FilmFour

exam prep

FilmFour

A British production company – finances British films 1982 – 1998 known as Channel 4 film Part of channel 4s remit was to experiment and innovate

and cater for audiences not addressed by other channels Nowadays they fund around 20 films per year A number of films are by first time feature screenwriters or

directors They look for distinctive films which will make their mark in

a competitive cinema market Television premieres on FilmFour Channel and Channel 4

2 years after theatrical release

1996Starring Ewan McGregor in his 2nd filmDirected by Danny Boyle a British directorA co-production with Figment Films,

Polygram and The Noel Gay Motion Picture co.

Budget $3,500,000

Research the marketing of “Trainspotting” (Boyle 1996)

TrailerBorn SlippyPerfect DayChoose'Motion Type"

Marketing

David Aukin, Head of Drama at Four Films “it isn’t really about drugs…it’s a buddy movie”

US critics compared the movie to Kubricks “A Clockwork Orange” (1971)

Both are anti-social-realist films dealing with subjects – gangs, violence, drugs – which are stylised and fast-paced.

Both are independent films which shocked the critics and audiences

Marketing

However “Trainspotting” was more an object of youth culture or popular culture than it was cinematic

Britpop was “Trainspotting”'s main vehicle to integrate youth subculture into popular culture.

Polygram put large sums of money into a sophisticated marketing and branding strategy including posters and a soundtrack

Knew film would appeal to clubbers and ravers so targeted these – Underworld’s Born Slippy became a massive hit from the soundtrack

Film gained distribution in the US although it did need subtitles

Synergy

The ‘brand’ TrainspottingSoundtrackPostersDVDsCopied of the screenplayReprinting of Welsh’s novel featuring the

poster on the coverMusic cross-promotion

“Slumdog Millionaire” (Boyle 2008)

2008Funded by Film4Co-production with Celador and PatheDirected by Danny BoyleBudget $15,000,000Trailer

Representation and Cultural Identity

FilmFour films explored and developed ideas of cultural hybridity

“East is East” (O'Donnell ’99)The first British film representing hybrid

and ever changing cultural and social mix in Britain making it into mainstream multiplex cinemas.

“Brick Lane” (Gavron ‘07) won a BAFTA

Problems

“One of FilmFour's biggest problems has been competing for cinema space with multinational film companies, whose films account for more than two thirds of UK box office takings. FilmFour blames the poor box office results on its lack of clout in the distribution market rather than the quality of its films.” (BBC on Film Four Partner Search)

Film Four channel

Originally only subscribers could access the channel

The company wasn’t making enough money through subscriptions alone

Relaunched the channel in July 2006 as a freeview channel

Believed they could make more money through advertising

Has become the Uks largest free film channel available to 18 million homes

Changing patterns of consumption

Young people are increasingly watch films on small screens using various models of DVD players

Cinema admissions in Britain fell by 4% in 2005 and US box-office by 9%

Trend towards home consumption began in the 1960s when studios realised they could use television to show films long after they had passed their sell-by date in the cinema

VHS to DVD

1970s VHS was introduced1980s satellite was introducedDVDs have pushed VHS out of the homeWhat are the advantages of DVD over

VHS?What are some drawbacks for the

studios?

Synergy

Massive corporations may be able toPublicise and advertise their films via their

own print, sound and visual media armsPut out associated books and music,

again from within their own organisationShow their films via their own various TV

and cinema outlets

Film Four and synergy

A major issue for Film 4 is that it does NOT own its own exhibition theatrical chain

What issues might this raise for Film 4?Synergy was not always apparent at the

company as in 2003 Ali G went to Working Title!

New technologies and the consumer

An improved overall experience as a result of better sound and images reproduction

A heightened emotional experience as a result of a stronger sense of empathy with characters who in some way seem more real

Enhanced spectacleImproved ease of accessNew, easier and intensified ways of using film to

pleasure themselves e.g. IMAXEnhanced intellectual experienceThe chance for new, ever cheaper and more compact

devices to make films for themselves

New technologies and the film industry

The chance to repackage and resell old products, esp cult films, thereby establishing a new audience base for an old product

An opportunity to place products for sale in a new ‘window’ thereby lengthening the commercial life of each film

The chance to encourage multiple purchases of essentially the same product

A means of still managing to make profit on films that initially perform poorly at the box office

New technologies and the cinema experience

New technologies have always added to the cinema experience

The size/quality of the spectacle have been enhanced

“Slumdog Millionaire” – Blu ray

Boyle and Patel take the audience through the backstreets and countryside of India

Interviews with Beaufoy Deleted scenesMaking-ofMusic video for ‘Bombay Liquid Dance’TrailersShort film entitled ‘Manjha’