GCSE Film Studies: Film exploration examples

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Shooter 2007"" Production Details The screenplay for Shooter, by Jonathan Lernkin, was adapted from the novel, Point of Impact, written by Pulitzer Prize-winner, Stephen Hunter. This fast-paced, action tnriiier was budgeted at approximately $61 million, and has made a gross profit, to date, of $95 million. In Shooter, there are two occasions of product placement. At the beginning of the film, the protagonist (Swagger) drinks Budweiser beer, and towards the end he wears Underarmour clothing. These two labels contribute to the films Budget Produced by Paramount Pictures, the film was shot in a variety of locations. These Included countries such as the US and Canada, with much of the filming set in British Colombia and Philadelphia. The big stars of this production were Mark Wahlberg, who plays lead character Gunnery Sergeant Bob Lee Swagger, and Danny Glover, who portrays the villain, Colonel Isaac Johnson. Distribution Details 5/jooterwas distributed by Paramount Pictures and Paramount Pictures International. It premiered on the 23rd of March 2007 in California. By the 13 lh of Apri! the film had already premiered in South America, Asia and Europe. On the 13 th the. film aired in the UK, with lead actor Mark Wahlberg arriving in London for the event. The marketing of Shooter was largely focused around Wahlberg, who had recently tasted success with The Departed, where he received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The former rapper appeared on programmes such as The Late Show with David Letterman, The Ellen Degeneras Show and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, where he repeatedly plugged the movie. There were also trailers featured on television and in . selected cinemas. In addition to the broadcasting media, Shooter was highly publicised in various forms of print media. These included newspaper articles (Sunday Mirror), film magazine interviews (Empire) and international poster campaigns. Exhibition Details '.Vhen interviewed about Shooter, director Antoine Fuqua revealed his thoughts on why audiences would choose to see his film. "I think audiences want to see cool action, but they also want to be drawn in by great characters like Swagger. It will make them think." Exhibitors were quick to cash in on Wahlberg's high profile and recent career achievements. Wahlberg himself had an opinion on why he thought audiences would watch Shooter. 'This is the kind of movie they don't make any more." BeforeS/ioofer, Antoine Fuqua had a successful track record of directing action packed thrillers with strong leading men: Denzel Washington (Trailing Day], Bruce Willis (Tears of the Sun] and Clive Owen [King Arthur}. Mark Wahlberg's character has been described as 2 smarter, more verbal Rambo, a combination that was bound to have enticed plenty of movie goers. To.gain more revenue, the film was shown at certain cinemas around the world, before heading to DVD and a wider audience. In conjunction with the general release of the film, web browsers and film buffs could learn trivia, download tracks and posters, buy the DVD and play various sniper games on the Shooter website •'www.shootermovie.com). Available in four different languages (English/French/Spanish/Japanese), Paramount Pictures looked for many ways of generating interest and income for the movie.

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Transcript of GCSE Film Studies: Film exploration examples

Page 1: GCSE Film Studies: Film exploration examples

Shooter 2007""

Production DetailsThe screenplay for Shooter, by Jonathan Lernkin, was adapted from the novel, Point of Impact, written byPulitzer Prize-winner, Stephen Hunter. This fast-paced, action tnriiier was budgeted at approximately $61million, and has made a gross profit, to date, of $95 million. In Shooter, there are two occasions of productplacement. At the beginning of the film, the protagonist (Swagger) drinks Budweiser beer, and towards the endhe wears Underarmour clothing. These two labels contribute to the films Budget Produced by ParamountPictures, the film was shot in a variety of locations. These Included countries such as the US and Canada, withmuch of the filming set in British Colombia and Philadelphia. The big stars of this production were MarkWahlberg, who plays lead character Gunnery Sergeant Bob Lee Swagger, and Danny Glover, who portrays thevillain, Colonel Isaac Johnson.

Distribution Details5/jooterwas distributed by Paramount Pictures and Paramount Pictures International. It premiered on the 23rd

of March 2007 in California. By the 13lh of Apri! the film had already premiered in South America, Asia andEurope. On the 13th the. film aired in the UK, with lead actor Mark Wahlberg arriving in London for the event.The marketing of Shooter was largely focused around Wahlberg, who had recently tasted success with TheDeparted, where he received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The former rapper appeared onprogrammes such as The Late Show with David Letterman, The Ellen Degeneras Show and The Tonight Showwith Jay Leno, where he repeatedly plugged the movie. There were also trailers featured on television and in .selected cinemas. In addition to the broadcasting media, Shooter was highly publicised in various forms ofprint media. These included newspaper articles (Sunday Mirror), film magazine interviews (Empire) andinternational poster campaigns.

Exhibition Details'.Vhen interviewed about Shooter, director Antoine Fuqua revealed his thoughts on why audiences wouldchoose to see his film. "I think audiences want to see cool action, but they also want to be drawn in by greatcharacters like Swagger. It will make them think." Exhibitors were quick to cash in on Wahlberg's high profileand recent career achievements. Wahlberg himself had an opinion on why he thought audiences would watchShooter. 'This is the kind of movie they don't make any more." BeforeS/ioofer, Antoine Fuqua had a successfultrack record of directing action packed thrillers with strong leading men: Denzel Washington (Trailing Day],Bruce Willis (Tears of the Sun] and Clive Owen [King Arthur}. Mark Wahlberg's character has been described as2 smarter, more verbal Rambo, a combination that was bound to have enticed plenty of movie goers. To.gainmore revenue, the film was shown at certain cinemas around the world, before heading to DVD and a wideraudience. In conjunction with the general release of the film, web browsers and film buffs could learn trivia,download tracks and posters, buy the DVD and play various sniper games on the Shooter website•'www.shootermovie.com). Available in four different languages (English/French/Spanish/Japanese),Paramount Pictures looked for many ways of generating interest and income for the movie.

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An example of Industry research

Referring to the research you carried out for your chosen film, list the most importantelements about production, distribution and exhibition you have found out.

Film: The Wrestler Year: 2008/9

Production DetailsThe film was produced by Protozoa Pictures, Wild Bunch and Saturn Films with an estimatedbudget of 7 million dollars, financed by Winchester Capital Partners. It was filmed betweenJanuary and March 2008 it is an American film and is an original screenplay written by RobertSiegel. It was produced by Darren Aronofsky and Scott Franklin. Darren Aronofsky (TheFountain) also directed it, Maryse Albert! did cinematography, Andrew Weisblum edited andClint Mansell (Pop Will Eat Itself) did the music. Its main stars are Mickey Rourke (Randy TheRam' Robinson), Marissa Tomei (Cassidy) and Evan Rachel Wood (Stephanie Robinson).

Nicolas Cage was originally set to star in the movie. On February 9, 2008 filming took place inthe New Alhambra Arena for the upcoming movie which included many CZW (Combat ZoneWrestling) alumni, along with the Necro Butcher, who will be playing a major part in the film.Reportedly, both Bruce Springsteen and Mickey Rourke were paid no money for theircontributions towards the film. Due to the film's modest budget, W. Axl Rose donated the useof Guns 'n' Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine" free of charge for the final match.

Distribution DetailsThe UK distributor is Optimum Releasing and Fox Searchlight Pictures in the USA. I could notfind details of its marketing budget, probably as it is still out and they are still spending. I didfind out it cost Fox Searchlight $4m for the distribution rights when they saw it at the Torontofilm festival. I did not find any mention of test screenings other than the film festivals. It wasreleased in the USA in December 2008 and nationwide release in the UK in mid January2009. It has been promoted with posters (see below) magazine articles and the cast and crewattending premiers, festivals and interviews, although this has created a 'buzz' it is stillongoing and there may be more activity if it wins an Oscar. The Wrestler won the Golden Lionfor best picture at the Venice film festival. It also appeared at the New York film festival.

Exhibition DetailsThe Wrestler was shown in all three kinds of cinema (multiplex, independent and art-house).Its success in festivals/awards and subject matter gave it a wide appeal. It has been on fornearly a week and may last past the Oscars on the 24th February.

So far its box office has been $2,822,431 in the US, UK figures are not available yet. It isclassified as a 15 in the UK. As already mentioned it seems to have a wide audience appealas it is a story about an underdog and is showing in all kinds of cinemas. I think it is asuccessful film as it will probably cover its production and marketing costs and has won manyawards: 2 Golden Globes, 1 Golden Lion Award (Venice), and 5 critics awards. It has beennominated for 2 Oscars which might keep it in the cinemas a bit longer. The taglines on itscinema posters were - "Never Give Up Without A Fight" and "Love. Pain. Glory".

/ used the following websites: imdb, boxofficemojo, wikipedia, yahoo! Movies &launchingfilms. com.

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ifilm studies Industry5 research

St Trinian' s.

The genre of the film is a comedy. In the 1950' s StTrinian' s had a series of films which came out. The basesare the same now as in the girls are dressed in naughtyschool g i r l uniforms and a man plays the headmistree andher brother. The plot is that they needed money to keep theschool open so they steel a famous painting and pretend.someone had stolen it to get the money.

Production:

The directors of St Trinian' s are Olive^parker andBarnaby Thompson. The film was produced at Haling studios,London with production costs totalling almost £10 mil l i o n .Some of the main stars are Rupert Everett who plays tw6parts which was good because the other two films had thesame idea. Gemma arterton who has starred in the new Jamesbond film and another big star is Russell Brand who isknown for his comedy. The person who wrote the screen playwas by Piers Ashworth and Nick Moorcroft.

Distribution:

The distributors were entertainment films ltd the largestindependent film distributer in the UK who have alsodistributed major films such as Sex and the City and theReader.

St Trinian' s had posters and trailers to make the targetaudience to go see the film. Timing was crucial and mosttrailers are distributed to cinemas prior to release of thefilms (usually 2 months before exhibition.) Also there areposters for the film displayed in cinemas as well asstandees which draw peoples attention to the film and makethem want to go and see it. Posters can be distributed

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film studies industry research

anywhere up to 6 months prior to the films general releasedate in that cinema!

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, * •" ' •, : : : - •

This target audience is teenager g i r l s because the wholetheme of St Trim an' s is that it is based in a schoolwhich has no set rules and can the students can be free.The certificate of PG granted by the BBFC reflects thistarget audience. In the poster the girls are wearing schooluniform wrongly which helps set the scene. Another way itgrabbed the audiences was by trailers these are clips fromthe f i l m mixed with some sounds trying to persuade thetarget audience that it would be a good film to go and seeat the Christmas holidays.

Exhi b i t i on:

The. main premier was on the 10th December in London with a l lthe cast and other members of production of the filminvited as well as some VSP' s and film reviewersdistributer's. The public (or general) release on the21st December 2007. This is a time for the film to comebe released because the children (the target audience) arestarting their school holidays (December 21st was a Friday)the reviews were mixed because some people liked but otherwere not that keen,"Very good adaptation went with my family and a l l ageswere laughing, "

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film studies industry research

The total box office takings was £12 042 854 over the course

of 8 weeks from 21st December 07th - 10th February 08.

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TO BE COMPLETED BY CANDIDATE

Referring to the research you carried out for your chosen film, list the most importantelements about production, distribution and exhibition you have found out.

Film: V for Vendetta Year: 2005

Production DetailsThe idea came from Alan Moore ̂ .k.a. The Wizard of Northawfpton and was firstpublished in the 1980s black and white comic book, 'Warrior.' The Wachowskibrothers produced-a screenplay and James McTeigue directed (famous for hisJSrst-director assistant position in all of the Matrix films. The American film was financedby Medianboard Berlin-Brandenburg GmbhL/The film had a budget of $57 million.With the cast of Natalie Penman and many British actors like Stephen Fry, StephenRea and John Hurt. v

Distribution DetailsWarner Bros. Pictures Distribution was the distributor for the USA and the UKdistributor was Warner Bros: Pictures International. It was test screened at theBerlin Film Festival where it was a hii/lt was/first shown in its home countryAmerica before then been released globally/ The film was very/successful inmarketing because the film was a popular topic during the advertising campaign asit related to the current^fssue about threats of terrorism inHLondon. Marketingincluded: masks of V; teaser posters and trailers that were full of mystery andaction leaving unanswered questions about what was to happen on the 5th

November. Unfortunately due to the terrorist attacks of 7/7 which was the sameweek as the UK release of V for VendettaJhe film release had to be postponed asthe film is about terrorists in London,

Exhibition Details /It was shown in alHypes of cinemas (Multi-complex/lndependent/Ar^fiouse) andwas in release fo/a total oM05 days/15 weeks. The worldwide lifetime grosses was$132,511,035 with 36% of that from the first weekend. $1.4 million came just fromIMAX cinema revenueyThe film has a British rating of 15 aocf an American-rating ofR. The plot has a comic booXhistory but the film is more of an action jgenre so thetarget audience is very wide as you have the traditional comic book fans and thenfamilies who enjoy thrillers. It is available on video and DVD and isf also available onblu-ray. £/