Flop Formula - Assessment

What is the flop formula?

How much does a film need to make at the box office to be considered a flop (less than?)
How essential is budget and Film financing to the success of a Blockbuster?

Where does this money come from?

Why are Hollywood film adverse to taking risks - why Blockbuster formulaic films and what is the effect on the experience for audience?
Why could & should they take risks using the 'Flop Formula'?
Conclusion: What is the Mainstream Film Industry's purpose, why does it exist? How is this different to Independent and Foreign Cinema - what purpose?

Context: Film Funding, Flops and Megabudgets

Half Term Homework: Prep for Mock Exam 1 Week 1

Your next exam is about exploring and contextualising the factors that affect film production.

This means explaining how politics and social values affects censorship, how marketing and formulaic special effects driven 'event movie' have shaped and dominated what you now see at the cinema and how the cinema itself has evolved from a run down 'Fleapit' in your local high street to the 'Multiplex'. We will also be revealing how Film Piracy is not a new thing.

Complete the following tasks with your mentor partner & post to your blog for presentations Tuesday & 25 min Mock Exam on Friday

Task 1:
http://leighmediaasfilmessays12.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/starting-point-jaws-anatomy-of.html

Make notes - 
What was so significant about Jaws?
Outline the characteristics of a Blockbuster
Apply:
Identify a newly released Blockbuster now showing at the cinema
Analyse the promotion and mind map - poster, trailer, merchandising and identify

Task 2: 
Read & Apply- Case Study of a newly released Blockbuster
http://leighmediaasfilmessays12.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/characteristics-of-summer-blockbuster.html

Apply:
Go and see the film in the cinema. Analyse the characteristics using the above reading

Task 3:
http://leighmediaasfilmessays12.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/big-dumb-movies-transformers.html

Watch the video and identify the arguments from Mark Kermode
What are the criticisms of Big Dumb Movies?
What is your standpoint on this - how did we get to the point where the cinema is dominated by these films?

Apply:
Record your own review of the Blockbusters in the cinema over half term in the style of Mark Kermode

Task 4:
http://leighmediaasfilmessays12.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/activity-next-blockbuster.html

Pitch me 'the next blockbuster' - record the pitch and swede your own 30 sec trailer

Homework for Half Term - Planning & Creative Artefact

 

Final Deadline - 1st March

1. Planning

Location Report (a series of photographs with notes on suitability to the scene & aesthetics (the look)

Present this as a NEW Blog Page customised to look like a 'Film Location Report' blog page to contain your Report & your Photos Example

Your Report requires notes on... 

example 1

example 2

• Transport links/how accessible include a Google maps/Streetmaps image
• Who is the contact for the location and arrangements for using their site
• Health & Safety concerns for your production/scene
• Lighting & Noise, Electrical Power
• Evaluate - how suitable to what you want it to look like on screen/what happens in the scene: set dressings required etc.

2. Creative Artefact (Script with 9 Key Frames & annotations on shot types)

Uploaded to your Location Report Blog & Labelled as 'Creative Artefact' with:

• 9 key frames (photographs) of your actors posed in costume & on location/dressed set (props, lighting etc) 

• Annotate your Script: Shot Types in the Margin with notes on your decisions/purpose