeling in a visual way.
- It should contain minimal amount of editing to give a more realistic effect
- Minimal amount of non-diagetic sound if not none. Should only to be put in a social realism film for effect.
- Establishing shot so the audience always know where the scene is being taken place.


Whats expected in a British Social Realism film;

- Shooting on locations and not studios, rarely any special effects.
- The use of wide shots
- Not always highly proffesional blockbuster actor - can be small time British actors not A-List
- Semi-improvised scripts - a lot of social realism films rely closely on improvisation
- an element of both comedy and drama
- The destruction of regional identities
- A long list of social issues - makes relateable and believable topics for an audience to relatable

 

 

Locations

For our locations we aim to pick out places that directly link to the genre of British Social Realism. We aim to also represent the characters backgrounds and hobbies through the scenery, as well as connoting different situations to an audience.









Council House -                                                    

Using a council house is for Perry. Through using the scenery of a council house is connotes his background, upbringing and family income. It is sadly a place that is judged by higher classes and is are stereotyped. It is also somewhere that is a good link to Britain and will help to outline our films genre.









Middle Class Area/House -

The use of a middle class house in a suburban area helps the audience to link Charles to his family background and the families income. Although it is not a direct stereotype to Britain, it will however help to give the audience and idea about his situation.











The Escape -

The use of an out of the way and quite place gives an idea of an escape to the audience, a place that we come to realise both characters need. This is also the best way for them both to meet each other for the first time as it will instantly give them a place to connect on.

Our Target Audience

We chose our target audience to be people of the age between 15 and 21, because this is the age with the most disposable income, the most free time, and also the people who go to the cinema most often.We feel that although the film is aimed at both male and female, the audience will be predominantly mal as from research we found that British social realism is one of the most popular genres for males, with films such as Adulthood, Kidulthood and This is England, bringing in high profits with a majority male audience.

First Film Idea

Character Profile Mind Map

Key Concepts - Representation Lesson

Researching British Social Realism

Ill Manors

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1760967/?ref_=sr_1

Critically acclaimed for being produced by music artist Plan B (Ben Drew)

Social Realism Film

BBFC 18

Released to show representation of young people today. 

Relatable characters

All British Cast

Kidulthood

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435680/?ref_=sr_1

British Social Realism 

BBFC 15

Often shown on BBC channels

Follows various peoples lives clashing together

Low Budget

All British Cast

Relatable

 

This Is England

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480025/?ref_=sr_1

Relatable characters

Low Budget

All British Cast

Conclusion

Throughout this research of British Social Realism, it becomes apparent that the main features are relatable and an all British cast and characters, and just because the film is low budget does not necessarily mean it amounts to poor quality and a bad final product. From this research we will take it and try to fit relatable situations and characters into our film making the audience feel more involved in the story line.

Character profiles - 1st draft

Boy 1

- 16
- Working Class
- Family Involved in drugs
- Regularly in fights
- Dropped out of school
- lives in Nottingham
- Council house
- wears trackies
- Very isolated
- rarely at home

HOBBIES -
- Football
- Drinking

Overall these attributes amount to what todays views as a stereotypical working class young boy. From events such as the London riots in 2011, and the media constantly attacking young working class males as 'hoodies' and 'yobs', portraying them to be something that the public should be afraid of.

Boy 2

- 16
- Middle Class
- Bullied at school and cyber bullied
- Dad rarely at home - Busineses man - no father figure
- Lives in middle class area of Nottingham
- Also isolated, regulalry on computer
- hobbies of gaming and computers
- spends most of his time out alone

These traits amount to a stereotypical middle class and well off family. Although we have applied a twist as we see that this nice life on the exterior, is actually a world of bullying and sadness. This subject of bullying get little media attention as it is not deemed as serious enough, and they insteaed concentrate on creating fear and problems for the public that may or may not be true.

Ill Manors Case Study

Ill Manors is the fast paced, British Social Realism film realeased in 2012 by director Ben Drew (Plan B). The films plot revolves around the variety of people living in urban London today, through doing this we are enabled to see the truth and lives through various peoples lives in various situations. Each indivisual story morph into each other, creating a harsh insight into the realism of the world today. The film also witholds a soundtrack produced by the director himself, who has previously had chart topping hits, straight away enabling fans of his to be interested or have some knowledge of the soon to be released film, each story is represented by different tracks.


Budget - £100,000

Box Office (UK) - £453,570


Realease of the Film

Advertisement was first found in The Guardian's website, the first film poster shown on Empire magazines website, and Digital Spy also unveiling two further promotional posters.

The films premier took place on 30th May at the Empire cinema in Leicester Square, London. This screening was also attended by numerous other recording artists such as Professor Green, Tinie Tempah and Wretch 32, giving a wider range of audience/fans an interest into the film.

The films was realeased to 191 cinemas in the UK and Republic of Ireland on 6 June 2012. Ill Manors was also released in the Netherlands on 30 August 2012.

It was also shown at the Toronto Film festical and the Festival do Rio in September 2012 giving a wider target audience for the film, as well as TV adverts and Ben Drew (Director) using social media such as Twitter.


Reception

On the films opening weekend the film gained a 9th place at the UK Box OFfice, with a gross of £256,288.
Domestically the film has a total gross of £453,570, after 8 weeks at the box office.

Reviews

The films received widely positive reviews from boths fans and critics, with public film critic sites such as 'Rotten Tomatoes' having a average of 80% ''Fresh'' on the film, and buyers off Amazon giving the film an average rating of 4.5 out of 5, with claims that despite the films harsh and grim nature, it has a gripping and unavoidable storyline.

Social Networking

Ill Manors has been successful on social networking sites such as twitter, Facebook and Youtube. For such a fairly low budget film it has been able to find impressive success.

The Idea

This is my A2 media blog. I will be working alongside Owen Molde and Morgan Radford. Throughout this project we aim to create a range of media including a teaser trailer, poster and blog. The genre that we have chosen to focus on is British Social Realism, similar to films such as Kidulthood, Anuvahood and Weekender. Our story is following the lives of two typical teenagers, facing two opposite problems that the target audience can relate to. The age of are target audience is any between 15 and 40.