British Independent Films Abroad

Hi,

As we are now looking at both the distribution practices in the film industry and what it means for British films, I thought this might be of interest...

BBC 4 Film Programme podcast

In the podcast for 30th January 2014 Charlie Bloye, Chief Executive of Film Export UK, talks about support for British indie films abroad and how they can receive more exposure.

Disney Case Study

This is the mind map we collectively made in Tuesday's lesson. Make sure your version is as detailed as possible. For example, this map is missing their ineractive subsidiary, Disney Interactive, where they use cross media convergance to produce a range of computer games. It is also missing the Disney Channel as part of their TV network.

Once you have this written up, you will need to add a specific case study proving that synergy equals success in distributing a film. A good one to use is Toy story 3.

Toy Story 3's budget was US$200 million.
It grossed over US$1 billion worldwide in theatres.
It grossed $110,307,189 in its opening weekend in the US.
It is the highest grossing animated film of all time and 11th highest grossing film of all time.

Synergy in promoting Toy Story 3:
Pixar made the film, funded by Disney. Disney then distributed the film in theatres through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and on DVD through Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (vertical integration). The promotion of the film was aided by Disney being able to air trailers on the Disney Channel and ABC (owned by Disney). In terms of cross media convergence, it produced a soundtrack through Walt Disney Records, as well as toys and other merchandise through Disney Consumer Products, sold through the chain of Disney stores. Disney Interactive Studios also produced the game. This led to a second version of the game being released which crossed over with a new toy line.

Symbiosis:
Disney further profited by licensing the rights so that a range of related products could be produced by other companies. This included happy meals featuring toys, bedding and Easter eggs. All promoting the film for Disney too.

John Carter
Not all of Disney's films are such a success though. We looked at John carter and this is what we found...

The budget was a whopping US$250 million, which was added to by the estimated US$100 million spent on marketing the film. Considering it only took US$282,778,100, it is estimated that the film lost Disney US$160million.
Even with all of the potential synergy of the world's largest media conglomerate, it still bombed.

Media Ownership

Here is the Media Ownership Prezi from last week...

The Production Cycle

Here's the Prezi from last week on the production cycle.

Greatest Film Openings Ever!?

While you guys are thinking about your own film openings, I saw this in Empire magazine the other day. worth checking out, although there are some which should definitely be in there and are not. Whadya think?

Empire's Greatest Opening Scenes

G321 Outline For This Term

Please find below an outline for this term. It details week by week where you should be with your foundation portfolio (the thing where you're making the opening 2mins of a film!).

If you have any concerns about this, please let me know asap. I will be issuing hard copies of this to you in tomorrow's lesson.

G321 Foundation portfolio - 2^nd Term

Timings & Deadlines

7th Jan to 10th Jan:

Film openings analysis continued.

5 openings, similar to own idea, analysed for technical elements (camera, editing, sound, mise-en-scene) and linked to how character, narrative, enigma and audience hook are created.

 

13th Jan to 17th Jan*:

Film openings analysis completed.

20th Jan to 24th Jan:

Notes on the construct of an opening – What must it contain? What can it contain? How do titles work?

Generic conventions of an opening – from your own research, detail a list of the generic conventions that should be present in the opening (specific to your chosen genre).

Apply this to your own idea – use completed synopsis to outline what will be in the opening of the film.


27th Jan to 31st Jan*:

Start storyboarding, shot lists and other planning.

Resources must also include location shots and maps, test shots experimenting with light and framing, notes on costume, make-up and props needed with exemplar photos, sample music and sfx.


3rd Feb to 7th Feb:

Complete planning.

10th Feb to 14th Feb*:

Filming begins.

17th Feb to 21st Feb:

Half Term

24th Feb to 28th Feb:

Completing principal filming and begin editing.

3rd March to 7th March*:

Editing

7th March: Rough Cut Deadline.


10th March to 14th March:

Editing and begin evaluation tasks.

Re-shoots or additional filming to be done.

17th March to 21st March*:

Editing and evaluation tasks.

21^st March: Final Cut Deadline.

24^th March to 28^th March:

Evaluations

 

31^st March to 4^th April*:

Evaluations

3.10pm 4^th April: Evaluation Tasks Deadline.

New links

Hi all,

I think I have finally cracked it and the links to the PowerPoints and videos from the lessons should now be embedded in the posts. Let me know if you can't see them or have any trouble.