Les Miserables: Case Study

Star Power

Moulin Rouge!

Skyfall

How The Film Industry Works

1) A producer has overall control on every aspect of a film’s production. They are in charge of acquiring/securing the rights to the film and for bringing key members of the creative team together, such as the director. They deal with finance and the distribution companies and are responsible for the film’s overall success.

2) Directors are responsible for visualizing the script and making the idea become a reality; they work closely with the producer and are the creative aspect of filmmaking.

3) It is important to have a name director as it can help to find money in order to develop the script and attract a good writer. It can also be a good selling point for the producer to later on attract financial backing.

4) Agents make their living by acting on behalf of their clients to get the best deal in return for their time and skills and then taking a percentage cut.

5) A production company can offer money in order to develop the script in return for the right of the film. Due to their early involvement, they can insist on a large percentage of future profits and usually work on a number of films at one time.

6) A distributor will take the development money in exchange for the rights of the film so that it can be distributed to cinema owners (exhibitors), rental companies and broadcasters. Money from a distributor shows the idea is marketable.

7) A film trailer is important because it helps to promote the film; it sells the key elements of the film to the right audience and showcases the value of the film.

8) A sales package contains the key information (cast and crew, target audiences and a synopsis of the film) and is important as these are needed to sell the film to distributors and compete against other films.

9) A ‘buzz’ is anything positive surrounding the film, such as excitement or anticipation, and is important as it creates publicity for the film.

10) The Dark Knight Rises created ‘buzz’ and anticipation/excitement through several film trailers and posters viewed by the audience online, on television and in cinemas.

11) Above the line marketing is the most direct way to reach an audience; it involves trailers, poster campaigns and TV spots.

12) New marketing models are important as they allow the distributors to only target people who are most relevant to their marketing objectives. Internet marketing is an example of a new marketing model; the film can be marketed in a cost-efficient way, rather than wasting money on a nationwide advertisement that could be ignored by lots of people.

13) Package selling involves the distribution company offering a package to cinema owners in order to get as many of their films seen as possible. (If they hold the rights to this summer’s blockbuster, they can use it as a bargaining tool to get exhibitors to take some of the less commercial films). This could help “indie” films as they can be included in the package and therefore shown in the cinema but could also hinder them as smaller distribution companies could struggle to get their films seen.

 14) A film’s ‘opening weekend box office’ is important because it allows cinemas to see if the film will underperform or do well so they know whether to prolong it’s showing or to cancel it.

15) DVD sales are still important to the film industry because they can still find their audiences after the initial release of the film and make a good profit.

Film Studies: Camera shots/movements

Medium shot – A shot in which you only see the upper part of the subject, rather than all of it. It shows facial expression and some body language.

Long shot – A shot in which you can see usually all of the subject at a slight distance.

Establishing shot – Usually at the beginning of scenes, this shot covers a wide amount of space so the audience can see the location or scale of the location. 

Canted angle – A shot used to distort what’s on the screen (often used in fight scenes to disorientate the audience); the camera is slanted.

Medium long shot – A shot that shows most of the subject but not all (if it’s a person, head to knees).

Aerial shot – A shot that looks down on the scene from somewhere high up (like a building or a helicopter). It usually covers a wide amount of subject and can be used to make the subject look insignificant or show the scale of a location.

Tilt up – When the camera is moved upwards slightly to follow a subject or show more of it without actually moving the positioning of the tripod (can be used with a handheld as well).  Tilting up usually makes the subject look taller or more powerful.

Tilt down – When the camera is moved down slightly to follow a subject or show more of it without actually moving the positioning of the tripod (can be used with a handheld as well). Tilting down usually makes the subject look smaller or more vulnerable.

Dolly – When the camera is set on tracks and moves forwards and backwards to follow a subject smoothly.

Zoom – The lens of the camera is adjusted to either show the subject in more or less detail.

Tracking – When the camera is set on tracks and moves left and right to follow a subject smoothly.

Handheld – The camera is used without a tripod etc, held in position by your hands. It usually gives shaky footage so it is often used in horror films to give a sense of reality to the scene and sometimes to disorientate the audience.

Crane – Usually taken by a camera on a literal crane. It is used to see the subject from above or to follow the subject and often makes the subject look smaller.