Podcast 2- Production Diary

Exam Question- Section B

Evaluate the role of digital technologies in the marketing and comsumption of products in the media area you have studied.
You must focus on one of the following media areas. You may also refer to the other media in your answer.

• Film
• Music 
• Newspapers 
• Radio
• Magazines
• Video Games 

Marks Available:

• Explanation/analysis/argument (20 marks) AO1 Specific
• Use of examples (20 marks) AO2 Specific
• Use of terminology (10 marks) AO1 Specific 

In the essay I am going to be writing about Working Title and Warp Films which are two contrasting companies. Digital technologies has an important role in the marketing and consumption of film media products, as it widens the availability of film media project products and effectively creates awareness of the Product. 


The example I will be using is Nanny Mcphee and the Big Bang (2010). The budget of the film was $35,000,000 and made £2,586,760 (UK) in the opening weekend (26th March 2010). The director of the film was Susanna White who also directs 'Mr Harvey Lights a Candle (2005) ' and 'Lie With Me (2004). The filmed starred Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Ralph Fiennes. The film was distributed by Universal. 

Marketing is advertising which makes people aware of the film and spreads the word. The aim is to convince people to see it. This can be done in many different ways: Trailers, Websites, Social Media, Applications, Video Games etc. Nanny Mcphee and the Big Bang had two trailers; the main trailer and a teaser trailer. The teaser trailer is a lot shorter compared tot the theatrical trailer. The teaser trailers main purpose is to "tease" the audience with short snippets from the movie and by not revealing too much from the plot. This will have helped market the film as the audience will be able to get more of a feel for the film. As it is a more condensed version of the trailer it is more television friendly. This film also has its own website with the name 'Nanny McPhee Returns' which is the American name of the film. On the website it provides information of synopsis, product features, cast and photo gallery etc. A website is another way that can give the audience a better insight of the film providing basic information. Another way that the film was marketed was with a game in the application store. This was a very clever way of marketing the film as it targets the younger ages. The game is actually about one of the scenes in the film, so by doing this it involves the audience in the film. The website also gives people the option of sharing the film on: Twitter, Facebook, Digg, Delicious and Reddit. It is a fact that 74% of people in the 18-65+ age group are on social media. This is social media is a digital technology that plays a big role in marketing and why the marketers can use social media bases to reach several types of audiences. 

Consumption is basic terms is how the film is actually viewed. This can also be done in many different ways e.g. Cinema, Streaming, TV, DVD/Blueray, Rentals, ITunes Store. For Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang it quotes on the website "OWN IT NOW- on BlueRay, DVD & Digital Download- Also available on demand". This shows that the film can be consumed in quite a few different ways which gives the film more of a chance to become a success. As digital download and demand is becoming more and more popular it is making it easier for the audience to view the film. As iPhones, iPads, Macbooks etc are also very popular in this day and age they have made the film available on the itunes store at a UK price of £14.99. Although, the film was released in cinemas on the 26th March 2010 but it wasnt till 14th October 2013 that it was released onto the iTunes  store. It shows that it must have took over 2 years for the distribution company to work out that iTunes is another way for people to consume the film. 

In conclusion, digital technologies a playing a critical role in the marketing and consumption of films; both in mainstream and independent films.

Audience Feedback- Rough Cut 1

This is our audience feedback for the rough cut 1 from our secondary target audience. Tom's mum Jude is a female in her 50s who reiterated the point that the narrative could be easily explored and also enjoyed the editing techniques we included such as the time lapse. Her criticism was that the actors were amateur an not professional. We didn't believe that this was an issue as our genre is social realism which has a convention of unknown/unprofessional actors.

Abridged Rough Cut 1

This is the first rough cut of our film opening abridged. We have reviewed this and believe that the initial footage is good but there is a lot of work to be done in regards to getting more footage. This footage will consist of cut away shots which should help the opening to flow more and make it more interesting to watch. Over all I think we have the basics of a good film but there is a lot of potential in order to make it great.

Blog Improvements

I have received a number of comments from Mr Van Zomerplaag on a variety of posts signifying changes in order to improve my blog.

These include:

• Check my settings on youtube and make sure the videos are on public instead of private.
• Analyse another film with the same genre as the film I am currently producing.
• Make sure I include all the relevant documents on my blog from the production side.
• Make sure my pitch is together with the feedback I received.
• Include some rough cuts and a log of experiences in my blog posts.

After receiving the comments I made improvements by doing the following:

• I have made all of my videos on youtube unlisted. This means that the videos can be watched through my blog but can't be found on youtube. 
• I am in the process of analysing the film 'The Guvnors' which is a social realism film.
• The story board, shot list and screen play have now all been included on my blog and i am now doing regular posts regarding production updates. 
• I have recently included the feedback received from my pitch on the bottom of the post 'Pitch'

Production Log/Diary

(04-01-16) In regards to production there hasn't been any headway. This was due to me and milo being absent from school on the Friday before we broke. This meant we were not able to collect a camera to do the filming over the Christmas period.

(10-01-16) Yesterday me, Tom, Milo and Tom's Dad (Mike) came together in Ilkley to film the footage for our film opening. First of all Tom and his dad filmed the part at Tom's house and walking through the graveyard. After that Milo and me met Tom and his dad to do the filming on the bridge. Once we had finished all the filming on the bridge we no longer needed Mike. So, Tom, Milo and me left the bridge and got the train to Burley to continue the filming. Here is where we filmed the part at Milo's house and the scene in the tunnel.

Overall I found that out filming went considerably well to say the weather wasn't always reliable. The main role that I had was to record the audio for when dialogue was involved. This was quite challenging at times to get the shotgun microphone directional towards the characters mouth as they were moving whilst speaking. Also I had to make sure the microphone couldn't be seen in the shot. 

After reviewing the footage there were some targets in order to complete 

Podcast 1- Production Diary

Ill Manors Opening Analysis

This is the opening sequence to Ill Manors, which in parts has a similar sort of theme to our film opening.  We have taken a few ideas out of this opening to add to ours. The theme of Ill Manors is social realism. Likewise, so is ours. Shots similar to these will be included in our opening:

This particular shot is a time-lapse, then the title appears in large block writing. We will be using the same concept but over a bridge with a running river beneath it. 

Source: http://www.atkostudios.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Ill%20Manors

Harry Brown Opening Analysis

This is the opening scene to the social realist film Harry brown.

Director:

 Daniel Barber

Writer:

  Gary Young (screenplay) 

Stars:

  Michael Caine,  Emily Mortimer,  David Bradley

STORYLINE

In England, retired Royal Marine Harry Brown spends his lonely life between the hospital, where his beloved wife Kath is terminally ill, and playing chess with his only friend Leonard Attwell in the Barge pub owned by Sid Rourke. After the death of Kath, Len tells his grieving friend that the local gang is harassing him and he is carrying an old bayonet for self-defense; the widower suggests him to go to the police. When Len is beaten, then stabbed to death in an underground passage, Inspector Alice Frampton and her partner Sergeant Terry Hicock are sent to investigate. They pay Harry a visit but don't have good news; the police have not found any other evidence, other than the bayonet, in order to arrest the hoodlums. This mean that should the case go to trial the gang would claim self-defense. Harry Brown sees that justice will not be granted and decides to take matters into his own hands. (information attained from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1289406/?ref_=nv_sr_1)

ANALYSIS

This film opening does not exactly follow the conventional style of film openings in the sense that it  includes 3 Company dents and 3 titles which, combined, last up to 40 seconds of the film opening. It is unconventional as after the first opening scene 11 more credits appear stating simply who starred in the movie. This section of credentials last approximately 40 seconds also. The titles used  are of a pure black background with white text on top. This gives it a documentary style look of the film which could possibly be connoted to mean that the film itself, even though is fictional, has elements of truth and possibly even illustrates some aspects of impoverished life amongst the worst council estates in England.

This movie can be closely followed with our movie in the sense that it is old Vs. young however in our story old and young come together. The style of this social realist film is much more action packed and could be classed as a thriller due to the gory and sinister nature of the film. This film focuses on the detrimental impact that street gangs have on their neighbouring society. This film can also be compared to 'The Guvanors' in which there is a clash between younger and older street gangs in a rough estate situated in London.

These films have therefore influenced me to proceed with my social realistic short film with a slight twist on the fact that supports the idea of social mobility through two very different men saving each others life in very different ways.

Source (http://wongproductions.blogspot.co.uk)

The Guvnors Opening Analysis

Writer: Gabe Turner 

Director: Gabe Turner 

Starring: Mark Preston, Richard Blackwood, Joelle Koissi 

Storyline

The Guvnors is both love letter and hate mail to the alpha male. This story's alpha is Mitch who lives buried in suburban London, having turned his back on his previous life of casual violence and intimidation as part of a legendary South East London firm. In the modern day he's the doyen of respectability and quiet confidence, but Mitch used to be a Guv'nor. This film holds a mirror up to Mitch and shows him the monster once again, buried deep in both DNA and psyche, desperate to break out and wreak havoc. ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2992524/?ref_=ttpl_pl_tt )

Analysis 

There are 2 company idents: Fullwell73 Productions and Metrodome Distribution. There are 20 titles all together including the main title of the film, these titles are white in a san serif font. As the title appears it is in a different place on the screen each time- this could have been done to avoid dullness. When the title dissapears the letters go one by one. They dissapear with smoke almost like an explosion, this could possibly have connotations with guns as they are involved in the film. For the main title it is red on a black backround which could symbolise violence. It is in a simplistic bubble font with black marks on it as if the title has worn away- this signifies decay and working class. From the start to the main transitioning to the film the duration is 3 minutes 45 seconds.

The first shot is a medium two shot. One character is stood up smoking and the other on is sat on the sofa. At this point in terms of sound/music there is like a whistling backround noise which is a bit misterious which creates suspence. On top of this there is diologue between the two chatacters. After this scene it proceeded to a montage where the clips alternate between the older man living in a middle class lifestyle to earlier footage of his working class upbringing. 

This film opening relates to relates to our film opening (Abridged) because it shows to contrasting people and lifestyles. Old and poor, rich and wealthy. Although, in our opening the two protagonists come together where as in 'The Guvnors' it is the opposite. This film is about the protagonist that a has turned his back on casual violence. Similarly, our film focuses on the working class protagonist defying his progression of drugs and violence by turning his life around.