Harry Brown Homework

Questions:

• Year of release: 2009

• Classification: 18 years old

• Companies responsible for making the film: 

- Uk film council
- Marv Films

- Framestore
- Hanway films

• Distributed: Lion Gate UK

• Revenue the film took: 

- Budget: 7,300,000

- Domestic gross: 1,818,681

- Worldwide gross: 6,294,140

- Profit: - 1,005,860 = no profit


http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2010/HBRWN.php



Brief Synopsis: 

The film Harry Brown is based on a estate that used to be peaceful until the gangs formed. The film contains a number of violent scenes involving the gangs and very strong language is used frequently throughout the film. Harry Brown is the main character and his friend is murdered on night by his own weapon by the gang. Harry is told by the police that his friend was murdered and Harry's reaction is very different from others who live on the estate. He decides that enough is enough and he is going to do something about it by finding the killer. Whereas others who live on the estate just let the gangs get away with everything. Although Harry Brown is an elderly character he has a military background and therefore is very capable of catching the killer of his friend. During the film you see drug taking and sexual scenes. The ending of the film shows present day after Harry Brown has killed the killer. During the ending scene you see Harry Brown walking through the subway where is friend was murdered because the estate is now safe because the killer is dead. The film is set in Marks Gate, London. 

The characters involved in the gang are portrayed as violent and use very strong language. They are all shown wearing hoodies/jumpers because this is one of the conventions when portraying crime. The lighting used through out the whole film is very nature. This is to make the scenes look normal, as if they have not been set up. For example when you see the scene of the gang members beating a man in the middle of the estate, the lighting is very nature, just street lighting. The titles at the start of the film are very little and the main characters name 'Harry Brown' is also very small because it is showing that he is just an ordinary man. The first scene of the gang is filmed on a hand held camera, this puts the audience in the perspective of the youth. There is a shot when the police officers have just come down the estate stairs, in this shot you can see the rubbish on the floor, dirty walls and the car with no wheel trims. This shows that everything in the shot has been put there for a reason, nothing in the shot is there by accident. When the gang members are being questioned,  there is a specific shot showing the lawyer and one of the gang members with a very big gap between them, this is done to show the different status between them because of where they come from/background. Some of the members in the gang are real actors and others are real gang members who live in the estate, this is to show real life. At the very start Harry Brown is shown making tea and cleaning up, this is done to show ordinary life tasks.

Gender

Mise-en scene

Mise-en scene is used throughout the clip to show the representation of gender. This is shown through many different conventions. For example: setting, lighting, make-up and costume. 
In the first scene both of the women characters are trying to impress someone. This shows that the two females are both feminine because stereotypically feminine women feel the need to impress everyone. The costume of the characters show masculine and feminine. This is because the men are wearing suits which ca suggest they are masculine and the women are wearing skirts that then suggest they are feminine. The main setting of the clip is in the clothes shop. This is a feminine setting as you would relate a cloths/dress shop to a feminine women. Throughout the clip the lighting used is very bright, this could also support that the setting is feminine because bright, bold lighting would be associated with feminine scenes. Whereas in masculine scenes the lighting would be very dark and mysterious. The make-up that the young women is wearing shows that she is feminine because it makes her look elegant, gentle and sweet. In the scene when the alarm goes off, the man covers up the alarm in order for the person on the phone not to hear that he can not fix the alarm and is having trouble. This can suggest that the man doesn't want to be seen as if he can not cope because that would then make him become feminine. When the younger man character is introduced into the shop, he 'finds' the ring and then leaves the shop with it. This shows that he is masculine because he has control over the other man and doesn't listen to what he is saying, he just does what he wants to do. When the ending is reveled it shows that the who situation of the ring going missing was the women's plan, this makes her a masculine women because she has the power over the young man. This then makes the young man character who was portrayed as masculine before seem to be feminine. 

Camera shots

A variety of camera shots are used to show the representation of gender through this clip. 
The first shot used is a master shot. This shot establishes that the shop owner is a man which shows that he must be feminine in order to own a clothes shop. A over the shoulder shot is used between the shop owner and the elderly customer. This shows that the shop owner is masculine and the women is feminine because the man is looking down on the women and stereotypically men have a higher status then women. There is a close up used on the women's ring. This then draws the shop owners attention. Therefore this shows that the man is feminine because he is interested in jewelry and fashion. A tilt shot is used on the women. This shot shows she is a feminine character because she is wearing a long, expensive, elegant dress. There is a medium long shot showing the new men characters when being introduced. In this shot it shows the men drinking whisky, smoking and speaking about business, this then makes these characters masculine because drinking whiskey is associated with masculine men. A medium close up is used of the women panicking, getting stress and upset, this shows she is feminine because stereotypically feminine women are not able to cope is hard situations. There is also a close up showing a similar meaning of the man who can not fix the alarm, in this show it shows him to be stressed and unable to cope. This makes him then seem feminine. A long shot is used of the two men characters in the shop, this shot allows the viewer to see the man picking up clothes off the floor while the other man stands and looks at him cleaning. This makes the shop owner look feminine and the other man character masculine. 

Sound

Non-diegetic and diegetic sounds are used throughout the clip to show the representation of gender.
When the masculine men characters are introduced in the bar, you can hear their deep voices. This shows that they are masculine because deep voices are associated with masculine men. When the women is in the shop she says "my husband will kill me" when she has lost her ring. This shows that she is a feminine women because her husband has control over her. Another thing that the women says is "hair dressers appointment" this shows that she is feminine because she is getting her hair done. When the women is panicking about her ring the shop owner says "can I make a suggestion" this shows that he's masculine because he's taking control of the situation and telling her what to do. When the alarm sound is introduced it shows the man character to be a feminine man because he can not cope and fix the alarm. The background music throughout the clip shows both masculine and feminine. When the feminine women are in the scene the music is calm and innocent. Whereas when the masculine men are in the scene the music is deep and more up beat.

Editing

A number of editing techniques are used in the clip to show the representation of gender.
There is a shot reverse shot used between the shop owner and the young women. In this shot you can see the women's make-up that she is wearing. This makes her a feminine women as make-up is stereotypically associated with feminine women. There is a fade to black editing techniques used in the start of the clip when the scenes change over. The mens deep voices are introduced before the men are actually introduced. This makes them seem masculine before you even see what the characters look like because you hear them before you see them. The same editing technique is used with the women, the sound of her unzipping her bag is introduced before she is, this makes her seem feminine before you see her because bags are associated with feminine women. 

Overall the representation of gender is this clip is shown through mise-en scene, camera shots, sound and editing to portray characters as masculine men, masculine women, feminine women and feminine men.

History of British film industry

Early History:

The Cinema being an entertainment industry in the late nineteenth century in the United States, france and the UK. Filmmakers from the UK established small studios that would produce short films. In the first decade of the twentieth century more than 30 film studios were found in and around london. As Americas success took off the UK's rapidly faded. This was due to the expensive and heavily marketed featured films that America had. 



Cinemas had many new companies and investments of £1.5 million in cinemas in 1908 alone. This made the government recognise the potential of the film industry.

First Government support:

By 1925 British films had come to a point where fewer than 40 films a year were being made comparing this to over 150 films that were made in 1920. The issue was raised in May 1925 when Lord Newton mentioned it in the House of Lords. The Cinematograph Act 1927 helped recognise the importance of production, distribution and exhibition. The Act was a success in the sense that production companies including British International pictures at new studios in Elstree. 
For example: 


-Warner's studios at Teddington  



-Fox's studios at Wembley 


The Act also blamed for creating a market for poor quality, low cost films. 



The challenge of American film exports: 

The government was quick in recognising the importance of the film industry but American authorities were even quicker in recognising the importance of the exporting industry. In 1926 congress appropriated $15,000 to set up the motion picture Section within the Bureau of Foreign offices and 300 consular offices. This also appointed a Trade Commissioner in Europe. Harvard Business school started to offer seminar series the business and management of the film industry, several American business schools followed. This meant that film industry was responsible for about 2% of overall U.S GDP- growth and about 3% overall productivity growth between 1900-1938. 

The 1930's Boom and Bust:

The arrival of 'talkies' in 1928 had a positive effect on british film production.The films were protected in the home market and was able to compete with American sound films without the need for dubbing. The result was that the industry experienced a boom. 


The most successful British film production company was London Film Production, founded by Alexander Korda. 

Present day:

In 2012 647 films were released- more than 12 made per week. 

Homework

What constitutes a British film?
- The different categories that make a British film are:

• cultural content
• cultural contribution
• cultural hubs
• cultural practitioners 

- The constitution of a film/where it is seen to be made is very important for many different reasons. For example: 

• Cost effective
• Better marketed
• More well known
• Results of viewings

- Constitution of a film involves the classification of films. This will be decided on whether or not the film is classed as being from that country. For a film to be classified as British it must pass through the rules given by the UK film council. The UK film council is a government run organisation that improves and promotes the state of film within britain. 

What are the various methods of marketing a film? 
- There are a number of ways that film marketing can be done. Overall the film has to be advertised. This can be done through many different methods. For example:

• Trailers- allows the movie to be shown all around the world. Includes the main parts of the film to make the viewers want to watch the film. 
• Viral videos- similar to a trailer, helps to broadcast the film, created by a film based website.
• Promotion tours- interviews from actors around the world, on television or radio ect.
• Merchandising- products that are given away that are related to the famous actors. for example: Tops, books and posters ect.

- 360-degree marketing is a way in which a films promotion surrounds the world with their film. The film promotion is a way of getting the audience to engage in the film promotion and get them to want to watch the film. the In the 350-degree method, marketing hits the viewers/audience from all different directions and for a long period of time. 

What are the different ways a film can be exhibited or consumed?
- The main way a film can be exhibited is through Cinemas. However there are also many other ways of consuming a film now. For example: 

• At home/television
• Theaters 
• Internet
• Apps
• You tube
• Love film
• DvDs
• Tablets
• x-box

- Films can either be watched through Streaming or Video on Demand. Films are also either rented or purchased.

- It is up to the exhibitor to send the movies to the Cinemas. This is still the case, however over time as technology has developed many people do not use the cinema as much and there are a number of different ways a film can be exhibited and how the audience/viewers can consume films.

Further film distribution notes

Film Distribution:

The audience has the greatest power within the business. For example: if the audience likes a certain star then Hollywood are forced to use this star. This then makes the star extremely powerful. This statement is from Tony Angellotti from Hollywood. 
In another statement made by Toby Miller said that the industry that doesn't rely on waiting, licensing and responding to what the audience wants, then delivering them that. This industry relies on knowing which parts of the world and the media needs its products and will pay for them.

It is critical not to see Film distribution as a helpful stage in the life of film. The big companies that control much of the industry, control distribution in their own products. Films are loaned out to cinemas for a certain period of time and release deals are done. Within these deals it secures assess to a certain number of screens at a time. In the UK film marketing and increase in the quantity of screens showing films has not made an increase in the number of films that are shown.

There are five major distributions that dominate the UK film industry. These are: 

• United International Pictures
• Warner Brothers
• Buena Vista
• Twentieth Century Fox
• Sony

Nine of every ten films seen in the UK are viewed as a result of these distributors. In most cases these distributors are linked to Hollywood production companies.

Prints:

producing physical copies of a film for cinema and home release and also finding exhibitors/retailers to see the film.

Marketing:

Raising audience awareness and anticipation of a new release.

A distributor may:

• Be a part of the same parent company as the producers company.
• Have a long term arrangement with a production company and provide financial assistance for many of their productions.
• Provide financial assistance for a single film by a production company.
• Acquire a film after it has completed production.

A film is likely to have different distributors for:

• Releases in different countries
• Cinema releases
• Home video release.

360-degree branding:

Film promotion seeks to surround us with their brand, multi platform, media forms. This kind of marketing is never intrusive and very inexpensive.

Distribution

What is distribution?

Distribution is the third part of the film supply chain. Also known as 'invisible art'. This is because only the people within the industry know about it. However distribution is the most important part of the film industry. Distribution is where completed films come to life and connect with the audience. During the process distribution is all about releasing and sustaining films in the market place.

Licensing:

The process of which a distributor acquires the legal right to exploit a film. Licensing can take place on two different levels. These are: international distribution- Ensures that films find their way to the market 'territories' around the world. The major US studios have their own distribution offices in all major territories. Local distribution- this involves the distributor acquiring the license to release and exploit the film in a particular country. the distributor will pay the producer a guarantee for the license.

Marketing:

The marketing of a film release revolves around two key questions- 1: when? 2: how?
The schedule for forth coming releases is coordinated and published by the film distributors association. A distributor will assess the schedule to make sure only a few films are scheduled for release. After setting a release date the distributor will work towards theatrical release, investing in materials and marketing campaigns to support it.

Points and advertising:

The quantity and production of release prints and trailers: specialised films released with fewer than 10 prints into key independent cinemas, toured over a 6 month period in all parts of the UK.

Press materials, clips reels, images, press previews and screener tapes: Favourable press responses are key in developing the profile for films.

Design and printing of posters and other promotional artwork: Poster designs are highly effective in packaging the key attributes of a film for potential audiences. Other poster campaigns are used, such as: underground advertising and billboards.

Advertising campaigns-location, ad size and frequency: Advertising in magazines, national and local newspapers used to cover the awareness of release by the press.

Press campaign: Hire a press agency to run pre-releases campaign. Distributors bring over key talent for press interviews to support the release.

Arranging visits by talent from the film: The director and/or lead actors wins significant editorial coverage to support a release.

Other preview screenings: 

A distributor will consider the use of advance public screenings to create word-of-month and advance 'buzz' around the film.

The logistics of distribution:

Distributors will enter into an agreement with the cinema to screen the film on certain play dates. Its up to the distributor to transport the film to the cinemas.

Case study- Bullet Boy: 

Low budget film made in the UK, featured Saul Dibb as the director of the film. Stars Ashley Walters the rapper who was playing a young man who has shortly just been released from prison. He was involved in a violent gang. This film was the first film to tackle gang and gun crime in Britain's inner cities. The film had popular insights.

Digital Distribution:

By the end of 2005, the UK distribution and exhibition sectors where starting to use/move towards digital distribution and exhibition. 
The advantages of digital distribution:

• More cost effective
• logistics-light alternative to the tried and trusted
• much cheaper
• less stressful
• easier to send films as computer files than to transport tins in a van.

Digital distribution and exhibition has started to appear in certain parts of the world. In the UK digital technology has been embraced by the non-theatrical sector. Digital distribution gives distributors more flexibility.

Money behind Avatar & Trainspotting

Avatar.



Production Budget:

• $425,000,000

Domestic Gross:

• $760,507,625

Worldwide Gross:

• $2,783,918,982

Profit made:

• $2,358,918,982

http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/budgets/

Trainspotting.

Production budget:

• $3,100,00

Worldwide gross:

• $72,001,785

Profit made:

• $68,901,785

http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/budgets/

Comparing.

Avatar names lots of other films that the same director had made before. Whereas Trainspotting mentions one film made by the same company. Also Avatar uses animation through out and trainspotting does nnot. Therefore by Avatar being animated it makes it look more expensive & is the reason why its expensive. Trainpotting used ordinary characters and Avatar uses aliens. Hollywood film industries effect UK film industries because the UK industries can not compare to Hollywood, UK does not have the same amount of money and can not afford all the major actors.

new media technology

Which new media technology are used by the following?

Newspaper industry:

• Apps
• Internet
• Social networks

Magazine: industry:

• Internet
• Apps
• Social networks

Film industry: (Push marketing: film industries telling you to watch the film & pulling marketing: where you go to watch the film)

• Television
• Internet- Youtube & film websites
• Apps- love-film(streaming & VOD)
• Phone
• Cinema
• Magazines
• Electronic Bill boards
• Posters
• DvDs (Rented or Purchased)
• X-Box
• Tablets
• 3G
• Social networks (Promotion)

Music industry:

• Cds
• Itunes 
• Internet
• Youtube
• Computer
• Phone
• Ipod/Ipad
• Apps
• Laptop
• Online radio

Television industry:

• Internet
• Television 
• DvDs
• BBC iplayer
• ITV player
• You tube
• Phones
• Laptops
• Live stream