Blinded By The Light: case study blog tasks

 Background and Production

Read the following interviews and features on Blinded By The Light:

Writer Sarfraz Manzoor on the story behind the film - Guardian
Manzoor again on the promotion of the film and audience reaction
Variety feature on the best films from the 2019 Sundance Film Festival 

1) What is the story behind the production of the film?

is a rites of passage comedy drama directed by Gurinder Chadha, who also directed BendIt Like Beckham. Set in 1987, it revisits Manzoor's teenage years and much of it is directly basedon real events. an unlikely result of this is that his teenage friendship with Amolak has now been incapable of dying- not something either of them could have imagined in their wildest dreams.

2) What was the audience reaction to the film?

audiences discovered personal connections to the story. I couldn't have anticipated that Israeli ladies in Jerusalem, white teenage American boys in Omaha, Nebraska and older white ladies in Australia who had seenthe film could all touch me on social media and thank me for telling their story. I had now not expected to be approached, at screenings from Glasgow to Seattle, through people who reputedly had nothing in commonplace with the protagonist however said they'd related emotionally with the story.

3) Why is the Sun dance Film Festival such an important part of the film industry - particularly for lower budget films? 

The festival permitted movies that would have had small to no chance of raising sufficient cash for a budget to induce their opportunity to be financed by bigger company and build the British film industry instead of depending on foreign film and standard film to fill cinemas. This will deliver rise to unused makers that conclusion up building and contributing to the development of British film.

 Funding and industry contexts

1) What was the budget for Blinded By The Light and which companies contributed to the production budget?

$15 million, Levantine films and ingenious media.

2) Research the Bend It Networks website. What other films and projects has the company been involved with?

Bend it like Beckham the musical, Beecham houseViceroys house,Desi Rascals, its a wonderful afterlife, Angus thongs and perfect snogging, Mistress of spices, Bride and Prejudice, Whats cooking? 

3) Research Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema on the Warner's website here. Summarise the history of New Line Cinema in a short paragraph.

Building on more than 50 a long time of development and imagination, New Line Cinema proceeds its long and effective history of creating fundamentally acclaimed hit films that reverberate with both mainstream and niche audiences around the world. Portion of Warner Bros. Amusement since 2008, New Line facilitates its improvement, generation, promoting, conveyance and trade issues exercises with Warner Bros. Pictures Bunch to expand film execution and working efficiencies. In 2023, New Line will release “House Party,” “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” “Evil Dead Rise” and “The Nun 2.” 

 

4) Read this Variety interview with director Gurinder Chadha explaining how the project came about - including budget details. What attracted Gurinder Chadha to the project and how did she manage to get the film made? 

Born in Kenya when the nation was a British colony, she developed up portion of the Indian/Asian diaspora who made their way from East Africa to London motion pictures has continuously managed with the foreigner involvement It serves as a strong parallel to the xenophobia of nowadays. Chadha may be a tremendous Springsteen fan, who sought after her dream of making a motion picture almost The Boss' music based on the true-life diary of co-writer Sarfraz Manzoor. It took nearly a decade from Chadha's chance assembly with Springsteen, who gave his thumbs-up to the book after a 2010 U.K. screening of The Guarantee. They continued to reach out to Jon Landau and Barbara Carr at his administration company, beside official maker Tracy Nurture, a previous SVP Universal Promoting at Sony Music, where she worked with Bruce for a long time, enrolling her to ended up portion of the film's generation staff. New Line Cinema, who procured it for the $15 million it fetched to form. Offers were being texted to Chadha as she sat within the gathering of people observing her claim film. 

Distribution

Read this Deadline feature on the distribution deal for Blinded By The Light and answer the following questions: 

1) Which company won the distribution rights after the all-night auction and for how much?

New line cinema for $15 million 

2) Which other companies were rumoured to be bidding for the distribution rights?

Fox Searchlight, Lions gate

3) According to the article, what was the 'allure' of Blinded By The Light?

universal appeal of Springsteen’s coming-of-age tunes, which tell honest stories about a hardscrabble upbringing, ambition and the fight to break free of all shackles to do something worthwhile with one’s life.

4) UK distribution was secured by eOne Entertainment. Visit the eOne About Us page on their website - what do they claim to offer under the heading 'Passion meets possibility?'

eOne enables every step in the entertainment value chain from development and production to marketing and distribution. With the reach of a studio and the flexibility of an indie, we share bold stories with audiences around the world.

Marketing, promotion and reception

1) What does the trailer suggest regarding genre and the potential audience pleasures of Blinded By The Light?

80's Coming of age, with aspects of social realism and i believe that the gratification of personal identification can be applied here to identifying with an immigrant background or the struggle to find a purpose and a path in life after reaching adulthood. Also provides diversion as it can take us from our own everyday lives and provide some comedy in the life of someone else.

2) What TV shows and websites did interviews with writer, director and stars of Blinded By The Light? Why are interviews a good way to promote a new film release? 

BBC one, Hey You Guys, Bend it networks. Interviews are a good way to promote a new film release as it stimulates public interest and brings the film to the attention of a large audience through not just the video interview but also the articles that are published that garners interest as well.

3) What did film posters for Blinded By The Light feature and where did they appear? You may need to research this on Google Images. 

Featured the main character Javed, On the UK distribution it had been Javed on a Orange and white background with him jumping up while in The US poster Javed is seen to be in more denim and looking more like a Bruce Springsteen fan but on a red and blue background, and does not have the Walkman or headphones that are reminiscent of the 80's.

4) What social media accounts did Blinded By The Light use to promote the film? Note: some sites may be blocked if you are working in school - you will need to use your phone or complete your research at home.

Instagram, Twitter, YouTube.

5) Select three posts from the Blinded By The Light Instagram page and explain how they promote the film.

On the Instagram account for the film, there are posts of the film poster for blinded by the light, reviews from articles and video segments taken from the movie. All of these promote the film as they create excitement and interest through understanding what it will be about, the main character and its vibe while also providing reviews that will make the film more credible for the average audience/ reliability in the film being worth the watch.

6) Go to the Bend It Networks YouTube channel. How does Gurinder Chadha introduce the channel?  What other content is on the Bend It Networks YouTube channel?

She introduces the channel as being a place for people to go to if they have interests that they want to share and be a part of a wider community where people can share not just those interests but culture as well. The channel also contains movie trailers for Chadha's other works but also interviews and the makings of her films.

7) Look at the box office figures for Blinded By The Light from The Numbers website. How much did it make at the box office and why do you think it was largely unsuccessful?

$19.5 million and i believe that it had been unsuccessful due to its launch in August coinciding with another exceptionally comparable movie 'Yesterday' but too that it had discharged as a Feel Great film but had numerous components of social authenticity that will have put individuals off of observing it amid that summer period. Whereas the reality that it had no come up with a concrete character of what class the film was, may have moreover exacerbated the feeling that gatherings of people did not know climate the film requested to them or not which may caused a hesitance in observing 'Blinded by the Light'. 

8) Click on the tabs with further information (such as 'News', 'Box Office' and 'Video Sales'). Copy and paste some more statistics or sales figures to add to your understanding of the film's financial performance.

The British film industry: blog tasks

British film industry

1) Write a one-sentence definition of what makes a film British.

In order to be defined as ‘British’, a film needs to do more than simply feature British characters or
represent a British way of life.


2) What is the difference between a Hollywood production context and production context of a British film?

The Hollywood and British production contexts have many differences and can produce very different films. There are a number of factors that affect the relationship between production contexts and films and these include finance, technology, social and political issues and use of stars. The Hollywood production context has changed a great deal since the ‘Golden Age’ when all the studios were vertically integrated and the ‘Big 5’ had full control and dominance over the production, distribution and exhibition of films. Now there are a greater number of studios in Hollywood that are producing films such as DreamWorks and Sony Pictures Studio as well as Paramount and Warner Brothers and others that survived from the ‘Golden Age’.


3) When did the James Bond franchise start?
The James Bond franchise started in the 1960s, with the first cinema adaptation of an Ian Fleming novel, Dr. No, featuring Sean Connery as 007 in 1962.


4) In terms of film censorship and graphic content, what began to change in British film in the 1970s and 1980s?
The 1970s sees a rise in British Films of sexual content, both the act of sex and sex linked to violence with films like A Clockwork Orange (Warner Bros, 1971) coming under a lot of scrutiny. The 1980s see the rise of videos and the ‘video nasty’s scare where film making was becoming more accessible and more extreme content was being created and finding its way to Britain. And so a continual evolution of film censorship and classification in this country has happened since the 1980s that sees 'all films released in the UK to have one of 7 (possibly 8 although the R18 certificate is rarely used) classifications awarded to it'.


5) What groups are often represented in British film? Give examples of films these groups feature in.
Young people are often represented in British films, in films such as A clockwork orange and Eden Lake, typically playing into the stereotype that youth are rule breaking rebels that have violent tendencies, usually with little character depth.


6) What does the Factsheet suggest might be the audience appeal of British film?
The main characteristics that can be identified as appealing to a native British audience would include; the actors, British actors tend to be clearly identifiable as British and will often be associated with a particular genre of British film, for example Hugh Grant having an association with British romantic comedies. However the overwhelming characteristics that will most appeal to a British audience is the social theme that provides the through line for many British film narratives. The British audience has a keen interest in British films that focus on class, social strife, education and more.


Factsheet #100: British film industry


1) What is the 'cultural test' to see if a film counts as British?
The 'cultural test' is a list of criteria, each with points allocated to certain criteria, and if a film scores at least 16 of the 31 points it is then classified as British

2) Complete the task on the Factsheet - choose three of the films listed and research them to work out what they score on the cultural test: The Sweeney (2012), Attack The Block, The King's Speech, We Need To Talk About Kevin and Skyfall.


The Sweeney (dir. Love, 2012)
Financing - £3 million budget/ $7.7 million profit
Cultural test - 18

Attack the Block (dir. Cornish, 2011)
Financing - £8 million budget/ £4.1 million profit
Cultural test - 27

The King’s Speech (dir. Hooper, 2012)
Financing - $15 million budget/ $414.3 million profit
Cultural test - 29

We Need to Talk About Kevin (dir. Ramsay, 2011)
Financing - $7 million budget / $10.8 million profit
cultural test - 16

Skyfall (dir. Mendes, 2012)
Financing - $150-200 million budget / $1.109 profit
cultural test - 24

3) What is the main problem for the British film industry?

The majority of British films are largely production focused rather distribution focus, which can lead to a film breaking even or losing profits at the box office, in terms of distribution both nationally and internationally.

4) What are three of the strengths of the British film industry?

Positive global reputation
film artisians
excellent facilities


5) What are the two options for the future of the British film industry?
create low budget films
targeted at niche audiences
rely upon co-productions with American studios


6) In your opinion, which of these two options would best safeguard the future of the British film industry?


Both of these­ avenues carry their own shortcomings. Low budge­t films aimed at niche crowds could easily yie­ld subpar movies that fail to turn a profit due to limited appe­al. Alternatively, relying primarily on co-productions with Ame­rican studios risks losing uniquely British flair as domestic films adapt to American influe­nce, becoming less re­presentative of the­ir origins. Neither outcome prove­s ideal. That said, partnering with American studios se­ems the best way forward give­n recent co-production successe­s. Such collaborations could maintain high production values while appealing to global audie­nces, thereby safe­guarding the long-term viability of the British film industry.

Editing: blog task

Editing Blog Tasks

 Fight Club First 5 Minutes

In David Fincher's classic film "Fight Club," the opening soundtrack plays a very important role over the first four minutes. This analysis tries to understand how the music establishes tone and moves the plot forward. The film tells the story of an unnamed (person telling the story) whose subconscious shows/documents as the interesting and well-liked Tyler Durden. Struggling in an empty (related to people who use a product or service) culture, the (person telling the story) finds escape and meaning through an underground fight club launched by his other personality. Over the course of the film's interesting and often darkly comedic opening scene, set to disturbing music, Tyler slowly drawsthe (person telling the story) out of his dead (something commonly done) and into a new world of deeply emotional experiences that challenge social conventions. 

Through self-destruction, the main character finally (accomplishes or gains with effort) freedom from material attachments. He burns down his house, quits from his job, and lives suddenly. Rejecting the things he owns. he and Tyler create an underground Fight Club where members angrily face/stand up to institutions of power. As the film begins, the Dust Brothers song"Stealing Fat" that sets the tone connoting fighting against authority and hatred. 

This soundtrack aims to hint to the viewers that the movie contains elements of action. The Sound also predicts the upcoming fast pace just like most action films. What's more, the big energy and strong rhythm prepare the audience for an thrilling experience watching the film. As Referenced by Buckland, 2000, the movie goes forward, there is a change (from one thing to another) from The Dust Brothers' "Stealing Fat" to a song by the same group known as "(related to big business) World". This music (complex piece of music), consisting of an interesting blend of guitar melodies, well-known/obvious bass rhythm, techno-motivated/brought about drum beats, and interesting keyboard effects, creates a rather interesting melody. 

This music's intent is to give the audience an exciting feeling/excited feeling of unstableness, such as that connected with the (related to big business) world. The music then slowly adopts a slower tempo, with reduced percussion beats and lengthening guitar, as well as, keyboard effects. This happens as the (person telling the story) begins his therapy sessions, this way causing a sense of sympathy among the audience. This music is supposed to enable those watching to identify with the (person telling the story)'s difficult situation. The music's made longer melody is also supposed to make sure that the audience remains engaged, as suspenserises, since they wonder what will happen next and if the character will overcome his troubles orcave under pressure. 

In one of these early scenes, there is a fight/disagreement between Tyler Durden and another man named Norton. This is where the (person telling the story) informs the audience that he experiences a feeling of understanding and safety. It is also during this close-up, when the audience hears the sound of singing, like that produced by Buddhist Monks. The invisibility of theon-screen sound source, of a seen/obvious human sound is what is referred to as a non-diegetic sound, in music studies. This singing sound is supposed to add a big effect to the movie. 

Also, the singing is used to show the audience, the main character's thoughtful state of mind. This sound also tries to smoothly guide those watching, from a thoughtful scene to a new one, which displays Norton's life and character outside the Fight Club, as well as, when he is not seeing or hearing things that aren't there about Tyler Durden.

Film & TV Language: final index

 1) Film Poster Analysis

2) Mise-en-scene Analysis blog tasks

4) Lighting analysis blog tasks

5) Sound analysis blog tasks

6) Sound: parallel and contrapuntal video feedback and learner response

7) Cinematography Blog Tasks

8) Cinematography Video Task & Learner Response

9] Editing video task and learner response

10] Editing blog task - 750 word analysis

Editing video feedback and learner response

Editing video feedback and learner response

1) Type up your feedback/comments from your teacher.

Sohail

•  Creative, entertaining, funny - perfectly reflective of modern YouTube conventions and culture
•  However, it doesn't meet the brief - aside from the 180°rule. Lack of Match on action- The use of dissolve
• transitions completely Kills continuity editing.
•  Audio levels are a little uneven on OTS shot - reverse -shot but the OTS shots were well framed (focus wobbled through).

2) Type up your feedback from fellow students.

WWW:

• Fade in and Fade out
• 180° shot
• good editing
• shot/reverse shot

EBI: 

• match on action not clear
• audio muffled 
• transitions broke continuity 

3) Now reflect on your video. Did you meet the brief and successfully include the three key editing aspects we have learned?

my video sort of meet the brief. I included shot/reverse shot and the 180° rule however some other rules were broken. This created an opening for a break in atmosphere and allusion.

4) What were the strengths and weaknesses of your final film? Write a detailed analysis picking out specific shots, edits and any other aspect of film language you think is relevant.

I felt like my strengths were that my editing and choice of clips to add onto to the footage gauged a positive impact on the audience as people were laughing at the memes and also extra audio clips. I also liked how synced Muhammed's transitioning walk was from outside the room to inside then onto a chair. My film had a good 180° shot and the shot/reverse shot worked perfectly in my favour.

However, a big issue in my film was that dissolves were being used constantly, breaking the flow of the story and continuity. On top of this in some scenes the audio was muffled a little and the match on action wasn't clear and was done poorly in my opinion.

5) Learner response: what aspect of editing did you find most difficult? What have you learned from this process that will help you when you start the actual coursework later this year? 

The majority of the editing wasn't as hard as It should've technically been at this stage but since I've grown more accustomed to adobe premiere over the years this has helped me tremendously. The real aspect of editing that I found difficult was choice such as what clios to add on top if the footage and where on the screen to put them. 

From all of this trial and error I have learned that using dissolved is a symbol of passing of time so using it in the context that I did completely broke continuity which I will make sure to make a note of and to use it in the correct context.

Learning more features and uses for adobe premiere will prove helpful when the time comes to make actual coursework as the things that I can do with the program will have broadened which will help me create better video projects.