FM2

Section A: Producers and Audiences

Section A: Producers and Audiences

• This section of the exam will focus on the film industry and audience film consumption, looking at film finance, distribution and exhibition in US and UK cinema.

• This is one of three sections to the unit FM2: British and American Film (the other 2 will be covered after half term).

• The exam in May will be 2 hours 30 mins long therefore you should spend 50 minutes on each of the 3 sections

Section A: Exam Rubric• In this section there is a focus on the following aspects of film:

• Film Pre-Production and Production• Film Marketing• Film Distribution• Film Exhibition

• This section of the exam will feature 2 different questions that cover one of the above in some way. You only answer one question,

• The exam tests your responses to stimulus material supplied in relation to some of the issues covered.

• Your answer should be a mixture of your own knowledge and a response to the stimulus material.

The Exam Paper

• On this paper there is a choice of 2 different questions and you have to answer two. This year’s paper will only feature 2 questions with only one having to be answered.

• For the purpose of this timed assessment we are going to all answer the same question!

What the board say.

• Students answer one question from two.

• Each question will have three pieces of stimulus material which must be referred to in your answer.

• The key focus of both question will be contemporary aspects of US and UK film form both the industry and audience perspectives.

• The main emphasis will be on your knowledge, backed up by what the stimulus material says. They are not expecting you to know everything about the film industry!

• The board suggest that students split up their knowledge into case studies….

Case Studies• Hollywood film production- budgets, type of product,

production processes.

• UK film production- as above.

• Importance of genre and stars in US and UK industries.

• Film marketing.

• Film exhibition- cinema, DVD, online etc.

• Non mainstream or independent cinema.

There is likely to be some overlap.Before choosing a question have specific films, stars, genres,cinemas, websites etc in mind that you can refer to

Our film case studies• During the course of this topic we will be

referring to lots of different films. However we will attempt to base our study on these two films.

•Inception’ (2009)directed by Christopher Nolan is a big budget Hollywood studio action film with an A list star.

•The King’s Speech’ (2010) directed By Tom Hopper is a small budget UK/European produced period drama.

Look at the paper.

• The question requires you to read the source material.

• As with all of these questions the instructions state that you should ‘use the resource material and your own knowledge…’

• What is the focus of the question?• What have you learnt/discussed that could you apply

to this question.• What wider knowledge do you have of this issue.• What film examples can you refer to?

• Read the stimulus material.• The examiner is not expecting you to know everything about the film

issue, but they are hoping that you have some knowledge to answer at least one of the questions.

• They also insist you refer to the stimulus material. Failure to do either will lose you considerable marks.

Introduction

• Task 1: Brainstorm everything you know about the film industry.

• Task 2: Your Film Consumption – fill in the film consumption questionnaire in the handbook.

What makes a great film?

• The acting/performances• The plot/narrative• The direction• The design or look• The script• Other technical aspects• The marketing and promotion• Anything else? The budget perhaps?

• Which of the above are essential to all ‘great films’?

Discussion

What makes a great film?

• Look at the two trailers for ‘The King’s Speech’ and ‘Inception’.

• What makes them successful and interesting in their own right?

To Conclude…..

• Film is a subjective medium. One person’s favourite film is another’s least favourite.

• Films can be great and successful for lots of reasons.

• Large budgets might guarantee a large ‘gross’ but do not guarantee a great film.

• The plot and script are probably the two most important components for any ‘great film’.

• The industry cannot always guarantee if a film is going to be a hit. Audiences are often unpredictable.