Film regulation and the BBFC - blog tasks:

1) Research the BBFC in more detail: what is the institution responsible for? How is it funded? What link does it have to government?

The BBFC regulates film into age ratings. They are not government funded and  earn money through charging the movies they rate.

2) Read this BBFC guide to how films are rated. Summarise the process in 50 words.

Depending on the controversial nature of the film or TV episode, the number of people rating a film will increase by teams (two people) to ensure enough opinions are given. Children shows can be rated by just one person. 

3) Read this BBFC outline of the issues faced when classifying a film. Summarise the debate in 50 words.

Issues they face include: material in conflict with the law, material with the potential to harm the age rating, availability of the material, The context in which an issue (such as sex, language or violence) is presented, The overall tone of a work 

4) Read this BBFC section on controversial decisions. Why did The Dark Knight generate a large amount of media coverage regarding its certificate? Do you agree with the 12A certificate The Dark Knight was awarded?

The 12A certificate caused outrage because many people believed the violence was too much for it. I agree with the certificate because any younger wouldn't be appropriate and most 12 year olds have seen lots of graphic content.

5) What are the guidelines for a 15 certificate?

Dangerous behaviour - suicide, self-harming and asphyxiation should not dwell on detail which could be copied.

Discrimination - Must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour, although there may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory themes and language.

Drugs - Drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse (for example, through detailed instruction).

Language - There may be strong language. Very strong language may be permitted, depending on the manner in which it is used.

Nudity - Sexual nudity may be permitted but strong detail is likely to be brief or presented in a comic context.

Sex- Sexual activity may be portrayed, but usually without strong detail.

Sexual violence and sexual threat - There may be strong verbal references to sexual violence but strong and sustained focus on sexual threat is unacceptable.

Threat and horror - There may be strong threat and horror. A sustained focus on sadistic threat is unlikely to be acceptable.

Violence - Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable.

6) The BBFC website offers an explanation of every classification it makes and detailed case studies on selected titles. Look at the rating for Chicken and explain why it was given a 15 certificate.

The scenes of extreme violence and references to sex make it a 15.

Chicken Blog Task

Funding

1) What was the budget for Chicken?

 £110,000 of borrowed money.

2) How did Joe Stephenson end up raising the money to make the film?

By borrowing money from rich friends and family. 
3) How does the Chicken budget compare to a Hollywood-funded British blockbuster such as Spectre or Paddington 2?

Spectre- $245 million

Paddington 2- 40 million USD

4) Joe Stephenson tried to secure funding from organisations that help low-budget filmmakers. What is the BFI Film Fund and how does it contribute to the British film industry?

Their aim is to give art house cinema a place in modern film. 

"Our aim is to champion diverse, bold and distinctive films and increase the audiences for them across the UK. See a trailer of the films we’ve supported."

5) Why do you think Chicken failed to secure funding from the BFI Film Fund?

Perhaps they were a bit scared of making a film about someone with a disability as it might appear insensitive.


Production

1) What difficulties did the film run into during production?

Because of the outside locations, rain and bad lighting were main issues during the filming.

2) How many days did the film take to shoot?

19 days.

3) What scenes were particularly difficult for Joe Stephenson to film?

External scenes.

Distribution

1) Why did the film fail to secure a distribution deal when first made in 2014?



2) What film festivals did Chicken feature at between 2014-2016?

"Chicken had its world premiere on 27 June 2015 Edinburgh International Film Festival. The film had its international premiere in competition at the 2015 Busan International Film Festival, followed by screenings at the New Hampshire International Film Festival,^[2] Giffoni International Film Festival, Cine A La Vista International Film Festival, Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Schlingel International Film Festival and Dublin International Film Festival. It eventually received a limited theatrical release in the UK on 20 May 2016."

3) Why are film festivals an effective way for a low-budget film to secure a distribution deal?

It generates interest in the film.

4) When was Chicken released in cinemas in the UK?

May 2016

5) Why do you think film subscription service MUBI chose the film to feature on the service?

It was considered to be "GREAT CINEMA".

6) Why was Film4 a good choice to give the film its UK television premiere?

Yes as it reaches a mainstream audience as well as a niche one.

7) When was the film released on iTunes and other video-on-demand services in the USA and Canada?

January 2018


Promotion

Note: some of these pages will be blocked in school - you will need to complete those particular questions at home.

1) What does the trailer suggest regarding genre and the potential audience pleasures of Chicken?

The trailer contains action and enigma codes that suggest violence and social realism.

2) What synergy can you find between the trailer and other traditional marketing methods such as the film poster?


3) Why are reviews from industry figures such as Mark Kermode so important to a film's success?

It establishes respected figures have enjoyed the film, making audiences aware of it as a success. 

4) How does the Chicken Twitter account create and maintain interest in the film?

They can give updates and promotion material throughout the production and distribution to widen the pool of people who are aware of it.

5) Who does the Twitter account re-tweet? How does this help to promote the film?



6) How does the Chicken Facebook page use images and video content to promote the film?



7) What pages are liked by the Chicken Facebook page? What does this tell you about the film and potential target audience?



8) Go to the website of the B Good Picture Company. What does the homepage say and what other films have they produced or are in production currently?

"Films that get people talking, make people think, make people care. "


Wonder Of You is currently in production

9) Now go to the B Good Picture Company's website page for Chicken. How does this page promote Chicken specifically?

‘"Chicken’ was B Good Picture Company’s debut feature film. The critically acclaimed film had its theatrical release in 2016 in the UK during its award-winning festival tour. It has since been highly recognised by Stephen Frears, Ian McKellen, Noel Clarke, Karen Gillan and Mark Kermode.

The film went on to be selected by the curators of MUBI, and acquired by Film4. Its journey continued in September 2017 with its Blu-ray & DVD release in the UK courtesy of Network Releasing.

The film is on the new AQA Media Studies curriculum in the UK, studied by college students nationwide.

‘Chicken’ was released in the US exclusively on iTunes early 2018, and continues to maintain its 100% Fresh Rotten Tomatoes rating.

As well iTunes, it is now available in the US & UK on Amazon Prime"

They talk about the critical acclamation. 

10) Go to the B Good Picture Company YouTube channel. What videos feature on the channel? How do they help to promote Chicken?

They have official clips from Chicken as well as clips using Ian McKellen's star power.


Final reading: Media Magazine - the appeal of arthouse cinema

Complete the following tasks to improve your understanding of arthouse film and the possible audience pleasures that the genre offers:

Read Beyond Hollywood: Reading Arthouse Cinema. This is in MM45 on page 24 - go to our Media Magazine archive to find the article. 

1) Summarise the article in 50 words.

Arthouse cinema focuses more on the artistic integrity of the movie than the financial benefits.

2) What are some of the suggested audience pleasures for arthouse film?

personal identity, entertainment and information/surveillance.

3) Why do some audiences struggle with arthouse film? Refer to some media theory here (there are some important media theories discussed in the article itself).

It is suggested some audiences would struggle with arthouse as it perhaps needs a better understanding of culture, or 'culture city'.

4) To what extent is arthouse film only for the middle classes and older audiences? Why might this be the case?

Older audiences, as well as the middle class, have more refined tastes and have the necessary knowledge to understand most of the references. This makes it more appealing to them.

5) What type of audience would be interested in Chicken?

Perhaps a British or culturally aware audience would enjoy it most as it deals with realistic characters that are meant to represent different classes. 

Film Industry

Factsheet #132: British Film

Use our brilliant Media Factsheet archive on the M: drive Media Shared (M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets) to find Media Factsheet #132 on British Film. Save it to USB or email it to yourself so you have access to the reading for homework. Read the whole of Factsheet and answer the following questions:

1) Write a one-sentence definition of what makes a film British.

The defining characteristics of a British film depend on how many production aspects were affiliated with Britain.

2) What is the difference between a Hollywood production context and production context of a British film?

Hollywood production implies high budget and star power. However, British production context implies the opposite. It often means low budget and little to no star power.

3) When did the James Bond franchise start?

1960s

4) In terms of film censorship and graphic content, what began to change in British film in the 1970s and 1980s?

In the 70s to 80s, it became more acceptable to screen acts of violence and sex. 

5) What groups are often represented in British film? Give examples of films these groups feature in.

"example if we look at the way youth is portrayed in a very singular way in
Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange"

"There are contemporary representations of youth in films such as Attack
the Block (Studio Canal, 2011) that attempt to show a deeper more realistic
portrayal of youth that challenges the stereotype of the threat or the

rebel."

"Representation of women has gone through similar changes over the
years with common stereotyping of women as either, the virgin, the mother

or the whore."

6) What does the Factsheet suggest might be the audience appeal of British film?

-Recognizable actors 
-More realistic and relatable storylines
-historical dramas

Factsheet #100: British film industry

To complete our introduction to the British film industry, we need a little more background to the industries context.

Find Media Factsheet #100 on the British film industry. Save it to USB or email it to yourself so you have access to the Factsheet for homework. Read the whole of the Factsheet and answer the following questions:

1) What is the 'cultural test' to see if a film counts as British?

A film must score 16/31 points in the four sections of the test in order to meet a 1/3 of the requirement to be considered British.

2) Complete the task on the Factsheet, researching the films listed and finding out what they score on the cultural test: The Sweeney (2012), Attack The Block, The King's Speech, We Need To Talk About Kevin and Skyfall.

The Sweeny (dir. Love, 2012) : 31 points

 Attack on the Block: 25

The King's Speech: 24

We Need To Talk About Kevin: 3
Skyfall: 27

3) What is the main problem for the British film industry?

British film is historically a production industry without having much influence over distribution. Therefore the revenue is lost to distributing companies and not reinvested in the film industry

4) What are three of the strengths of the British film industry?

-outstanding creative skills of practitioners. 
-outstanding facilities from British studio.
-Different film funding models

5) What are the two options for the future of the British film industry?

-It could choose to rely upon co-productions with American studios to keep the industry afloat 
-It could attempt to make low budget films targeted at a niche, British audience. 

6) In your opinion, which of these two options would best safeguard the future of the British film industry?

Option 2 would safeguard the artistic integrity and freedom of British Film but would do little for prosperity in the industry. Option 1 would mean "selling out" and handing over part of our media to America, admitting they're bigger and more powerful than us. We are not ready for option 1.