FM2 Section A: Producers and Audiences

Section A: Producers and Audiences This section of the exam will focus on the film industry and audience film consumption, looking at film finance, distribution and exhibition in US and UK cinema. This is one of three sections to the unit FM2: British and American Film (the other 2 will be covered after half term). The exam in May will be 2 hours 30 mins long therefore you should spend 50 minutes on each of the 3 sections

Section A: Exam Rubric In this section there is a focus on the following aspects of film: Film Production Film Marketing Film Distribution Film Exhibition This section of the exam will feature 4 different questions that cover one of the above in some way. You only answer one question, The exam tests your responses to stimulus material supplied in relation to some of the issues covered. Your answer should be a mixture of your own knowledge and a response to the stimulus material.

May 2008 Paper Last year’s paper will be different from this year as the syllabus has changed! On this paper there is a choice of 4 different questions and you have to answer two. This year’s paper will only feature 2 questions with only one having to be answered. The 2008 paper (which was called FS2 not FM2) was a separate paper without the other two sections and lasted 1 hour and 30 minutes. For the purpose of this timed assessment we are going to all answer the same question!

What the board say. Students answer one question from two. Each question will have three pieces of stimulus material which must be referred to in your answer. The key focus of both question will be contemporary aspects of US and UK film form both the industry and audience perspectives. The main emphasis will be on your knowledge, backed up by what the stimulus material says. They are not expecting you to know everything about the film industry! The board suggest that students split up their knowledge into case studies….

Case Studies Hollywood film production- budgets, type of product, production processes. UK film production- as above. Importance of genre and stars in US and UK industries. Film marketing. Film exhibition- cinema, DVD online etc. Non mainstream or independent cinema. There is likely to be some overlap. Before choosing a question have specific films, stars, genres, cinemas, websites etc in mind that you can refer to

Specific examples ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ – we will make lots of reference to this film in relation to UK film, independent cinema, commercial crossover versus critical success, the nature of stars and bankability. Stratford Picture House - an independent cinema chain. ‘Dirty Pretty Things’- you can refer to a case study film from the other topic. Stars: have a good US example in comparison with a UK one. Genres; we discussed the success of the Saw films and torture horror, what other trends are there for genres? Independent cinema- we mentioned early film like ‘Blair Witch’ and ‘El Mariachi’. Sequels and remakes- Hollywood has few original ideas or is it easy money? Go on film websites, newspaper sites (the Guardian) or the BBC and find some recent articles on the industry/audiences. Industry figures, relevant stories about the industry and its audience etc.

Question 3 We are going to attempt question 3. This question requires to read the source material ‘Item B’. As with all of these questions the instructions state that you should ‘use the resource material and your own knowledge…’ What is the focus of the question? What have you learnt/discussed that could you apply to this question. What wider knowledge do you have of this issue. What film examples can you refer to? Read the Item B material and make some notes for you answer. The examiner is not expecting you to know everything about the film issue but they are hoping that you have some knowledge to answer at least one of the questions. They also insist you refer to the stimulus material. Failure to do either will lose you considerable marks.

Introduction Task 1: Brainstorm everything you know about the film industry. Task 2: Your Film Consumption – fill in the film consumption questionnaire in the handbook.

What makes a great film? The acting/performances The plot/narrative The direction The design or look The script Other technical aspects The marketing and promotion Anything else? The budget perhaps? Which of the above are essential to all ‘great films’?

Discussion What makes a great film? Look at these two trailers for two very different ‘UK based’ films. ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ – dir: Danny Boyle ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ - dir: Gary Yates What makes them successful and interesting in their own right?

To Conclude….. Film is a subjective medium. One person’s favourite film is another’s least favourite. Films can be great and successful for lots of reasons. Large budgets might guarantee a large ‘gross’ but do not guarantee a great film. The plot and script are probably the two most important components for any ‘great film’. The industry cannot always guarantee if a film is going to be a hit. Audiences are often unpredictable.