Case studies

Essay: How does film classification affect film production and distribution?

 When the BBFC classify films, they have to take into consideration how it is going to affect the making of the film. Things that they have to think about whilst they are making the film are; whether the film will include violence, sex, drug use, swearing, nudity and horror.  They classify films to protect and make sure that young people/children are unable to view them in the cinema, because what is shown is too inappropriate for young people.

The film producers are the people that make the film and are involved in the coordination, supervision and are in charge of controlling all of the major aspects of the project. When making a film it is important for the producers to stick to certain limits. If making a children’s film, they should remember not to include any themes of sex, violence, drug use, horror and bad language. This is because this could make the BBFC classify the film with a high age rating, which will affect the audience who can view the film. The actors that take part in a film, contributes towards the production of a film. The producers are in charge of what they do and how they do it. If the actors are behaving in a certain way, it can affect how high the film classification can be. For example, the film SAW I, is classified as an 18+ and the actors in the film act in a way that presents horror and gory behaviour, which is unsuitable for anyone below the age of 18. An example of why ‘SAW I’ shouldn’t be viewed by anyone under the age of 18, is when one of the men in the room saws off his own foot in able to get a gun to kill the other man.  The writer of this film would have to have taken the gory parts and violence that is in this film into consideration when scripting it. The writer would also have to have in mind the classification that is suitable for this film.  Also when writing a film like SAW I, the writer would script the film with actions and speech sensibly so that it will obey the age classification.

The classification can affect the production in different ways.

Firstly when producing a film, if scenes of sex was to be included, the producers would firstly have to find actors that would be comfortable and to not mind displaying themselves having sex with another person. The actors would have to be sure of this because the film could possibly be shown in the cinema or later be put on a DVD. Also when producing a film, the producer needs to have a target audience in mind, so they can produce the film and make it suitable for them. This can affect the actors, the language used, whether violence, sex, drug use etc. Is used. This is important to consider because if the film overstepped the age rating, it would be moved higher and then would not be suitable to their original target audience.

Film classification can also affect the distribution of the film. When a film gets released into a cinema, the film is automatically restricted on the age that it lets in. For example, if a film is classified as a 15, it means that nobody under the age of 15 will be allowed to view the film. This means they are missing out on the money they could of got from letting the underage children in. A positive factor of film classification and the distribution of the film is that it attracts the right audience. This is how the media institutions know if the film made was to address the right target audience or not. However, after the film has been shown in the cinema, it will probably be available on DVD. This means that even though the DVD will still have a age rating on, its easier to gain access to because other people can buy the DVD for them, meaning the instituion is still making money from the film. This could be a negative point as well though because those of the younger age who shouldn’t be viewing the film, are because of the access being easier, but this could also be a good way of letting the parents decide if it is appropriate or not for their child. Along with DVD’s, a lot of films are now widely available on the internet to stream or on websites such as ‘LoveFilm’ or ‘Netflix’ and they do not require proof of age unlike cinema’s do.

In conclusion, film classification has a big effect on the production and distribution of a film, but mainly for the films that get shown at the cinema. It still has an effect on after that such as the Internet and DVD’s because it is easier to gain access to the films, without needing age proof, but when shown at the cinema, this is the only time that the age restriction is monitored and controlled for the right reasons. 

Bafta research and information

DOCUMENTARY: Searching For Sugar Man - Malik Bendjelloul, Simon Chinn

ANIMATED FILM: Brave - Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman

DIRECTOR: Argo - Ben Affleck

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Django Unchained - Quentin Tarantino

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Silver Linings Playbook - David O. Russell

LEADING ACTOR: Daniel Day-Lewis - Lincoln

LEADING ACTRESS: Emmanuelle Riva - Amour

SUPPORTING ACTOR: Christoph Waltz - Django Unchained

SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Anne Hathaway - Les Miserables

ORIGINAL MUSIC: Skyfall - Thomas Newman

CINEMATOGRAPHY: Life Of Pi - Claudio Miranda

EDITING: Argo - William Goldenberg

PRODUCTION DESIGN: Les Miserables - Eve Stewart, Anna Lynch-Robinson

COSTUME DESIGN: Anna Karenina - Jacqueline Durran

MAKE UP & HAIR: Les Miserables - Lisa Westcott

SOUND: Les Miserables - Simon Hayes, Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson, Jonathan Allen, Lee Walpole, John Warhurst

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS: Life of Pi - Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik-Jan De Boer

SHORT ANIMATION: The Making of Longbird - Will Anderson, Ainslie Henderson

SHORT FILM: Swimmer - Lynne Ramsay, Peter Carlton, Diarmid Scrimshaw

THE EE RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public): Juno Temple

OUTSTANDING BRITISH CONTRIBUTION TO CINEMA: Tessa Ross

THE BAFTA FELLOWSHIP: Alan Parker

Film | Outstanding British Film in 2013

WINNER- Skyfall

Sam Mendes, Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, John Logan

Anna Karenina

Joe Wright, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Paul Webster, Tom Stoppard

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

John Madden, Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Ol Parker

Les Misérables

Tom Hooper, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Debra Hayward, Cameron Mackintosh, William Nicholson, Alain Boublil, Claud

Seven Psychopaths

Martin McDonagh, Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin

Case study

Skyfall-

- 23^rd James Bond film produced by Eon productions.

- Directed by Sam Mendes

- Produced by Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli

-  Distributed by MGM and sony Pictures

- Features Daniel Craig as James Bond and Javier Bardem as Raoul Silva.

- Written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan

- The film centres on Bond investigating an attack on MI6.

- Released on 23^rd October, 26^th October (UK) and 9^th November in US.

- Running time 143 minutes

- Box Office $1, 108, 058, 404

Anna Karenina-

-       Written by Russian writer Leo Tolstoy

-       - the original title was ‘Анна Каренина’

-       was made in Russia

-       Had 864 pages

-       Main characters; Anna Karenina, Stepan Oblonsky’s sister, karenin’s wife and Vronsky’s lover

-       Anna Karenina is the tragedy of married aristocrat and socialite Anna Karenina and her affair with the affluent Count Vronsky. The story starts when she arrives in the midst of a family broken up by her brother's unbridled womanizing—something that prefigures her own later situation, though with less tolerance for her by others.

-       A bachelor, Vronsky is willing to marry her if she would agree to leave her husband Karenin, a government official, but she is vulnerable to the pressures of Russian social norms, her own insecurities and Karenin's indecision. Although Vronsky and Anna go to Italy where they can be together, they have trouble making friends. Back in Russia, she is shunned, becoming further isolated and anxious, while Vronsky pursues his social life. Despite Vronsky's reassurances she grows increasingly possessive and paranoid about his imagined infidelity, fearing loss of control.

-       A parallel story within the novel is that of Konstantin Levin, a country landowner who desires to marry Kitty, sister to Dolly and sister-in-law to Anna's brother Oblonsky. Konstantin has to propose twice before Kitty accepts. The novel details Konstantin's difficulties managing his estate, his eventual marriage, and personal issues, until the birth of his first child.

The best exotic marigold hotel

-       2012 british comedy-drama film

-       Directed by John Madden

-       Written by Ol parker

-       Based on 2004 novel ‘these foolish things’

-       Produced byGraham Broardbent

-       Box office- $134,388,807

-       Released date- 30^th November 201

-       Running time- 124 minutes

Plot- Recently widowed housewife Evelyn (Dench) must sell her home to cover huge debts left by her late husband. Graham (Wilkinson), a high-court judge who had spent his first eighteen years in India, abruptly decides to retire and return there. Jean (Wilton) and Douglas (Nighy) seek a retirement they can afford, having lost most of their savings through investing in their daughter's internet business. Muriel (Smith), a retired housekeeper prejudiced against Indians, needs a hip replacement operation which can be done far more quickly and inexpensively in India. Madge (Celia Imrie) is hunting for another husband, and Norman (Pickup), an aging lothario, is trying to re-capture his youth. They each decide on a retirement hotel in India, based on pictures on its website.

When the group finally arrives at the picturesque hotel, despite its energetic young manager Sonny (Patel), the hotel is very dilapidated. Jean remains ensconced in the hotel, while her husband Douglas explores the sights. Graham, finding that the area has greatly changed since his youth, disappears on long outings every day. Muriel, despite her racist attitudes, starts to appreciate her doctor for his skill and the hotel maid for her good service. Evelyn gets a job advising the staff of a call centre how to interact with older British customers. Sonny struggles to raise funds to renovate the hotel and sees girlfriend, Sunaina (Tena Desae), despite his mother's disapproval. Madge joins the Viceroy Club seeking a spouse, and is surprised to find Norman there. She introduces him to Carol (Diana Hardcastle). He admits he is lonely and seeking a companion, and the two begin a relationship.

Les Miserables

-       directed by Tom Hooper

-       Produced by- Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Debra Hayward

-       Stars, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfriend

-       Running tine 158 minutes

-       Release date(s) 5^th December (London) 11^th January, UK.

Plot

Jean Valjean, released on parole after 19 years on the chain gang, finds that the yellow ticket-of-leave he must, by law, display condemns him to be an outcast. Only the saintly Bishop of Digne treats him kindly and Valjean, embittered by years of hardship, repays him by stealing some silver. Valjean is caught and brought back by the police and is astonished when the Bishop lies to the police to save him, also giving him two precious candlesticks. Valjean decides to start his life anew.

Seven psychopaths

-Directed by Martin Mcdonagh

Starring- Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Walken, Tom Waits

Music by- Carter Burwell

Running time- 110 mins

Box office- $23,492, 318

Release date(s)- 7^th September, 12t October (US).

PLOT

A struggling screenwriter inadvertently becomes entangled in the Los Angeles criminal underworld after his oddball friends kidnap a gangster's beloved Shih Tzu.

Who holds the most power in terms of influencing what films get made and seen?

There are varied stages in the film production cycle that help a film get made and then seen. The film production cycle contains different groups that contribute towards and influence the film, such as the audience/ consumer, the studio and production cost, the writer, the stars, the director and the producer. In my opinion the audience holds the most power in terms of influencing what films get made and seen.

I think that the audience holds the most power because if there were no audience to watch a film, there would not be a way that it can get feedback and gain more viewers. For example, ‘Les miserable’ was a very successful theatre production that has been also made into a film and without the audience both the theatre shows and film wouldn’t be as successful. This is because of the film reviews and word of mouth from friends and family which has helped make the audience bigger. It took in £5.2 million in its opening weekend, and a extra £1.4m coming from previews, and the majority of that audience had recommended it to other people.

On the other hand, it can be argued that marketing and advertisement can be the power source for influencing what films get made and seen rather than the audience. The more something gets advertised the more likely people will be attracted to it and go and watch it. If the film that is being advertised has a certain actor or celebrity in the film, it is more likely that the audience will view it just to see them. Examples of this are ‘The Notebook’ which has Ryan Gosling in, or like in the film ‘Charlie St Cloud’ where the main actor is Zac Efron. He’s starred in High School Musical 1,2 and 3, Charlie St Cloud, 17 again, The Lucky One, New Year’s Eve and many more. He is adored and loved by millions of girls and boys worldwide, but especially the women.

Another argument against my point of the audience holding the most power is the media conglomerates. A media conglomerate is the media ownership that markets the films. They own the film studio, record labels, books, radio publishing, movies, Internet platforms and TV stations and have a lot of power with what gets seen due to the advertisement methods. The synergy of a film also contributes to the marketing. If the film company has the budget, it can work together with other companies to help promote more things that attract the audience. Such as Disney; has the Disney shop, the kids channel, the films and the Theme Parks which are all well-known and help promote the company to be successful.

 

Another reason why the audience holds the most power in terms of influencing what films get made and seen is because of the amount of people who watch the films on the Internet. It does decrease the viewing figures at the cinema but if they watch the films on ‘Netflix’ or ‘LoveFilm’ it is giving the film company money. Also, with the audience downloading films on them websites, it is increasing the likelihood of them spreading by word of mouth how good the films are, which leads to people paying to watch them. The audience is holding the power with what films get made and seen because it gives the production company a good idea of what audiences like which helps them produce more films that will attract people.

In conclusion I think that the audience holds the most power in terms of influencing what films get made and seen, the main reason being that without the audience, there would not be any feedback from the films and no way for people to know how good it is. This means that no improved films can be made and that the production company would find it hard to create a good film.

 

Media institution case study- Disney

It was founded in Los Angeles, California, U.S (October 16, 1923 (1923-10-16)) by Walt and Roy Disney
Walt Disney's revenue in 2010 was $38 billion
Its first feature-length animated film was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and was released on December the 21st 1937 (premiere) and February the 4th 1938
They have produced 52 animated disney films to date, with more to come
An example of disney Films that have been made by the institution are ;
Bambi
Fox and the Hound
Beauty and the Beast
Snow White
Sleeping Beauty
Pinochio
Dumbo
The Lion King
Aladdin
Toy Story

-In October 16, 1923, Walt signed a contract with M. J. Winkler to produce a series of Alice Comedies — this date is considered the start of the Disney company first known as The Disney Brothers Studio.

- October 1, 1949 Walt Disney Music Company is formed.

-July 31, 1995- Disney agrees to purchase Capital Cities/ABC for $19 billion

'The Fear' essay

The TV drama clip ‘The Fear’ can be used to construct representation of social class using features such as camera shots, editing, Mise-en-scene and sound.

Throughout the clip, the social class difference and the effect that it has on the characters changes. The clip starts by the camera moving from left to right, in the direction of the two characters, which has been shown by the tracking movement of the camera. This camera movement has been used to make the audience look at the whole scene while it moves from left to right, rather than just focus on a close up of a character. The long shot being used by the camera is also affective for the same reason. It makes the audience focus on everything in the shot, which is good for an opening scene in a clip because the audience can identify the characters and the setting at the same time. The social class is automatically assumed and explained in that shot, this is because the props that is in the doctor’s reception. There are leather chairs, wooden desks and chairs flat screen computers and big glass windows which suggest that they doctors surgery and the people that work there are from a high class.

The sound in the clip also represents the social class. The first male character that appears in the clip; Ritchie, uses dialogue towards the reception lady which suggests that he is more important than her, although he is probably from a lower or even the same class as the woman. He says “Looking for doctor Whiteing” and by him using a demanding deep tone to his voice, makes Ritchie seem like a powerful and higher class character. When the reception lady replies to Ritchie by saying, “Do you have an appointment” in a soft but stern voice, it makes her then looks like the powerful one by questioning him. Because there isn’t any non-diegetic sound and there is just dialogue, it builds tension when the reception lady rebels against the male character. More dialogue is continued when Ritchie replies, “Just tell him its Ritchie”. The reception lady replied to Ritchie again by saying “im afraid doctor Whiteing can’t see anyone without an appointment” and then pauses to let Ritchie think but then adds “im afraid im ganna have to ask you to remove your car”. This shows representation of class because the woman who is the higher class is more dominating and demanding.

 The Mise-en-scene in both scenes; the reception area and then in the doctors room both show representation of class. In the reception area the props such as the furniture and the desk is all very modern and the costume of the receptionist is smart and formal that represents her as a high class. Even though he is in a suit and does look formal from his costume, the way he presents himself by picking up the computer keyboard and going to swing to hit the woman if she didn’t let him off moving his car is represented as violent and intimidating. This can make Ritchie look like he is from a high class by bossing the reception woman about but he can also be made to look weak because of how nasty he is. After Doctor Whiteing comes to see what was happening, he saw Ritchie at reception and caught him with the keyboard in his hand ready to swing at the woman he took him into his own room to have a chat.  

Editing has been used in this scene to represent class. The camera movement goes back to the very first tracking of the view of the whole reception area. The camera shot of Ritchie’s close up shot of his face has been edited with a cut onto the long shot. This goes from making Ritchie look powerful to looking small. The next shot that is shown of Ritchie is the close up in the doctor’s room. This editing cut has been done from one long shot to a close up to emphasize the facial expression. Because Ritchie’s personality is aggressive but also jokey in a way, it shows that he is not from the posh formal background unlike the receptionist who uses a formal tone of voice and Doctor Whiteing who is also formal and dedicated to his job. You can tell this from the dialogue: “What do you want Richie”. This is showing that he thinks Ritchie is messing him around and taking up his time by joking and shows he doesn’t want to speak to him. It represents class because the doctor is from the upper class and is looking down onto Ritchie who seems to be wandering in and annoying people.

In conclusion, social class has been represented in this clip by the use of sound, Mise-en-scene, editing and camera shots. Camera shots and angles gives effect by making the character look more or less powerful which can represent their class; the higher class looking powerful. The sound and dialogue plays a big part in the clip because the tone of voice and what characters say to each other are different depending on the gender, class and age.

Textual analysis and representation notes

-representation is linked to economic forces

-representation is shaped by technology, which is described as a fragmented audience

- textual analysis is an advanced form of media literacy and a basic level of it allows somebody to understand the narrative of a tv drama and to make criticisms in relation to other programmes

-For us to deconstruct a tv drama we need to know how its been put together and to do this we need to work at micro and macro levels of the text

-micro level means pulling apart aspects of the texts frame by frame construction

- frame construction includes camera angles and the movement, shot types, editing transitions music/sound effects and mise-en-scene (lighting choices, props and costumes)

- To work at macro level it means drawing up conclusions from micro work about how the sequence represents themes and people

-also witness the interpretations that viewers will create

representation 

-when people say did you watch the game last night?' you would say yes but strictly speaking your not..because your are really watching a meditated constructed re-presentation of the match

Metaphor

-Gauntlett (2007 developed a research method using lego, he asked people to make a metaphorical model with the lego so it represents their identity, he didn't expect them to make models that resemble them so that way he can get a better sense of how people see themselves and present them

Verisimilitude

-when we look at how a media text represents the world we are usually concerned with the representation of age, gender, ethnicity social groups, places and themes

-to explore representation in a tv/radio drama we will be asking

--What kind of realism is being attempted by the programme, who is being represented in the drama, who is not being represented and why, whether we can identify any stereotypical characters, is there a dominant view of the world that has been represented and what different responses might the audience members make to the representations.

representational codes

-'life on mars' is a good example of a tv drama that is rich with representational codes. the drama depends on the juxtaposition. Without the audiences complicity in understand the contrast the text is meaningless. 

Chapter 2.1- TV drama

-British TV still attracts huge viewing audiences and many of the shows are watched as one off peak time broadcasts

drama series has huge potential to produce ongoing revenue through sales to other countries and channels as well as DVD sales, but 'propor TV drama' brings prestige to institutions that attempt to make it 

-but british TV drama is no longer as big as it was

Connolly concludes that while British TV drama is now something of a poor relation in comparison to the america producer, it is still a fairly healthy state

camera shots- establishing shot, master shot, close up, mid-shot, long shot, wise shot, two shot, aerial shot, point of view shot and over the shoulder shot

camera angles- high, low and canted angle

camera movement- pan,tilt, track,dolly,crane, steadicam, hand-held, zoom, reverse zoom

camera composition- framing, rule of thirds, depth of field, deep and shallow focus, focus pulls

editing- transition of image and sound, continuity and non systems, cutting, shot/reverse shot, eyeline match, graphic match, action match, jump cut cross cutting, parallel, editing, cutaway, insert, dissolve, fade in and out, wipe, superimposition, long take, short take, slow motion, ellipsis and expansion of time

sound-diegetic, non, synchronous, sound effects, sound motif, sound bridge, dialogue, voiceover, model of address, sound mixing, sound perspective, soundtrack, score, incidental music themes, ambient sound

Mise-en-scene- production design, location, studio, set design, costume and makeup, properties, lighting, colour design

background to TV drama-

there are different types of tv drama that have different conventions 

-teen dramas

-soap operatas

costume dramas

medical/hospital dramas

police/crime dramas

docu dramas

teen dramas- 

it is a broad sub-genre, generally these are concerned with striking an entertaining balance between social issues that are of concern of the target audience, and creating an attractive representational range of recognisable character types. But the other issue of it is should kids copy the negative behaviour they see?

Examples of teen dramas such as 'grange hill' can be views as a social document that represents a range of social changes.

-teen dramas are unlike the rest of our examples as they do not set out to appeal to such a broad audience

Soap operas

- the soap opera format can be a area of study in its own right and can be the important interplay is between the micro and the macro elements of textual analysis.  

- soap operates rely on intertexual or extra textual meanings. However soap trailers have become increasingly sophisticated. 

terms of popularity we need to consider whether the reason for the longevity of the pleasure offered by these texts is to do with representation

period dramas

-not all of them are literacy adaptation but they do account for a substantial part of the sub-genre.

period drama is expensive to produce because of the high demands and fees earned by the kinds of acting personnel expected by the audience.we can say that they tend to be more 'filmic' in quality and that those that are based on literature will represent people and issues largely in keeping with the original novel or play

hospital dramas

-they balance two different narrative themes; public health and the treatment of illness and workplace interactions and relationship, this shares many conventions with soap operas

-they feature a range of character types that are referred to as stereotypes

crime dramas

-there are 2 kinds; one off crime tends to focus on the kinds of crime that create the most anxiety among the viewing public and long running tv crime dramas will have a variety of sub-plots over time that build up sustained audience interest, each one will have its own unique representational aspects that are not directly related to the crime being investigated

-media representations of crime normally set up 5 key binaries;

- crime/the police, criminals/the justice system, lawyers versus courts, social workers versus the police and victims versus the public, each one can be analysed using this system to get a sense of how each programme represents crime and law differently