Star Wars and A Field in England Distribution Comparison

Star Wars

Saturated

Huge budget for production

Larger budget for promotion

Cult following of saga

Multiple trailers

Apps

Merchandise

Social media campaigns

Posters

Advertised in synergy with Star Wars: Battlefront

A Field in England

Limited

Tiny budget for production

Smaller budget for promotion

Cult following of the director

Multiple trailers

Earned promotion

Simultaneous release 

 

Distribution Companies

1) Here is a list of the official UK film distribution companies. How many of the 'Big Six' studios also own distribution companies? 

• Altitude Films
• Arrow Films
• Axiom Films
• Curzon Artificial Eye
• Dartmouth Films
• Dogwoof
• E1 Entertainment UK
• Entertainment Film Distributors
• Eros International
• Icon Film Distribution
• Independent Distribution
• Lionsgate
• Metrodome Distribution
• Networking Releasing
• Paramount Pictures UK
• Park Circus
• Pathé Distribution
• Peccadillo Pictures
• Pinewood Pictures
• Reliance Entertainment
• Soda Pictures
• Sony Pictures Releasing
• STUDIOCANAL
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Co.
• Universal Pictures UK
• UTV Motion Pictures
• Vertigo Films
• Verve Pictures
• Warner Bros. Distributors
• Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, UK
• The Works UK Distribution
• Yashraj Films Ltd                               

2) Have a look at the new releases in UK Cinemas this week and see if you can work out what the following distribution terms mean, and find one example of a film released 

 a. Limited Distribution - Where the film is only distributed to a selection of cinemas, or only to cinemas in a specific area.

b.  Key Cities - Where the film is only released in major cities nationally, for example in England it would only be distributed to cinemas in London and Manchester etc.

c. Wide Distribution -  Where the film is distributed to the majority of cinemas nationwide, making it as easy as possible to be accessed by their target audience.

d. 

Merlin Representation of Class

Mise-en-scéne
The costume in the extract represents class in a certain way. Arthur wears expensive armour for his costume suggesting that he is of the upper class, as only the rich could afford such an outfit. Furthermore Merlin is portrayed to be of the lower class as he merely dons rags and shawls, due to him not being affluent enough to afford anything more expensive. Moreover, the lady at the beginning off the extract wears a costume of a long, expensive and purple dress, to suggest that she is of the upper class. This is as she would need to be wealthy to afford the dress, as well as the fact that the dress is purple, a colour reserved mainly for only the most regal of people in society during the medieval time period.

Soundtrack
The dialogue within the extract represents class in a certain way. The diegetic sound of Merlin saying to Arthur "How long have you been training to be a prat, my Lord". This contradicts the stereotype that lower class surfs are respectful of the upper class. However, it supports the stereotype that the lower class are very rude and disgusting in comparison to the upper class. Furthermore, the diegetic asynchronous sound of the sheep in the marketplace as Merlin walks through the marketplace, suggests that he is of lower class by linking them together. This is supportive of the stereotype that the lower class work with livestock, and do all the dirty farming work that the upper class would not even think of doing.

Editing
The cutting techniques throughout the extract represent class in a specific way. The use of a cutaway to the reaction of Merlin's teacher as Arthur and Merlin are fighting, contradicts a common stereotype of the lower class (we know he is lower class due to his costume being similar to that of Merlin). Merlin's teacher seems disappointed in Merlin and disapproves of his use of violence, this contradicts the common stereotype that the lower class enjoy violence and are typically violent in their nature. Furthermore, the use of crosscutting between Merlin and the woman in the purple dress at the beginning of the extract, suggesting that Merlin is of the lower class and should not have been where he was at that moment in time. This is supportive of the stereotype that people of the lower class do not often belong as they do not have the same rights as someone of the upper class, that ideal is represented as the lady wears a purple dress, a colour reserved for the prestigious members of the upper class.

Camerawork
The camera angles used throughout this extract represent class in a specific way. The use of a high angle on Arthur when he falls on to the pile of sacks and to the mercy of Merlin. This contradicts the common stereotype that the upper class is dominant over the lower class, whereas in this shot Merlin who is lower class is clearly dominant. However, the closely following high angle shot of Merlin as Arthur knocks him to the floor turns everything around, making Arthur dominant over Merlin. This reinforces the stereotype that the upper class will always be dominant over the lower class no matter what, and will always end up on top.

Star Wars Marketing and Advertising Analysis

Star Wars 7 is being promoted through a variety of ways. Disney have created a variety of teaser trailers and full feature trailers, as well as posters and merchandise, which are making fans of the series of films go crazy. Furthermore, they have made a deal with a YouTube channel known as Maker Studios. They have agreed for a Star Wars themed series to be created on the channel. Moreover, Disney are also advertising alongside Star Wars Battlefront which is being made by EA, both the film and the game are advertising one another as they are from the same franchise and are being released on the same day.
The new trilogy if Star Wars films have been created to target both the old generation of fans and the newcomers to the franchise. This is done by using both old characters that previous fans know and love from previous films, and new characters that have never been seen before to help the newcomers truly understand the story.

Warm Bodies Marketing and Advertising Analysis

Production Company: Summit Entertainment

Genre: Paranormal-romantic-zombie-comedy

Release Date: January 8th 2013

One of the ways in which the film Warm Bodies was advertised was through the use of trailers; there was first of all the official trailer which was released on the 9th of Novemeber 2012, furthermore there was an international trailer released one day later. 

Moreover, a variety of merchandise was released inspired by certain lines and scenes from the film, these items are showcased on websites such as cafepress.com, red bubble.com and goldlabel.com. In addition the film advertises in synergy with the book it was derived from, by the same name and written by Isaac Marion.

Working Title Films

Founded: 1983
Top Films: Legend, The Cornetto Trilogy, O Brother Where Art Thou, Paul.
Most Used Genres: Comedy, Sci-Fi.
Amount Grossed: $6 billion dollars worldwide

The Cornetto Trilogy is a series of comedic films produced by Working Title Films that all feature Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as the two main protagonists. The reason for them being collectively called 'The Cornetto Trilogy' is because in each film at some point Nick Frost's character asks Simon Pegg's character for a Cornetto from the shop. Furthermore, Edgar Wright directed all three films.

20th Century Fox

Founded: 1915
Top Films: Avatar, Titanic and Star Wars
Most Used Genres: Action adventure and sci-fi
Top Grossing Film: Avatar

Avatar was in development since 1994 and was to be released in 1999 two years after the release of Titanic. However, by this time James Cameron said that the technology necessary to fulfil his dream for the film was not yet available, therefore it was not released until 2009, 15 years following the start of production. Avatar was the highest grossing film of all time and still is to date, followed by Titanic both films produced and distributed by 20th Century Fox as well as both being directed by James Cameron.

List of Fox's Assets in The Film Industry:
20th Century Fox
Fox 2000 Pictures
Fox International Productions
Fox Searchlight Pictures
20th Century Fox Animation
Blue Sky Studios
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
20th Century Fox Español
20th Century Fox International
Fox Studios Australia
Fox Studios LA

List of Fox's Assets in The TV Industry:
Fox News Group
Fox News Channel
Fox Business Network
Fox Television Stations
First-Run Syndication Production
MyNetworkTV
Movies! (50%)

Desperate Housewives - Title Sequence

The Earth Mother: Symbolic of fruit, abundance and fertility. This character offers spiritual and emotional nourishment to those with whom she comes in contact. Often depicted in earth colours with large breasts and hips symbolic of her childbearing capabilities.

The Temptress: Characterised by sensuous beauty, this woman is one to whom the protagonist is physically attracted and who ultimately brings about his downfall.

The Unfaithful Wife: A woman married to a man she sees as dull or distant and is attracted to more virile or interesting men.

The Damsel in Distress: The vulnerable woman who must be rescued by the hero. She is often used as a trap to ensnare the unsuspecting hero.

This scene starts with Eve plucking an apple from the Tree of Life, which leads to Adam being crushed by an enormous apple. This suggests that women crush mens will to live, and destroy their lives by tempting them. It then moves on to an Egyptian mother drowning in a 'sea of children', suggesting that women are incapable of bearing a great amount of responsibility. This is then followed by a man eating a banana and throwing the skin on the floor and his pregnant wife cleaning it up, this suggests that women are still domesticated and bend to mens every wish and whim. Following this there is a man and his wife, but the husband is drawn away from his wife by a younger more attractive woman, leaving his wife alone. This suggests that women are temptresses and if you are old and unattractive you will be abandoned and replaced by a younger and more attractive woman.   After that we see a woman carrying groceries who promptly drops it as she can't carry it anymore, this suggests that women can't handle high levels of stress and pressure. Finally there is a man and a woman and the woman is crying, however she then hits the man and gives him a black eye. This suggests that women are highly emotional, but will sometimes use that against men to get back at them.

Gender Stereotypes in Media

Emotional - Women
Community Minded - Women
Efficient - Men
Ruthless - Men
Dependent - Women
Controlling - Men
Ambitious - Men
Selfish - Men
Violent - Men
Prudent - Men/Women
Compliant - Women
Competitive - Men
Submissive - Women
Independent - Men
Confident - Men
Aggressive - Men
Selfless - Women
Powerful - Men
Co-operative - Women
Rational - Men
Individualistic - Men
Sensitive - Women
Demure - Women
Strong - Men
Assertive - Men
Domesticated - Women
Competent - Men

Hotel Babylon Representation of Race Through Soundtrack Practice Exam Question

When the character of Adam says "I wasn't always a cleaner" this suggests that he used to be a doctor as he just saved someone's life,  however he is no longer in that role. This is likely due to him being black, representing black people to be inferior and incapable of carrying out such a complicated and difficult job.

The use of sad, non-diegetic, violin as they are clearing out Ibrahim's locker suggests all of their sadness over losing a friend. It suggests that everyone who is a part of the 'other' is close and friends with one another, as if they are a second family to one another.

In the comic scene in the lift at the end of the sequence two characters from different races are clearly good friends.  This is established by the use of two very dissimilar non-diegetic music tracks reflecting different cultures merging together.  This represents the non-white characters in the drama as having a closer relationship with each other than with the white ruling class.

Love Thy Neighbour Race Representation

Quotes:
"Of course it is I'm white"
"White for purity"
In reference to the colour of sin "his soul was black with sin"
"You're a troublemaker you"
"Jungle boy living next door"


How Race is Portrayed
Black people are portrayed to be violent.
White people said to be more sophisticated and superior to black people.
Black people deemed to be troublemakers.
Black people can't have the same thoughts as white people.
Black people are inferior.
Black people shouldn't live near whit people.
All black people do is cause problems.

Scott Pigrim vs The World Opening Titles Analysis

Titles in Chronological Order
Production company
Producer
Main actors
Casting
Composers
Music supervisor
Co-producers
Costume designer
Visual effects supervisor
Editors
Production designer
Director of photography
Executive producers
Producers
Novel writer
Screenplay
Director


The opening sequence establishes a few of the traits off the characters, Scott Pilgrim is clearly quite quirky and awkward, Kim is moody and Knives is obsessive. The atmosphere is very light hearted, lots of bright flashing colours, which plays into the idea of the film being based on a graphic novel. The music is loud and intense, foreshadowing the future nature of the film, being lively and a bit crazy.

Se7en Opening Sequence Analysis

Titles in Chronological Order
Production company
Producer
Director
Main actors
Film title
Actors
Casting
Music
Costume designers
Editors
Production designers
Director of photography
Co-producers
Co-executive producers
Executive producers
Writers
Film title
Producers
Director








It establishes the dark and twisted nature of the film, with what we see on screen. There are a collection of shots where someone is doing something in most of them, in one shot they are peeling the skin off of their fingers with a pencil sharpener blade. The dark and dingy lighting of the shots creates a tense, sinister atmosphere, coupled with the strange nature of the actions on screen and it foreshadows the slightly psychotic theme and plot of the film. None of the characters are established we merely get an insight into the nature of the film.

Saturday Night Fever Exam

Overall Grade - 34/50 - C

Terminology - Mostly accurate terminology - Level 3 - 6/10
Examples - Range of examples from at least three areas, mostly relevant - Level 3 - 14/20
Explanation, Analysis and Argument - Proficient understanding of representations made, mostly relevant - Level 3 - 14/20

To Improve - Try to write about representations created, not audience effects. Cover all four areas fully.

Jaws Scene Analysis

The camera makes the beach goers seem very vulnerable. One example of how the camera does this is the low angle, POV shot (from the shark) of the boy on the raft. The reason the child seems vulnerable is because the shot is from below, which is an unconventional way of representing weakness and vulnerability. A high angle shot would usually be used in this situation. However, in this case  it works as the child is unwittingly swimming right above the danger.

The camera really emphasises the emotions of certain characters, truly showing off what has just happened. An example of how this is done in this extract is; the dolly zoom in on Chief Brody's face as he notices the child on the raft is being attacked. This greatly emphasises the sense of realisation and the panic in his facial expression. Giving us greater insight into how Chief Brody is feeling at that exact moment.

The camera carries out a great use of foreshadowing, and links certain characters together well. One example of this is when the dog and the child, who are later attacked, are in the same shot as one another. This suggests that they will later be linked in some way, foreshadowing that they both might be in danger in the near future.

Sound Key Terms

Foley - A Foley Artist is someone concerned with or related to the creation of sound effects for film, TV and even music. Foley is the reproduction of every day sounds by unnatural means, this is carried out by a Foley artist.
Diegetic Sound - Sounds such as music, animal noises and gunshots that are within the scene and can be heard by the characters as well as the audience.
Non-Diegetic Sound - Is a sound overlay on the scene, this tends to be music  but can also be sound effects used to create tension, and emphasise the importance of events, characters and certain objects. All of this can only be heard by the audience and not by the characters, as it is not within the scene.
Pitch - The quality of sound governed by the rate of vibrations producing it; the degree of highness or lowness of a tone.
Rhythm - A strong, regular repeated pattern  of movement or sound.
Sound bridge - When the scene begins with the carry-over sound from the previous scene before the new sound begins.

Sound motif -  A sound effect or combination of sound effects that are associated with a particular character, setting, situation or idea through the film.  Crescendo - A gradual increase in loudness in a piece of music.
Ambient sound - The background sounds which are present in a scene or location.
Asynchronous sound - Asynchronous sound effects are not matched with a  visible source  on screen.
Dialogue - A conversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play, or film.
Timbre - The character or quality of a musical sound or voice as distinct from its pitch and intensity.
Hyperbolic sound - If a sound is hyperbolic it is exaggerated, it is louder than it would be normally.

Camera Movements Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxva5el1QOk

Continuity Editing Video

https://youtu.be/4uqamuHVs_8

Feedback

In the second shot we broke the 180 degree rule ever so slightly, which made the shot a bit jarring but still worked well in the end. However throughout the rest of the video we do not break the rule again, keeping the camera in the same position to the characters. Unfortunately, our fourth shot the camera was not fully focused making the view partially blurry, which takes away some of the immersion of the video. Furthermore, the shot is at a slight canted angle, distorting the image, however this is merely due to the camera being hand held at the time. Moreover, in the tenth and eleventh shot as I walk out of the scene, we could have created another match on action, but we did not do this which again made the shot a bit more jarring.

City of God Opening Sequence Editing Analysis

 This shot frames the chicken staring directly into the camera and at the audience, this makes it seem as though it is watching something happen. Feathers then fall in front of the lens to create a cut like the knives did previously in the sequence. The director does this to create momentary tension, to make the audience to begin to feel a connection with the chicken.

 There is then a shot of a pile of feathers of plucked chickens, which is added to by the feathers that fell in front of the camera in the lats shot. This is an eyeline match signifying to the audience that this is what the chicken is watching in fear. The director has placed this into the sequence to make the audience feel sympathy towards the chicken, and then to create an effect finished in the next shot.

 We are then shown another shot of the chicken, but he seems more panicked, this is likely due to the Kuleshov Effect. Telling the audience that he is worried that this is going to happen to him next. The director did this to make the audience worry and show that the chicken is in imminent danger.

The final shot here is of the chicken's leg tethered to a post, this links to the previous shots, telling us that he wants to break free of the tether which is the only thing keeping him within the vicinity of this danger. The director has also placed this shot in here to link to the main protagonist, telling the audience that he feels the same as the chicken does, wanting to break away from the danger of the favela and the gang. Just like the chicken.

James Bond Casino Royale Mise-En-Scene Analysis

The lighting in this scene suggests who is the antagonist and who is the protagonist, and represents the danger within the narrative. This is done by placing the key light on Bond, which clearly shows off his muscular physique. It also brings to our attention that he is sweating and naked, which tells us that he is nervous and vulnerable. This is however contradicted by James Bond's body language, which despite him being tortured at the time, remains strong and he manages to keep his back straight  to stand up to his oppressor which reflects his tough character and will.
The antagonist is shrouded in darkness, due to the low key lighting of the scene. This emphasises the dark nature of the antagonist's character, and the acts he is about to carry out.
Furthermore, the back lighting suggests that not all hope is lost for Bond, as help may be on it's way to save him, or he might escape himself and see the light of day once again.