Film Industry Fact - FACT OF THE WEEK

What percentage of people view films (videos) on smartphones

• Over half (52%) of smartphone videos are watched at home. 
• Each week 29 million people watch video from their smartphone.
• The average person watches five hours of video from their smartphone.

What percent of people view films online?

Up to 30% of people view films on websites such as Netflix. 

Sightseers Case Study

Sightseers is a British black comedy film directed by Ben Wheatley and written by and starring Alice Lowe and Steve Oram, with additional material from Amy Jump. 

• It is produced by Edgar Wright and Nira Park
• The film was selected to be screened in the Directors' Fortnight section at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival 

Distributed by: 

StudioCanal UK (UK) IFC Films (USA) Rialto Distribution(Australia, New Zealand)

The characters came together seven years before the film came out as Lowe and Oram swapped stories based on their common background and childhood holiday experiences. However, the pitch kept getting turned down for being too dark

Production - 
Where did the idea of the film come from?
The idea of the film originated from characters common background and childhood holiday experiences.
What is the genre? Provide a brief overview of the narrative (story)
 The genre of the film is comedy. It is light hearted at times but the majority is fairly dark, tense and serious.
Who else financed the film besides the studio?
StudioCanal
Big Talk Pictures
Film4 Productions
BFI Film Fund
Rook Films
What was the budget for the film? 
The budget for the film was £9.3 million
Any noticeable stars / writers / directors / producers involved with the film from the outset?
A producer of the film was Edgar Wright who also directed previous hit films such as Hot Fuzz and The World's End. 

Web 2.0 & The World's End

How have social networking sites (web 2.0 sites) been used to promote / market The Worlds End film?

The film has a facebook site which uses a variety of different techniques to target the audience, for example on November 22nd 2013 they promoted a live Q&A about the film with the director Edgar Wright:

Another technique the facebook site has used is to promote the boxset of the film over christmas time, this technique has been used to boost sales and profit for the film.

A third technique the facebook site has used is that the site frequently mentions the other successes of 'the cornetto trilogy' - Shaun of The Dead and Hot Fuzz, this technique has been used in order to appeal to the audience from those films as well as a new audience.

How have audiences used social networking sites to get involved with / connect with the film? Why do you think audiences do this?
The film has both a Facebook page and a Twitter account, the use of these two web 2.0 sites makes it easy for the audiences to get involved and connect with the film as they can freely post their opinions and thoughts on the film and also discuss their thoughts with other fans of the film. They both allow audiences to show their interest and love for the film.
Audiences do this because they want to show their appreciation for the film, or perhaps also want to share some negative criticisms towards it.
Here is the films Twitter page:

 Tweets found on this page are similar to that of the ones found on the Facebook page, advertising the DVD and boxset and also talking about certain elements of the film and what they represent. Eg, the pub signs.

The Golden Mile also has a Twitter account in conjunction with the film. It is an account that set up a scavenger hunt in which each pub sign from the film was featured on various websites and fans of the film had to find all the pub signs so they could have the chance to win a preview screening of the film. This is a fun and new interactive way of engaging audiences.

Does this reflect how you connect with films? If yes, provide specific examples. If no, why not?
No, this does not reflect how I connect with films. Perhaps when I was younger I would like a page on Facebook, but as I do not use Facebook much anymore that would be pointless as I would never see the updates. I don't watch films very often and I'm not really interested in the extras and behind the scenes of films.

Research task: The Worlds End

It is an interactive website which allows the audience to play games, watch the trailer, videos and read  a short synopsis of the film. The use of interactive games such as 'Create Your Own Beer Matt' appeals to the target audience by involving them.

The website gives the audience a quick review of the characters in the film:

Research task: The Golden Mile - Viral Campaign (The Worlds End)

Provide two examples of differing techniques used to target the audience for the film

Why has this technique been used? How is it appealing?

A website was created in which there was a fake tourism video that advertised the area and all the pubs featured in the film. From this, a scavenger hunt was made in which the audience had to find all the pub posters which were found on various websites, with clues to their whereabouts being broadcasted each week on social media website Twitter. This gave audiences a chance to win a preview screening of the film, The Worlds End. 

                    Here is a screenshot of the Tourism video.                

This technique is different and alternative, it catches the audiences attention as a new and exciting way to advertise a film - ultimately with a chance to win something. This therefore appeals to people and generates a hype about the film, thus ultimately generating more profit for the film.                                                                                                                                                                                            

Research Task: Techniques used to target audiences (The Worlds End)

Focus Feature website: promotes the film, lets audiences watch the trailer, view photos and watch various videos from the film, including a video on the LA premiere of The Worlds End and behind the scene clips. On the website it shows many ways in which the film is available to buy and watch.

The website also includes an overview of the cast and crew involved in the film. Audiences being able to see who exactly features in the film can add to the amount of people who go to watch it. 

The website also provides a summary of the film in detail - this appeals to target audiences as they get more of an insight into the film opposed to just watching the trailer.

Reviews have also been used to appeal and attract to the target audience. They get to read other peoples interpretations and thoughts on the plot and decide whether it is worth seeing. Also, as many of the reviews are good it then appeals to the audience further to view the film. 

Fact File: Nick Frost

How has Nick Frost contributed to the success of the film? (The Worlds End)

Nick Frost is a 41 year old English actor, comedian and screenwriter, full name Nicholas John Frost.

 He is well known in the UK film industry for his roles in other successful films such as Hot Fuzz, The Boat That Rocked, Paul and Attack The Block. This therefore contributes to the success of the film because audiences would want to see him again. 

He is often seen in films with friend Simon Pegg, the pair are together in this film which may appeal to audiences as they are seen as a comedy duo. 

He would attract a US audience through his other films such as Hot Fuzz which was released in the US on 20th April 2007 and overall collected $80m at the box office.

He is also famous from TV show 'Spaced' and audiences like to see the 2 actors together - Nick Frost and Simon Pegg.

Research Task - Working Title

Working Title Overview

• Working Title was founded in 1984 by Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe
• The first investment made by the company was £500,000 in My Beautiful Launderette, the first of a series of collaborations with Channel 4 Films
• In 1998 Working Title closed a production deal with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
• In 1991 Working Title set up a Hollywood office, developing production deals with Tim Robbins and The Coen Brothers.
• In 1992 PolyGram (a European music and media company) buys Working Title. Sarah Radclyffe (part founder) leaves and is replaced by the American producer, Eric Fellner. 
• In 1998 PolyGram is bought by Universal, a Seagram company
• In 2000 Seagram is bought by Vivendi, the French media conglomerate. Working Title is now owned by Universal, which is in turn owned by Vivendi.
• The deal with Universal allows Working Title to green light films up to a budget of $35 million.

The company mainly produces Rom-Coms (romantic comedies)
Successes from the company include films such as: Love Actually, Bridget Jones' Diary, Nanny Mcphee and Notting Hill. 

How is Working Title structured?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0MWVcR2Q40&feature=related
Youtube clip of Tim Bevan on the structure of Working Title
Working Title partners Bevan and Fellner structure the company by constantly thinking of new film ideas before their current film is released. They ensure to release a balanced set of films - a commercial film on one side and then a more low key film on the other. 

Why is being owned by Universal beneficial for Working Title?

• It is beneficial for Working Title because in order to be in the film business for a long time and to create mass profit films is to be apart of a US Studio structure. 
• Being owned by Universal made it so Working Title could spend less time on finding money and more time on developing decent scripts.
• It is also beneficial because it ensures world-wide distribution of its products.
• Gives them access to the finance they need for development and production

Why do I feel Working Title are Britain's most successful Production company...

Working Title are Britain's most successful production company because it is owned by Universal which is a well known brand that appeals to an international market, accessing a mainstream audience and also because it is such a large and successful company it also helps films created by Working Title to be globally distributed. Working Title is also so successful because they create films that have minimal risks in terms of controversial story lines/actors and are easily marketable. 

Tim Bevan describes the company as constantly making a slate, they are producing and thinking of new ideas for films all the time. Their £389 million 1999 deal with Universal gives them permission to OK budgets up to £15 million on their own. Also, Working Title seems to have the full package, it produces rom coms that appeal to a mainstream audience with the majority being hugely successful.  

Working Title produce 4-5 films per year.
1 risk free film each year
2 mainstream films
2 projects they feel passionate which have risk factors
Identify which films from 2013 come under the 3 categories above -
5 films released in 2013 from Working Title...
I Give It A Year - 1 risk free film (rom-com) 
The World's End - project they feel passionate about with risk factors.
Closed Circuit - mainstream film
About Time - budget of 12m, made 85m at box office - mainstream film
Rush - project they feel passionate about with risk factors.

Submarine Case Study

The technologies that have been introduced in recent years at the levels of production, distribution, marketing and exchange. 

Production - Doesn't use a wide range of technologies such as 3D or CGI because the film doesn't have a big enough budget. 

Distribution - 

Marketing - Yes, this film does use various technologies for marketing such as Web 2.0 sites - Facebook and Twitter. 
It has also been marketed via posters and word of mouth resulting from the Toronto Film Festival

Submarine and Warp Films

Production - 
Where did the idea of the film come from?
The idea of the film originated from a 2008 book written by Joe Dunthorne.
What is the genre? Provide a brief overview of the narrative (story)
Oliver Tate a 15 year old boy from Swansea is infatuated with Jordana. Oliver's relationship with Jordana grows, but he learns that her mother has a potentially fatal brain tumour. Oliver attempts to repair his parents troubled relationship. Oliver assumes Jordana is seeing another boy. They meet on the beach. Film is left on an ambiguous note. The genre of the film is comedy. It is light hearted but at times tense and serious. 
Who else financed the film besides the studio?
Film 4 productions, Film Agency for Wales, Wales Creative IP Fund and Red Hour Films
What was the budget for the film? 
The budget for the film was £1.2 million
Any noticeable stars / writers / directors / producers involved with the film from the outset?
The director and writer of the film was Richard Ayoade who is famous for his role in the hit TV series The IT Crowd and apperences on various TV shows such as 8 out of 10 cats and Big Fat Quiz Of The Year. This film was his debut. Actors in the film included Craig Roberts who starred in Tracy Beaker, Skins, Casualty, Neighbours and American blockbuster 22 Jump Street and Yasmin Page. The film was produced by Warp Films and Film4. Also the music for the film was done by Arctic Monkeys star Alex Turner. This therefore increased the popularity of the film.

Distribution -
Which company distributed the film?

Optimum Releasing (UK) The Weinstein Company(US)

 This information was found on the Submarine Wikapedia page. It shows that both a British company and a US company distributed this film. 
When was the film released?
Submarine was released on 12th September 2010
What kind of release did it have? How many prints of the film were made for the UK release or how many screens it was shown on?
The film was first released in 2010 at the Toronto International Film Festival. Film festivals are good because prestiges people attend and therefore can give the film good ratings and reviews. 
What marketing strategies were used to release the film? 
A film trailer was released on YouTube, and it was also advertised on WarpFilms website.
Any examples of synergy/cross media convergence? How did the film benefit from the studio being owned by a horizontally integrated media conglomerate?
The budget was therefore larger than other films produced by WarpFilms. The film also had more of a marketing scheme and therefore more people saw it and generated a large profit.  As a result of the film being premiered at the Toronto Film Festival it generated positive reviews. 
How were Web 2.0 technologies used?
There was a Facebook page made where users could comment freely their thoughts on the film.
The Web 2.0 features that feature this film are Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr.
Has the film won any awards and how have these contributed to the success of the film?
Richard Ayoade was nominated for a BAFTA for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer. The film has also won NME Awards for Best Film, British Independent Film Award for Best Screenplay 

Exhibition & Exchange -
How much did the film make at the UK box office?
At the UK box office the film made £2.3 million 
How else could / can audiences consume the film besides going to the cinema? 
Audiences can view the film in various ways such as watching it online (illegally or legally) via websites such as Megashare or Netflix. Audiences can also purchase the film on DVD. 
How else can audiences consume the film: social networking, reviews?
Audience can gain knowledge of the film via various reviews online. Many often rating the film at 3 or above stars. The film also has a Facebook page which at the time of release would've given audiences information about DVD releases, cast interviews and behind the scenes clips.

Here is a screenshot of Submarine's Wikapedia page. 

Link to the Submarine film trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUT4GtS9_ns 

British Warp Films - Case study of a British Independant Company