I presented my ideas to a focus group of typical audience members and clients. I discussed the ideas of the film and showed them some examples of some similar docudrama's to give examples of typical camera work and mise-en-scene. The feedback I got from the clients was, on the whole, very positive and with a lot of interest on the choice of storyline and the narrative structure that I employed. Some of the critisisms levelled at the ideas included the fact that there was possible not enough action and that some broader context relating to other killers could be included.
The appeal of my film will be the fact that it is based on real life events and deals with a theme that is understood worldwide. The story is based on a family who have become divided over their Mother's Will and so will be a subject that many people will be able to relate to. It will be shown as a Docudrama and will therefore be an accurate account of the life of Derrick Bird but will also include some drama to make it exciting to watch. Its orginal in content and narrtive structure for a film of this sort. the film will not be in chronological order as the first scene will be showing the final moments of Derrick Bird's life and will then revert back to telling the story from the beginning.
To improve my idea I could do more research of other similar events from around the world. This would hopefully give me an insight into the minds of people that can carry out such acts and pick up on any similar characteristics or circumstances. I could watch other similar movies or read books, watch documentaries based on similar events. With this knowledge i would have a greater abilty in making my film and portraying the characters in a realistic way. I think that the making of this film is feasible as long as I am permitted by the relevant authorities and people who it effects to use the story.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
A0B3 planning a new uk film
Derrick Bird
My plan is for a UK film and I have decided to make a documentary/ biography film. The film will appeal to a wide range of people aged 15 years and above and will attract a worldwide audience as it deals with themes that are understood throughout the world. It will be of interest to anyone who enjoys watching a drama based on real-life events and satisfy a thirst that most of us have to delve in to the lives of others. It will be a real-life Eastenders. My ideas for the film came from recent updates in the news on this particular case and researching on the internet. I decided to make a film about Derrick Bird because it is hard-hitting, current and many people remember it. I am making this film and feel that its in-keeping with the current trend of making low budget films due to cuts in the budget for the UK Film Council. I think that it is a wise decision to make a film that is low in terms of costs to make and will hopefully be a success and put money back into the UK economy. The name of the film will be Bird of a Feather, this will relate to his name (Derrick Bird) and the fact that the story pivots round his family. After much research I discovered that a title such as this resonates with the target audience and provokes intrigue and interest.
The film will be based on the life of Derrick Bird, the self employed taxi driver from Cumbria and what drove him to kill 12 people and injure 11 others, then finally killing himself. It will follow the events that lead up to the fateful day. The film meets the criteria for being classified as a British film as it meets several of the criteria required e.g The 'Maker' test - my film will be made by a company that is registered and centrally managed and controlled in the UK. It also meets other criteria. I have based my film on a British event and a British man and the story is very recent and up to date. It will require a very small budget because there are no special effects or top named actors. I will use actors that have not yet made a name for themselves and therefore will not demand a large fee for doing it and people in the community who will work for screen credits.
It will be filmed in different locations in the country as I feel that filming in the area that it took place would be rather insensitive and evoke painful memories for the local people. However the audience will assume that it is being filmed in the area that it took place.
The film will investigate the cause/motives of Derrick Bird's killing spree and give the audience an insight into the life of someone driven to killing.
The film opens with a black and white scene of a walker trying to help a man in distress. The audience is unaware at this point who the characters are but can see that the man in question is clearly uncomfortable and paniced as he is rambling, angry and covered in beads of sweat. This will instantly put the audience in a state of unease as they are unsure as to the events that have unfolded previously. The camera language and editing during this scene will be franetic, jittery and disorientating. After 3 or 4 minutes the scene will fade to black and the audience is still unaware as to who the characters are and what has happened. This scene takes place at the start of the film but is actually the penultimate scene of the story. Following on from the fade to black you see a man sitting down and relaxing on his couch and watching TV without a care in the world, or so it appears. This is the same man who we have just seen in a state of distress and so the audience is transported back in time and we start to see the events unfold. The phone rings and he slides across the couch to pick up the receiver. The audience then witnesses a conversation that soon becomes heated and the man soon shows visible signs of becoming angry and agitated. The phone receiver is slammed down and he then storms up to his loft and out of sight. At this point all the audience can hear is the sound of boxes being moved about and the man muttering under his breath, he then emerges from the loft with a dust covered box which he slides under his bed. He goes back down stairs, pours himself a brandy and carries on watching tv and dozes off until the alarm on his mobile phone alerts him that his shift as a taxi driver is about to start. Jumping up from the settee he dashes upstairs and the box is removed and taken out to the boot of his car. The scene ends with a pov of the box being shut in the boot and the darkness that descends. The remainder of the film deals with the events that unfold in the lead up to the shootings on that fateful day. We follow Bird through his killing spree up to the penultimate event where he is disorientated in the woods. The end of the film is the climatic event were we have Birds decision to shoot himself, the frantic efforts of the police to find him and the dilema of the emergency services who are under great pressure in attending to the sick, dying and wounded before they lose their fight for life.
eqipment and camera rentals Crew (producer, director, dop, assisne t director, camera assisetnet, Camera rental £500 a day Microphone rental £70 a day Light rental £90 a day DV tape stock £100 Script Props (guns, maps, walking sticks and rambling equipment ambulances police c Wardrobe contacted comapny fpor a qoute Makeup £300 a day Catering contacted company for a qoute Toilets £200 a day Cabins contacted company for a qoute Petty cash £800 Transport for equipment and personnel £100000 |
Task
Home Scene - 4 days needed
Forest Scene - 3 days needed
Road Scene- 9 days needed
Editing
Editing will probably take place over a month. Titles and sound recording will take approximately 4 days
Budget
Story rights
Screenplay
Producers
Director
Cast
Production cost
Visual effects
Music
production plan
resources: cameras, actors, transport,
the producer is responsible for assembling the cast and crew and negotiating their contracts . the production process begins with planning. the first stage, pre-production, begins with funding research and devlepment. a budget and schedule ae drawn up and a crew put toghter . thecsecond phase is production, when the film is shot. the third is post production editing, when music and special effects are added and rights are clared. the whole process culminates in the distribution and exhibition of the inshed film. the location must be chosen carefully with plently of notifcation to the people of the area and pplenty of time incase reargaements need to be made. a schedule will be made from the directors shooting scipt. the film willnot be shot in chronlogical sequence, to save time. funding will come from the british council and bbc films the budget worked out will have to be sticked to, insurance will be part of the cost for the eqipment and public liability a a good chunk of the budget wil have to be set aside incase of unforeseen costs that may occur.
there will be no rights acquistions cost or archie fotae claerance cost but there may be a music clearance cost. prior permission must always be gained where it is needed or there is a good chance the police will shut it down, healthy and safety precudres must also be followed
AOB2 reviewing uk films
Slumdog Millionaire
Slumdog Millionaire is directed by Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan. Danny Boyle is a renowned UK director. The main actor is Dav Patel and Freida Pinto and the story is about a boy who goes from rags to riches. The story starts with Jamal playing ' Who Wants to be a Millionaire' and then continues with a sequence of flashbacks of his childhood and teenage years and so tells a story of how he knew all the answers to the questions.
The conventions of this type of film are going from rags to riches and getting the girl. Jamal goes from being a slumdog to a millionaire and he finds the love of his life against all odds.
Slumdog relies upon the use of flashbacks to tell the story of Jamals journey to be a millionaire. The film uses two time scales, one where he is sitting in a room being interrogated and one were he is growing up to his present age. Instead of being a clear linear timeline, narrative is used to tell the story. The film uses parallel narratives to make it more gripping as we follow the questionning by the police, Jamal playing to win a million and the story of his childhood. Different endings are presented as possible. Elipsis is used in the film because scenes of every part of his growing up are not necessary.
Danny Boyle used actors from Bollywood because they had experience in the type of film he wanted to make and because they were not Hollywood actors they would not bring along the baggage of a big personality. He did not want to make a typical blockbuster film and so none of the actors were particularly well known and Dannny Boyle could focus on what he wanted to do.
Danny Boyle is known for making interesting stories that are unusual and gripping and Slumdog Millionare is no exception to this. Celador produced the film and Danny Boyle was a little uneasy as Celador made 'Who wants to be a Millionaire' and Danny Boyle didn't think they had the experience or ideas that he did. However, he was impressed with the script from Simon Beaufoy and so decided to revisit the idea.
The screenwriter, Simon Beaufoy made trips to India to interview street children. This gave him an insight in to the life, attitudes and the character of the children living on the streets and therefore help in the making of the film.
Latika, Jamal and Samil are represented as having a bond that brings them together despite the fact that they often break up thoughout the film and at one point Jamal hates his brother. Near the end of the film Salim makes a sacrifice which shows the bond they all share.
In my opinion the audience would enjoy Slumdog Millionaire because I think that it would appeal to their taste of drama, tension and the fairytale happy ending that many like to see. The audience would not be disappointed by this Danny Boyle film as they know to expect a bit of grit, drama and humour with a magical feel to it. This film would not disappoint as it fulfills all of the typical Boyle characteristics.
Moon
Moon is directed by Duncan Jones who co-wrote the script with Nathan Parker and stars Sam Rockwell. Rockwell is the only character throughout the film, besides a few brief appearances and voice-overs from other actors. It is about a mining camp on the moon run by clones of a man. Sam Rockwell was used because he could act like two completely different people which was essential to the persona of each clone
It very much follows the conventions of a sci-fi film in that the use of technology, out of the ordinary concepts and ideas are first and foremost.
The film is seen from the viewpoint of Sam Rockwell and it follows his story in every scene. The two clones are characterised quite differently, one has spent 3 years on the moon and is in denial of anything stange going on and the oher is quick to fiqure it out that something is not quite as it appears. Conflict and climax is used to reveal all the other clones. The film gives a sense of conspiracy from the start and throughout and for me this was done by the Robot.
Moon was made on a relatively cheap budget of $5 million as the moon base was made out of wood in a studio. CGI was also used to tint the walls with detail and models of cars were used with fish wire to pull them along. It was filmed in 33 days. Duncan James grew up watching sci-fi films and wanted to make a sci-fi film of his own.
Duncan Jones started his career by making adverts in a short space of time and on a small budget. This made him suitable for the task of making an independent film on a small budget. He has also worked on mindgame films, which showed in the film Moon. He took a degree in Philosophy and this may have influenced him to make a film that highlighted the moral issue of cloning. Big corporate companies are being portrayed as cold and aviscious.
I liked the film and think that it would appeal to the target audience of sci-film lovers. Because of it being an art house film it can be as unusual and as interesting as it likes and this makes it more than your typical sci-fi film. The deeper and complicated storyline would give the film an appeal to non sci-fi enthusiasts. I personally enjoyed this film and would definitely watch it again.
Slumdog Millionaire is directed by Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan. Danny Boyle is a renowned UK director. The main actor is Dav Patel and Freida Pinto and the story is about a boy who goes from rags to riches. The story starts with Jamal playing ' Who Wants to be a Millionaire' and then continues with a sequence of flashbacks of his childhood and teenage years and so tells a story of how he knew all the answers to the questions.
The conventions of this type of film are going from rags to riches and getting the girl. Jamal goes from being a slumdog to a millionaire and he finds the love of his life against all odds.
Slumdog relies upon the use of flashbacks to tell the story of Jamals journey to be a millionaire. The film uses two time scales, one where he is sitting in a room being interrogated and one were he is growing up to his present age. Instead of being a clear linear timeline, narrative is used to tell the story. The film uses parallel narratives to make it more gripping as we follow the questionning by the police, Jamal playing to win a million and the story of his childhood. Different endings are presented as possible. Elipsis is used in the film because scenes of every part of his growing up are not necessary.
Danny Boyle used actors from Bollywood because they had experience in the type of film he wanted to make and because they were not Hollywood actors they would not bring along the baggage of a big personality. He did not want to make a typical blockbuster film and so none of the actors were particularly well known and Dannny Boyle could focus on what he wanted to do.
Danny Boyle is known for making interesting stories that are unusual and gripping and Slumdog Millionare is no exception to this. Celador produced the film and Danny Boyle was a little uneasy as Celador made 'Who wants to be a Millionaire' and Danny Boyle didn't think they had the experience or ideas that he did. However, he was impressed with the script from Simon Beaufoy and so decided to revisit the idea.
The screenwriter, Simon Beaufoy made trips to India to interview street children. This gave him an insight in to the life, attitudes and the character of the children living on the streets and therefore help in the making of the film.
Latika, Jamal and Samil are represented as having a bond that brings them together despite the fact that they often break up thoughout the film and at one point Jamal hates his brother. Near the end of the film Salim makes a sacrifice which shows the bond they all share.
In my opinion the audience would enjoy Slumdog Millionaire because I think that it would appeal to their taste of drama, tension and the fairytale happy ending that many like to see. The audience would not be disappointed by this Danny Boyle film as they know to expect a bit of grit, drama and humour with a magical feel to it. This film would not disappoint as it fulfills all of the typical Boyle characteristics.
Moon
Moon is directed by Duncan Jones who co-wrote the script with Nathan Parker and stars Sam Rockwell. Rockwell is the only character throughout the film, besides a few brief appearances and voice-overs from other actors. It is about a mining camp on the moon run by clones of a man. Sam Rockwell was used because he could act like two completely different people which was essential to the persona of each clone
It very much follows the conventions of a sci-fi film in that the use of technology, out of the ordinary concepts and ideas are first and foremost.
The film is seen from the viewpoint of Sam Rockwell and it follows his story in every scene. The two clones are characterised quite differently, one has spent 3 years on the moon and is in denial of anything stange going on and the oher is quick to fiqure it out that something is not quite as it appears. Conflict and climax is used to reveal all the other clones. The film gives a sense of conspiracy from the start and throughout and for me this was done by the Robot.
Moon was made on a relatively cheap budget of $5 million as the moon base was made out of wood in a studio. CGI was also used to tint the walls with detail and models of cars were used with fish wire to pull them along. It was filmed in 33 days. Duncan James grew up watching sci-fi films and wanted to make a sci-fi film of his own.
Duncan Jones started his career by making adverts in a short space of time and on a small budget. This made him suitable for the task of making an independent film on a small budget. He has also worked on mindgame films, which showed in the film Moon. He took a degree in Philosophy and this may have influenced him to make a film that highlighted the moral issue of cloning. Big corporate companies are being portrayed as cold and aviscious.
I liked the film and think that it would appeal to the target audience of sci-film lovers. Because of it being an art house film it can be as unusual and as interesting as it likes and this makes it more than your typical sci-fi film. The deeper and complicated storyline would give the film an appeal to non sci-fi enthusiasts. I personally enjoyed this film and would definitely watch it again.
A0B1 uk film industry information
What is a British film?
If I was to try to define a UK film I would get into immediate confusion because there are many things to consider. The following films could be considered to be British films but are hard to define because of;
Setting in the UK:
Bridget Jones Diary,
Focus on British people abroad
4321
Predominantly British cast
Harry Potter films
Storyline about an aspect of British life
The Kings Speech, Kidulthood
Based on a work by a British author
Atonement by (Ian McEwan)
British directors
Danny Boyle
Based on a British person
The Queen
My definition of the UK film industry
The film must be made by a company that is registered and centrally managed and controlled in the UK
70% of the production cost of the film must be spent on film making activity within the UK
70% of the total cost must have been paid to citizens of the commonwealth
75% of the total labour cost must have paid to citizens of the commonwealth
No more than 10% of the playing time of the film must not be comprised of another film makers work.
UK film worldwide context
The golden period for UK films was in 1940
The industry has spawned some of biggest acting and directing names including Hitchcock, Chaplin, Lawrence Olivier, Sean Connery and two of the highest grossing film-franchises - Harry Potter and James Bond
Many actors in Hollywood films are British (Hugh Grant, Simon Pegg, Kate Winslet, Michae Caine)
British events are widely used (Titanic, Kings Speech, The Queen)
In 2009 Britishs film grossed 2 billion worldwide market share was 7% globally and 17% in the UK. The industry employs 36000 people in the UK and 63000 indirectly. on average contributes 1.6 billion into UK GDP. in 2009 UK box office stats were 944 million
Slumdog Millionaire case study
The fantasy sequences and the rags to riches theme is a staple of UK and Bollywood films which is the appeal that it has to UK and Bollywood audiences. Slumdog Millionaire is a UK independent film (not part of the big 5)
Slumdog Millionaire topped the weekend box office for four weeks in 2009 more than any other film.It was also the highest crossing UK independent film, earning more than 31 million.
Production : based on a book by vikas swarup called q&a. screen written by simon beaufoy British companies celador and film4 productions invited danny boyle to read the script, he was hesitant because celador made who wants to be a millionaire in the uk. usa base warner independant pictures paid 5million for the rights to distribute the film in the usa. boyle watched many bollywood films as reseach.
Distribution : distribution in August 2007, Warner Independant Pictures aquired the north american rights and pathe the international rights to distribute Slumdog Millionare theatrically. However , in May 2008, Warner Independent Pictures was shut down with all of its projects being transferred to Warner Bros. Its parent studio Warner Bros doubted the commerial prospects of Slumdog Millionare and suggested that it would go staight to DVD without a US theatrical release. In August 2008, the studio began searching for buyers for various products, to relieve its overload of end of the year films.
Halfway through the month, Warner Bros entered into a pact with Fox Searchlight buying 50% of Warner interest in the movie and handling US distribution. Following the films box office (barring North America) it grossed $16 million from 34 markets in the week following the academy awards. Worldwide, the film has currently grossed over 377 million.
Exhibition: Slumdog Millionaire was realeased on 9th januray 2009 as an art house film but shortly after being released it crossed over and became a main stream film. This was due to the amount of viewers wanting to see the film. In the opening weekend Slumdog made £2 million in the UK and was shown in 324 screens over the UK.
Marketing: Pathe focused on digital marketing as an effective way to raise awareness of the film. Pathe appointed Tug, a digital media agency, to help raise awareness of the film. Danny Boyle enthusiasts and indian movie goers were particularly targeted.
Setting in the UK:
Bridget Jones Diary,
Focus on British people abroad
4321
Predominantly British cast
Harry Potter films
Storyline about an aspect of British life
The Kings Speech, Kidulthood
Based on a work by a British author
Atonement by (Ian McEwan)
British directors
Danny Boyle
Based on a British person
The Queen
My definition of the UK film industry
The film must be made by a company that is registered and centrally managed and controlled in the UK
70% of the production cost of the film must be spent on film making activity within the UK
70% of the total cost must have been paid to citizens of the commonwealth
75% of the total labour cost must have paid to citizens of the commonwealth
No more than 10% of the playing time of the film must not be comprised of another film makers work.
UK film worldwide context
The golden period for UK films was in 1940
The industry has spawned some of biggest acting and directing names including Hitchcock, Chaplin, Lawrence Olivier, Sean Connery and two of the highest grossing film-franchises - Harry Potter and James Bond
Many actors in Hollywood films are British (Hugh Grant, Simon Pegg, Kate Winslet, Michae Caine)
British events are widely used (Titanic, Kings Speech, The Queen)
In 2009 Britishs film grossed 2 billion worldwide market share was 7% globally and 17% in the UK. The industry employs 36000 people in the UK and 63000 indirectly. on average contributes 1.6 billion into UK GDP. in 2009 UK box office stats were 944 million
Slumdog Millionaire case study
The fantasy sequences and the rags to riches theme is a staple of UK and Bollywood films which is the appeal that it has to UK and Bollywood audiences. Slumdog Millionaire is a UK independent film (not part of the big 5)
Slumdog Millionaire topped the weekend box office for four weeks in 2009 more than any other film.It was also the highest crossing UK independent film, earning more than 31 million.
Production : based on a book by vikas swarup called q&a. screen written by simon beaufoy British companies celador and film4 productions invited danny boyle to read the script, he was hesitant because celador made who wants to be a millionaire in the uk. usa base warner independant pictures paid 5million for the rights to distribute the film in the usa. boyle watched many bollywood films as reseach.
Distribution : distribution in August 2007, Warner Independant Pictures aquired the north american rights and pathe the international rights to distribute Slumdog Millionare theatrically. However , in May 2008, Warner Independent Pictures was shut down with all of its projects being transferred to Warner Bros. Its parent studio Warner Bros doubted the commerial prospects of Slumdog Millionare and suggested that it would go staight to DVD without a US theatrical release. In August 2008, the studio began searching for buyers for various products, to relieve its overload of end of the year films.
Halfway through the month, Warner Bros entered into a pact with Fox Searchlight buying 50% of Warner interest in the movie and handling US distribution. Following the films box office (barring North America) it grossed $16 million from 34 markets in the week following the academy awards. Worldwide, the film has currently grossed over 377 million.
Exhibition: Slumdog Millionaire was realeased on 9th januray 2009 as an art house film but shortly after being released it crossed over and became a main stream film. This was due to the amount of viewers wanting to see the film. In the opening weekend Slumdog made £2 million in the UK and was shown in 324 screens over the UK.
Marketing: Pathe focused on digital marketing as an effective way to raise awareness of the film. Pathe appointed Tug, a digital media agency, to help raise awareness of the film. Danny Boyle enthusiasts and indian movie goers were particularly targeted.
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