Kick-Ass

Kick-Ass is a 2010 superhero/action-comedy film based on the comic book of the same name by Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr. The film was directed by Matthew Vaughn, who co-produced the film with actor Brad Pitt, and co-wrote the screenplay with Jane Goldman. The film's general release was on 26 March 2010 in the United Kingdom and on 16 April 2010 in the United States.

The film tells the story of an ordinary teenager, Dave, who sets out to become a real-life superhero, calling himself "Kick-Ass". Dave gets caught up in a bigger fight when he meets Big Daddy, a former cop who, in his quest to bring down the drug lord Frank D'Amico, has trained his 11-year-old daughter to be the ruthless vigilante Hit-Girl.

Understanding Filmmaking - Flow Chart

The Idea:

• Sources of inspiration - Books, Newspaper, etc.
• A Producer to develops an idea
• A Director to visualizes an idea
• A Writer to clarify and develop the plot/storyline of the film.
• A Writer will then write A Treatment (A short description of the characters and the key events in the story).
• The Producer will then plan a pitch to present to  the potential financers of the film. This will include the genre, target market and a brief synopsis.

Development Finance:

• The producer will use the treatment and pitch to try and persuade the potential financers to agree to finance the project
• The producer will try to persuade Production companies that the film is going to make profits. The company may offer development money in return for the rights of the outcome.
• The producer can offer the future sales and broadcast rights to the film in return for money to develop the script
• The producer can also apply to a public funding body such as the UK film council for a development grant.
• The producer can approach private investors in hope that they will suppourt the project.
• After getting a development deal to distribute, sell and broadcast the film the producer needs to find a suitable writer to commit to the project.

Script Development:

• First the writer will make a synopsis that they and the producer agree on. The synopsis needs to include key scenes and events in the film
• The writer will then create a Step Outline. - Short descriptions of all the scenes that will eventually make up the script.
• The writer will continually have to submit scenes of the first draft of the script to recieve a fee.
• Writers will approach script editors once the first draft is completed for help and advice.
• Once the writer and producer are satisfied with the first draft they will send it off to the financers, who will include their own ideas.
• When everyone is happy with the script the script is finalised and becomes the final draft. The writer will then get paid.
• Finally, the producer will create a Sales Treatment based on the final script to sell the film to potential financers. The Sales treatment is an advert for the script focusing on the script's key selling points.

Packaging:

• The Producer and director will package the script into a full commecial proposition. The producer will take the sales treatment and come up with a rough budget.
• The producer will contact well-known actor's agents to try to cast them in the roles to make the project more commercial.
• A editor, A production designer and a photography director will become involved to develop the film more.
• Before finalising how much money the film will need to produce, the Producer will create a production schedule to ensure that each cost is necessary.
•  The Producer will explain to potential investors how they plan to raise money and how to pay them back.
• The Producer will have created a viable commercial proposition.

Financing:

• The producer will travel to different countries to widen the potential for investment.
• If the producer persuades investors to invest the producers lawyer will sort out the deal.
• The producer can also raise money form pre-sales or approaching banks for loans.
• The Producer will need to make sure that all everything in the film has the necessary insurance.
• Once all essential funding and insurance is secured the film gets the 'Green Light'

Pre-Production:

• After hiring all heads of departments: Casting, Editing, Photography, Sound, Production Designer, etc.
• The Casting director will begin the process of identifying and casting the right actors.
• The DoP and Director will begin creating storyboards (Blueprints for the film).
• The Production designer will plan every aspect of how the film will look and hires the right people to design/build each part. e.g. costume, location, construction and arts.
• Special effects are need more detail than physical shots, these could take months to design and build.
• The 1st assistant director, line producer and production manager will ensure that the film is on schedule. 

The Shoot:

• 1st day of principal photography is a key moment in the production. The shooting begins and the funding is released.
• The Camera department will get all the footage the director and editor needs to develop the story.
• After the lights and sounds are set up and hair and make-up have been checked the shooting can begin.
• The actors need to create emotion, making the audience feel more involved in the film.
• Special effects must not be dangerous to the actors or any other people involved, they need to be carefully constructed to ensure that injury does not occur.
• If the production is not staying on schedule the financiers or insurers may get involved.

Post-Production:

• Post production usually starts when the first rough cuts are available.
• The editor will assemble the scenes into the correct sequences to stick to the plot of the script.
• Once the picture is locked the sound department starts working on the audio soundtrack.
• Title sequences and credits are created and digital effects are made by the effects compositors.
• The final stage of picture edit is to ensure the colour of the film matches the film style.
• The sound mixer will adjust the soundtrack to ensure it fits perfectly with the film.
• After the final cut the film is ready for duplication.

Sales:

• The sales agent will help the producer sell the film to the the distributers.
• To help the film sell a trailer is made from the most marketable aspects of the film
• The Producer may find it difficult to attract the attention of the distributors.
• Getting the film a high profile screening at a film festival can be great to make a buzz around the film

Marketing:

• The Marketing team runs test screenings to see how the film is received 
• Potential audience is attracted by different methods of marketing, e.g posters, trailers. Also word of mouth helps films massively. Whether through TV interviews, newspaper or internet.
• The Distributor will negotiate deals with cinemas to screen it.

Exhibition:

• A high-profile premiere with celebrity guests boosts the films coverage in the media.
• The film is then shown in different cinemas to different audiences.
• Distributors supply the exhibitors with copies of the film to ensure that it can be shown on as many screens as possible.
• Data about how the film is received in the Box offices is released
• The box office receipts are printed and the money is shared between all involved.

Other Windows:

• 'Hospitality' - Hotel channels or in-flight movies can add additional revenue.
• The film is released on DVD, Blu-ray and 3D. If the film didn't achieve in the box office sometimes DVD sales can compensate for failure.
• The film is then shown on TV channels
• Occasionally a video game based on the movie is released meaning more additional revenue.
• The film could be released in the future for more income.

Attack The Block Review

It's Bonfire night in South London and innocent trainee nurse Sam (Jodie Whittaker) is mugged by a group of hooded teenage thugs for her money and jewellery. This is until a meteorite carrying a blood thirsty small alien ruins the groups night. The gang leaded by the impassive Moses kill the alien and parades it around the block and keeps it in Ron's weed room who is portrayed by the hilarious Nick Frost. As they thought there night couldn't get any better it got considerably worse as the bigger, blacker and big toothed aliens come to rescue the smaller alien and killing anyone who gets in their way. It's now down to Sam and the gang leaded by Moses to fight the savage alien invasion and save the block.

The films plot is well written and the comedy i liked because it resembles the comedy used in Shaun Of The Dead slightly and this is included in Attack The Block because of Big Talk Productions produced the film like they have done for Shaun Of The Dead.

A screen shot from the film.
Ron (left), Pest (middle), Brewis (right)

The characters that really bring out the comedy in the film for me are Pest (Alex Esmail) who's a member of the gang, Brewis (Luke Treadway) who's one of Ron's customer and Ron (Nick Frost) a drug dealer. I think all three characters show witty comedy for example when Sam asks, "What's Ron's weed room?". Brewis replies "It's a big room! Full of weed. And it's Ron's". I find witty comedy funny and all of these characters show this throughout the film. 
The plot does lack depth and Joe Cornish should have but more depth into the aliens and go into more detail, like why they came to Earth and where they came from. Also Joe Cornish didn't put enough depth into the characters, for example Moses who is the main character. Cornish did show a little about Mose's life near the end but because he's the main Character he should of showed more.

The all British cast played their roles very well as they fight the aliens throughout the film. John Boyega who portrays Moses did well to show him as a strong character. Jodie Whittaker who portrays Sam also did well and do the rest of the gang. Alex Esmail who portrays Pest, Luke Treadway who portrays Brewis and a cameo from Nick Frost who portrays Ron brings all the comedy to the film i think.

With such a small budget, Joe Cornish managed to make the film attractive throughout the hole film, i thought the aliens he created without the use of Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) were convincing and the fact that they were shown for short amounts of time whilst in shot made them look realistic enough. 

Overall i found the film enjoyable. The exciting sci-fi horror comedy was great directorial debut for Joe Cornish. The film itself was never going to be a big blockbuster mainstream film but I thought Joe Cornish and the production team made a great, entertaining film with a small budget and unknown actors. If Joe Cornish were to make another film i would definitely go and see it. 
I recommend the film if you enjoy the sci-fi, horror, comedy genres.

Attack The Block Research

How was it produced?

Big talk productions produced the Film with Film 4, The UK Film Council and Studio Canal. The Block itself was a composite of various council estates across London.
The film was shot across London from March to May 2010, with 6 weeks of night shoots on the Heygate Estate in Elephant and Castle, Myatts Field Brixton Oval tube station in Kennington and the Bemerton Estate in Islington. Interior scenes were filmed at Three Mills Studios in east London.

What was it based on?

The film is slightly based on Joe Cornish (the director) and when he was mugged near his home in Stockwell, south London. He was mugged by a group of teenagers and after he investigated the kind of kids who robbed him, talking to children on the street and in youth clubs. He then put in some film fantasy and included aliens.  He made the film this type of genre because he was inspired by the films he grew up in the 80’s with like ET, Gremlins, Critters and Predator.

Were there any problems that arose in making the film?

One of the problems was that US distributors were concerned that American audiences might not understand the strong South London accents, and may have even used subtitles if it were to be released in the United States. Joe Cornish acknowledge this and said that the audience can understand the language.

How they saved money?

Money was saved in the film by them not using good special effects or CGI on the aliens. Joe Cornish didn’t spend a lot of money on the special effects because they wasn’t enough money for the film to use this. They also saved money by using unknown actors so they didn’t have to pay them highly.

What was the films rating?

The film was rated 15.

How was the film promoted?

The film had an official website which promoted the film. Also there was a trailer and posters released which promoted the film.

The Soundtrack

The films soundtrack was created by the electronic dance music group Basement Jaxx.
It included 20 tracks and was released in May, 2011.

Selected Key Terms for Institutions and Audiences - The Film Industry

Selected Key Terms for Institutions and Audience

An institution (in the film industry)

Definition: any company or organisation that produces, distributes or exhibits films. The BBC makes films with their BBC Films arm; Channel4's Film Four produces films, Working Title also produce films, as does Vertigo Films, etc. Some institutions need to join with other institutions which distribute films. Vertigo Films is able to distribute its own films, Channel Four distributed Slumdog Millionaire through Pathe. Working Title's distribution partner is Universal, a huge US company which can make, distribute and show films. The type of owner ship within an institution matters as, for instance, Channel 4 and the BBC are able to show their own films at an earlier stage than other films made by other institutions. They are also better placed to cross-promote their in-house films within their media organisations. Use you work on Film Four as the basis for most of what you write, Moon is a good cross comparison as Duncan Jones had to create his own institution just to get the film made.


Distribution and Marketing

Definition: the business of getting films to their audiences by booking them for runs into cinemas and taking them there in vans or through digital downloads; distributors also create the marketing campaign for films producing posters, trailers, websites, organise free previews, press packs, television interviews with the "talent", sign contracts for promotions, competitions, etc. Distributors use their know-how and size to ensure that DVDs of the film end up in stores and on supermarket shelves. Distributors also obtain the BBFC certificate, and try to get films released as the most favourable times of the year for their genre, etc.


Examples:
Universal distributed Working Title's The Boat That Rocked; Pathe distributedFilm4 and Celadors' Slumdog Millionaire after the original US distributor, Warner Independent went out of business. TRON was heavily marketed across a variety of mediums, Moon struggled to get press attention and Duncan Jones had to really push the film  in obscure places like Popular Mechanics etc. The Kings Speech was distributed by Momentum (a susiduary of Aliance films) who are a major independent film distributor.


Exhibition
Definition: showing films in cinemas or on DVD. Media attention through opening nights and premieres How the audience can see the film: in cinemas, at home, on DVD, through downloads, through television, including premieres, the box office take in the opening weeks; audience reviews which includes those of the film critics, ordinary people, cinemas runs; awards in festivals, The Oscars, BAFTAS, etc.


Examples:
Slumdog Millionaire almost never got distribution. Its early US distributor, Warner Independent was a victim of the economic downturn and went out of business. The film's makers then struggled to find a distributor! Then Fox Searchlight stepped up and "the rest is history". The 8 out of 10 Oscar nomination wins ensured that the film has been the greatest British success in awards and in box office for nearly 60years.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/boyle-reveals-slumdog-millionaire-was-nearly-never-made-1331821.html

Motherhood took just £86!
Moon. Initially Sony Pictures Worldwide were due to distribute the film but they specialise in straight to DVD features. Following positive reaction following its Sundance film festival the rights were acquired by Sony Classic Pictures who gave the film a limited release in the US in Cities like New York and LA.

Exchange

Definition: The unintended use of an institution’s media text (i.e. a film) by OTHER PEOPLE who use the film or parts of it to form new texts. What happens to a film, etc. after the public get their hands on it using digital technology.  

Examples:
People unconnected to the institution/ film using WEB 2.0 applications such as YOUTUBE, Blogger, Amazon film message boards, TWITTER, Face-Book, discuss the film or edit parts of together to form a new text which the may then put a new soundtrack to and publish on YOUTUBE, etc. When you add a trailer from a site like YouTube on your blog you have been engaging with exchange. Look back to MArk Kermodes video regarding piracy and the new release strategies for films like Ken Loach's "Route Irish" (Loach has reportedly steeled himself for a frosty response from critics and anticipates an underwhelming box office, noting the difficulty he faced securing a distribution deal. Though pragmatic in his view that “people don’t make films to communicate; they make it as a commodity”,an unorthodox release strategy utilising Sky Movies Premier - which will place the film (and by extension, its subject matter) in a wider public sphere than it might otherwise have reached – suggests he hasn’t given up on pedagogy entirely.) or the Jack Ass 3 release on DVD and Sky Box Office.


Vertical and Horizontal Integration

Definition: Absorption into a single firm of several firms involved in all aspects of a product's manufacture from raw materials to distribution.


Example:
Vivendi Universal have integrated film, music, web and distribution technology into the company, including owning big stakes in cables and wires that deliver these services. Therefore they are vertically integrated because they own all the different companies involved in film, from production to distribution to exhibition. They are also horizontally integrated because they have all the expertise for producing media content under one roof – films, TV, magazines, books, music, games thus being able to produce all the related media content for one film under the same roof (see synergy). This is important for the control the institution has over their product/film.


Synergy/Synergies  

Definition: The interaction of two or more agents (institutions/companies) to ensure a larger effect than if they acted independently. This is beneficial for each company through efficiencies in expertise and costs. 

 

Examples:
Working Title know how to make films and they have formed a business partnership with Universal, a massive US company, who have the experience and size in the marketplace (cinemas, stores, online, etc.) to distribute them. (They create the marketing campaign to target audiences through posters, trailers, create the film’s website, free previews, television and press interviews featuring “the talent”, drum up press reviews, word of mouth, and determine when a film is released for the best possible audience and the type of release: limited, wide, etc.) Channel Four’s Film 4 and Celador Films(Celador also produce Who Wants to Be A Millionaire and films, too) benefited by pooling their know-how, experience and expertise to jointly produce Slumdog Millionaire. These companies formed a business relationship with France’s Pathe to distribute this film. In the UK Pathe helped create the poster, trailer, website, etc. In the USA the film found another distributor after being nominated for the Oscars.


Viral Marketing

Definition: A marketing technique aiming at reproducing "word of mouth" usually on the internet and through existing social networks. YouTube Video pastiches, trailers, interviews with cast members, the director, writer, etc. You can find interviews of “the talent” trying to gain publicity for your case study films on YouTube. Find some clips from the films we have studied to help you in the exam.
Guerilla MarketingDefinition: The use of unconventional and low cost marketing strategies to raise awareness of a product. The aim is usually to create “buzz” and “word of mouth” around a film. Unusual stunts to gain publicity (P.R.) on the film’s opening weekend, etc.

Examples:
Sasha Baron Cohen created “buzz” before the release of his film “Borat” by holding fake press conferences. The studio also accessed the popularity of YouTube by releasing the first 4 minutes of the movie on YouTube, a week before it’s release, which can then be sent virally across the nation. At a special viewing of “Bruno” Cohen landed on Eminem “butt first” from the roof MTV Awards venue, dressed in as an angel outfit with rents in the rear end.


Media Convergence
Definition 1: Convergence of media occurs when multiple products come together to form one product with the advantages of all of them. 

 

Examples:
More and more films are being marketed on the Internet and on mobile phones. You no longer need even to buy the DVDs or CDs as you can download films and music directly to your laptop, Mac or PC. Blue Ray DVDs can carry more features than ordinary DVDs and can be played on HD televisions and in home cinemas for enhanced/cinematic picture quality. You can save films on SKY digital, Free-box digital players, etc. You mobile phone has multiple features and applications. With media and technological convergence this is growing year on year. Play-Stations, X-Boxes and the Wii can can connect with the Internet and you can play video games with multiple players.


Technological ConvergenceDefinition 2: The growing interractive use of digital technology in the film industry and media which enables people to share, consume and produce media that was difficult or impossible just a few years earlier.

Examples:
For instance, the use of new software to add special effects in editing; the use of blue-screen; using new types of digital cameras like the one Danny Boyle used in “Slumdog Millionaire” (The Silicon Imaging Camera to shoot high quality film in tight spaces); you can use the Internet to download a film rather than go see it in the cinema; you can watch it on YouTube; you can use special editing programs like Final Cut Pro to edit bits of a film, give it new soundtrack and upload it on YouTube; you can produce illegal, pirate copies on DVDs from downloads and by converting the film’s format; you can buy Blue Ray DVDs with greater compression which allows superior viewing and more features on the DVD; distributors can use digital software to create high concept posters; cinemas can download films to their projection screens and do not have to depend on a van dropping off the film! The is also the Digital Screen Network. There are tons of ways in which technological convergence affects the production, distribution, exhibition and exchange by prosumers. ( A prosumer is someone who not only consumes (watches films) but also writes about them the Net, blogs and make films out of them, often uploading them on sites like YouTube, etc.

A Mainstream Film

Definition: A high budget film that would appeal to most segments of an audience: the young, boys, girls, teenagers, young people, the middle aged, older people, the various classes in society. Distributors often spend as much or more than the film cost to make when distributing mainstream films that are given wide or universal releases.


Example:The Boat That Rocked was a mainstream idea and was given the mainstream treatment on wide release. The film flopped at the UK box office on release ( and has not done too well since mid November 2009 on release in the USA. This was mostly because of its poor reviews, particularly from “Time-Out”. However, when young and older audiences see the DVD they generally like the film because of its uplifting storyline and the well-chosen soundtrack.


Art House Films

Definition: A low budget independent film that would mostly appeal to an educated, higher class audience who follow unusual genres or like cult directors that few people have heard of. Therefore it is usually aimed at a niche market. Foreign films often come under this category.


Examples:
The low budget film, Once (2007) which found a specialised, boutique distributor in Fox Searchlight fits this label. (FOX the mainstream company usually distributes big budget film and blockbusters); So does “Juno” from 2008 which began as a low budget film about teenage pregnancy that the big studios thought too risky to touch – but it found popularity through its touching storyline, engaging music and its Oscar nomination for best script. Like “Slumdog Millionaire” the film crossed over between art-house cinemas and audiences to mainstream ones because of the recognition it received from Canadian film festivals and award ceremonies like Britain’s BAFTAS and the Hollywood’s Oscars.


Ratings bodies BBFC - The British Board of Film ClassificationHow your institutions films are rated will affect audiences in so far as WHO can see them. Remember that sex scenes, offensive language, excessive violence, the use of profanity, etc. can affect the rating and certificate the film receives and therefore affect who is able to see the film.

Good Cop Homework

How Sav is represented.

Sav is firstly introduced to the audience in the opening scene. He is walking down a dark dimly lit street in a storm. As he gets closer to a house (presumably his) he looks paranoid as he is looking behind himself a few times. This shows to the audience that he may have done something terrible.

Sav enters the house quickly and has blood on his hands, which he sees when closing a door. He gets a gun out of his jacket and drops it onto his bed. This shows that he may have shot and killed someone and because of this he looks distraught and comes to realise what he’s done. The way that Sav looks shocked and distraught shows that he’s not used to doing what he’s done like it’s out of ordinary for him.

Sav is introduced in this scene in a dark way because on what he’s done.

When Sav runs into the women Cassie and the girl Libby on a beach it’s obvious that he has had history with Cassie which didn’t end well. This scene shows that Cassie is angry at Sav for some reason. Sav seems to be trying to be kind and polite to them both but the way Cassie reacts show that Sav has done something that has really upset her.

Sav has a good relationship with friend and colleague Andy; this shown throughout the episode.

When Sav is in the diner he shows how committed he is to being a police officer. This is shown when he is off duty having food with Andy. Sav distinctively saw a man intimidating Amy the waitress and stop it.

This scene shows how he is a very serious police officer and he helps people when he is on and off duty.

Sav deals with the victims of the dead baby very well by being very caring for them. He helps the teenager David by talking to him and supporting him and helps him to get along with his step mum when.

This shows the caring and supportive side in Sav and also how he’s not a police officer who just wants to get the job done. He helps the family to get back together.

Film Reviews, Audience and Institution Introduction

In the summer i went to my local cinema and watched a few films with my friends.

The films i saw were The Amazing Spider-Man, The Dark Knight Rises and Ted.

These were the biggest films of the summer and this is one of the reasons why i wanted to go and see them. What also makes want to go and see them is the fact they were all heavily marketed by teaser trailers, trailers, posters, websites, images from set, interviews with the actors on talk shows.
What also influenced to go and see these films is that The Amazing Spider-Man and The Dark Knight Rises were both set on comic books and have had previous films that i have liked. The Dark Knight was the previous film in the Batman trilogy, directed by Christopher Nolan.

The Director of these films also made me want to go and see them; Christopher Nolan directed the previous Batman films and Incepton which I really enjoyed, and that made me want to go and see The Dark Knight Rises because I liked the previous films that Christopher Nolan has directed.

Seth MacFarlane wrote and directed Ted, created the television show Family Guy that I like.

What made me go and see Ted is that Seth MacFarlane used the same humour he uses in Family guy and used it in Ted. 

I liked all three films. They were all enjoyable to watch. The Dark Knight Rises was a great end to the Dark Knight trilogy. The Amazing Spider-Man was a good remake of the previously disappointing films in my opinion. Ted was an ok film as well.

Camera Angles

Long Shot

                   Medium Shot                    

                            Close Up                                 

 Establishing Shot

Point Of View (P.O.V)

Two Shot