Salesman Blues: April 2014

The first question is: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products (film openings)?

Below is a 9 frame analysis of my influential films - the stills are of scenes that show a particular element that I have incorporated into my main task.

Note: the stills are from three different influential film openings that I have analysed fully in separate posts:
Adventureland (2009)
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010)

Below is another 9 frame analysis of my main task - the stills are demonstrating the same elements as the ones in my influential 9 frame.

1. In the film 'Adventureland' (2009), the opening titles are presented by a group of blurred out shots being shown and titles flying in from the sides of the frame. There is also a music soundtrack playing while this is all happening. I have tried to do something similar, by having my titles appear while a collection of shots depict Mark at work. I also have a music soundtrack playing throughout this title sequence.

2. In the film 'Silver Linings Playbook' (2012), the opening scenes feature the main characters in their 'equilibrium' stage (using Todorov's narrative theory), they are at work like it would be everyday. I have also shown this in my film, with Mark at work selling things from his briefcase.

3. In 'Adventureland', they have followed the stereotypical party scene - lots of alcohol, casual clothing, young people being loud, etc. Therefore, I have incorporated this element into my film with a stereotypical pub scene - a few guys sitting at a table drinking alcohol together and joking around. They are all wearing stereotypical clothes for their age and there is music playing in the background a well.

4. There are certain elements of camerawork that I have also tried to introduce into my film. One big example that I can think of is in 'Adventureland', when Jesse Eisenberg's character is introduced, there is a medium close up and a slight press in on him, until he finally speaks (pictured above). When I introduce Natalie Leek's character, I have done the same technique - a medium close up that presses in on her face until she finally speaks (also pictured above).

5. In 'It's Kind of a Funny Story' (2010), the 'set-up' of the story is done through the use of the protagonist's monologues, mixed with the events that are happening to him in the present time. I have done the same thing, in the fact that my main character is performing a monologue, while past events are playing out onscreen.

6. Comedy is at the heart of this genre (romantic-comedy), however the influential films I have chosen, and my main task don't have too many hilarious moments. The comedy involved is more 'tongue-in-cheek' humour, so I have tried to add some of this humour into my film too. For example: in 'It's Kind of a Funny Story', there is quite funny dialogue between the protagonist and another person in the ward - when he questions why Craig wants to go to summer school when he "should be on Coney Island, bird-doggn' chicks". I have introduced a similar type of humour when Mark talks about his previous girlfriend carol - there is a flashback to them in bed together, accompanied with Marks' monologue.

7. In 'Silver Linings Playbook', the protagonist is revealed at the beginning with a monologue and a slow fade into a shot from behind him - focusing on his back. My protagonist is revealed at the beginning by opening a door to see him standing there. These are quite different, but both involve introducing the character to the audience in quite an easy way - the fade in 'Silver Linings Playbook' eases the audience into the shot, whereas where the door is being opened to reveal my main character, the audience is used to this happening in their own homes, so instantly recognise the event. Both characters also have dialogue at the beginning that identifies what they are like, 'Silver Linings Playbook' have a much more in depth piece a dialogue in the opening shots; but my main task has a few lines that help give the audience a clue to what Mark is like.

8. In 'It's Kind of a Funny Story', they use black screens and simple white titles for the film title and for the transitions between different days. I really liked this effect, so I have used a similar effect in my opening. The first few titles are just on black screens and the white text appears when a doorbell is rang. I think this keeps it all very simple, but is also quite interesting with the doorbell easing the audience into the scene.

9. In 'Silver Linings Playbook', the main character's everyday life is played out to us in a few different short scenes (with a music soundtrack). I have used the same technique to introduce Mark's character to the audience - recording an instrumental version of the Foo Fighters song 'Walk'. Later on, I have also used a technique used in 'It's Kind of a Funny Story', there are flashbacks to previous events and the character's monologue runs over these scenes. This happens both in 'It's Kind of a Funny Story' and my film opening and I love this technique.

The second question is: How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Social Groups represented in my film: Old Aged Pensioners, Salesmen, Men at the pub, Women.

Old Aged Pensioners (OAPs)

In mainstream media, OAPs are usually seen as quite frail and vulnerable. They are often seen struggling to read something or listen to someone due to degenerating eyesight and hearing - they may be seen with glasses and/or hearing aids to emphasize this image. They are also often seen to get quite agitated at the new world - sometimes even racist or sexist due to the change in society we have gone through.

In my feature film opening, I have incorporated this into my film by having an old woman answer the door to Mark and struggle to hear him. After repeating his speech a few times, she sends him away with the wave of her hand - a little frustrated at him for disturbing her day.

Salesmen

In mainstream media, door-to-door salesmen are usually seen as being nice and friendly. They are also almost always dressed in some form of suit, to look nice and try to attract a possible customer.

In my feature film opening, I have also gone along this route - Mark is dressed in a smart suit and always greets potential customers with a smile. Although he is unsuccessful in getting anyone to buy anything from him, he seems like a nice man to talk to for the customers.

Men at the pub

Men at the pub together is almost always seen in the same way in media. Everyone has an alcoholic drink of sorts, and they are all chatting and laughing about (often all together about a joke of sorts). No-one is overly drunk, but one or two may be a little tipsy by the end of the night.

I have taken this on board with my film - shooting point of view shots of guys at a pub. In the film opening, they are all laughing about and drinking a variety of drinks. No-one is overly drunk and they all seem to be having a good time together.

Women

In the similar products to mine, women are usually seen to be quite mean towards the protagonist - sometimes even using him for sex or money. For example; in 'It's Kind of a Funny story' (2010) Nia tries to have sex with Craig just after she breaks up with her boyfriend, because she knows that he has liked her for a long while.

In my film, an essence of that is felt with Mark's ex girlfriend. He describes how they broke up as her describing him as "repetitive and boring" - really, it is a reference to how he is as a sexual partner. Therefore leading the audience to think that she broke up with him just because he wasn't great in bed, rather than not liking his personality.

The third question is: What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Many different companies distribute similar films to mine. For example:

She's Out of my League (2010) is distributed by Paramount Pictures.
Love Actually (2003) is distributed by Universal Studios.
Just my Luck (2006) is distributed by 20th Century Fox.
It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010) is distributed by Focus Features.

All of these films involve something close to a man that is awful at finding the right girl and somehow finds one in strange circumstances - much like the idea for the feature length version of my film.

In fact, many different distributors buy romantic comedies that are similar in plot to my film. I have found this on a website that lists films and relevant information. This means I am unsure of which one will potentially look at distributing my film. If I were to create the whole film, I would have to consider many different options and contact different distributors to see which company is most interested in distributing the film to a wider audience.

http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/genre/Romantic-Comedy

Paramount Pictures

Paramount is the fifth oldest film distribution company. Of course, this means that it has distributed many different films and take on pretty much every genre of film at one time or another. It is one of the largest film and television distribution companies in the world and takes on feature length films to distribute.

If I were to contact them to see if they wanted to distribute my film, I would most likely be unsuccessful - due to the fact that my film is being made in the UK, it is not a high concept film and it is being made by me (an independent studio).

Universal Studios

Universal is one of the six major movie studios. This also means that it distributes many different films and focus on many different film genres. This is also one of the largest film distributors in the world and for the past few years have released a film every month or so.

This studio will most likely be similar to Paramount - in the fact that if I contacted them about my film, I will most likely be unsuccessful.

20th Century Fox

20th Century Fox is also one of the six major movie studios. They have also distributed a film every month or so for the past few years. This means that I will most likely be unsuccessful in getting them to distribute my film.

Focus Features

Focus Features is the 'Art House Films' division of NBC Universal. They mainly act as a producer and distributor of their own films, and some foreign films. They own both Momentum Pictures and Entertainment Film Distributors.

Momentum Pictures

Momentum Pictures is one of the leading independent film distributors in UK and Ireland. They release about 20 films a year, not including a selection of Direct to Video releases.

Momentum Pictures will be much more likely to take on my film than any other film distributors that I have looked at so far, this is because they are based in the UK and focus on releasing independent films to the mass market (like my film would be aiming for).

Entertainment Film Distributors

Entertainment Film Distributors is a British film distributor that focus' on independent films - distributed in the UK and Ireland. This company has had many successes, the most notable of these being The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

This distributor is more likely to take up my film because they focus more on distributing independent films to the mass market. However, due to this there will be a lot of competition to get my film noticed, so may be quite hard to get it shown.

My Logos:

BFI - The British Film Institute would have helped fund my film with lottery funding. The lottery funding would have originally been distributed to different film projects through the UK Film Council, however the council was abolished in 2010 and most of its duties (including the allocation of lottery funds) was passed onto the BFI. The BFI was formed in 1933 to maintain the world's biggest film archive, it has since expanded and taken over many different roles and responsibilities within the British film industry. It is a charitable organisation, established by a royal charter. I would have applied for funding through them and (assuming that they accept) I would have received the amount applied for to create the film.

Adam Fowler Photography - This would be the Cinematography company that helps create the film (in partnership with Lone Warrior Films). They would have supplied the camera equipment and camera operators to help shoot the film. This would be similar to nearly any cinematographer in the film industry - helping get the film from script, onto film - however real cinematographers won't usually supply camera equipment, they are usually just in charge of how to shoot the film.

Lone Warrior Films - The producers of the film. They would have contacted everyone involved in the film making process: finding the correct director, cinematographer, stars, etc. They would have also budgeted the film accordingly and applied for the funding received from the BFI.

Momentum Pictures - Momentum pictures are one of the biggest independent UK film distributors. As I have stated above, they are more likely to have picked up my film for distribution in the UK due to the fact that it is an independent film that is similar to many other films they have distributed. Lone Warrior Films would have contacted them early on in the film making process to try and generate interest in the film and possibly discuss a distribution deal. Once the film is made, Momentum Pictures would have delivered the film to the audience, by sending it to different cinemas and eventually DVD/Blu-Ray outlets and online stores.

The fourth question is: Who would be the audience for your media product?

This is Pete; he is 22 years old. He rents a flat in North West London and commutes to Central London for his desk job at Lloyds Bank. He dresses in a suit everyday for work, but for leisure activities wears fairly straightforward clothes: Jeans and polo shirt. On the weekends he and his friend usually go for a night out at local clubs and pubs. Pete is single, but has the odd date with girls where he will most likely take them to see a film at the cinema, then go for a meal afterwards. This is due to the fact that it is a fairly cheap night out that is also good fun and a good way to get to know this potential partner. Pete hasn't had many long term relationships; they all seem to ‘fizzle out’ after a month or two, which is why he likes the ‘cinema and meal’ tactic for first dates.

Pete likes many different films: he enjoys a good action, such as The Dark Knight series; he also likes to get into some good character development in a drama, such as in Good Will Hunting; however every now and then he will sit down and relax while watching a romantic-comedy (a guilty pleasure many guys have). This is perfect for his cinema/meal first date because his potential partner can pick the film and he will most likely enjoy whatever it is. In his flat he has a basic Blu-Ray player and a HDTV set-up, so he can watch the DVDs his friends occasionally bring over, as well as being able to have an epic cinematic experience with his copy of Inception on Blu-Ray. This is all funded by the good salary from his mundane desk job.

Pete watches a mix of television shows, from Friends to Dexter. He enjoys the character development side of dramas like The Walking Dead, while also enjoying the laughs that are had on series such as The Inbetweeners. There is a similar story in his music taste – he is a very ‘rounded’ person, listening to a little rock, a bit of pop, and even a bit of classical music. Although he steers clear of the more ‘extreme’ versions of each of these, such as screamo or rap. He prefers to put his music on his iPhone 5, due to the fact that he doesn't own a car and uses a bicycle to get to work each day (meaning taking CD’s would be pointless, and he won’t have a radio to listen to).

I think that my film will appeal to Pete due to his guilty pleasure in watching romantic-comedies, while also being able to take a girl to see it at the cinema – due to girls stereotypically liking romantic-comedies too. I also think it would appeal to him because Pete and the main character in my film both find it hard to keep a long term relationship going. This means that Pete will identify with Mark in my film.

The fifth question links to the previous one and is: How did you attract/address your audience?

I addressed my target audience in a number of ways. Due to the fact that I could always relate back to the audience profile (above), I could write the script in a way that would directly apply to Pete. The main character has a very similar personality to that of Pete's (and a large number of other men in the world). The film would be both enjoyable for him and his potential partner if he takes a girl to the cinema - meaning that the film will be enjoyed by both of them and they could potentially spread good word of mouth about the film to their friends (a lot of whom would also like similar films due to the similarities in personality and film preferences).

I also based the idea for the protagonist's ex girlfriend on the fact that a lot of men similar to Pete's age, would have experienced a girl breaking up with them in the recent past - due to them being young and relationships moving quickly around until they eventually find the person that they spend the rest of their life with. Some men would have even had issues in the bedroom with a woman, which is what is hinted at in my film opening - again, making the situation more and more relate-able for the audience members.

My film also centres around a lot of familiar locations for viewers. Namely the front door of their house while they have to turn down a door-to-door salesman, and the pub (more specifically, for a 'guys night out').

Due to the fact that the audience will relate to these situations and locations, they will then become more familiar with the characters and enjoy the film more. A lot of people enjoy films that are 'close to home' and deal with issues that are similar to the ones that they have dealt with in the past. This is because they can relate to the characters easily and apply their previously experienced emotions to that of the characters onscreen.

Throughout the film-making progress, I have tried to 'bounce ideas' off of my focus group. I have uploaded videos of this on the blog and made action plans for each one to improve my film. Towards the beginning, I told them all about my idea in general, and they all seemed to like it. I showed them clips of my influential films and explained some techniques that I had in mind; I also showed them numerous drafts of the film and received positive and negative feedback throughout, meaning that I could change the film accordingly.

This has all lead to what I think is a very good product that has been changed to fit the audience profile accordingly. If this were eventually made into a feature length film, I think it would do pretty well in the box office because I have changed it enough to fit my target audience's expectations.

The sixth question is: What have you learned about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

The seventh and final question is: Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the main product?

Location:
Site
Address	6 Edwards Close, Wigmore, Gillingham, Kent

Availability:
Days of the week	Any day
Times of the day	Any time
Special arrangements	None

Miscellaneous
Parking	Yes
Distance/time from home	0 mins
Power capabilities	Yes
Other observations	N/A

Location:
Site
Address	58 Norman Close, Wigmore, Gillingham, Kent
Contact	Facebook: Guy Barnes

Availability:
Days of the week	Any day
Times of the day	Any time
Special arrangements	Must give notice and receive reply before filming.

Salesman Blues

Labels

Thursday, 24 April 2014

Salesman Blues (opening to a feature length film)

Monday, 7 April 2014

Evaluation

Tuesday, 1 April 2014

Planning - Location Scouting

Availability:
Days of the week	Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday
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Special arrangements	Must give notice and receive reply beforehand

Location:
Site
Address	88 High Street, Rainham, Kent
Contact	01634 387272