Tuesday 24 April 2012
Cyborg - Zombie - Terrorists 2020
Act 1
Deep in Iran in the Taliban cave systems, they're experimenting on the radiated corpses after America had launched a series of nukes.
Zeke (played by Keanu Reeves) who is Captain of the US ambassador's security team, suspects something is up after lack of Taliban activity.
Because of this the US believes it's safe to leave. Suddenly... whilst leaving in the dead of night, red beams target them. Thinking it's a sniper, guns are raised, only to vbe confronted by a CYBORG ZOMBIE TERRORIST!!!
Zeke only survivor, forced to take control.
Act 2
Zeke has to find where they originated from but can't do it alone. Therefore he teleports back to the USA to get a team together.
Has to convince people but no-one believes this could ever happen. Finds long-time scientist friend who has known the possibility of this for years, only one to believe Zeke.
Zeke discovers holodiscs belonging to his scientist friend so takes a watch of them. He realizes the scientist has actually been hired by the Taliban!
Retrieves location of the Taliban caves. Kills traitor scientist and starts to doubt this is reality as its so surreal.
Act 3
Zeke teleports to Taliban caves. Alone. Slightly delusional. And dehydrated.
He gets into a HUGE battle with the cyborg-zombie-terrorist army, his only weapon being a nanite gun.
Thousands lay dead around him. But he's in pain. Dragging his severed leg as it barely hangs on.
Discovers head of the Taliban cyborg zombies... Bin Laden. He was the creator. Zeke realizes the only way left is to melt everything via EMP. NO-ONE SURVIVES :(
Tuesday 17 April 2012
Invasion of the body snatchers beat sheet
Invasion of the Body Snatchers Beat Sheet
Establishing shot pan following police car. Non-diegetic music (violins) putting the audience on edge.
Miles’ fist line of dialogue, protesting he’s not crazy whilst looking like a mad man and being held back. Emphatic sound, a non-diegetic sound effect matching Miles’ actions as he lunges forward and grabs the doctor. (1:55)
Finds out other man is a doctor from a mental institute and shouts he’s not insane. Reaction shot CU, over-the-shoulder. (2:08)
Miles starts to narrate the story as the films told in flashback. Dissolves to the next scene. “First glance everything looked the same. It wasn’t. Something evil had taken possession of the town”; sets the scene. (2:37)
Young boy runs out in front of car with Woman running after him who goes to explain he doesn’t want to go to school. Miles narrates “The boys panic should have told me it was more than school he was afraid of”; connoting to the audience something behind the scene is going on. Non-diegetic sound creating suspense. (4:18)
Cuts to Miles in doctor’s surgery, no major incidents got rushed back for nothing. (5:10)
Continuity cut to outside. All Miles’ patients are out and about doing their usual thing, nothing at all seems wrong. (5:25)
Miles’ old love, Becky, tells how her cousin believes her Uncle is an imposter. Non-diegetic sound adds emotion and suspense. Shot-reverse-shot. (6:16)
Sam meant to have appointment but says it wasn’t anything important. (7:45)
Miles about to leave surgery, woman drags young boy in (same one from earlier in the film) who’s in hysterics saying his mother isn’t his mother. Begs Bennell not to let her get him(8:40)
Bennell dismisses the boys claims and tells his grandmother to look after her for a few days while the boy in the background countinues to plea. Boy persists his mother isn't his mother and shouts at Bennell when he suggests it.(9:43)
Bennell goes to Wilmer's house to investigate her claims that her uncle was not her uncle. at 11:00, she explains in more detail the symptoms of being exactly the same but something's missing; no emotion.
12:00: Bennell assures Wilmer that there is no way it can't be her uncle.
12:53: Wilmer asks Bennell if she's going crazy. Bennell says no but says that she should go see his doctor friend Dan that we see in the opening sequence of the movie.
14:00: Encounters her uncle directly. His actions are eerie. Narration describes Bennell's distrust of her uncle despite what he's said to Wilmer but can't see why.
0:21:37 - "Body" has no fingerprints.
0:22:20 - Wife speculates the body is a clone of Jack.
0:25:52 - "Body" has same cut on hand as Jack. Changing into him.
0:27:35 - Doc rushes to Becky's house, check she's safe.
0:29:00 - Searches Becky's house for Becky.
0:30:12 - Finds Becky clone in house basement.
0:31:10 - Takes real Becky and runs for safety in his own home.
0:32:15 - Doc, Jack & Dan enter Jack's home, "Body" is gone, no trace.
0:33:05 - Dan tries to rationalise the "Body" incident.
0:34:14 - "Body" at Becky's has also disappered.
0:35:00 - Dan continues to rationalise experiences.
0:35:35 - Police officer arrives, gives an explanation of missing "Body" at Jack's
0:38:45 - Patient cancels phychiatrist appointment
0:39:15 - Patient walks inside house, no expression , monotone voice.
0:39:42 - Small delerious boy from start of film is in Doc's office, made full recovery.
0:39:58 - Doc asks himself why all his patients cancelled, knowing he didnt help them.
Bennell arrives at Jack's house where they are preparing a barbique.
cut to dutch angle of inside Jack's glasshouse when Bennel enters to find something to help the coal burn. Revealed there is an alien pod inside the glasshouse beginning to take form of someone.
Bennell notices the pod. Extreme close up of his face to stress his shock.
The whole group is alerted to the presence of the pod. Close ups of members of the groups to show the shock and their reaction.
Dialogue tells the audience the nature of the the seed pods. "Something or somebody wants this duplication to take place... when the process is completed the original is probably destoryed or disintergrates... There isn't any danger until it's fully formed."
The group then realise it's when you fall asleep it's when the transformation takes place.
Dutch angle of a group of alien pods foaming.
Bennell tries to call the FBI. Mentions that so many discoveries have been made over the past few years the pods could have come from anywhere, including atomic radiation.
Dialogue during this sequence reminds audience of what has happened during the film and summarises what we know about the alien pods.
The operator tells Bennell his call hasn't gone through; Bennell suspects the telephone office has been taken over.
Human shapes begin forming from the pod's foam. Jack realises they all resemble the group at his house.
Bennell sends Jack and his wife off to nearest town to get help. Bennell realises that they've taken over the phone lines; he has to stay with the phone to answer it when the operator calls back or they'll know they've left town and will block the roads.
Bennell goes into the greenhouse to kill the pod humans; unable to bring himself to kill Bekkie's duplicate.
Bennell and Bekkie decide to leave to find his nurse Sally, his "best bet" for someone to trust. Stop at gas station to try and use a pay phone to call her.
Gas man takes keys "to open the gas tank." Bennell notices him in the boot of his car and is suspicious.
Bekkie and Bennell drive off; in a dark road they pull over and open the trunk to find two alien pods. They set fire to them before driving off. Bennell no longer sure if he can trust anyone.
Arrives at Sally's house. Bennell goes to have a look to make sure it's safe while Bekkie waits in the car. Ready to make drive off quickly.
Bennell discovers a group of sinister invaded in Sally's house. They have a pod ready to replace the baby of the house.
Bennell approached from behind by an invaded policeman. Is told "we've been waiting for you". Bennell escapes but is pursuied by the invaded members of the house.
cuts to inside police cars with a voice over the radio telling all units to catch Bennell and Bekkie. Also shots of various police cars travelling in various directions to show these roadbloacks being installed and the whole force is after the couple.
Bekkie and Bennell turn down a dark alley and park their car and abandon it. Framed in an enclosed hallway to show that they are caged in and trapped.
The two hide in a wardrobe to prevent being seen. Look out onto the room through a barred window to represent their entrapment while waiting for Jack to return with help.
The pair take drugs to help them stay awake. Dialogue reinforces what happens if they fall asleep; they'll become like them. Also reinforeces the importance of individualism and Bennell's feelings for Bekkie whom he kisses.
Population of the town turn up outside. It's too early for this type of activity (7.45am). Realises it's becaus ethere are a bus load of strangers in town and the police arrest them.
Jack arrives; reveals he's been invaded and he turns up with police. Told not to fight it, he has to sleep some time.
Told there's no need for emotion; everyone will be the same.
They also gather to hand out pods to the population to spread the invasion tp sorrounding towns.
1:00:30 - shot reverse shot, eyeline match, non diagetic sound, "there is no need for love", plants (reminder of what once was?) and desk (give aliens more authority).
1:01:16 - "I want to love and be loved", violin fades in, reaction shot, close up.
1:03:53 - doors block exit, medium close up pan, revenge, slightly louder
1:05:45 - average american street, long shot, scream as the actors pretend to be emotion-less, diagetic, shot reverse shot/action shot.
1:07:15 - hills and vegitation as well as people with car, crane high angle pan, town/them running to get them, diagetic and emphatic, establishing shot/reaction shot.
1:09:54 - mining cave with doards in floor, long shot, scared and exasperated/fearing for their lives, diagetic and empathetic, interior shot.
1:15:16 - mud and water, close up, emotion-less, non-diagetic, establishing shot.
1:18:06 - traffic at night (car lights), close up, terror "you're next", reaction shot.
1:18:34 - simple and plain room, medium close up three shot, sarcasm and despiration "you don't believe me", diagetic, reaction shot/jump cut.
1:20:02 - doorway in hospital, close up, fearful but releaved, emphatic, reaction shot.
Establishing shot pan following police car. Non-diegetic music (violins) putting the audience on edge.
Miles’ fist line of dialogue, protesting he’s not crazy whilst looking like a mad man and being held back. Emphatic sound, a non-diegetic sound effect matching Miles’ actions as he lunges forward and grabs the doctor. (1:55)
Finds out other man is a doctor from a mental institute and shouts he’s not insane. Reaction shot CU, over-the-shoulder. (2:08)
Miles starts to narrate the story as the films told in flashback. Dissolves to the next scene. “First glance everything looked the same. It wasn’t. Something evil had taken possession of the town”; sets the scene. (2:37)
Young boy runs out in front of car with Woman running after him who goes to explain he doesn’t want to go to school. Miles narrates “The boys panic should have told me it was more than school he was afraid of”; connoting to the audience something behind the scene is going on. Non-diegetic sound creating suspense. (4:18)
Cuts to Miles in doctor’s surgery, no major incidents got rushed back for nothing. (5:10)
Continuity cut to outside. All Miles’ patients are out and about doing their usual thing, nothing at all seems wrong. (5:25)
Miles’ old love, Becky, tells how her cousin believes her Uncle is an imposter. Non-diegetic sound adds emotion and suspense. Shot-reverse-shot. (6:16)
Sam meant to have appointment but says it wasn’t anything important. (7:45)
Miles about to leave surgery, woman drags young boy in (same one from earlier in the film) who’s in hysterics saying his mother isn’t his mother. Begs Bennell not to let her get him(8:40)
Bennell dismisses the boys claims and tells his grandmother to look after her for a few days while the boy in the background countinues to plea. Boy persists his mother isn't his mother and shouts at Bennell when he suggests it.(9:43)
Bennell goes to Wilmer's house to investigate her claims that her uncle was not her uncle. at 11:00, she explains in more detail the symptoms of being exactly the same but something's missing; no emotion.
12:00: Bennell assures Wilmer that there is no way it can't be her uncle.
12:53: Wilmer asks Bennell if she's going crazy. Bennell says no but says that she should go see his doctor friend Dan that we see in the opening sequence of the movie.
14:00: Encounters her uncle directly. His actions are eerie. Narration describes Bennell's distrust of her uncle despite what he's said to Wilmer but can't see why.
0:21:37 - "Body" has no fingerprints.
0:22:20 - Wife speculates the body is a clone of Jack.
0:25:52 - "Body" has same cut on hand as Jack. Changing into him.
0:27:35 - Doc rushes to Becky's house, check she's safe.
0:29:00 - Searches Becky's house for Becky.
0:30:12 - Finds Becky clone in house basement.
0:31:10 - Takes real Becky and runs for safety in his own home.
0:32:15 - Doc, Jack & Dan enter Jack's home, "Body" is gone, no trace.
0:33:05 - Dan tries to rationalise the "Body" incident.
0:34:14 - "Body" at Becky's has also disappered.
0:35:00 - Dan continues to rationalise experiences.
0:35:35 - Police officer arrives, gives an explanation of missing "Body" at Jack's
0:38:45 - Patient cancels phychiatrist appointment
0:39:15 - Patient walks inside house, no expression , monotone voice.
0:39:42 - Small delerious boy from start of film is in Doc's office, made full recovery.
0:39:58 - Doc asks himself why all his patients cancelled, knowing he didnt help them.
Bennell arrives at Jack's house where they are preparing a barbique.
cut to dutch angle of inside Jack's glasshouse when Bennel enters to find something to help the coal burn. Revealed there is an alien pod inside the glasshouse beginning to take form of someone.
Bennell notices the pod. Extreme close up of his face to stress his shock.
The whole group is alerted to the presence of the pod. Close ups of members of the groups to show the shock and their reaction.
Dialogue tells the audience the nature of the the seed pods. "Something or somebody wants this duplication to take place... when the process is completed the original is probably destoryed or disintergrates... There isn't any danger until it's fully formed."
The group then realise it's when you fall asleep it's when the transformation takes place.
Dutch angle of a group of alien pods foaming.
Bennell tries to call the FBI. Mentions that so many discoveries have been made over the past few years the pods could have come from anywhere, including atomic radiation.
Dialogue during this sequence reminds audience of what has happened during the film and summarises what we know about the alien pods.
The operator tells Bennell his call hasn't gone through; Bennell suspects the telephone office has been taken over.
Human shapes begin forming from the pod's foam. Jack realises they all resemble the group at his house.
Bennell sends Jack and his wife off to nearest town to get help. Bennell realises that they've taken over the phone lines; he has to stay with the phone to answer it when the operator calls back or they'll know they've left town and will block the roads.
Bennell goes into the greenhouse to kill the pod humans; unable to bring himself to kill Bekkie's duplicate.
Bennell and Bekkie decide to leave to find his nurse Sally, his "best bet" for someone to trust. Stop at gas station to try and use a pay phone to call her.
Gas man takes keys "to open the gas tank." Bennell notices him in the boot of his car and is suspicious.
Bekkie and Bennell drive off; in a dark road they pull over and open the trunk to find two alien pods. They set fire to them before driving off. Bennell no longer sure if he can trust anyone.
Arrives at Sally's house. Bennell goes to have a look to make sure it's safe while Bekkie waits in the car. Ready to make drive off quickly.
Bennell discovers a group of sinister invaded in Sally's house. They have a pod ready to replace the baby of the house.
Bennell approached from behind by an invaded policeman. Is told "we've been waiting for you". Bennell escapes but is pursuied by the invaded members of the house.
cuts to inside police cars with a voice over the radio telling all units to catch Bennell and Bekkie. Also shots of various police cars travelling in various directions to show these roadbloacks being installed and the whole force is after the couple.
Bekkie and Bennell turn down a dark alley and park their car and abandon it. Framed in an enclosed hallway to show that they are caged in and trapped.
The two hide in a wardrobe to prevent being seen. Look out onto the room through a barred window to represent their entrapment while waiting for Jack to return with help.
The pair take drugs to help them stay awake. Dialogue reinforces what happens if they fall asleep; they'll become like them. Also reinforeces the importance of individualism and Bennell's feelings for Bekkie whom he kisses.
Population of the town turn up outside. It's too early for this type of activity (7.45am). Realises it's becaus ethere are a bus load of strangers in town and the police arrest them.
Jack arrives; reveals he's been invaded and he turns up with police. Told not to fight it, he has to sleep some time.
Told there's no need for emotion; everyone will be the same.
They also gather to hand out pods to the population to spread the invasion tp sorrounding towns.
1:00:30 - shot reverse shot, eyeline match, non diagetic sound, "there is no need for love", plants (reminder of what once was?) and desk (give aliens more authority).
1:01:16 - "I want to love and be loved", violin fades in, reaction shot, close up.
1:03:53 - doors block exit, medium close up pan, revenge, slightly louder
1:05:45 - average american street, long shot, scream as the actors pretend to be emotion-less, diagetic, shot reverse shot/action shot.
1:07:15 - hills and vegitation as well as people with car, crane high angle pan, town/them running to get them, diagetic and emphatic, establishing shot/reaction shot.
1:09:54 - mining cave with doards in floor, long shot, scared and exasperated/fearing for their lives, diagetic and empathetic, interior shot.
1:15:16 - mud and water, close up, emotion-less, non-diagetic, establishing shot.
1:18:06 - traffic at night (car lights), close up, terror "you're next", reaction shot.
1:18:34 - simple and plain room, medium close up three shot, sarcasm and despiration "you don't believe me", diagetic, reaction shot/jump cut.
1:20:02 - doorway in hospital, close up, fearful but releaved, emphatic, reaction shot.
Sunday 8 April 2012
Sci-Fi Zombie Blog
Both the Invasion of the Body Snatchers and its 2007 remake Inavsion deals with the idea of human identity and how it takes more than memories and acting like a human to be a person. In both films, characters who are related to the invaded refer to them as being that person but not being that person, because "something is missing."
Invasion of the Body snatchers also hints around the fears of communism and how easily Americans in a sleepy town can be taken over.
Invasion deals with a more modern fear of a flu pandemic, replacing the seed pods that previously replaced humans with micro-organisms. This may be because of several events that has taken place over the past fifty years since IOTBS, including the rise of AIDs (spread by the sharing of body fluids, which is how the Invaded infect new hosts), bio-warfare and also the rise and rebirth of the Zombie-horror films (more later).
The film moves on from the fear of communism; this is a reaction experienced in many post-communist Russia films. The James Bond franchise moved on from communist plots to terrorist and crime organisations after the fall of communist Russia, starting in the film Goldeneye.
ZOMBIES
Invasion has several inavded characters that bear resemblence to the famous zombie-genre which was largely defined by Romero in his film Night of the Living Dead.
"Romero's Zombies" as they are known are template zombies; mindless, slow, primitive beings with no emotions. These zombies have been adapted over the decades, particually at the turn of the century with the release of Resident Evil, Dawn of the Dead, 28 Days later and Shaun of the Dead. Modern zombies are typically faster and smarter than their predecessors; in Invasion, there are several scenes that echo the horror franchise. For instance, the scene where Bennell is unconscience in the car and the invaded are trying to break in. This scene where two characters are enclosed is similar to scenes in most zombie films where the characters are surrounded by zombies (for instance, in Dawn of the Dead where the characters are locked inside a shopping mall surrounded by zombies bashing the door, trying to get in).
Also, there are several scenes where the characters are chased by the invaded; this also echoes modern zombie scenes such as in Dawn of the Dead where the zombies chase the lead characters as they escape the mall.
An example of the horror-genre bearing similiarities to Invasion. From Dawn of the Dead, this zombie-crowd scene is similar to the final sequences in Invasion when the lead characters are chased through the streets to escape.
Invasion of the Body snatchers also hints around the fears of communism and how easily Americans in a sleepy town can be taken over.
Invasion deals with a more modern fear of a flu pandemic, replacing the seed pods that previously replaced humans with micro-organisms. This may be because of several events that has taken place over the past fifty years since IOTBS, including the rise of AIDs (spread by the sharing of body fluids, which is how the Invaded infect new hosts), bio-warfare and also the rise and rebirth of the Zombie-horror films (more later).
The film moves on from the fear of communism; this is a reaction experienced in many post-communist Russia films. The James Bond franchise moved on from communist plots to terrorist and crime organisations after the fall of communist Russia, starting in the film Goldeneye.
ZOMBIES
Invasion has several inavded characters that bear resemblence to the famous zombie-genre which was largely defined by Romero in his film Night of the Living Dead.
"Romero's Zombies" as they are known are template zombies; mindless, slow, primitive beings with no emotions. These zombies have been adapted over the decades, particually at the turn of the century with the release of Resident Evil, Dawn of the Dead, 28 Days later and Shaun of the Dead. Modern zombies are typically faster and smarter than their predecessors; in Invasion, there are several scenes that echo the horror franchise. For instance, the scene where Bennell is unconscience in the car and the invaded are trying to break in. This scene where two characters are enclosed is similar to scenes in most zombie films where the characters are surrounded by zombies (for instance, in Dawn of the Dead where the characters are locked inside a shopping mall surrounded by zombies bashing the door, trying to get in).
Also, there are several scenes where the characters are chased by the invaded; this also echoes modern zombie scenes such as in Dawn of the Dead where the zombies chase the lead characters as they escape the mall.
An example of the horror-genre bearing similiarities to Invasion. From Dawn of the Dead, this zombie-crowd scene is similar to the final sequences in Invasion when the lead characters are chased through the streets to escape.
Monday 27 February 2012
Shane Meadows
-Attracted to films based around similar events to his life in Uttoxeter (i.e. based around the Midlands or characters turning to petty crime).
-Dead Man's Shoes is based on the more unpleasant side of his youth in Uttoxeter. It was inspired by a close friend who had been bullied, developed a drug problem and then committed suicide.
-Influences: Ken Loach and Mike Leigh
-Fan of Notts County F.C., making several references in his films by way of imagery and background shots.
-Uses kitchen-sink realism
-Claims to be self-taught
Pawel Pawlikowski
-Polish Born
-best known for his documentaries (started his career filming for the BBC)
-writes a majority of his films
-Won a BAFTA
-Has does a number of Foriegn language or foriegn based films
-Attracted to films based around similar events to his life in Uttoxeter (i.e. based around the Midlands or characters turning to petty crime).
-Dead Man's Shoes is based on the more unpleasant side of his youth in Uttoxeter. It was inspired by a close friend who had been bullied, developed a drug problem and then committed suicide.
-Influences: Ken Loach and Mike Leigh
-Fan of Notts County F.C., making several references in his films by way of imagery and background shots.
-Uses kitchen-sink realism
-Claims to be self-taught
Pawel Pawlikowski
-Polish Born
-best known for his documentaries (started his career filming for the BBC)
-writes a majority of his films
-Won a BAFTA
-Has does a number of Foriegn language or foriegn based films
The Oscars
Quick notes:
-The Artist was the big winner at the Oscars (received ten nominations, winning five awards; at the Golden Globes, the film was nominated for six and won three of them. The Artist became the first silent motion picture in 83 years to win Best Picture.
-Hugo (which won awards for sound and visual effects; 11 nominations, the most nominations for the night, taking home 5 awards) and The Iron Lady also won big
-The Oscars kept up a general trend with the Golden Globes (nominations wise)
-The British film industry was well represented (i.e. War Horse and The Iron Lady) but wasn't well represented winners-wise.
-Although many films had multiple nominations, only three walked away with multiple awards (the artist, hugo and the iron lady).
-The Artist was the big winner at the Oscars (received ten nominations, winning five awards; at the Golden Globes, the film was nominated for six and won three of them. The Artist became the first silent motion picture in 83 years to win Best Picture.
-Hugo (which won awards for sound and visual effects; 11 nominations, the most nominations for the night, taking home 5 awards) and The Iron Lady also won big
-The Oscars kept up a general trend with the Golden Globes (nominations wise)
-The British film industry was well represented (i.e. War Horse and The Iron Lady) but wasn't well represented winners-wise.
-Although many films had multiple nominations, only three walked away with multiple awards (the artist, hugo and the iron lady).
Saturday 25 February 2012
Film Study Notes: Somers Town and Last Resort
Some notes from two recent films I've watched and studied.
Somers Town
Director: Shane Meadows
Budget: £566,616 (entirely funded by Eurostar)
Release: 2008 (UK)
Reception: 96% on rotten tomatoes
Awards: Michael Powell Award (Edinburgh International Film Festival's highest award)
Some notes I made about the film:
-Immigrants (like in Ghosts and Last Resort) live in poor conditions.
-The Polish family (at the opening of the film) are quite strong in the belief of separating us and them.
-Immigrants seem to largely enjoy life in Britain, with the exception of missing family members.
-The film revolves around three people from three different backgrounds and places all coming to one new place (Somers Town). This makes them all forigeners to the area even though one comes from England.
-The main characters seem to have a simple grip on reality. This may be because they are children in an adult world and so retaining a childish outlook on the world.
-All of the main characters, despite being from different backgrounds, all seem to be gravitated to the same things and problems, at one point all being stuck in a rut facing similar situations despite the differences in nationality.
-The film ends by the two boys travelling to Paris to spend time with the girl they have apparently fallen in love with.
Last Resort
Director: Pawel Pawlikowski
Release: 2001
Reception: 94% On rotten tomatoes
Awards: BAFTA "Most Promising Newcomer in British Film - Pawel Pawlikowski" and Best New British Feature (Edinburgh Film Festival)
Some notes I made about the film:
-The mother appears not to fully understand the situation; like with Ghosts and Somer's Town, she holds a simpler grip on reality. Her son appears to have more sense about what is going on than she does.
-Like in Ghosts and Somer's town, there is a gangster-style buisnessman and several other characters who take advantage of the foreigner's lack of understanding on their situation. For instance, there are children in Last Resort selling items to immigrants to make money.
-Like in Ghosts and Somer's town, the immigrants live in poor conditions, even trying to sell things to make money.
-Also like in the previous two movies, an English character befriends them, eventually helping them escape the situation they're in.
-Unhappy in their new situation and wish to go home.
-The boy makes an effort to learn english like characters in the previous two films. He turns to crime and drinking later on because his lack of understanding of the country and poor conditions means he comes under the influence of "corrupt" teenagers.
-Unlike in Somer's Town, the Russian family leave the main male character Alfie and love to return home.
Somers Town
Director: Shane Meadows
Budget: £566,616 (entirely funded by Eurostar)
Release: 2008 (UK)
Reception: 96% on rotten tomatoes
Awards: Michael Powell Award (Edinburgh International Film Festival's highest award)
Some notes I made about the film:
-Immigrants (like in Ghosts and Last Resort) live in poor conditions.
-The Polish family (at the opening of the film) are quite strong in the belief of separating us and them.
-Immigrants seem to largely enjoy life in Britain, with the exception of missing family members.
-The film revolves around three people from three different backgrounds and places all coming to one new place (Somers Town). This makes them all forigeners to the area even though one comes from England.
-The main characters seem to have a simple grip on reality. This may be because they are children in an adult world and so retaining a childish outlook on the world.
-All of the main characters, despite being from different backgrounds, all seem to be gravitated to the same things and problems, at one point all being stuck in a rut facing similar situations despite the differences in nationality.
-The film ends by the two boys travelling to Paris to spend time with the girl they have apparently fallen in love with.
Last Resort
Director: Pawel Pawlikowski
Release: 2001
Reception: 94% On rotten tomatoes
Awards: BAFTA "Most Promising Newcomer in British Film - Pawel Pawlikowski" and Best New British Feature (Edinburgh Film Festival)
Some notes I made about the film:
-The mother appears not to fully understand the situation; like with Ghosts and Somer's Town, she holds a simpler grip on reality. Her son appears to have more sense about what is going on than she does.
-Like in Ghosts and Somer's town, there is a gangster-style buisnessman and several other characters who take advantage of the foreigner's lack of understanding on their situation. For instance, there are children in Last Resort selling items to immigrants to make money.
-Like in Ghosts and Somer's town, the immigrants live in poor conditions, even trying to sell things to make money.
-Also like in the previous two movies, an English character befriends them, eventually helping them escape the situation they're in.
-Unhappy in their new situation and wish to go home.
-The boy makes an effort to learn english like characters in the previous two films. He turns to crime and drinking later on because his lack of understanding of the country and poor conditions means he comes under the influence of "corrupt" teenagers.
-Unlike in Somer's Town, the Russian family leave the main male character Alfie and love to return home.
Friday 17 February 2012
Producers and Audiences Round Up
(A few case studies and notes to finish the producers and audiences off and act as back up for my essays)
Cowboys and Aliens
Budget: $163 million budget
Starring: Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig
Notes: Despite the budget and star presence, the film only took $174.8 million (around $11 million profit) and is therefore considered largely a finacial dissapointment.
The film was the second highest grossing film on its opening weekend (beaten by the Smurfs, a suprise to many critics who expected CAA to be the clear winner).
The film follows a world-wide trend that Western films are historically not popular, but CAA was expected to be different due to star presence and its cross-genre fusion of a western and sci-fi.
Based on a book of the same name, released in 2006.
Star Wars: Episode 4
Budget: $11 million (delays forced the budget up from $8 million)
Gross: $775 million
Star presence (at the time of release): Alec Guinness
Sci-fi films had previously seldom been successful; it was only with manned moon trips during the 70s that sci-fi became popular. This is shown with Lucas' failiure of sci-fi film THX 1138 but success of his american film American Graffiti.
Serious animation sci-fi has not yet proven commercially successful in the United States (i.e. Iron Giant and Titan A.E. all proving to be flops).
Avatar
Budget: Offically $237 million (unoffically budgeted at £310 million and $150 million for promotion)
Gross: $2.7 billion
Notes: Illegally downloaded 16.5 million times in 2010; the most pirated movie of that year. Lost an estimated $248.5 million through illegal downloading of DVDs alone (not including Blu-Ray or losses from box office takings).
The Dark Knight
Budget: $185 million
Gross: $1 billion
Notes: Media hype surrounding the film due to Heath Ledger's death cause a huge turn out for the film (the previous film made just about double on its original budget compared with this film which made over $1 billion gross).
See my previous piracy post and case study of TDK.
Paranormal Activity
Budget: $15,000
Gross: $193 Million
Notes: It is the most profitable film ever made, based on return on investment.
Originally an independent film.
Paramount Pictures bought the domestic rights to the film, and international rights to any sequels, for $350,000 USD. When the film was taken in by Paramount Pictures, several changes were made. Some scenes were cut, others added, and the original ending was scrapped, with two new endings being shot. The ending shown in theaters during the film's worldwide release is the only one of the three to feature visual effects, and it differs from the endings previously seen.
It was the above's purchase of the film that gave it such world wide success because of such wide-scale distribution that an independent film could never do. The film had originally been released to film festivals where Paramount staff noticed and picked up the film.
On October 3, it was reported that a total of 33 screenings in all 20 markets sold out and that the movie had made $500,000 domestically. A day later, Paramount announced that the film would have a full limited release in 40 markets, playing at all hours (including after-midnight showings). On October 6, Paramount announced that the movie would be released nationwide if the film got 1,000,000 "demands" on eventful.com. The full limited release of the film started on Friday, October 9. On October 10 the Eventful.com counter hit over 1,000,000 requests. Paramount announced soon after that the film would get a wide domestic release on Friday, October 16 and then expand to more theaters on the 23rd. By November, it was showing in locales worldwide.
Three sequels are being produced for the film. All these sequels have been produced on low budgest ($3-5 million) although these are increased budgets from the first film's original $15,000.
Paranormal Activity 3 created the "Tweet Your Scream" campaign on Twitter in preparation for the release.
Cowboys and Aliens
Budget: $163 million budget
Starring: Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig
Notes: Despite the budget and star presence, the film only took $174.8 million (around $11 million profit) and is therefore considered largely a finacial dissapointment.
The film was the second highest grossing film on its opening weekend (beaten by the Smurfs, a suprise to many critics who expected CAA to be the clear winner).
The film follows a world-wide trend that Western films are historically not popular, but CAA was expected to be different due to star presence and its cross-genre fusion of a western and sci-fi.
Based on a book of the same name, released in 2006.
Star Wars: Episode 4
Budget: $11 million (delays forced the budget up from $8 million)
Gross: $775 million
Star presence (at the time of release): Alec Guinness
Sci-fi films had previously seldom been successful; it was only with manned moon trips during the 70s that sci-fi became popular. This is shown with Lucas' failiure of sci-fi film THX 1138 but success of his american film American Graffiti.
Serious animation sci-fi has not yet proven commercially successful in the United States (i.e. Iron Giant and Titan A.E. all proving to be flops).
Avatar
Budget: Offically $237 million (unoffically budgeted at £310 million and $150 million for promotion)
Gross: $2.7 billion
Notes: Illegally downloaded 16.5 million times in 2010; the most pirated movie of that year. Lost an estimated $248.5 million through illegal downloading of DVDs alone (not including Blu-Ray or losses from box office takings).
The Dark Knight
Budget: $185 million
Gross: $1 billion
Notes: Media hype surrounding the film due to Heath Ledger's death cause a huge turn out for the film (the previous film made just about double on its original budget compared with this film which made over $1 billion gross).
See my previous piracy post and case study of TDK.
Paranormal Activity
Budget: $15,000
Gross: $193 Million
Notes: It is the most profitable film ever made, based on return on investment.
Originally an independent film.
Paramount Pictures bought the domestic rights to the film, and international rights to any sequels, for $350,000 USD. When the film was taken in by Paramount Pictures, several changes were made. Some scenes were cut, others added, and the original ending was scrapped, with two new endings being shot. The ending shown in theaters during the film's worldwide release is the only one of the three to feature visual effects, and it differs from the endings previously seen.
It was the above's purchase of the film that gave it such world wide success because of such wide-scale distribution that an independent film could never do. The film had originally been released to film festivals where Paramount staff noticed and picked up the film.
On October 3, it was reported that a total of 33 screenings in all 20 markets sold out and that the movie had made $500,000 domestically. A day later, Paramount announced that the film would have a full limited release in 40 markets, playing at all hours (including after-midnight showings). On October 6, Paramount announced that the movie would be released nationwide if the film got 1,000,000 "demands" on eventful.com. The full limited release of the film started on Friday, October 9. On October 10 the Eventful.com counter hit over 1,000,000 requests. Paramount announced soon after that the film would get a wide domestic release on Friday, October 16 and then expand to more theaters on the 23rd. By November, it was showing in locales worldwide.
Three sequels are being produced for the film. All these sequels have been produced on low budgest ($3-5 million) although these are increased budgets from the first film's original $15,000.
Paranormal Activity 3 created the "Tweet Your Scream" campaign on Twitter in preparation for the release.
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