Working Title - British Film Company 'Hot Fuzz'

1. Find the publicity poster released in November 2006. What famous film is this a pastiche of?

2. Why do you think the producers chose to mimic this films poster?
To create the humour version of Bad boys which is a
3. What is synergy marketing?
Synergy may be defined as two or more things functioning together to produce a result not independently obtainable.
4. How do the producers of Hot Fuzz make use of this?
They created posters and a teaser trailer of the film, they then released the Official Movie Trailer, and set up a website for the film.
5. Which car company helped to promote the film?
Volkswagen helped with the promotion of the film.
6. What are the benefits of synergy marketing to a film producer?
It would be benifitial to a film producer because you can advertise a film through many ways, through posters, trailers, media and the official website.
7. What possible down sides can you think of to synergy marketing? Don't think that there are any, you spend money, and in return you get the best marketing ideas that you could think of. It isn't the cheapest type of marketing, but you get the best.
The downsides of synergy marketing is that it can be quite expensive.
8. What is a video blog?
form of blogging for which the medium is video, and is a form of Web television. Entries often combine embedded video or a video link with supporting text, images, and other metadata. Entries can be recorded in one take or cut into multiple parts. It is also a very popular category on YouTube.
9. What are the benefits to producing ‘video’ blogs to film producers?
Producing a video blog to the film producers is benifitial in a few ways. You wouldnt have to read stuff, you could just watch a video on it, and know everything you need to know, by video. and not just writing.
10. Who are these specifically aimed at? (Watch the Hot Fuzz Blogs and analyse how these are designed to appeal to their audience)
11. How many pieces of merchandise can you find for the film Hot Fuzz?Tshirts, jumpers, posters, mugs.12. How many different versions of the Hot Fuzz DVD are there?Hot Fuzz (2 Disc Special Edition) [2007] [DVD], Hot Fuzz [HD DVD] [2007] [US Import], Hot Fuzz [DVD] [2007] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC], Hot Fuzz [Blu-ray][Region Free], Hot Fuzz [DVD] [2007] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC].
13. What special features are contained on the two disc special edition DVD?
Slipcase Packaging, Feature Commentary with Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright, Feature Commentary with Sandford Police Service, Feature Commentary with Sandford Village People, Feature Commentary with The Real Fuzz, Outtakes, The Man Who Would Be Fuzz, Hot Funk, Fence Jump, Fuzz-O-Meter feature length Trivia Track, Storyboards - 270 branching feature to static images, US Theatrical Trailer, Director's Cut Trailer, UK TV Spot #1, UK TV Spot #2, Flick Book: The Other Side, Inadmissible: Deleted Scenes with Optional Filmmaker Commentary, Falsified: Dead Right with 2 Optional Commentaries Making Dead Right, We Made Hot Fuzz, Forensic: Featurettes - Art Department Friends & Family Cranks, Cranes & Controlled Chaos, Here Come the Fuzz, Return to Sandford, Edgar and Simon's Flip Chart, Simon Muggs, Sergeant Fisher's Perfect Sunday, Speculative: Video Blogs - Simon Pegg Talks Training, Edgar Wright Introduces Hot Fuzz, Meet Nick, A Big Day On Set, Police Station Tour, Edgar's Supermarket, Kiss and Make-up, Pub Action, Wells Nights, Work Out, Wet Fuzz, Fete Day, It's A Wrap., Special Effects: Before and After - Flying Astra, First Ka Boom, The Aftermath, Final Ka Boom, Sheer Horror, Farmageddon, Grisly Fete, Inspired Demise., Plot Holes - Crush the Messenger, The Notebook, The Big Bang.
14. Why do you think they place different ‘special features’ on DVD’s and who are these designed to appeal to?
For the fans so they get a better understandment of how the film was made.
15. How many Oscar winners appear in the film?
Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, Jim Broadbent, Paddy Considine and Timothy Dalton
16. What was the films opening UK box office takings?
The film generated £7.1 million in its first weekend of release in the UK on 14 February, 2007.
17. What is its current world wide gross?
Altogether, Hot Fuzz grossed $80,573,774 worldwide.
18. What convention did Nick Frost and Simon Pegg attend in order to promote this film?
Wright, Pegg, and Frost maintained several video blogs which were released at various times throughout the production of the film.Wright and Frost held a panel at the 2006 Comic-Con convention in San Diego, California to promote Hot Fuzz, which included preliminary footage and a question and answer session. The two returned to the convention again in 2007 to promote the US DVD release.

San Diego Comic-Con International, also known as Comic-Con International: San Diego (as given on its website), and commonly known as Comic-Con or the San Diego Comic-Con, was founded as the Golden
State Comic Book Convention and later the San Diego Comic Book Convention in 1970 by Shel Dorf and a group of San Diegans. It is traditionally a four-day event (Thursday through Sunday — though a three-hour preview night on Wednesday is open to professionals, exhibitors, and some guests pre-registered for all four days) held during the summer. Originally showcasing comic books, science fiction/fantasy and film/television (as was evident by the three circled figures appearing in Comic-Con's original logo), and related popular arts, the convention has expanded over the years to include a larger range of pop culture elements, such as horror, animation, anime, manga, toys, collectible card games, video games, webcomics, and fantasy novels. The convention is the largest in the Americas, and fourth largest in the world after the Comiket in Japan, the Angoulême International Comics Festival in France.
19. Why do you think they chose to attend this particular convention?
Because its a worldwide well known convention and would advertise the film to a mass audience.
20. Use this web address and watch the reviews of the film. What audience are attracted to the film and does their behaviour contradict the view of Blumer?

Working Title

1. Who were the co-founders of Working Title?
Working Title Films was co-founded by producers Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe.
2. When was the company founded?
1983.
3. Where is Working Title based?
Working Title Films is a British film production company, based in London, UK.
4. Who are the co-chairpersons of WT now?
Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner
5. What awards have Working Title won?
Six Oscars, 26 Baftas and prizes at Cannes and Berlin.
6. How many full time staff does WT employ?
42 full time staff
7. What is Working Title’s philosophy?
The Working Title philosophy has always been to make films for an audience - by that I mean play in a multiplex.
8. List 5 box-office hits that Working Title have made.
- Four Weddings and a Funeral
- Bean
- Notting Hill
- Bridget Jones's Diary
- Elizabeth
9. List 5 flops that Working Title has made.
- Captain Corelli's Mandolin
- Thunderbirds
- The Boat That Rocked
- A Serious Man
- Green Zone
10. What is Richard Curtis’ relationship with Working Title?
New Zealand-born British screenwriter, music producer, actor and film director, known primarily for romantic comedy films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Bridget Jones's Diary, Notting Hill, Love Actually and The Girl in the Café, as well as the hit sitcoms Blackadder, Mr. Bean and The Vicar of Dibley.
11. List 2 famous directors that Working Title have worked?
Richard Curtis and Nick Moore.
12. What is Hugh Grant’s relationship with Working Title?
Hugh Grant once remarked that, while most British production companies are run by awfully nice chaps who once worked for the BBC, there’s a level of professionalism about Working Title which sets it apart. ”Tim and Eric are the definition of real producers,” said Co-Chairman of Universal Pictures Donna Langley. “They stay close to the process and maintain their ability to hand pick and produce each of their films in a very individual way. Their unique vision and taste has been key to their success.”
13. Find out about the Coen Brothers (films, genres, status) and what do they have to do with Working Title?
Joel David Coen born November 29, 1954 and Ethan Jesse Coen born September 21, 1957 known together professionally as the Coen brothers; are American filmmakers. Their films include Blood Simple, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, No Country for Old Men, and True Grit. Their films combine dry humour with sharp irony and shocking visuals, most often in moving camera shots. The brothers write, direct and produce their films jointly, although until recently Joel received sole credit for directing and Ethan for producing.
14. Who owns 67% of Working Title films? When did this happen? Why did this happen?
Universal Studios owns 67%. In 2004 Working Title made a profit of £17.8 million, and as of 2007 all its films were being distrubuted by Universal Studios (which owns 67% stake in the company)
15. List two of Working Title big blockbuster films and find out their budgets.
1994's Four Weddings and a Funeral - Budget $4.4 million, Box office $245,700,832.
1999’s Notting Hill - Budget $43 million, Box office $363,889,700.
16. What genre of films is Working Title most famous for?
Working title films produces and details with various genres from comedy to family films, which cater for a large target audience from U rated moves to 18 rated movies.
17. What other genres do Working Title films like to make? romantic, comedy and family - any range of film genres.
18. Find out as much as you can about WT2?
In 1999, Bevan and Fellner launched a subsidiary company named Working Title 2 Productions, commonly known as WT2. The company is an independent film production arm run by Natascha Wharton, and has produced films that include Billy Elliot, Shaun of the Dead and The Calcium Kid.
19. What information can you find out about Working Title through their web page?
You can find out news and upcoming trailers, highlights and films. Also theatre news too.

Sound

Diegetic - sound which occurs naturally within a scene (E.g. dialogue,sound effects)
Non - Diegetic - sound which has no obvious source and is added on (E.g. Jaws theme during and attack)

Synchronous sounds contribute to the realism of film and also help to create a particular atmosphere. E.g. The “click” of a door being opened may simply serve to convince the audience that the image portrayed is real, and the audience-may only subconsciously note the expected sound. However, if the “click” of an opening door is part of an ominous action such as a burglary, the sound mixer may call attention to the “click” with an increase in volume; this helps to engage the audience in a moment of suspense.

Asynchronous sound effects are not matched with a visible source of the sound on screen. Such sounds are included so as to provide an appropriate emotional nuance, and they may also add to the realism of the film. E.g. A film maker might opt to include the background sound of an ambulance's siren while the foreground sound and image portrays an arguing couple. The asynchronous ambulance siren underscores the psychic injury incurred in the argument; at the same time the noise of the siren adds to the realism of the film by acknowledging the film's (avowed) city setting.

Non-diegetic - Background music is used to add emotion and rhythm to a film. Usually not meant to be noticeable, it often provides a tone or an emotional attitude toward the story and/or the characters depicted. In addition, background music often foreshadows a change in mood. E.g. dissonant music may be used in film to indicate an approaching (but not yet visible) menace or disaster.

Sound bridge - Adding to continuity through sound, by running sound (narration, dialogue or music) from one shot across a cut to another shot to make the action seem uninterrupted.

Dialogue - An actors voice can add important information about a character just by varying pitch and tone. Synchronous sounds are those sounds which are synchronized or matched with what is viewed. E.g. If the film portrays a character playing the piano, the sounds of the piano are projected.

Mac vs PC

How Calvin Klein represents females

Calvin Klein represents females as sexually empowered in the above picture as her facial expression is very seductive. In 1980 Marjorie Ferguson (1980) cateogrised women's facial expressions. The different facial expressions are 'chocolate box' this means that the expression is very bland, pleaseing and a uniform of beauty. An 'invitational' expression is when the pose is suggestive of mischief or mystery and more of a hint of contrast than sexual. Another facial expression is 'super-smiler' this expression can mean aggression and has a lot of attitude. The final facial expression is 'romantic and sexual' this pose represents that the person is possible or avaliable. The facial expression which is used in this image is sexual or romantic as we only see part of her face which is exhausted, sweaty and hot look. The logo is located as the last thing we look at so we see the roduct first analysise how good it is then finally find out where it's from (the product).

Laura Mulvey coined the term 'male gaze' in 1975, she believes that in film audiences have to 'view'characters from the perspective of a heterosexual male. The 'male gaze' is how men look at women, how women look at themselves and how women look at other women. The features which stand out on the photo is that the camera light within the shot lingers on the curves of the female body and highlights her body including the top of the thighs, stomache, chest and top of arms. As well as the lighting making this stand out she is sweating on the image to add to her sexual look. The way that she is standing in the image is very powering and a big pose, her hands are on her hips to represent this power more stronger. The use of her heel are to add height to her which makes her taller which adds to the powerful look within this image.

In the image there is no colour it is just a black and white shot, this usually means that it connotates the sophistication and sensuality of the woman. The actual underwear for the designer advert is plain black bra and pants this can represent her as being just normal but as we move further down the image she is wearing stockings and heels which adds this idea of 'sexual' looking. She has her head slightly turned away from the camera only showing 3/4 of her face which can reflect to us that she is giving us no eye contact as if to say we are not good enough and isn't interested making herself seem hard to get.

Overall from this image we can gather that Calvin Klein represents this female as being sexually empowered by using many different presenting techniques of the theme 'sexual'. This is achieved very well and is a successful image in what it's purpose is meant to be. (selling of the underwear)

Media Essay

How does Hollywood produce, distribute and exhibit films to ensure success?

Introduction

Hollywood is vertically, horizontally and laterally integrated and are now part of massive media conglomerates which has created an 'Oligopoly' in the film industry, the so called 'big six', these are Universal, Paramount, MGM, Warner Brothers, 20th century fox and RKO. Big blockbusters follow the 'high concept' model in order to appeal to mass audience. The Hollywood films are often sequels, prequels and remakes or based on successful books, TV programmes or video games to minimise financial risk and to increase the profit. Studios are powerful and efficient with nearly a century of profitable experience. In many cases vertical integration is back e.g. Universal make films and distribute them and own multiplexes in Europe and beyond. These well established studios mean massive budgets.

The Hollywood studio system was a tightly controlled industry maximising profits and minimised risks, it developed a classical narrative system and genre production which audiences liked and came to expect. High concept was where studios made few films and production is organised around a small number of very expensive blockbusters, which if successful can keep the studio going on. A high concept film is organised around a simple narrative moving from one spectacular set piece to another. The genre is often action based allowing for the visceral excitement of high speed chases and stunts. High concept film rarely appears as a single entity and studios member of conglomerate involved in music production, computer games, TV studios and other merchandising opportunities.

High production values are when movies are produced they have a high cost and are very expensive films to be made; usually these are big blockbuster films and are very popular when in the cinema.

Production

In production the movie is created and shot. More crew is required such as the script editors, assistant directors, still photographer and sound editors. Films like 'Kickass' had a production budget of $28 million. This film used lots of different technology such as focusing on special effects. Double negative did just over 835 visual effects for the movie, using mostly CGI through green screens and other methods. Between $8-9 million was spent on just special effects alone. The script and development cost was $3 million just for Mark Miller and Jane Goldmen to be paid to edit and develop the script more these writers were also known for helping develop and edit the script for Stardust. The director Matthew Vaughn invested his own money into making this film, therefore took the largest revenue, him and Brad Pitt alongside others as well helped produced the film. The above the line costs for this movie was $7.7 million and below the line costs was $7.8 million. The Sell for this film was extremely high in price, the prints and advertising costs were up to $10.5 million and Lions gate distributed the film which took in a large percentage of the final box office figures. All the costing’s and money spent on the film Kickass is a final total box office figure of $96, 188, 903. This was $10 million over the original budget and this was mostly because of the advertising costs, but it paid off with success in the end.

Another movie example would be 'Zombie land', the budget for this film was $23.6 million and the total box office was $102, 391, 542. This film is a 2009 American zombie comedy film which was directed by Ruben Fleischer from a screen play which was written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. The film stars are Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenburg, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin. This film was distributed by Columbia pictures; zombie land was released on October 2nd, 2009 which was a week earlier than originally advertised. It was filmed in digital using the Panavision genesis digital camera and had a 41 digital shooting schedule. The film park themes for the films climax, pacific play land were mostly shot in Valdosta, Georgia's local theme park wild adventures water and theme park. There were many different special effects teams that worked to create several visual elements. one of these elements is 'the rule for survival' which appear on-screen as they are related to the audience by Columbus 'do cardio', 'beware of bathrooms', 'check the back seat', and so forth. The texts are rendered in 3D. 'When a previously stated rule becomes relevant-when nature calls, for instance- the relevant text pops up, occasionally getting splattered with blood.' Special effects makeup designer Tony Gardner, who helped Rick Baker create the signature look of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' video and has contributed to other Hollywood films such as 127 hours, hairspray and there’s something about Mary was brought on to design the look of the films zombies.

A 3D movie is a motion picture that enhances an illusion. Derived from stereoscopic photography, a regular motion picture camera system is used to record the images as seen from two perspectives, and special projection or eyewear are used to provide the illusion of depth when watching the movie. 3D films are not limited to feature film theatrical releases; television broadcasts and direct-to-video films have also incorporated similar methods, primarily for marketing purposes.
3D films have existed in some form since the 1950s. 3D films were prominently featured in the 1950s in American cinema, and later experienced a worldwide viewing in the 1980s and '90s driven by IMAX's most popular theatres and Disney themed-venues. 3D films became more and more successful throughout the 2000s.

Distribution

The main reason marketing is the main function in making a film is because it raises awareness off what the company is offering to the consumer. It also gives people the first impression of what the company is offering to incise the consumer to buy the product in this case a cinema ticket.

The film 'Kickass!' was marketed by firstly releasing posters out which had each of the individual characters on the front, displaying the name of the movie and also presenting which character played which. After this a second batch of posters was released which was more focused on each individual 'hero', this was shown by using more bright and appealing colours to it's audience. Also each poster showed a URL which was a website for each of its own individual character on the official kick ass website. They finished off the posters by having one last final theatrical poster 2 weeks before the first screening and this showed the letters large and the characters jumping through them. It was then a teaser trailer was released which introduced the hero which had no super powers, after this kickass released there extended movie trailer soon before the first screening and this time it involved many more scenes from the movie which incised the audience already interested. To add to the media marketing the producers leaked out short clips about the individual character 'Hit Girl' which showed parts of the main scenes and plot lines which presented the audience with some of the action involved.

Another example of marketing we did is on the film 'Zombie land' this had amazing amount of social media buzz going for it leading up to the release date. Tons of twitter campaigns and natural word of mouth got people interested. Sony pictures teamed up with IPC media’s men and music magazine division, IPC ignite to launch an integrated campaign for the comedy horror film, zombie land. It combined a series of integrated advertorials on and offline across IPC ignites nuts and NME magazines in a bit to target its core male audience. An online game was released to raise awareness of the film premiere and the first trailer was released on June 23rd. The premiere was on September 14th and raised more awareness about the film and the stars that appear in it. To celebrate the release of this film on October 2nd street teams started pushing the idea of dressing up to go to the first late evening show on that opening Friday. Sony's marketing machine marched on: 'Zombie land' opened number one at the weekend box office, giving the studio it's sixth first place debut of the year.

In media, synergy is the promotion and sale of a product throughout the various subsidiaries of a media conglomerate for example films, soundtracks and video games. Walt Disney pioneered synergistic marketing techniques in the 1930s by granting lots of firms the right to use his Mickey Mouse character in products and adverts, and continued to market Disney media through licensing arrangements. These products can help advertise the film itself and thus help to increase the film's sales.

Exhibition

There are many different methods and ways in which a film can be viewed such as, cinema, theatres, illegally watching, DVD, internet downloads, rental, video tapes and many more. In 2006 nearly 4 million tickets were bought to watch a film at the cinema every week, nearly all of these tickets were cinemas which are owned by Hollywood studios. The main ticket distributors of these tickets include Vue, cineworld, Odeon and showcase these all show the most popular films in Hollywood.

The other ways of viewing films just apart from the cinema and that is since the 1920s it has developed massively how you view your film. Films are now moved from the cinema to DVD within 6 months which is much quicker than when the cinema first started. By have technological convergence audiences are now able to view movies in a variety of different ways.

A big method to watch a film is through internet download, the internet is very powerful and can spread the word of films for example Clover field was a very good example of this way. It is also very good in ways of promoting films on social networking websites for example Facebook and MySpace these websites help let people know about the film and market it better to get around. Batman: The Dark Knight was the first film to be broadcasted on Facebook for a price of 30 credits the film was then available for 48 after purchase to watch. This type of service picked up in 2008 but never fully took off and stayed. Even though the internet can have a positive effect on the exhibition, many films are illegally recorded whilst they are cinema and put up on the internet which can majorly effect the distribution of the film. This can be because people are more likely to see a film which they wouldn't have had to pay money for if it wasn't very good. The downsides of this way can have very good quality sound, image and people interrupting it for example going to the loo during the film and standing in the way of the camera, also there is a risk of a fine if you are caught watching a film illegally.

A final example of exhibition is TV broadcasts and this is good as the audience are able to see which they may not have been able to see in the cinema at that time from when it was out and are able to watch it without distractions from others which they are able to enjoy the film more. This way can boost the success of a film as it gives people the word of mouth to go away and tell others which spreads the word of the film.

Narrative Theory

The Villain: who struggles with the hero (formally known as antagonist)
The Donor: a character who gives something to the hero to help them on their quest.
The Princess: a sought-for person who exists as a goal and often recognizes and marries hero or punish villain.
The Helper: a character who accompaines the hero on their quest.
The Dispatcher: character who sends the hero on their quest.
The Hero: who departs on a search (seeker-hero), reacts to the donor and weds.
The False Hero: claims to be hero, often seeking and reacting like a hero.

Linear = beginning, middle and end in chronological order.
Non Linear = non chronological order.

The Male Gaze

- how men look at women
- how women look at themselves
- how women look at other women

Laura mulvey coined the term 'male gaze' in 1975. She believes that in film audiences have to 'view' characters from the perspective of a heterosexual male.

Features of the male gaze:
- The cameras light lingers on the curves of the female body and events with occue to women are present largely in the context of a mans reaction to these events.
- Relegates women to the status of objects. The famile viewer must experience the narrative secondarily, by identification with the male.

Criticism of Mulvey and gaze theory:
Some women enjoy being 'looked at'. The gaze can also be directed towards members of the same gender for several reasons, not all of whcih are sexual such as in comparison of body image.

Categorising facial expressions:
Women
Chocolate box: blands, pleaseing and uniformity of beauty.
Invitational: suggestive of mischief or mystery and a blint of contrast rather than sexual.
Super-Smiler: agressive and attitude.
Romantice/sexual: possible or avaliable.

Men
Seductive: similar to cool, eyes less wide and milder.
Carefree: active and healthy.
Practical: thinking, closed mouth and short hair.
Comic: exaggerated, acting fool and falls.
Catalogue: Neutral look, dummy, artifical and wax like.

Jonathon Schroeder (1998) "to gaze implies more than to look at". It signifies a psychological relationship of power, in which the gazer is superior to the object of the gaze.

Sanctum Production

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