AS Media - Distribution Task

At my local picture house this weekend, there is a total of 20 separate screenings.

In total, 10 films are being exhibited.

3 Films at my local picture house are being shown several times.

In total out of the 10 different films being shown, 3 are being shown at the same time in local picturehouses.

The percentage of unique screenings is 70%, whilst the percentage of repeated screenings is 30%.

The Total number of films being shown is 10, 3 of those are repeat screenings whilst 7 are unique screenings.

Above: Greenwich Picture House, the cinema used for this task.

British Cinema Research Task

Local Picture house: Greenwich Picture house


New Years Eve: USA


Hugo: USA


Puss In Boots 3D: USA


Las Acacias: Spain/Argentina


The Deep Blue Sea: UK/USA


We Need to Talk About Kevin: UK/USA


My Week with Marilyn: UK/US


Romantics Anonymous: France/Belgium


Another Earth: USA


Horrid Henry: UK

• 7/10 films listed at my local picture house are American produced films or partly American produced films.
• While on the other hand, only 1 fully produced British film is showing. However in total, 3 British films are showing which are American/British collaborations.
• Other productions include films from Spain, Argentina, France and Belgium.

Above: New Years Eve, the film in question.

Many of the American films set out to emphasise and encapsulate Western culture. An example of this is New Years Eve. From an overview of the trailer, it is clear what the film's ideological intentions lie. New Years Eve portrays middle class citizens of New York going about their daily lives on the run up to New Years Eve. It seems that many of the characters who feature in the film have high paying jobs and lead relatively simple lives, a portrayal of contemporary western culture and a capitalist society. This film mainly represents the main characters in a positive way and not highlighting any negative issues which feature in western society, perhaps because producers want to show western culture in a more positive and socially acceptable light.

Above: One of the "Big Six" American Production 
companies who dominate the film industry.

• From my research, it is clear that many more American films are produced and shown in cinemas than another film producing country. The main reason for American films dominating the cinema may be down to one fundamental issue. Profit. American films usually turn over greater profits than smaller independent films produced by other countries such a Britain and France. Cinema chains may be reluctant to screen smaller films by these countries as they usually attract small audiences and therefore produce less profit. Whilst on the other hand, American films usually attract large audiences and therefore create a larger profit through cinema tickets and through catering.
• I believe that American films are more widely received with audiences as they conform to various set stereotypes which exist in society and therefore people are more able to relate to the content which is featured within their products and choose to view it rather than watching independent content.
• British films have many obstacles to overcome to compete with larger institutions however advertising a film to a British audience may be much harder than it was in the past. With the media flooded with American film releases and Internet sites such as YouTube constantly screening advertisements for US films, it may be hard to try and connect with a British audience through the swarm of American film advertisements. 
• I believe that international film companies may encounter issues when trying to reach out to British audiences, particularly if the film  another language, e.g French, many British people may be reluctant to view the film, even if it is subtitled. 
• American audiences favour the stereotypically British film such as Love Actually and Four Weddings and a Funeral. The advantages of these rom-com films is that they add a twist to British culture and portray our society in a different positive manner. This allows American audiences to gather different opinions and views on British society and many to turn previously negative associations with Britain into Positive ones.

Momentum Pictures - The King's Speech Mind Map

Above: Click image to enlarge.

Above is my completed Momentum Pictures King's Speech analysis.

The King's Speech - Financing

Many fledgling British films never make it off of the drawing board however some get the opportunity to receive funding from private equity providers. Private lenders are usually very reluctant to invest in a film unless they are almost certain of it's success, and there are reasons for this apparent reluctance.

From the period of 2003 to 2006, data released by the UK film council revealed that out of the 333 British films which private investors invested in, only 35 made a profit. Now these shocking statistics reveal why the British film industry is struggling to stay afloat, hardly any films receive funding as many private investors are afraid that they will be dragged under, along with the films which they support.

Above: Prescience funded over two thirds of The King's Speech's total budget.

On the contrary, The King's Speech is a success story which stands out from the rest, grossing a total of £250m in box office sales alone, the British biopic with a modest £9m budget managed to break box office records. The film received funding from various sources however the main contributor was Prescience Film Finance which provided two thirds of the films £9m budget, alongside this, the National lottery also funded £1m in the film. Due to the films niche nature, developers initially had a struggle to attract potential investors, with Film 4 and BBC turning down the opportunity to invest in the film.

The King's Speech is one of the rare few British movies which make it into the public domain and reach worldwide success. Many British movies financially fail each year and some don't even make it past the concept stage, however the select few such as The King's speech are given the chance to achieve critical status and be remembered by viewers for years to come.

The King's Speech - Production Mind Map

Above is my completed SeeSaw production mind map. Click To Enlarge.

AS Media Studies - The King's Speech Poster Analysis

Above: The film poster in question.

In this promotional release poster for The King's Speech there are many elements which have been subtly added in to form an image of the film at a quick glance. There are elements of the poster which perhaps reveal the narrative of the movie such as the phrase 'let courage reign', a general mix between the King's Royal duties and his speech impediment which he desperately tries to overcome with 'courage'.

Firstly it s important to focus on the two characters on the poster, Lionel Logue (Right) and King George VI (Left). We can see that from the way which they are standing that King George is taller than Mr. Logue. This may not just relate to stature, it may also have other connotations. His height may suggest that he has power and influence over others and the fact that he physically  taller than Logue further cements his powerful status. In addition to this, King George is shown much closer than Logue who seems to be standing further back. This may also relate to who has the most significant role in the film, showing King George in a much closer light as the audience gets to delve into his personal life and affairs much more than Logue's. The clothes which characters wear also plays a key role in setting the tone for a poster ans portraying that tone across to the audience.The clothes which King George and Mr. Logue are dressed in both seem incredibly formal, suggesting that a major event its taking place, one that requires the King to give a speech.

Another key aspect to observe is the facial expressions of both characters. King George is shown staring off, looking slightly downwards, perhaps suggesting because as his status as the Monarch he often looks down on people who are underneath him, Logue for example. Whilst on the other hand we have Logue who appears to be looking up to King George, with a caring expression on his face, suggesting pity for him, another link back to the narrative of the film.

Finally, the background of the poster creates a backdrop on which the main ideas of the film are placed upon. Using King George VI's Royal cypher against the red background symbolises who the main character in the film is and the iconic colour suggests that it is the British Royal family who features within. Another element which is included in this poster are the ratings, displayed at the top, along with the awards which The King's Speech was nominated for. This information allows prospective audiences to make an informed decision whether or not to watch or purchase the movie based on reviews from certified sources.

AS Media Studies Blog - The King's Speech - Exhibition

Exhibition has played a major role in the phenomenal success of the British biopic, The King's Speech. Through various media platforms such as social networking sites, YouTube and theatrical rating sites which allow users to forward their opinions on new releases such as, IMDB. It is these sites which allow low budget British films to gain popularity and an audience following, e.g The King's Speech.

YouTube has played an important role in the success of many low budget British movies, an example of one of these success stories is The King's Speech. By using the plethora of social interaction services which the site features, users are able to share videos with friends and comment on content they like and dislike. It is these services which allow videos to spread and
become discussed by many viewers and critics alike.

Above: An example of a highly rated YouTube comment on The King's Speech.

 Social networking sites also play a rather important role in ensuring low budget Budget films are successful. In many cases low budget films aren't able to pay the huge advertising fees many broadcasting companies now demand. However by creating a Facebook or Twitter page, fans are able to follow, comment and share information about their favorite films with their friends. The King's Speech Facebook fan site receives many visits per day and countless comments on content which is posted on there. Just an example of free advertising which many films and television programmes are turning to attract a more diverse audience.

Above: The BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) and the variety of certificates which films receive based on their content.

The certificate which the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) gives a film which is released in the UK may make the difference between the film succeeding or failing to break even. Many films which are released in the UK every year financially fail because of the rating which their film has been classified as. This may be because the target audience which the film was aimed at has been excluded from viewing the content, reasons include unsuitable language, discrimination and violence among others. The King's Speech also had its fair share of classification issues, firstly being categorised as a certificate 15 film because of scenes where Lionel Logue encourages the King to shout profanities to relieve stress. However following criticism from Tom Hooper, the director of the motion picture, the certificate was eventually lowered to a 12A certificate on the basis that the film is an educational resource and that the inappropriate language was not used in a offensive way.

Audience Reception - The King's Speech

The King's Speech reached critical acclaim in 2010, the year of its release. Scooping up 7 Academy Film Awards, the film was thrust into the public domain and in total has achieved over £250 million in box office sales alone.


The highly successful British biopic has seen remarkable success in the US as well as being nominated and winning 4 Oscars.  It had immense appeal to audiences overseas as well as on British soil, cashing in over $138 million in total in the States. The film which depicts King George VI's (Colin Firth) life through trial and tribulation as he struggles to overcome his speech impediment and  balance his newly appointed royal duties, however help comes from an unlikely source, Lionel Logue, played by Geoffrey Rush, a veteran speech therapist who believes he has what it takes to cure the troubled King.

Above: King George VI (Colin Firth) prepares to give his Wartime speech.

The small budget film has had overwhelming success, drawing in flocks of cinema-goers all over the globe, however the historical biopic has received a large fan following in the US. This begs us to ask the question, why have others from foreign countries  warmed so softly to The King's Speech?


Now, there may be many reasons for foreign countries warming to the palatable nature of this 'feel good' film. One may be the extreme pomp and circumstance which comes along with a royal biopic however, countries such as the US with relatively short historical pasts may turn to the film as an experience to gain a wealth of historical knowledge with the convenience of watching a film. 


Many viewers in the US gave the film excellent ratings, with an average rating of 8.6/10 on IMDB, the film certainly had an overwhelming effect on cinema-goers. However, this film didn't just 'woo' foreign audiences, back home in Britain the film received rave reviews as well. It seems that films like The King's Speech appeals to audiences so much because it allows them to reminisce to a by gone era and fully immerse themselves in the captivating script, even with British viewers it allows us to connect with the Royal family and empathise with them.


Finally, I believe that the main reasons of success for The King's Speech are in essence very basic. Firstly, the film has stuck to quick a simple linear narrative, this appeals to audiences as it gives them a footing and a platform from which to expand their understanding as it progresses. Secondly, the touching and emotional nature of the film also may be another reason for its great success. Audiences are able to empathise, as was mentioned earlier, with the King, enabling them to connect with him emotionally, creating a more tactile role in the film for the audience. 


 It is this mix of tactility and fundamental narratives which has in effect created one of the most successful films of the 21st century, and with notable awards wins such as Oscars and Academy awards, firmly cementing The King's Speech with a place in film h-h-history!

                      

Media Questionnaire Analysis

I managed to gather and process the information from a questionnaire which was sent around my AS media studies class. From this questionnaire, I was able to draw conclusions on peoples' viewing habits based on class origins and their preferred movie genres. My results are as follows:


Male:  5   Female: 16


Working Class : 9  Middle Class:  12


Preferred Cinematical platform:


Cinema: 12    Portable Device: 7   Online: 10  Televison:  11


From the results I gathered, I was able to make the conclusion that the majority of working class students preferred to watch films on the television and via online sources. Perhaps the reason for this is because many working students may belong to lower income families and watching films by these sources is the greatest cost effective option. Alternatively we have the working class students who chose the cinema and portable devices as their preferred genres. A contrast to the majority of working class students, perhaps because these platforms can often prove rather expensive when compared to their cheaper more widely available counterparts.


The graph below illustrates my results:

Preferred Class Genres:

Middle Class:  Horror: 1  Comedy: 7  Action: 2  Thriller: 2

Working Class: Horror: 4 Comedy: 3  Action: 2  Thriller: 2

The graph below illustrates my results:

Conclusion

  From my research, it is clear that there are many factors which may shape and alter an audiences’ viewing habits based on their backgrounds.

This shows that the audience has the power to shape and mould the television programmes which are broadcast and are often created to appeal to viewers based traits such as age, sex and class status.