Storyboard plan

Melis, Maddie and I all worked together to create a story board of a 20 second Clip from the opening sequence of a previous Hurtwood students group. (The sound was the same the whole way through therefore left in blank)

Developments in Film Technology

Film Production Technology

35mm film

35mm film cameras came about in 1889 and are most commonly used to make films. They are traditional cameras which produce high quality films. The 35mm film refers to the film stock is projected on. Essentially, a picture is taken on each little frame and they run through a canister-

(each little frame)

(canisters)

(seen above), at such a high speed, and it is all pieced together. The sound is embedded in the reels in a way that can only be decoded by editing computers and the actual cameras themselves. Films produced on 35mm film cameras are projected in the same aspect ratio as digital cameras, and many directors prefer 35mm film to digital cameras despite the higher. 

The film is developed in labs.

35mm film cameras are still very commonly used due to their high quality.

eg. the most recent Star Wars film was shot on 35mm. 

Advantages for the film companies- 

• 35mm film cameras don't rely on batteries as much as digital, producers can shoot for long periods of time.
• The quality is better than digital
• Technology is not needed for editing 

Advantages for the audience- 

• better quality than digital, makes the audience watching it a more enjoyable experience

Disadvantages for the film companies-

• The cameras are extremely big- their heavy and big in size. (This makes it hard to travel)
• Have to shoot the scene many times, most producers use a 10:1 ratio (film the scene 10 times even though only 1 will be used) which makes the film production process more expensive.
• Can't watch the film back there and then, have to transport it onto material where it can be watched and edited (digital can be watched and re shot straight away)
• Can affect profit on the film

Digital Video Cameras

 Digital video cameras came around in the early 2000s by Sony. In 2003 the need of tape in video recordings was eliminated completely, and now days film makers use high end professional digital video cameras for film production. 

These cameras require batteries and they capture motion picture information from live environments and then puts it in a format that can be decoded into electronic visual media. The videos produced are stored on memory cards and edited on technology. 

These are different from film cameras because the recording can be seen there as you can see what you are recording on the screen. If a director or producer does not like something, it can be re done there and then.

Many film companies use digital video cameras today because they are cheaper in the long run than film, and are extremely easy to use.

Advantages to the production companies-

• lighter than film cameras and easy to transport 
• the memory cards used where the videos are stored can store more images than a dozen rolls of film, and memory cards don't require much physical space
• images can be viewed immediately
• can edit images straight away in camera 

Disadvantages to audience- 

• not as good quality as film 

Disadvantages to production companies-

• requires computer skills 
• need batteries 
• digital storage can sometimes get lost 

70mm Film

70mm is similar to 35mm except the format of 70mm has larger frames in size and a wider aspect ratio. This makes the film better quality and more detailed.  Everyone thinks it is a new film technology but it actually came about in the 1950's/60s, its just not used as much due to the high price. 

Advantages to film company- 

• The film might get better reviews and more publicity because of the good quality- more revenue

Disadvantages to film company-

• Not as many cinemas are interested in buying these films due to the cost and the fact that each reel is twice as heavy as 35mm reels.
• The film may be a loss leader if the film is put in a cinema where it wont sell because of the higher price of sale tickets. 
• affect profit

Advantages to audience- 

•  'crisper, brighter' image. It allows audience to see details they may have not noticed before. 

Disadvantages to the audience-

• tickets at the cinema may charge a higher price 

For example, Wonder Woman was filmed on 70mm IMAX-

(IMAX is explained further on)

Film Marketing Technology 

Facebook & Twitter (+ other social media platforms)

A lot of film companies use social media platforms to promote their films as they can reach a large number of their target audience. 

Social media is used globally, and messages can get across easily quickly to thousands of people. 

Many people post reviews and opinions about films on social media such as twitter which can be good publicity for the film.

Twitter is good to use for films because posts can be retweeted and hashtags are also great to use to reach large audiences. 

for example this review- it creates a good brand image for Warner Bros and is good publicity for the film, it will make people want to go watch Wonder Woman. 

Wonder Woman also has its on twitter account with 376.9k followers where they post content to do with the film. 

Snapchat has also used methods of publicity, for example when Wonder Woman was released, which targets a young audience and is fun. 

(people will want to use this filter to look like Gal Gadot and putting a crown above her head portrays her as a role model and someone to look up to)

Film Distribution 

Distribution is...

Making the film available to exhibitors, raising awareness and demand through marketing. 

Exhibitors include...

 Netflix

Netflix is a subscription based streaming service where people can watch TV series, programmes, films, etc without adverts. Netflix is available to download on all gadgets such as laptops, phones, TV's...  

Netflix do deals of 50/50 with film production companies. This means that Netflix would get 50% of profit made and the production company would get the other 50% 

Netflix is available worldwide however have different content available in different countries eg the film Tank 432 was available on Netflix USA but not on Netflix UK.

Advantages of Netflix

• Netflix has become increasingly popular over the last 10 years. Many people turn to streaming sites instead of TV boxes with channels now days. This is good for Netflix because their gaining a larger audience because people can type in what they want to watch instead of having to sit through adverts and watch TV programmes they aren't interested in. 
• contracts can be made
• Production companies can choose to put a film on for a certain amount of time to make it "limited edition" therefore making people want to watch it before it is removed. (This is what Tank 432 did, they were on Netflix USA for a number of weeks)
• This is also good for production companies because they're reaching a large audience 

Disadvantages of Netflix

(to production companies)

• Netflix charge a fee to production companies to have their film put up, and also take a share of the profit.

Netflix is just one example of a subscription streaming service. There are many others such as Amazon Prime Video, HBO, Hulu... which all have the same concept. 

Video Upload Websites

Digital technology has made the illegal piracy of films very easy. People use illegal websites to upload films they've managed to 'steal' either by recording the film itself at the cinema, or stealing the tapes, hard copies... 

These are all illegally copied and are free of charge for the audience. 

Production companies can lose large amounts of money, for example Warner Brothers lost $1BILLION to the piracy of Wonder Woman. 

Some examples of illegal websites include 123movies, Putlocker, tinyzone... 

These websites usually get shut down but people continue to make new ones.

Large conglomerates have the rights to sue if they find out who has done this because they have the ability to go to court, do the legal cases... However, smaller production companies such as Belstone Pictures aren't able to do this because of finances. 

IMAX 

IMAX is a film format with a system of high resolution cameras, film projectors, and cinemas having a very large screen that 'curves' round the audience to immense them in the action. 

IMAX CAMERA- 

The difference between IMAX screens and standard screens is that IMAX is 6 times larger. 

 

Sound- IMAX has a 15000 watt digital speaker with a wider frequency response. There are special sound engineers in creating these speakers with powerful sound which make going to the cinema more enjoyable for the audience. 

Most IMAX movie theatres use a high-powered laser light engine. Unlike the traditional xenon lamps, IMAX lasers have a twin 4K proprietary digital projectors to light the huge screen, which gives a clear and vivid showing in the cinema. 

(this source of information is from a website about IMAX screens)

Sexy Beast opening

 PLANNING FRAME FOR SEXY BEAST OPENING

Character Man by pool	Character Man by pool	Character  Man by pool	Character  Helper
Adjective-  lazy/relaxed	Adjective-  rich/powerful	Adjective-  self absorbed	Adjective - inferior
Mis-en-scene Evidence Doesn’t move from sun bed much- lying down. Eyes closed Moves really slowly Sun burnt- implies hes been in the sun for a long time.	Mis-en-scene Evidence Location- big house, pool, has someone who’s working for him Chains and jewellery he’s wearing	Mis-en-scene Evidence Doesn’t notice the rock when it comes flying down- too absorbed in his own world.  Wears a wedding ring but no wife is seen- he’s more important  Wears tanning oil to make him look better- cares about his appearance.  Has an icy cold flannel to keep him cool.	Mis-en-scene Evidence Working for someone else Takes orders  Prop- broomstick
Camera Evidence Birds eye view- makes him look longer	Camera Evidence Establishing shot of whole house	Camera Evidence Camera is on him most of the scene, even when speaking to the other character in the scene.  Close ups of him Shallow focus of the other character	Camera Evidence Blurred out in the background of the scene- less importance Shallow focus
Sound Evidence Dialogue- “Im sweating here”  Implies nothing else to do but lie around Chilled music on Talks slowly	Sound Evidence Orders people around- “go and get”  Rude and informal mode of address	Sound Evidence no one else talks, long monologue in the opening	Sound Evidence Is ordered around Lack of dialogue from him implies he doesn’t get much of a say
Editing Evidence Eyeline match- he’s looking at the sky and sees the sun- nothing else to be doing	Editing Evidence Long take of the scenery and house (location) emphasises the size.  Short takes of the worker, less camera time- less important	Editing Evidence Song ‘Sexy beast’ plays- he thinks he’s “sexy”	Editing Evidence All takes of him are short, not much screen time

Skyfall opening Sequence analysis

 

Last Breath- Thriller Presentation

I worked in a group to analyse a piece of coursework completed by one of last years A1's students. Here is our powerpoint- 

Film Distribution Notes

 Distribution 

distribution is...

• making the film available to exhibitors (agreeing deals, producing digital and physical copies), raising awareness and demand through marketing.
• exhibitors include cinemas, TV channels, streaming cites etc...

Warner Bros

• Wonder Woman was distributed to 69 countries 
• they are vertically integrated and have their own in house distribution company
• spent approx 150 million US dollars on marketing and distributing Wonder Woman 

Belstone Pictures 

• Spent approx £2000 on marketing the finished version of Tank 432 to various distribution companies in attempt to get a deal. 
• Took 18 months for Kaleidescope to agree (who spent £23000 on marketing and distribution 

Theatrical release

 

Putting a film in the cinema

• cinemas purchase the license rights to the film
• cinemas pay the distribution company per 'print' they need
• the bigger the film, the more money cinemas have to pay the distribution company
• many big budget blockbusters like Wonder Woman cost more to get the rights to screen them than the money the cinema will expect to make on ticket sales for the movie...

A LOSS LEADER

A loss leader is a film which is so expensive to either make or buy the rights to, that is unlikely to make enough profit at the box office to recoup the cost

                          BUT...

Companies involved can make their money back through things like merchandise, TV deals, snacks at the cinema...

• A distributor will decide whether to distribute to IMAX or other formats eg 3D/4D, cinemas across the world... 
• If they think its too expensive or no cinemas want the film, companies may decide to not theatrical release at all 

Wonder Woman

• Distributed to 69 countries around the world
• 8000 prints in the US alone, $8 million spent
• cost $1000 per print
• released on Amazon prime, HBO...
• 4 types of DVD were released

Tank 432

• Didn't get a theatrical release (0 countries)
• couldn't afford it
• THEN, for their next film (Tucked), costs were lower as they filmed on a digital camera, so they had more money to spend on marketing. They had a theatrical release in 19 UK cinemas- they made approx £32k from this.
• For tank 432, they did a variety of video on demand deals around the world- went on Netflix US for a short period of time
• they edited their IMDB page to get a deal with Netflix (to sound more appealing)
• Kaleidoscope split the profit with Tank 432 so they made less money.

Other distribution options-

• DVD/ BLURAY
• TV Channels
• per pay view 
• free distribution eg Youtube (to get noticed)
• digital download on a website or app
• video on demand, Netflix...

Wonder Woman Marketing Research