I, Daniel Blake

Production Background

o   Director = Ken Loach

o   Stars = Dave Johns, Hayley Squires

o   Production value = low budget

o   Production companies = BBC films, BFI, EOne productions

o   Funders = BFI, several French companies and National Lottery

o   Release Date = May 2016

o   Genre = Social Realistic Drama

Ken Loach makes films that follows a storyline of social issues around the world. He has directed films such as; Cathy Care Home and Sorry we missed you.

The film is low budget as it features stars that have had no or very little previous acting experience before.

The BFI and other companies that funded I Daniel Blake because it is a social realistic drama that enforces the reality on the benefit system and shows the lifestyle of two families that are struggling.

BBC must educate, inform and entertain!

Marketing Campaign

The stars have no or very little experience they were seen as ordinary people which links to the realistic atmosphere/sense.

Audience = highbrow (niche & middle class)

The first shot showed a medical setting in a hospital, showing some sort of heart scan. This indicates that the main character is unwell.

The editing is slow and it fades into scenes, the audio is atmospheric, slow and the piano is playing. The trailer does speed up which suggests and creates a dramatic tense mood which portrays the storyline.

The text at the end displays “I, Daniel Blake” portrays death as it looks like the gravestone writing. At the same time, the text is being displayed a heartbeat sound is being played. This links to the ongoing heart problem that Daniel is suffering from.

Straight Outta Compton Exam Question

How do mainstream films target and maximise their audience ?

  Refer to Straight Outta Compton to support your points ( 10 marks)

 You should refer to the content and purpose of the  film's marketing campaign, the production history and making of the film, use of stars , links to other media industries and products , some mention of  the film's content and demonstrate that you understand how this is typical of mainstream film production and promotion 

Mainstream films feature well-known famous actors/actresses, they have a popular production company. Mainstream films normally have a bigger budget and can be seen as entertaining. It’s a film that can be widely available the general public, this’ll maximise views and audiences. 

Straight Outta Compton was released on 28^th August 2015 and was produced by Universal Pictures. It was budgeted at $50 million but Straight Outta Compton made $201.6 million. Straight Outta Compton is seen to be a mainstream film as it has a bigger budget and was produced by Universal Pictures, which is known to be a big production company which has produced several big films. 
The members of NWA were involved in the marketing, they produced a marketing campaign to help maximise the views. The campaign was called 'Straight Outta Somewhere', all different stars used this campaign by changing the word 'somewhere' to suit their location. The campaign uses different locations and celebrities, to spread the awareness of the film and the context behind the film. The marketing campaign made a lot of money as it featured over the news and social media. The film had an eye-catching genre of crime, music, biopic film as it focuses on the LA riots and the music of N.W.A.  The cast and producers were famous and well-known, this helps the publicity of the film. 

In Straight Outta Compton the ending is happy for Dre, this maximises their audience so the audience is satisfied.

Straight Outta Compton

Straight Outta Compton

Mainstream & Independent films

Mainstream films feature well-known famous actors/actresses, they have a popular production company. Mainstream films normally have a bigger budget and can be seen as entertaining. It’s a film that can be widely available the general public, this’ll maximise views and audiences.

Independent films are produced by smaller production companies and normally have a smaller budget and often is shown at independent movie theatre. Independent films are often filmed or screened locally.

Production

Straight Outta Compton was released on 28^th August 2015 and was produced by Universal Pictures. It was budgeted at $50 million but Straight Outta Compton made $201.6 million. Straight Outta Compton is seen to be a mainstream film as it has a bigger budget and was produced by Universal Pictures, which is known to be a big production company which has produced several big films.

Marketing

The members of NWA were involved in the marketing, they produced a marketing campaign to help maximise the views. The campaign was called 'Straight Outta Somewhere', all different stars used this campaign by changing the word 'somewhere' to suit their location. The campaign uses different locations and celebrities, to spread the awareness of the film and the context behind the film.

It promotes families struggling and being treated unfairly until a group of boys go to a studio and start producing music. It uses different camera shots and angles to engage the target audience, it helps portray the location and setting in LA. It shows the dangerous lifestyle with violence and drugs involved. The lighting suggests a dark dangerous lifestyle, as it shows flashing blue sirens portraying violence and danger. It shows dark settings and locations e.g. in the streets driving.

The editing in the trailer has non-diegetic sound of music which is tense which portrays the film itself. 

Straight Outta Compton was inspired by the LA riots and ethnic minorities being treated differently by the LAPD.

Summary

Straight Outta Compton made $201.6 million it was very successfully. I believe the genre and storyline was very effective and it connected with the audiences easily as so many people could relate to being treated unfairly or even the LA riots. The marketing campaign made a lot of money as it featured over the news and social media. The film had an eye-catching genre of crime, music, biopic film as it focuses on the LA riots and the music of N.W.A.  The cast and producers were famous and well-known, this helps the publicity of the film. 

Regulation and Certification

Did the Directors Cut receive a different rating ? If so, why ?Are there any politically sensitive or controversial themes or content in the film ?

Straight Outta Compton received a 15 rating, as it has some gang related violence, drug use and strong language...