Monday 27 March 2017

MEST1 Section B: index

1) The British film industry: Media Factsheet questions
2) Institutional context of the British film industry: Factsheet questions
3) Ill Manors: film review
4) Ill Manors: trailer analysis
5) Ill Manors: music video
6) Ill Manors: TEDx lecture
7) Ill Manors: broadcast platform concluded
8) Ill Manors: print platform (newspaper interviews)
9) Ill Manors: print branding
10) Ill Manors: e-media Tag London campaign
11) Ill Manors: e-media social networking research
12) Ill Manors: official website analysis
13) MEST1 Section B: essay plan
14) A Field In England: reading, research and questions
15) A Field In England: the appeal of arthouse cinema
16) Ill Manors, A Field In England, Warp & Vertigo: institution research

A Field In England: the appeal of arthouse film

Media Magazine: the appeal of arthouse cinema

1) Sum up the article in one sentence
Arthouse cinema is not about commercial success.
2) What are some of the suggested audience pleasures for arthouse film?
A cliffhanger allows the audience think of the different outcomes and possibilities of the film narrative.

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).
The article suggests that only educated people can understand arthouse cinema

4) To what extent is arthouse film only for the middle classes and older audiences? Why might this be the case?
Arthouse cinema usually have complex narratives that challenge the viwers, therefore it can only be understandable by the educated sectors of society.

5) What type of audience would A Field In England appeal to?
They would belong to the ABC1 social bracket who are more educated.
  A Field In England: BFI report on the release strategy and commercial success

1)What was the purpose of the report? 
The report was created to explore the success of the movie and its unique release schedule. The report also explores how each platform and advertiser helped the film to reach commercial success. 
2) What was the budget for A Field In England?
£300,0003) What were the key numbers in terms of cinema box office takings, TV viewers, VOD and DVD sales? 
Box Office: £51,409
TV Viewers: 367,000
VOD: 6,003
DVD: 7,577
4) What was the primary target audience for A Field In England? Does this surprise you? How does it contrast with your answer to question 5 in the tasks above?
The target audience for the film was ABC1 18-25 year olds


5) What did the report conclude with regards to social media and the marketing campaign? How does this link to our Ill Manors case study?
The report stated that the social media campaign drove the awareness up for the movie and allowed mainly under 35's to be able to hear about the movie

6) Finally, what was the BFI's conclusion with regards to the unusual release strategy for A Field In England? Was it a success? What evidence is provided to argue this point?


Ill Manors, A Field in England, Warp & Vertigo: institution research

Ill Manors: Funding and production budget
1) What was the estimated budget for Ill Manors?
£100,000

2)Where did the money come from? List the different organisations and companies that contributed funding to Ill Manors.
Microwave, Film London , BBC Films ,Aimimage Productions, Gunslinger (co-production),Head Gear Films (in association with),Ill Manor, Metrol Technology 

3)How did the Ill Manors budget compare to a Hollywood blockbuster such as Skyfall?
It was much less- Skyfall had a budget of $200 million.

A Field In England: Funding and production budget

1) What was the estimated budget for A Field In England?
£300,000

2) Why did A Field In England manage to secure a higher budget than Ill Manors?
Ben Wheatley,the director was more popular than Ben Drew, at the time.

3) Where did the money come from?  
Film 4 and Rook Films

Film London and Microwave Film

Ill Manors was created partly thanks to Film London and Microwave Film. Revise the key details from your MEST2 research by answering the following questions:

1) What is Film London and why does it exist?
A screen industries agency that promote films that are produced in London. They train ''emerging film makers'' and help them improve their film making skills by working with ''production support teams''.

2) What is the purpose of Microwave Film?
Microwave funds films and supports film makers with various projects. They also help with sales and distribution. 

3) Choose one film funded by Microwave film and explain how it compares to Ill Manors (similarities and differences)
Another film funded by Microwave is ''Shifty''. It uses the same actor, Riz Ahmed, and also explores themes of urban life and crime.

Vertigo Films and Warp Films

Your BFI Study Day on UK cinema focused on two important production companies in the British film industry: Vertigo Films and Warp Films. Revise what you learned on the trip by answering the following questions:

1) What are the most successful films Vertigo Films has been involved in?
The Sweeney and Monsters

2) Why do you think those films were successful with their audience?
They were popular genres of film (thriller/drama and action ) and had interesting narratives.

3) What different film genres has Vertigo Films worked with?
Horror and Romance

4) Where did Warp Films start out?
In Sheffield, England

5) What are the most successful films produced by Warp Films?
Four Lions and This is England

6) How have Warp Films helped to develop new talent in the film industry?
Set up a film studio called WarpX to develop new talent, with the help of the UK Film Council and Film4.

Certification: BBFC

One final aspect of institution is the certificate a film is awarded for exhibition. This is decided by the British Board of Film ClassificationRevise the key details regarding the BBFC from your MEST2 research by answering the following questions:

1) How does the certification process work at the BBFC?
The decision on the rating is made collectively by the Chief Executive, the President and two other vice presidents. The examiners watch a combination of Dvds, films and also video games. Some examiners also carry out solo viewings - in which they watch the film on their own and  work out which texts are suitable for viewing for various age groups. Then the examiners watch the films on the BBFC's cinema in order to see the text from the audiences perspective. Dvds are also viewed on plasma screens to recreate the home viewing experience. Films which are submitted in foreign language are also examined by examiners with linguistic skills. The text is then sent for a further viewing to see if there are any inappropriate themes etc. It is the given a BBFC certificate. 

2) Think about the certificate of Ill Manors (18 certificate). What is deemed acceptable for an 18 certificate? 
The film is allowed to show the acts of breaking the law, extremely violent and dangerous attacks,and explicit images of sexual activity. 

3) What is the difference between a 15 certificate and an 18 certificate? 
A 15 certificate does allow some of these factors but does not allow them to be explicit shown. For example the use of drugs can be shown, but the process of making the drugs cannot.  

4) Why was Ill Manors given an 18 certificate? How might this have affected the Ill Manors target audience and commercial success?
It involved extreme violence and drug abuse and showed some explicit sex scenes. This would have changed the target audience of the film to young adults (aged between 18-28). This meant that an older demographic would have access to the film.

5)What was the certificate for A Field In England? Why was this certificate awarded?
It was given a 15 certificate as it included strong language, violence and gory images. 













Broadcast platform tasks

DVD extras

1) What does this tell us about Plan B's intentions in making the film?

Plan B states that he wanted audiences to feel shocked and quite disturbed after watching the film, as it captures the extreme reality of the lives of those in the ''underclass''.  

2) What do we learn about the production process for Ill Manors?

They were able to cast actors/actresses from schools so that they could portray their characters more realistically. They used locations that were actually used by drug dealers to make the narrative more realistic.

3) What can you tell about the possible target audience from this short documentary?
It was aimed at the upper/middle class, as well as the youth, to change their view of conflicted young individuals like the ones in the film. 

4) Does the film successfully do what director Ben Drew (Plan B) set out to achieve? Explain your answer with reference to both the film and the 'making of' documentary.
Although it reinforces some stereotypes by representing the youth as criminals, the narrative as a whole shows how and why this sector of society acts the way they do. This could therefore help the upper/middle classes to understand what they go through and find a way to help them. 


Broadcast/online
Plan B interviewed by SBTV while he was editing Ill Manors.

1) What is SBTV? Research the channel and explain how it became successful.
Identify the target audience for this interview (demographics/psychographics) and say why.
SBTV is a media platform, that promotes new urban music. It YouTube channel, created in 2006, features ''street shot'' freestyle raps and music videos from a variety of artists. It was founded by Jamal Edwards, and now features lifestyle interviews, and event coverage. It soon became popular after Edwards began providing footage of UK Grime artists such as Dizzee Rascal, Wiley and Chipmunk. Later he would also feature more popular artists such as Ed Sheeran, Jessie J and Nicki Minaj. 

The target audience for this interview would be teenagers (aged 14-18), who are mostly male, as it is quite playful and ''informal''. Both Plan B and the interviewer, Sean, use profanity and slang which the target audience would relate to;however they still manage to fulfil the  purpose of the interview and inform the audience on the status of the film. For example, when Sean asks Drew if he had to ''bang it out in a certain amount of time'', he refers to the time in which Drew had to finish editing and whether or not he had to rush it so that he could be done with it. 

In terms of demographics, the target audience would fall into the D,E bracket as they would mostly be unemployed or still in school. In terms of psychographics they would be strugglers or mainstreamers. 

2) What is the audience appeal for an interview like this? How does the opening of the clip emphasize this appeal?
The interview is entertaining and also provides some sort of information on the film. The opening shows the interviewer, Sean, trying to sneak into the studio that Drew is working in. It also has some comedic element e.g when Sean tried to steal the painting of the wall and failed. 

3) How is Plan B (the brand) represented in this text?
It is represented as a brand that is solely aimed at young people,as it is ''informal'' and ''unprofessional'' unlike other brands. This may be the reason why it appeals to this audience as they look for brands which represents them whilst providing them with opportunities and ideas about the film industry that they may be interested in. 

Promotional film on SOHK.TV

1) What is SOHK.TV? 
SOHK.TV is an online channel for those who are interested in film. It features exclusive interviews and ''creative insights'' into upcoming films (which are mostly arthouse). 

2) Why is Ill Manors a good fit to promote on SOHK.TV?

It is considered an arthouse film as it was created by an amateur director, and features actors who are unknown (although now Riz Ahmed and Ed Skrein are popular actors). Also it has the typical narrative/genre of an arthouse film- it explores the lives and struggles of a sector of society that deserve more. 

3) What kind of audience would subscribe to SOHK.TV? Is it a different audience to the main target audience for Ill Manors? Why might this benefit Ben Drew and the institutions behind Ill Manors?
Mostly arthouse fans who are well educated and open minded about certain topics and opinions. This is different to the main target audience for ill Manors, who are mostly teenagers aged between 17-24. 

Television- Jonathan Ross show

1) What is the history of the Jonathan Ross show? What channels has it appeared on? Why has Jonathan Ross been a controversial media figure in the past?
It was first aired on the 3rd of September 2011 on ITV. It was then moved to BBC One and renamed Friday Night with Jonathan Ross. He has been known for making extremely inappropriate remarks on the show an has had some conflict with the BBC. 
2) Identify the target audience for this interview (demographics/psychographics) and say why.

Mostly males who are middle class, aged between 25-40.
3) What is the audience appeal for a programme like the Jonathan Ross show?

The appeal is likely to be entertainment and diversion- the show lets people take a break from their stressful lives and listen to stories about the personal lives of celebrities.
4) How is Plan B (the brand) represented in this text?

He still seems passionate about changing people's view on society and the representation of youths.

Radio- BBC Radio 1
1) How popular is BBC Radio 1? Find average listening figures for the station. How has the BBC Radio 1 audience declined over recent years? Why might this have happened?
BBC Radio 1 has about 9,562,000 listeners per week( according to RAJAR Dec 2016). However this figure has declined over the years (now at 5.4 mill listeners per week). This may be due to different media platforms such as their Youtube channel -more people are watching videos on their channel rather than listening to the show on the radio. Also listening to the radio, in genera, is not popular amongst teens these days. 

2) Who is the target audience for BBC Radio 1?
Mostly teenagers/young adults aged 15-25, who are either in full time education or part of the working/middle class. They are more likely to be aspirers or explorers.
3) How does Plan B promote Ill Manors in this interview?

He talks about the cast and how the film reflects British society nowadays. 
4) What representation of Plan B can we find in this interview?
He is passionate about changing people's view on the youth and society as a whole. 








Ill Manors e-media: website analysis

iLL Manors Official website 


1) What examples can you find of the Ill Manors brand on the Ill Manors website homepage screengrab above?
The iLL Manors logo is shown right about the menu to give the audience a sense of recognition. The title is also seen on various places in the setting e.g on the wall- which reads ''iLL Manors buy now''. At the top, there is information on how to access the film (which is by buying a DVD, Blu-ray- or on demand). This acts as a ''call to action'' and offers ways in which the audience can see the film. 

Some of the characters from the film are also seen on the right hand side of the page, however the way in which they are arranged doesn't correlate with their significance in the film. For example, ''Ed'' is placed in front of the other characters on the page, which suggests that he could be the main character in the film, which is not true. Furthermore the color scheme is used on other publications e.g the DVD cover.

2) How does the website encourage the audience to buy or interact with Ill Manors products?
The contents on the left, show ''links'' to various social media sites that the audience could visit to interact with the film. The option of ''buy now '' also allows the audience to get a copy of the film. 

3) Now look at Plan B's official website. How does it use social media in terms of content and design? Why might the website designers have wanted to create the look and feel of a social networking site?
The layout of the website is similar to the layout of Twitter as it has a promotional image at the top of the page. This appeals to the target audience who use social media regularly. It could be seen as more accessible and interactive. 

5) Why do you think social media is overtaking official websites in terms of film promotion?
Nowadays, the most interviews and promotional content is posted either on the film's website or on Youtube, therefore different social media platforms can easily direct audiences to these clips to help spark interest and promote the film.  

























Ill Manors e-media: Tag London campaign

1) Summarise the Ill Manors Tag London campaign in 100 of your own words.
''Tag London'' , was a ''launch campaign'' for Plan B's album, which prompted fans to comment on the current status on the UK and reflect on the album and its narrative, using the hashtag #ILLMANORS. Fans who tweeted were also given a direct link to the ‘’Soundcloud set that hosted tracks from the album before it was fully released.'' In total, 300 tweets were recreated by graffiti artists and were projected 100ft high onto famous London landmarks, which were then photographed and sent back to the individual users. It combined traditional and digital media and was able to use an ideal platform (Twitter) to reach a ‘’socially and politically connected audience’’.

2) How does the Ill Manors Tag London campaign help to promote Plan B, the soundtrack and the film?
It allowed fans to get ''exclusive'' access to the album,as those who tweeted using the hashtag #ILLMANORS , were allowed to hear some of the tracks before the album was fully released. This helps promote Plan B and the soundtrack as it creates interest- the method of combining digital and traditional media was creative and unique. 

The campaign would also help promote the film as it revolves around similar issues, such as the representation of the lower working class. This will allow audiences to see what film might be about and persuade them to go see it.

3) What synergy (links) can you find between the Tag London campaign and other texts you have studied as part of the Ill Manors case study?
The campaign was promoted as a video on Youtube (as shown on plan B's website ) and includes some clips from the main song ''iLL Manors'' from the soundtrack. This therefore creates synergy as it allows the audience to recognize the song from the promotional video. Also on several print texts, there have been references to social media networks, especially Twitter, which allow the audience to interact with the film. 

Furthermore, in terms of the tweets and their message , there have been discussions about some of these issues (representation of the youth) in videos such as the TEDx Lecture.

4) Why might user-generated campaigns like this be more successful than traditional media campaigns? Offer three different reasons UGC-driven campaigns are popular with media institutions.
In the new age of technology, the option of campaigning through ''traditional media'' such as print or on the radio, is outdated (except from the older generations). Therefore UGC's are better as they allow the target audience, which would mostly be a young demographic, (aged between 16-25) to interact with the campaign and create interest in the film. It allows the audience to engage with one another allow them to express their thoughts on a given subject. The whole idea of a UGC, also creates controversy and will attract other audiences, such as the average ''guardian reader'' to engage with the campaign.

5) Choose FIVE of the tweets above and for each one write what target audience the tweet could appeal to (demographics/psychographics) and then link the tweet to one other media text you have studied as part of the Ill Manors case study (TEDx lecture, music video etc.) Justify your link for each tweet using examples from the film/promotional material.

1) ON PRINCIPLE, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TEENAGER LOOTING TRAINERS AND A POLITICIAN STEALING THOUSANDS IN EXPENSES? #ILLMANORS
This tweet could appeal to the middle/upper class as well as teenagers, as it refers to the actions of each social class,and how they are judged on their actions due to stereotypes created by the media. This could link to the Tedx lecture as Plan B also compares the two social classes in a similar way,

2) @4PLANB MONEY & LOVE CAN LIFT A PEOPLE UP. IT’S NOT A RACE, WHEN WE’RE ALL FROM ONE PLACE. HOW WILL YOU APPLY YOURSELF? #ILLMANORS #ITSDEEP
This tweet could appeal to a younger audience aged between 16-28 as it refers to the reformation of a person , through ''money and love''. By asking this audience how they can do this, the target audience will be inspired to work harder and dedicate themselves to achieving their goals. 

3) #ILLMANORS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF CAMERON'S BROKEN BRITAIN
This could also appeal to a younger audience as it refers to David Cameron, who also made an appearance in the montage that was used in the ill Manors music video. 

4) #ILLMANORS #IGNORINGTHEPROBLEM DOES NOT SOLVE IT? #INSPIREKIDS DON'T PUT THEM DOWN? #SOCIALCHANGECOMESTHROUGHACTION NOT INACTION? @4PLANB
This tweet links to the Tedx lecture as Plan B also refers to the treatment of youths, by the middle/upper class, based on stereotypes.

5) #ILLMANORS, SOCIETY REBELLING BACK AT BROKEN BRITAIN, @4PLANB
This links to the music video as it also discusses issues that have ''broken britain'' and how people responded to it.












Friday 24 March 2017

Ill Manors print: branding


Billboard




What are the key conventions that help you identify the print text (e.g. title, central image, review quotes etc.)?
The title (which is also a logo) is placed directly in the centre of the billboard to grab the viewers attention- this could give the audience a sense of recognition. Also directly below the logo/title, an image of Riz Ahmed's character ''Aaron'' is displayed to suggest that he is the main character in the movie, who plays a significant role in the lives of the other characters as well. Therefore the design is quite clever and suitable to the narrative as it suggests that the character of ''Aaron'' is the root of all the other narratives. 

At the top of the billboard there are two reviews,that give ''iLL Manors'' a 4 star rating. This helps the viewer understand how good the movie is- allowing the audience to make a judgement on whether or not they should see the film. The reviews also use the words ''incredible'' and '' fantastic'' to have a similar effect on the viewer. 

The use of bright colours and a striking design, would grab the viewers attention and therefore fulfil its purpose as a billboard.


What design features help identify the Ill Manors brand?
The title acts as a logo as the typography cleverly depicts ''tower/estate blocks''. The letter ''i'' is also in the lower case form, in all prints. Also, the estates in the background (with the same colour scheme) , are seen on the DVD packaging for the film. 

What examples of synergy can you find with the broadcast platform or other print examples?
On most of the prints, Riz Ahmed's character, Aaron, is positioned in the centre, to show his importance. Also the billboard shows all of the characters, even those who play a small part in the story, e.g Jody who plays Ed's sister in the film. This is similar to the appearance of insignificant characters in the trailer. 



DVD Cover

Image result for ill manors dvd cover

What are the key conventions that help you identify the print text (e.g. title, central image, review quotes etc.)?
The title is placed in the centre in bold text to grab the viewers attention. Similarly, the directors name is repeated twice to show the audience who the film is by. By doing this the viewer could also be interested in watching a film with an amateur director - which appeals to audiences that watch art-house films. Directly behind the title/logo, an image of Riz Ahmed's character Aaron is displayed, holding a gun. This helps the audience identify the main character in the film and what genre it is. This is also achieved by the use of imagery(estate blocks) /pathetic fallacy (stormy weather) in the background. 

At the top of the DVD cover there are also reviews to inform the audience on how good the film is. There are more ratings on the DVD cover than on the billboard as the viewers have more time to look at the packaging and judge whether or no they would like to see the film. 

Furthermore, there is an age rating to show audiences that the film has some graphic content e.g sex scenes, the use of drugs and violence/torture. 

What design features help identify the Ill Manors brand?
The logo is a common feature on all prints of the ILL Manors brand. The ''tower block'' typography is similar to the image of tower blocks behind Aaron's character.  

What examples of synergy can you find with the broadcast platform or other print examples?
The character of Aaron is placed in the centre in the billboard advert as well. 


CD Cover


What are the key conventions that help you identify the print text (e.g. title, central image, review quotes etc.)?
For this print text, Plan B's image is used instead as it is his soundtrack. The typography of the title has slightly changed to fit the theme of the soundtrack- the word '' Manors'' is displayed as graffiti on the wall that Plan B is sitting on. This vandalism connotes some of the main themes of the soundtrack e.g crime and rebellion. However the placement of the title remains unchanged( it is still displayed in the centre to grab the viewers attention). 

It also includes a small summary of some of his biggest hits e.g ''ILL Manors'' and ''Lost My Way'', to show his fans what songs will be featured on the soundtrack. Also his name is written as a logo to create a sense of identification within his fan base. 

Finally, the use of the ''parental advisory'' sticker allows the audience to recognise that it is a CD cover. 

What design features help identify the Ill Manors brand?
In the background there are estates,which are common on most print texts.

What examples of synergy can you find with the broadcast platform or other print examples?
The CD cover mentions the main song for the film ''iLL Manors'' which is barely mentioned in other print texts. It is however mentioned and shown in the TEDx lecture.