1) Research the BBFC: what is the institution responsible for? How is it funded? What link does it have to government? The BBFC is a company who provide information on films and distinguish ratings, in order to target a particular age group. They provide ratings such as 12A, 15, PG to show what kind of audiences can watch films as some are restricted for certain age groups. They get their income from the services they provide e.g running times of films. They are appointed by the council of management, whose members consist of people from the film industry as well as banking. 2) Read this BBFC guide to how films are rated. Summarise the process in 50 words. The decision on the rating is made collectively by the Chief Executive, the President and two other vice presidents. The examiners watch a combination of Dvds, films and also video games. Some examiners also carry out solo viewings - in which they watch the film on their own and work out which texts are suitable for viewing for various age groups. Then the examiners watch the films on the BBFC's cinema in order to see the text from the audiences perspective. Dvds are also viewed on plasma screens to recreate the home viewing experience. Films which are submitted in foreign language are also examined by examiners with linguistic skills. The text is then sent for a further viewing to see if there are any inappropriate themes etc. It is the given a BBFC certificate. 3) Read this BBFC outline of the issues faced when classifying a film. Summarise the debate in 50 words. When determining the age rating of a film the BBFC have to see whether the material obstructs the law, or has been created through the commission of a crime. They also have to see whether the film includes content that will harm the audience watching. For example some acts of violence may lead to the audience developing a ''dehumanised view of others''. They also have to consider the films effect on public opinion. The impact the film will have on the audience is also taken into account e.g a generally dark or unsettling tone in a horror film may disturb an audience. 4) Read this BBFC section on controversial decisions. Why did The Dark Knight generate a large amount of media coverage regarding its certificate? Do you agree with the 12A certificate The Dark Knight was awarded? Yes as it follows the guidelines for a 12A film. In the movie there isn't any discriminatory language or behavior. There is not any references to drugs or how they are created. There is ''moderate physical and psychological threat sequences''. There is also violence between the protagonist and villains. However you could argue that it shouldn't be allowed to have a 12A rating as there is ''imitable behavior''. In some scene the Joker uses knives and guns which goes against the guidelines as it states there should be '' no glamorization of realistic or easily accessible weapons''. 5) What are the guidelines for a 15 certificate?
There may be racist, homophobic and other discriminatory themes/languages.
drug taking may be shown but the process of making these substances cannot be shown. Also cannot show the misuse of substances e.g aerosols, solvents
Dangerous behaviour should not be detailed enough to be copied by particular audiences.
Strong language is allowed; very strong language is only permitted if the context suits the tone.
Nudity is allowed but it should not be explicit.
Sexual activity is also allowed however this should not be detailed.
Threat and horror are acceptable.
Violence is also allowed but without detail to the infliction of pain or injury.
6) The BBFC website offers an explanation of every classification it makes and detailed case studies on selected titles. Choose one 15-rated film from the BBFC case studies section and summarise the classification the film was given and why.
Apocalypse Now (1979)
This film was given rated a ''15 uncut'' as it includes depictions of violence as the narrative revolves around the Vietnam war and the adventures of Captain Willard who is sent on a mission to Cambodia to ''assassinate a renegade colonel''. It contained themes of dark humor which is acceptable to this particular audience. There were also some scenes with animal slaughter e.g when Kurtz's assassin uses a machete to kill a bullock (which was a ritual in a local tribe). This actually raised question on the use of animal cruelty however it was named one of the ''many serendipitous events in the film''.
Production: Independent film studios 1) Look back at the five films you have analysed for your existing product research. Find which studios made them – e.g. Film Four, Studio Canal, BFI, BBC Films etc. Girlhood
2) What other films do these studios produce? Can you find any any other independent, arthouse or low-budget examples?
Hold up Films - French production company who produced a film called ''Tomboy'' which was released in 2011. According to IMdb it was rated 7.4/10 making this movie the company's most successful film with a budget of 1 Million euros.
Produzioni De Sica - An Italian production company that produced a film called ''Miracle in Milan'' which was released in 1951. Pandora Cinema- An American production company that also produced a film called '' Night on Earth'' which was released in 1991, with a budget of $3,500.000. Film4 - A British production company that also produced a film called ''45 years''.
3) Do the studios have any notable successes? What is the most successful low-budget or independent film the studio has released?
Hold up Films - '' Girlhood'' was the company most successful arthouse film with 11 wins for various film awards. It made $1.7 million.
Produzioni De Sica - ''Bicycle Thieves'' was the company's most successful film with 18 wins and a nomination for an Oscar. It made $371,111 . Also The film ''Indiscretion of an American wife (1953) was also nominated for an Oscar. Pandora Cinema- ''Tango'' (1998) was one of the company's most successful film with 8 wins and 10 nominations. It was also nominated for an Oscar. It made $1,687,311. Film4 - They have produced many successful films such a ''12 years a slave'' and '' Slumdog Millionaire''. Their most successful low budget film would be '' This is England'' (2006) which was nominated for one BAFTA award and won 13 other film awards. It made £5 million
Distribution: Independent film distributors
1) Research film distribution using this guide from the UK Film Distributors' Association . It's called Launching Film and takes you through the whole process of distributing a movie.
Read the whole step-by-step guide (warning: this is LONG and will take you around an hour) 2) Summarise the 10 steps of film distribution in a list using your own words.
A film distributor must be available after a film is made.
They have to identify the largest possible audience for each film with the help of research (audience types and the ''cinema experience'')
The distributors bring films to the market by : asking why an audience would go to see the film, estimating the revenue, and persuading cinema operators to play the film.
The FDA is the trade body that represents film distributors in the UK
Independent distributors then meet with sales agents in various film festivals to try and sell the films. Distributors have to consider the target audience - who will the film appeal to the most and will the narrative grab the audience's attention. Ancillary sales are also a key source of income for a film. Films get revenue form different media platforms such as DVD, pay-per-view tv , digital downloads etc.
Distributors make a deal with the producers, sales agents or the studio to specify the rights they hold for the film e.g the right to release it in UK cinemas and promote it before release.
A distribution plan is developed if they need to discuss certain issues with the producers or the studio.
When distributors have estimated a film's revenue they prepare a budget to release it. They have to consider certain aspects such as: the film classification, possible nominations, competitors, and the number of screens it will be shown in across the nation.
The distributor has to raise awareness and interest in the film to persuade audiences to buy tickets to see the film. One way it does this is by producing film artwork to attract audiences. Trailers are also important as they give the audience a sneek peek into the film to grab their attention. Exit polls are also taken to requires the audience's feedback on the film. Distributors also supply online advertising for websites and games.
Distributors then license films to exhibitors so that it can be screened in various cinemas.
3) Now research the distributors for each of the arthouse films you have analysed for your existing product
research. Who distributed each film in the UK?
Girlhood Studio Canal Bicycle Thieves Arthouse Productions Ltd, Park Circus Limited, General Cinema Theatres Ltd, Fremantlemedia Enterprise Ltd Donnie Darko Metrodome Distribution Ltd Arrow Film Distributors Ltd Room Studio Canal The Lobster Picturehouse Entertainment Element Pictures Distribution
4) How many cinemas did each film open in?
Girlhood -Unknown
Bicycle Thieves- 5 screen (USA)
Donnie Darko-37 screens (UK)
Room - 862 screens (USA)
The Lobster - 4 Screens (USA)
5) How much money did each film make? Did it make a profit against the budget?
Girlhood made $1.7 million but its budget is unknown
Bicycle Thieves made $371,111 with a budget of $133,000
Profit - $238,111
Donnie Darko made $7.3 million (Box office) with a budget of $3.8 million dollars
Profit- $3.5 million
Roommade $36.2 million with a budget of $13 million
Profit- $23.2 million
The Lobster made $15.7 million with a budget of $4.5 million
Profit- $11.2 million
6) Research Curzon Artificial Eye. Who are they and what do they do?
They are a British independent Film Distributor, founded in 1976. They specialize in independent, foreign language and arthouse films.
6) Look at the Curzon Artificial Eye Youtube channel. Watch three trailers for recent or upcoming
independent films and identify something you can learn from each film to use in your own film production.
The Unknown Girl
I would like to explore and use the hybrid thriller/crime genre for my film as it is typical of a arthouse film to have a suspenseful plot , usually with a mysterious character. The use of hand held cameras makes it appear as if it is a documentary which can help the audience identify with the characters and be submerged into the intriguing narrative. Also towards the end we see an action code - the girl driving- but then it appears as if she was about to crash or stop suddenly. For my film I would like to do something similar which keeps the audience guessing.
Fire at Sea
I like how this film used cinematography and mise en scene to show the importance of the setting in the narrative. In my arthouse film, I would also like to use various shots such as panning, long shots and medium shots to help the audience understand and suture the narrative, which has limited dialogue. This use of diegetic sound in this film is also effective as it creates a suspenseful mood- the audience are not given a soundtrack (non- diegetic sound) to predict what happens next. Therefore it intrigues the audience and creates an enigma. In my film I would also like to use limited dialogue as arthouse films tend to focus on the visual aspects of a narrative.
Notes on Blindness
I like the use of camera angles and shots in this film as it allows the audience to pick out objects that symbolize certain things. For example the extreme close up of the cassette tape (circular part) spinning could connote the eye and how the mans vision has faded away yet he carries on with his life. I also like the slow movements as it again creates a suspenseful mood. I would like to use this in my production as these camera movements are typical of the crime/thriller genre as they create mystery.
Exhibition: Arthouse cinemas Find some London-based arthouse cinemas and research the following: 1) What is the name of the cinema? Where is it?
Regent Street Cinema located in Marylebone in central London.
2) What type of films do they show? What films are on this week? How do their programmes differ from the major cinema chains like Vue?
The cinema shows a range of documentaries, animation and experimental cinema. They focus on British films, world cinema and classic movies. This week they are showing a range of arthouse films such as: ''The Fencer''. ''Arrival'' and Action Space. The films at Regent st cinema are mainly arthouse whereas films at major cinema chains are more mainstream and popluar.
3) What type of audience attends this kind of arthouse cinemas? Are there any clues on the website regarding the target audience? How can you tell?
The cinema attends to children under 16 as well as adults (early 20s to late 30s) as they show range of films that would interest this particular demographic. On the website they have a section called the ''Kids' Kino Club'' where they show the upcoming screenings of old fashioned and recent films for kids such as ''Elf'' and ''A Christmas story''. For adults there are a range of classic arthouse films such as '' Holiday Inn'' and ''Blue Velvet''.
A case study in independent film production: Film London and Microwave Film
A screen industries agency that promote films that are produced in London. They train ''emerging film makers'' and help them improve their film making skills by working with ''production support teams''.
Microwave funds films and supports film makers with various projects. They also help with sales and distribution.
3) What is the London Calling project for Film London and how does it encourage independent filmmaking?
It provides funding and training for independent filmmakers and encourages them to pursue careers in the film industry, since many of their previous applicants have won several awards and have gone on to make better, more ''ambitious works''.
4) Choose three feature films funded by Microwave Film and embed their trailers in your blog. For each film, explain why it fits the profile for an arthouse or independent film and what target audience the film might attract.
Shifty
The target audience for this particular film would be 15-24 year olds who are mostly male. The film would be considered an arthouse film as it explores themes of urban life and crime. These types of stories are usually typical of the arthouse genre as they help an urban audience connect with the film.
Freestyle
The target audience would also be young adults (aged 15- 24) as revolves around the lives of teenagers who play basketball. The film would belong to the arthouse genre as it has an urban theme and is recorded much like a documentary (hand held cameras)
iLL Manors
The target audience for this film would be young adults (aged 15-24) who are mostly male, as the film revolves around a group of young adults who live in estates and are involved in the drug dealing business. It is considered an arthouse film as it focuses on a specific theme- the misrepresentation of youths in the media.
United 93 was able to capture the horrendous events of 9/11, in an abstract and remarkable way, which allowed the audience to connect and experience it the way the victims did. The way in which the director, Paul Greengrass, depicted the crashes of all the other three plane crashes was astonishing as it stayed within the linear narrative and took the audience through an emotional journey. Also the way in which it was recorded- using hand held camera- helped create a sense of identification and allowed the audience to capture the realism of the horrifying events on that day. The use of the hand held camera in places such as the air traffic control room, while the characters were waiting to see if the plane was hijacked, created tension and suspense, which again helps the audience identify with the characters. The mise en scene of the hijackers on the plane with the frightened passengers also created a sense of unease as the setting was in a confined space. The sound also played a significant part in the film as you could hear screams and the sudden movements of the plane.
The clip starts off with a mise en scene of one of the characters
smiling while listening to music. The non- diegetic soundtrack play a popular
pop song, which could connote that the movie is aimed at a female demographic. Her
costume and make up suggests that the setting is at a small scale party, which we
later find out to be true as she ends up dancing with some of her close friends.
The actor’s facial expressions and body
language suggest that she is enjoying herself, which reinforces the theme of friendship
in the movie. Towards the end the soundtrack is then sung by the characters
(diegetic sound). This cleverly highlights the moral of the story as the
character is trying to be more confident and comfortable with herself, with the
help of her closest friends. Therefore
the lyrics ‘’ we’re beautiful like diamonds…’’ suggest that she is trying to be
perfect in her own way.
The cinematography and editing is also effective in this
scene as it, again, emphasises her newfound personality. The scene uses medium
close ups of the character to reveal her facial expressions and body language
to the audience. This allows the audience to sympathies and relate to the
character as the act of dancing with your friends could make the audience think
about similar situations they had. Therefore, this creates a sense of
identification as the audience know that friendship can create unforgettable
memories.
The BBFC rated Girlhood ‘’suitable for 15 years and over’’
which suggests that the target audience is teenagers. I believe that the film
targets a specifically female demographic as it revolves around the lives of teenage
girls and the experiences they go through. Also since the film is French, it
could also appeal to a global audience as it involves characters of different
minorities. It would also appeal to a particularly urban demographic who would
also be involved in similar situations.
Bicycle Thieves (1948)
The mise en scene in
the beginning shows that the protagonist is an average worker as shown by his
costume and body language. The iconography of the poster (which depicts a woman
in a bathing suit) is sued cleverly in this scene as it shows the worker being
distracted by it as he’s putting the poster up. This makes the audience know
that something is bound to happen to the worker as he is not mindful of his
surroundings. This then turns out to be true as the workers bicycle gets
stolen. This therefore demonstrates Barthes’
idea of semiotics and how signs, in this case the poster, lead to action codes
that are easily predictable. The setting also suggests that the theft was
likely to happen as it shows a normal day in the city. The actor’s facial expressions
and body language suggest that he’s angry and also devastated (towards the end)
that his bicycle was stolen. This could possibly suggest that the bicycle was a
significant prop in the film, which is also reinforced through the title ‘’ Bicycle Thieves’’.
The cinematography and editing is also effective in this scene as there are many examples of medium close ups to show the characters reaction to the bike being stolen. There are also some long shots as well as crane shots, to establish the setting which is the city. The editing uses a series of straight cuts, which is an example of continuity editing. This allows the audience to follow the linear narrative, which consists of: an equilibrium- the man painting, a disequilibrium- the man's bike being stolen, and a new equilibrium- the man being frustrated due to the theft, which demonstrates Todorov's theory of narrative structure.
The BBFC rated ''Bicycle Thieves'' suitable for all (U) as it does not contain any explicit content fro example substance abuse or nudity. Therefore the target audience is people of all ages, both male and female. I believe that the target audience would be young adults, as the film contains conventions such as tragedy and adventure, which appeals to this particular demographic.
Donnie Darko (2001)
The scene uses several film language techniques such as cinematography and mise en scene to put emphasis of the protagonist in the film. The actors costume suggests that he is an ''ordinary'' teenager just like the rest of the characters however, this contrasts his characters role in the film as he is going through an emotional phase in his life where he is trying to figure out what it means to be alive. The characters facial expressions and body language suggest that hes depressed and annoyed since the question is not accurate. The setting is in a classroom which connotes themes of progress and imagination. This links to the narrative as it revolves around the character being curious about different things. The cinematography is also effective in this scene as it uses a medium shot to show the protagonist and the teacher standing in front of the ''life line'' drawn on the board. The positioning of the characters is clever in this scene as the protagonist is placed next to the word ''FEAR'' which hints at the characters '' freak accident'' in the film, which lead to the development of his ''emotional phase'' in the film where he questions everything. The scene also uses a tracking shot while the character is making a small speech about the different emotions that we really feel as human beings.
The scene uses a jump cut after the protagonist makes a speech. The setting of the classroom is immediately changed to the principals office, which suggests to the audience that the character is in trouble. In this scene the positioning of the characters is also effective as the protagonist is placed behind his parents to suggest that hes ''protected'' from any criticism that he might receive from the teachers. The scene also contains elements of humour as the insult that the protagonist sued towards the teacher was funny- which is also apparent when the father also laughs.
The BBFC rated ''Donnie Darko'', suitable for 15 years and above. I believe that the target audience is mostly teenagers as the narrative follows the different phases and emotions that teenagers face which can allow audience to relate and sympathise with the character. I think that the audience will mostly be positioned as males as the main character is also male. This would allow them to sympathise with the protagonist much more.
Room (2015)
The cinematography and the mise en scene in this scene is effective in terms of its narrative as it reveals the situation that the characters are in - trapped in a small room with limited resources. The scene is shot using a steadi- cam to give it a documentary like style to it to suggest that the characters are unfortunate and isolated. The movements of the camera foreshadow the characters imperfect lives. However the action codes (Barthes) such as making a cake, lighten up the mood and make the audience sympathise with the characters. The costumes of each of the characters also reinforce the idea of them being isolated and troubled as their clothes look worn out and dirty. The lighting in the scene is also low key to put emphasise on the unfortunate situation that they are in. The low key lighting also allows the audience to partially see the characters facial features. In some parts the audience can see the marks and dark spots on their face which also suggests that the characters have limited resources and are unable to properly take care of themselves. The characters facial expressions and body language suggest that they are trying to make the best of what is given to them. For example towards the end the boy why there are no candles, however the mother tries to suggest that there doesn't need to be any candles. This particular scene gives the audience an advantage in terms of the narrative structure as the audience are aware that it is almost impossible for the characters to get what they want.
In terms of editing the scene also reinforces the hybrid genre of the film which is thriller and drama. The scene uses medium long shots of the room to establish the setting and reveal to the audience how small the room actually is so that they can sympathise with the characters.
The BBFC rated ''Room'' suitable for 15 years and above as it contains some strong language and themes of abduction and abuse. I think that the target audience would mostly be positioned as females as the themes of coping with life skills and raising a child would appeal to this demographic. The target audience would also be teenagers as well as adults as they might go through similar situations (trying to adjust to a new environment).
The Lobster (2015)
The cinematography and mise en scene is effective in this scene as it reinforces the hybrid genre of the film which is a comedy- drama. The costume of the character in this scene suggest that the protagonist is a man in his early 30s who is depressed and unsatisfied with his life. This is reinforced by the narrative as it follows the life a newly-widowed man who is given a specific time to find a compatible mate or be turned into a wild animal. The scene starts of with the character sleeping and then being interrupted by the someone at the door. The action code of the protagonist getting ready to speak to the characters and putting his glasses on, foreshadows the characters personality in the film- an man who is depressed and trying to get his life back together. The costume of the protagonist is more scruffy whereas the costume of the visitor is neat and formal. The characters body language also suggests that he is dispirited. The scene uses low key lighting to add to the dramatic and gloomy atmosphere. It also however allows us to partially see the characters facial expressions, which could suggest that the character is quite hostile and shy.
In terms of editing the scene uses the 180 degree rule incorrectly. The first medium long shot starts of with the camera on the protagonists left hand side, however it switches to his right hand side. This confuses the audience and creates unease. This could perhaps foreshadow how the protagonist is dishevelled and also confused. The 180 degree rule at this point is then used correctly - this could somehow be parallel to the conversation as the character now feels slightly more comfortable and open now that hes talking to someone.
The BBFC rated ''The Lobster'' suitable for 15 years and above, as it contains strong language, sexual references, and also bloody images. I think the target audience could be adults who are mostly female as the themes in the film such as love and friendship.
Your preliminary exercise involves 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 on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180-degree rule.
Planning
The script was useful as it included several elements that helped us film. It included stage direction which was useful to the actors, Nasteha and Salma, as it showed them the facial expressions/ body language that were crucial for the narrative. The shot list was also useful as it helped us figure out what angles would go well with the narrative. We included a few extra shots to experiment with- some of them did make it to our final production. The storyboard was useful as it helped us edit the clips we had recorded in chronological order. Strengths
In the beginning we used several shots such as medium and long shots when Nasteha is walking out of the elevator. I thought this was effective as it established the setting and suggested to the audience that she is not interested in the therapy session she is about to have. Her body language could also suggest that this has been going on for some time. The non- diegetic music playing over the scene, was also effective as it foreshadows the threats and comments she makes later on. The song we chose was called ''crzy'' by Kehlani, I thought the editing for this scene was effective as the music suited the narrative of the story. We also included match on action when Nasteha was opening the door. I also thought the ''over-the-shoulder'' shots were effective as it helped show the facial expressions and the reactions of each character. I also thought the flashbacks were effective as they were edited in line with Nasteha's short monologues. The flashbacks were also effective in terms of editing as they were slightly blurry, which added to the nostalgic feel of the narrative. Towards the end, I thought the panning effect was good as it captured Nasteha's body language which showed that she was careless as well as troubled.
Weaknesses
I thought the camerawork was in fact a little jerky- even though they only occurred in a few bits of the film it made it look slightly unprofessional as a whole. In addition to this I thought that we could have added a few shots that were previously on the shot list. For example, we had an idea that we could film Nasteha inside the elevator, where she would be filmed from a high angle shot (like a CCTV camera). I think if we included this it would have made her look inferior and ''dangerous'' in a way. Her ''crazy and paranoid'' personality would have been more clear. I also thought the diegetic sound was a problem as it kept changing throughout e.g when Nasteha takes off her jacket and headphones to get ready to start the session the sound is muted, whereas when they actually speak the sound of the air is heard. This again makes the film seem unprofessional.
Feedback WWW: Some excellent, perceptive analysis; communicated clearly. EBI: Ensure you save time for the last question, Editing needs to be developed Mark: 36/48
Learner Response:
The scene uses straight cuts throughout the clip, along with other editing styles to clearly convey the narrative. This is an example of continuity editing as it allows the audience to suture the narrative, and show the clear escalation of drama and tension as the scene progresses. In addition the slow paced editing also increases the tension as it leads up to the final explosion at the end of the clip. the scene also uses slow motion, when the murderer is dropping the match into the flammable fluid. This is done in order to show the character's prestige and finesse, as a ''gangster'' or criminal. It could also make the audience feel uncomfortable as the match is seconds away from causing an explosion. Therefore the slow motion effect increases the emotional impact and adds to the atmosphere which fits in with the suspenseful music. The editing is also effective in terms of sustaining the tension by not revealing the murderers face. There is very few editing when the murderer talks to the man- the eye-line match raises tension as the audience want to know who the killer is. The scene also uses a jump cut to the explosion, to shock the audience and add to the drama. Towards the end there is a slow dissolve into a press conference which could also link to the scene.
