Ill Manors: Institution Research

Distribution research

• Summarise the 10 steps of film distribution in a list using your own words.

1. Finding a distributor to distribute the film
2. Identify how the film connects with the audience
3. Launch the film, hoping for consumers to receive and access the film
4. The UK has 6 major distributors and many independent distributors 
5. Distributors receive the films from third parties
6. Distributors sign a contract with the producers, hoping to gain all possible rights
7. Distribution is prepared after a consultation with the producers
8. Think about how to optimize success of the film through the distribution
9. Raise awareness and interest of the film
10. licensing films to gain permission to release it in theatres

Ill Manors: Funding and production budget

• What was the estimated budget for Ill Manors?

The estimated budget was £100,000

• Where did the money come from? List the different organisations and companies that contributed funding to Ill Manors.

Revolver entertainment

Film London

Microwave Film

Plan B

• How did the Ill Manors budget compare to a Hollywood blockbuster such as Skyfall?

The budget for Ill Manors is significantly lower than Skyfall as the budget for Skyfall was roughly $200 million whereas Ill Manors' budget was only £100,000

Film London and Microwave Film

• What is Film London and why does it exist?

Film London is a non-profit agency supported by the government which promotes London as a great location for filming. “London is one of the world’s most competitive and popular film, television & commercial production centres” Boris Johnson, Mayor of London

• What is the purpose of Microwave Film?

Microwave Film supports low budget productions in order to shine a light on film makers with great potential.

• List three other films funded by Microwave Film and embed their trailers in your blog.

                                     

 

• Choose one film funded by Microwave film and explain how it compares to Ill Manors (similarities and differences)

The film Shifty, has very strong similarities to Ill Manors due to the similar genre and themes it surrounds, therefore also having almost the same aimed target audiences. Riz Ahmed acts as the protagonist in both films and both the films feature music by Plan B. 

Despite the movies being very similar, Shifty seems to focus more of drugs where as Ill Manors, in addition to drugs, shows a broader outlook on street life. Also, Shifty seems to have comedic aspects to it, however Ill Manors has almost no comedy at all.

Distributor: Revolver Entertainment

• When was Revolver Entertainment created?

1997

• Revolver Entertainment enjoyed a lot of success with the UK urban drama genre. Find three Revolver films that fit that genre, embed the trailers from YouTube and write about why they were successful.

Shows the contrast of a rich and luxurious life with a life involved with criminal activity on the streets. The two widely different atmospheres allows the audience to differentiate the gang life and life of luxury.

Shows a female perspective on gang life. As the urban crime genre mostly focuses on the male perspective, a female perspective created a huge interest especially for the female viewers as it gave them characters that they can self identify with, if they came from similar backgrounds as the characters.

Gives a more mature approach to criminal activity as the actors are slightly older and a bit more stable, in comparison to other urban drama films. As most of the urban crime genre films such as Ill Manors focus on the impact of gang life and criminality on young adults, having an older perspective shows that these issues has a similar, yet different affect on adults with a relative amount of stability in their lives.

• Choose one film distributed by Revolver Entertainment and explain how it compares to Ill Manors (similarities and differences).

Pay Back Season can be seen as similar to Ill Manors as it has a sub genre of urban crime. It also involves a lot of gang violence and shows the difficulties of gang life.

However it is very different as Ill Manors doesn't change locations too much and sticks to an urban atmosphere whereas Pay Back Season has wealthy atmospheres included to enhance the contrast. Also, Pay Back Season seems to have some scenes that arent too heavy for the audience but Ill Manors, through out, leaves the audience at the edge of their seats.

• Why did Revolver Entertainment go out of business in 2013?

Revolver Entertainment were in a financial crisis and found it difficult to to pay their workers. As the DVD company, one of Revolver Entertainment's main sources of revenue, was falling and the competitiveness of the market was gradually increasing, Revolver Entertainment weren't generating enough profit to pay their workers.

• How is new technology changing the way films are being distributed?

Films now have many more platforms in which it can be promoted and distributed through however such as through video on demand sites such as BBC Iplayer and subscription sites such as Netflix, however this is decreasing the popularity of cinemas as it is much more convenient and maybe even cheaper, to access films on electronic devices.

Gunslinger

• Research the Gunslinger/Revolver film Shank. Embed the trailer in your blog and explain how it compares to Ill Manors (similarities and differences).

It is similar to Ill Manors as there are a lot of violent content with many urban crime themes surrounding it, however it is different as it seems the film centres on violence and does not include many other themes that Ill Manors does include. The film relies on the shock factor and acts more of an urban thriller.

• List other Gunslinger films that fit the UK urban drama genre. Why does Gunslinger focus on this genre in particular?

Anuvahood, Kidadulthood, Adulthood: Adds a sense of identification with the characters and narratives. Also, a distinct contrast is created with the stereotypical London which gives another outlook on life in the UK. 

• Research the British social realism genre. How do Gunslinger films fit into the social realism genre?

The social realism genre shines a light on the everyday conditions of the working classes and the poor. Gunslinger films always focuses on the different crises that can happen in reality of a working class person and makes these people have identification with the film. As the number of people who are of a working class or poor, having films that represents them is proven to be a good business move as their revenue would be very big as there is a large audience who would want to watch these types of films.

• Why does the UK urban drama genre appeal to an audience?

Domestically, there is strong identification created with the situations 

Internationally, shows a different perspective of the UK contrasting to the typical stereotypes

Certification

• How does the certification process work at the BBFC?

U= UNIVERSAL (ages 4 and over)

PG= PARENTAL GUIDANCE

12A = A film that requires an adult to be with the child if under 12 years old

12= 12 and over

15= 15 and over

18= 18 and over

R18 = Restricted due to explicit sexual content

These certifications are decided by extensive research of public opinions which accumulated over the years. This is so the BBFC can adhere to there 2 key principles:

• to protect children and vulnerable adults from potentially harmful or otherwise unsuitable content
• to empower consumers, particularly parents and those with responsibility for children, to make informed viewing decisions.

• Think about the certificate of Ill Manors (18 certificate). What is deemed acceptable for an 18 certificate? What is the difference between a 15 certificate and an 18 certificate?

The BBFC considers these to be the factors that are acceptable for an 18 certificate

•   very strong violence
•   frequent strong language (e.g. 'f***') and / or very strong language (e.g. ‘c***’)
•   strong portrayals of sexual activity
•   scenes of sexual violence
•   strong horror
•   strong blood and gore
•   real sex (in some circumstances)
•   discriminatory language and behaviour

The BBFC considers these to be the factors that are acceptable for a 15 certificate

Any of the following:

•   strong violence
•  frequent strong language (e.g. 'f***').
•   portrayals of sexual activity
•   strong verbal references to sex
•   sexual nudity
•   brief scenes of sexual violence or verbal references to sexual violence
•   discriminatory language or behaviour
•   drug taking

There isn't much difference between a 15 and 18 certificate as the content is very similar but films are categorized due to the severity of its content. An 18 film would have content that is more severe and explicit in comparison to a 15, which will probably have the aspects of an 18 films hinted at or shown inexplicitly.                                                                           

• What are the advantages and disadvantages for a film in being given an 18 certificate?

The advantages are that a mature audience would be viewing the film and as younger audiences would not be allowed to watch it , films would avoid negatively influencing them. It also may reach a larger audience as older audience members may be convinced that the film is definitely one that is aimed at adults.

However having an 18 certificate will greatly hinder the target audience and may make the film lose out on potential profit.