Fish tank

1)      All the Institutions involved in the production of Fish Tank. List them with a summary of what their contribution to the film was.

The institution companies which were involved in fish tank are BBC films, UK Film Council, and Kasander Film Company.

2)       Two other Independent British Film production companies – their “brand”, as well as current and previous productions.

Ealing Studios - Barnaby Thompson
Ealing Studios is the UK’s only vertically integrated film studio, making its particularly British brand of films like St Trinian’s as well as owning legendary facilities Ealing Studios. Its Ealing Metro arm also focuses on international sales and distribution. Ealing is now in development on another of its hugely successful St Trinian’s films. Other upcoming Ealing productions include Nina Simone biopic Nina, written and directed by Cynthia Mort and the thriller Vanished directed by Pete Travis. Credits: The Importance of Being Earnest, St Trinians, Dorian Gray, Burke & Hare

Cloud Eight - Christian Colson
Christian Colson hit the big time with Slumdog Millionaire. A frequent producing partner for Danny Boyle, Colson won an Oscar for his work on the film and was also nominated this year for 127 Hours. Colson most recently produced Boyle’s upcoming art heist thriller Trance, starring James McAvoy and Rosario Dawson. Credits: The Descent, Eden Lake, Slumdog Millionaire, The Scouting Book for Boys, Centurion, 127 Hours

3)      Out of the three Production Companies you have researched, which do you see as most successful and why?

I think BBC film production is the most successful one out of all of them, it has produced varies of films over the years which have been very successful for example: in 2008 the most successful film by BBC is Churchill of war, in 2009 nativity, in 2010 made in Dagenham, in 2011 awakening, in 2012 Henry vi ii. As we can see that the BBC film productions are very successful in the films they have got involved in.

4)      How much Fish Tank cost to produce (it's budget) The budget for fish tank was £3million

5)       Film budgets – find 5 films made for £5 million pounds or less?

Rocky is a 1976 film and the budget was less than just $1million

The inbetweeners was a 2011 film and the budget was $5.3million

The guard was a 2011 film with a budget of $6 million 

The science of sleep was a 2006 film and had a budget of $6 million

Eagle Vs shark was a 2007 film with a budget of $1.35 million

6)      How was Fish Tank funded? Fish Tank was funded by BBC films and the UK film council.

7)      Research one other way that British films are funded. Are there any similarities or differences? British film institution is now the lead body for film in the UK which includes a role as a lottery distributor, with responsibility for funding film development and production; training; distribution and exhibition; supporting film UK-wide; film certification, the Cultural Test and co-production; strategic development; industry research and statistics; and the MEDIA Desk UK. The role of the British Film Commission in encouraging inward investment work transfers to Film London.

8)      What is the target audience for Fish Tank? I think the target audience for Fish Tank is teenagers to adults. So from 16-32 years old, because it’s all based on teenage and adult life, I don’t think any aged people under 16 won’t like it and it won’t be a decent film to watch for them due to the amount of swearing in the film. 

9)      Research the mainstream 16–25 youth cinema market and decide which 3 genres are most targeted at them and justify your decisions with your research. The three genres which 16-25 year old would prefer to watch are comedy, romance or horror films. The reason being is as they are young and the comedy which are featured today are more suited for their audience, so they would prefer to watch the comedy films. The teenagers to young adults would tend to watch romantic films with their boyfriend/girlfriend and the romantic films which are in today are very mainstream e.g twilight and the latest ones that follow on from that. Lastly, horror most of them would prefer this as when they have a movie night in with their friends they want to watch something frightening and enjoy themselves, and in most of the horror films teenagers star in them. So it draws them into watching it more. 

10)   Who is the main distributor for fish tank? The main distributors were, Articifical Eye, MK2 Diffusion, Nuptopia Entertainment, Syrena Films, Alta Films, Canana Films, Film1, IFC Films, Mongrel Media and SP films.

11)    What is the role of a film distributor? Are there any differences between distribution in the US and UK? Film distributor is a company that releases films theatrically or for home viewing. It plays a huge role in the film's success. As they control the marketing and circulation of movies in theatres. There are some differences, the low budget films wouldn't have very big distributors were as US films would have international distributors as it would be a higher budget and could afford it. 

12)   How was Fish Tank promoted (when it was released in 2009)? Fish Tank was promoted at 62nd Cannes film festival in France, on May 14, 2009.

13)    Compare this with a big budget blockbuster. What are the main similarities and differences?  High budget films would be promoted much more than low budget films which is the difference between them both. The reason why it would be prompted much more than the low budget film is because it is a high budget film and people would have more expectations from the film. That’s why it would be promoted more and the more something is promoted the more money it will make, because it would be advertised in many ways which would attract loads of people to watch it. the similarity between both low and high budget film is that they would both advertise in the same way, so posters, trailers, and many more.

14)   How does the trailer for Fish Tank hook audiences into the narrative and pose questions that the film will answer? Identify 3 ways/techniques. The three techniques that are used to hook the audience in Fish Tanks trailer are the use of lighting, the use of different shots, and finally the main editing. Low and high key lighting is used in the trailers of Fish Tank to hook the audiences and to create the atmosphere in the audiences mind. The different shots make us put our self in her position and see how it feels living like that. This means the shots are used to catch the audience. And finally the editing does everything, the editing would have a big impact on hooking the audience to the film, so if the editing is not good as it should be then it would be very hard to hook the audience. The editing also makes the audience start questioning them self’s. 

15)   Analyse the trailers for 2 different films (from different genres). Are there any differences in the way they hook the audience into the narrative and pose questions that the film will answer? Identify at least 2 similarities and 2 differences. The trailer for Sky fall is very effective in building questions in the audiences mind, because it’s an action film all the sound in the trailer is very use full it pulls the audiences in the film. The music at the background hooks the audiences in and drags them into the film. All the gun shots noises gives away the narrative to the audience. The shots are edited in a very useful way, so it would show a serious scene and when the shot gets to the main bit the shot would change, that would make people who have watched the trailer watch it because they want to find out what happens next.

Step up 4 is a Musical dance romance film and they show the various of scenes which creates enigma codes. As the questions which are being raised we are thinking about it too. The target audience is young audiences and they exceed in capturing their attention as the song gets stuck in your head and the dance moves and voice-over informs us about the narrative to which is very effective. And it therefore get's the audience thinking different things and of course if the outcome will be a positive one. The similarities between both of them are is that they both have a music playing at the back and then someone would speak over the music. The difference is that they both have different types of shots used in the trailers.

16)   How does the trailer for Fish Tank balance plot and spectacle? The trailer is shown negatively and captures the audiences mind by the effective use of lighting. Also as her being the female fatale it's different, because it's not usually like that. And the things she says, her actions are memorable. As this is what typical teenagers too, it also builds the story-line more as we see different aspects and it gets us thinking.

17)   How do the trailers for your other films balance plot and spectacle? Identify at least 2 similarities and 2 differences.
It balances the plot and spectacle by the point of the trailer is to draw the audience and to persuade them into watching the film, for them to do that they have to let something stick into the audiences mind. This is done in both of the trailers by the lighting it connotes and depicts the story line effectively and the different actions and shots with it. It lines up all nicely, and thus leaves it in the audiences mind. 

18)   Think about the certificate of Fish Tank (15 certificate). Research film certification and outline what is deemed acceptable for this certificate. What is the difference between a 15 certificate and an 18 certificate? If a film is classified as a 15 film, there could be swearing init, they might show drugs but cannot force to take drugs because that’s going against the age restriction and then the film won’t be shown. Highly drugs also cannot be shown such as aerosols or solvents.  If it is a horror film Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised. They can’t show these things in a 15 year old film: suicide, hanging, and self-harming. If a swear word is said once or twice that’s ok, but if it is repeated them that won’t be acceptable. Sexual violence cannot be shown in a 15 year old; some violence is allowed but too much is not acceptable. For an 18 year old film everything is acceptable because they are mature enough t understand what is going on. That is why everything is acceptable for a 18 year old film.