Ill Manors: institution research

Distribution research

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

1. Producer/studio acquires rights to film story or treatment after which screenplay is developed by writers.
2. Production finance, cast and crew are confirmed.
3. Principal photography is arranged at studios and/or agreed settings, followed by post-production including editing and scoring.
4. Distributor gathers exhibitors and journalists along to watch parts of the shoot, to build anticipation for the actual release.
5. Distributor develops release strategy, considers release date, and takes delivery of a master print of the finished film.
6. Distributor presents the film to BBFC to ensure no issues with certification. Then screens to exhibitors and negotiates bilateral agreements to have it shown in cinemas.
7. Distributor's marketing campaign aims to create a buzz among the target audience and launches the film.
8. DCPs including the British Board of Film Classification certificate are delivered to cinemas a few days before opening. KDMs issued.
9. Film's run extends any number of weeks subject to demand, which may be augmented by additional marketing - greater buzz and appeal for film.
10. Following its run in cinemas, the film is released in other formats (home entertainment, television) and quickly becomes a catalogue title.

Ill Manors: Funding and production budget

What was the estimated budget for Ill Manors?

 £100,000

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

Film London Microwave, BBC Films and Aimimage. 

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

Skyfall is a high-concept Hollywood action blockbuster with a budget of around $200 million compared to the £100,00 on ill Manors.

Film London and Microwave Film

What is Film London and why does it exist?

Brand remit: "Film London discovers and champions filmmaking talent through short and feature film production — building and growing the city’s imagination and creativity." 

What is the purpose of Microwave Film?

Microwave is Film London's ground-breaking feature filmmaking scheme. It has helped to produce Hong Khaou's critically-acclaimed Lilting, BAFTA-nominated Shifty and Plan B's directorial debut, iLL Manors

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

Lilting 

Shifty 

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

Shifty is also an urban British crime/drama film set in London, directed by Eran Creevy, released in 2008 and stars Riz Ahmed too, who played the protagonist in ill Manors. Shifty delivered after only a shooting schedule of eighteen days with a very low budget funded by the Film London Microwave scheme to support the film with the provision of the production budget. 

Distributor: Revolver Entertainment

When was Revolver Entertainment created?

Founded in 1997, London.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.

Anuvahood

Anuvahood was successful due to its effective promotional campaign which was designed to be compatible for the targeted audience, appreciating the British urban crime/drama genre.

Shank

Shank was successful in its distribution as it received support from celebrities such as Bashy, Adam Deacon and Jamal Edwards who are known by the targeted young audience. This trailer in particular was featured on SBTV which has a wide coverage of younger British males. 

Offender

Starring key figures in the UK grime scene, complementing the context of the film's narrative which can hold synergy with the music produced by the actors/rappers within the film. Revolver took advantage of this by using video and audio as promotional material for increasing appeal for the film. 

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

Anuvahood was similar in terms of it being a British urban crime/drama film but it differs largely in terms of the context of it as more of a comedy based film rather than a socially realistic approach with a sentimental feel.

Why did Revolver Entertainment go out of business in 2013?

Revolver Entertainment suffered as rival Metrodome acquired all rights over the film 'Liability' which was set to be distributed by Revolver in the month of February 2013. Many key members of the administration had left to go to other production outfits. 

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

Revolver is acknowledged for the first distributor to host an online streaming for launching a film on release date. 

Gunslinger

Visit the Gunslinger website and list the three films currently in development (click on theSlate tab).

The London Syndrome, Bootneck & Electric

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

Shank aims to primarily entertain rather than educate an audience as ill Manors does. The trailer glamourises the fast-paced violence and action consisted of an urban lifestyle in London, contrasting to ill Manors which presents it as more poignant and devastating. Nonetheless it is still fitting in the urban British crime/drama genre, yet serves to fulfil a different intention to be inflicted onto the audience. 

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

Kidulthood & Adulthood - Gunslinger's director of production is concerned with the moral messages sent by films which portray London life, he carefully crafts what "London teenagers wanted to accompany their popcorn"

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

Gunslinger films differ from typical Hollywood high-concept films as the narrative is not as fantastical and features the gritty and more pessimistic aspects of life portrayed in the film's storyline.

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

The UK urban drama genre is one which a UK audience in particular can empathise with, as well as interesting those from abroad geographic locations. 

Certification

One final aspect of institution is the certificate the film was awarded for exhibition. This is decided by the British Board of Film Classification.

How does the certification process work at the BBFC?

Examiners look at issues such as discrimination, drugs, horror, nudity, sex and violence when making decisions. They also consider context, the tone and impact of a work (how it makes the audience feel) and even the release format (for example, as DVDs, Blu-rays and videos for download are watched in the home)

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?

A 15 certificate will lack explicitness in terms of the sensitive issues portrayed whereas an 18 certificate will feature it explicitly in great detail and possibly a lot more often than in a 15-rated film.

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

An 18 certificate provides the advantage of preventing exposure of the sensitive material to an immature audience susceptible to being influenced, it holds a disadvantage nevertheless of receiving a smaller box office amount because the 15-17 age range and below will not be able to watch the film in cinema.