Evaluation - Ismail Khwaja

Question 1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products (film openings)?

Question 2.How does your media product represent particular social groups? (e.g. comparison stills from your film and the wider media)

Question 3. What kind of media institution might distribute your film and why?

Click on the link for my answer. It is a video, showcasing the institutions with a voice over , providing details: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMsdfN0uqNw&feature=youtu.be

Below are the institutions involved in my influential film:

Film Distributor

A film distributor is an organisation or individual which holds the responsibility for the marketing of a film. It is therefore their duty to set a release date and devise a method as to how the film will be presented or made vacant for public viewing. An example of doing this could be to distribute directly to the public theatres or alternatively, the film may be only available for viewing at home via such mediums as DVD, Television broadcast or by download. If the distributor has ownership of a theatre or film distribution network, then they may distribute the film directly through those channels. However, distributors who are limited may only be able to handle specific products, for example DVDs, Blu-ray or even distribute within certain markets or countries. Film distributors also handle the advertisement of the film, as a part of the marketing, so they will have to create Television adverts, any radio events or any newspaper/magazine advertisements.

Film I researched:  A Bronx Tale (1993)

Distributed by: Savoy Pictures

This is an American distributor, which had the responsibility of ensuring a theatrical release of the film. It was founded in 1992 and led by the former Columbia Pictures Entertainment chairman Victor Kaufman.  The company has distributed a range of films, such as ‘Heaven’s Prisoners’ (1996) and ‘My Teacher’s Wife’ (1999) with some of its noteworthy films being ‘No Escape’, ‘Last of the Dogmen’, alongside ‘A Bronx Tale’. The company right from the very beginning had the intention of financing and distributing films in the region of $12–25 million range, as well as maintaining investment of up to $15 million for each film.

Produced by: Tribeca Productions

This is both a film and television production company, which was co-founded by actor Robert De Niro and producer Jane Rosenthal. The company was founded in 1988, in New York at the start of the return of interest in the film production community.  It is a deemed to be a comprehensive distribution platform. Therefore, they have a dedication of marketing independent films across various different platforms, such as home video, video on demand and for theatrical release.

Financed by: Not made clear, but probably was the production company (Tribeca Productions)

It is likely that Tribeca Productions were the primary financiers due to heavy influence of Robert De Niro who played a key role, as the main actor’s father. Robert De Niro was also the director and founder of the production company. So, he essentially helmed the production of this film. In the end, the film successfully grossed over $17 million with a budget of an estimated $22 million. 

Question 4. Who would be the audience for your media product? (e.g. focus group video and audience profile)

Audience Profile

This is Oliver Newington.  He is a male of 18 years and  who lives in the suburbs of London with his parents and younger brother. He has recently become an adult, so dresses with an older look with with jeans, smart shoes, accompanied with an overcoat. His hobbies usually involve him playing computer games with his friends or generally socialising with them. This entails going to the cinema frequently, but also buying the same films on DVD – his favourite type of film genre is a horror/thriller. Some of his favourite films are Sinister and Limitless. However, he also enjoys crime dramas/thrillers, such as Pulp Fiction or Reservoir Dogs. Occasionally, he will go out to play sports with his friends, primarily football at their local park. Along with this, he enjoys spending his pocket money out shopping at stores, such as Burton, Top Man and River Island.

However, he also spends time at home with his family, which he deems a priority because of the major significance of such people in his life. Whilst at home, Stephen predominantly likes to watch television. The main channels he watches are BBC 1, BBC 2, ITV, E4, Sky One, Sky Movies and Sky Sports. Some of his most frequently viewed programmes include Broadchurch, Waterloo Road, The Apprentice, The Walking Dead and The Big Bang Theory. Therefore, Oliver prefers to watch programmes which indicate a clear sense of realism or are much more drama based, enabling a connection with the characters. This bares some reflection in his choice of films, as he avidly watches films at his local cinema. Although, he normally focuses primarily on the thriller genre. He also buys films that he sees in cinema on DVD. His favourites include: Inception, Gone Girl, The Green Mile and The Babadook. 

In terms of music, Oliver enjoys listening to songs which contain great energy, but also songs which may have more mellow tunes and those comprised of relatable lyrics. As a result, he listens to a large variety of music types, including Indie music, house music, American rock and folk rock.  Oliver doesn’t have a favourite type, but has a few favourite artists: Arctic Monkeys, Oasis, The Beatles and Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

I certainly think our film would appeal to Oliver because there are clear associations established. Our film consists of a more grounded and suspenseful style, which suits the typical style of film that Oliver generally watches because our aim is to create a thriller/drama. Oliver does seem to be very close to his family, which is an important element to our film with the inclusion of the family. The murder centres on a member of the main character’s family, since it his brother who has been murdered. There are indications of the impact that befalls the family, but mainly upon the main character who is the Father of the family in question. Having a family and a strong focus upon the repercussions of a family death highlights the drama genre. As there is also a family, Oliver would establish a relationship here with those characters because of his own family environment and there is potential to connect with life events both in the past and future. The fact that a murder has occurred at the beginning, incorporates the thriller aspect due to this event applying an edge and tension to the story that unfolds. In addition, we have composed our own music that is quite mellow, but simultaneously consists of an intensity that indicates an edge within the story, due to there being a family tragedy. This darker theme implemented will portray the emotions of the characters. So it will not only be through their performance. The music is mostly very tense, which again refers to the thriller genre. Ultimately, I think Oliver would definitely watch this film due to it fitting the criteria he seeks within films.

Q5. How did you attract/address your audience? (e.g. annotated analysis of your video)

The screenshots below are evidence of my audience research. I asked several 18 year old males for answers to my questions:

Click on the link for an annotated description of how I attracted/addressed my audience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyqezqppELw

Q6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product? (e.g. photos of technology taken during construction with evaluation of what has been learned)

Q7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl6g6_6o7-k

Click on the link above for an annotated description of how I progressed from my preliminary to my main task. I cover four main aspects: Camera Work, Editing, Sound and Mise-En-Scene. I have combined footage from my preliminary and main task, comparing them in my annotations.