Janakan - AS Media Exam (G322): November 2014

Monday, 24 November 2014

Film Industry Research (Thinnk Like A Man Too)

American film industry has an easy way in funding; this is due to the big audience they get after producing a film. They find this easy because Americans know how to look for a distributor and promoters so that they get a wider audience for the film. This must be at a price that is big as the film funding is limited. The average film budget may run from $10,000,000 to $30,000,000 in which the budget is big compared to a British film such as a Film Production by Film4 which consist of £100,000+ for their budget, this signifies that British films are inferior than the American films as they have a less amount of budget to use within the film, this illustrates that the actors, make ups and the equipment won’t be as expensive as the American films.

Think Like a Man Too is known as the American comedy film which was released in 2014 by the help of Screen Gems and Will Packer Productions. The storyline of the film appealed to a wider audience in America which leads to the success of the film. The plot begins with the well-known comedian, Kevin Hart by including about how Las Vegas has always been a place for casinos and showgirls and also the perfect place for couples to get married. Cedric (Kevin Hart) and his friends are all in Las Vegas for the weeding of Michael (Terrence J) and Candace (Regina Hall). The men and women separated to enjoy their day and Cedric books himself a lavish suite and intends to go all out for a wild weekend. The mother of Michael does not approved his engagement with Candace due to still thinking that no woman is good and suitable enough for her son.

This story appealed as it was a sign of entertainment which appeals to a wider audience from teenagers to adults. Comparing its big budget of $24,000,000 in which this means that it is still a bigger budget than a film which is produced in the UK. The budget is funded by Will Packer Productions which gave Will Packer the opportunity to produce the film, Think Like A Man Too under his productions. Think Like A Man Too is distributed by Screen Gems which was a division of Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group and now owned by Sony Corporation of America.

The production began in June 2013 in Las Vegas. The producer, Will Packer produced the film and it released on the June 20^th, 2014. The trailer debuted on February 11, 2014 and appeared with Hart and Hall’s About Last Night. Even though the initial release was on the 20^th June 2014, the initial DVD release was first released in September 16, 2014 in the USA with the help of Screen Gems who was the distributor for the film, Think Like A Man Too.

The music was composed by Christopher Lennertz, who has also composed the music for Alvin and the Chipmunks. This illustrates that Lennertz’s music can be unique and interesting to listen to. In this case, the music are romantic and used at the right scenes (when the actor and actress are in love). As the film is from the Rom-Com (Romantic Comedy) genre, the audience knew that there will be music that will cheer up and excite the audiences.

Think Like A Man Too has been met with mostly negative reviews. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a rating of 23% based on 78 reviews. The site’s consensus states: “Think Like A Man Too reunites its predecessor’s talented cast, but fails to take their characters in new or interesting directions”. On the internet, the film has score of 38 out of 100, based on reviews from 30 critics, indicating “generally negative reviews.” Even though, the director, producer and everything behind the scenes has used a lot of money from their budget to borrow the equipment and use certain locations to film the scenes. This signifies that they have wasted a large number of money. On the other side, the film turned out to be entertained through the use of Kevin Hart’s acting. The producer thought very carefully and decided that if the production goes wrong, an actor can put a smile on the audiences’ face through their comedy.

While the audiences were keen to watch Think Like A Man Too at the cinema, the actors promoted the film through publishing the poster on social networking sites to create awareness of the releasing date. This is a positive note because each actor’s fans can find out what is ready to be released and as the actors and actress are famous; their fans will be influenced to watch it because they are in it.

The box office indicates that Think Like A Man Too opened at #1 in the USA, grossing $29,241,911. As of October 3, 2014, the film has grossed $70,063, 543 worldwide. This signifies that the film did have a big turn out from what their budget was. The distributor (Screen Gems) took over the film and distributed it all over the world so that they get a wider audience.

Film Industry Research (The Inbetweeners 2)

British film industry has a more difficulty in funding; this is due to the small audience they get after producing a film. They find this difficult as they must look for a distributor and promoters so that they get some audience for the film. This must be at a price that is small as the film funding is limited. On overage, British films are only £100,000+ in which is relatively a small budget compared to a big blockbuster movie such as the ones in Hollywood which consists of an average of $100,000,000 for their budget, this means that American films are more richer and better than British films as they have a larger budget to use in which they could spend on better actors, facilities and equipment.

The Inbetweeners 2 is probably the best comedian British made that have ever been created as it gained the most money and awards. The story of the film appealed to the audience all over the world which lead to the success of the film. The plot of the film involves four school friends who meet up again for a holiday in Australia, and stars Simon Bird, Joe Thomas, James Buckley and Blake Harrison. This story appealed as it was a sign of hope, entertainment and relaxing which appeals to a wider audience. Comparing its naturally small budget of $15,000,000 in which is still small comparing to Hollywood films. They were funded by Film4 which gave them a funding of £5,000,000. They also took the film to Christopher Young who is the producer for the film, The Inbetweeners 2. Some producers work outside of the major studies. Often British productions are made by smaller outfits like Warp Films, working with Film4 or the BBC to try to secure extra funding and help with distribution. As the film is a British comedy, the plot is set in Australia, this signifies that the film would appeal to the audience in Australia which was probably their primary audience. This allowed the company to gain audiences from Australia and from the audiences who are already fans with the four school friends. Approximately, six months later, before making the film, both Film4 and the director Damon Beesley and Iain Morris offered the film to Christopher Young, a famous producer who had experience in the British films and also read the concept of the film and accepted to produce the film.

The development of the film started on the 21^st of August 2012 where it was announced that a sequel was in early stages of pre-production. On the 8^th November, it was announced by series creators Morris and Beesley that a script was being written and it was the “version 0.5”. Later on, on the 1^st of May 2013, the creators of the TV series Morris and Beesley has announced that, although nothing has been signed, a sequel was in the planning stage and possibly set in Australia and to be released later in 2014. On 2^nd of August 2013, the sequel was officially confirmed for release in August 2014. The series’ Facebook page revealed on the 15^th of March 2014 that the sequel would be released on 6 August 2014. On 9 May 2014, a teaser trailer was released where the characters drive through the Outback and call a person a “fire wanker”. A second trailer was released in full length on the official ‘The Inbetweeners’ Facebook page on the 18^th of June, letting their target audiences know a bit more about the storyline and get a better understanding on how it is going to entertain the audiences as it is a comedy film.

The filming of ‘The Inbetweeners 2’ began in Australia on the 7^th of December 2013, even though the film had scenes in the UK. The directors and the producer flew to the South of Australia where part of the film was shot and the places there has no mobile receptions or internet which signifies that it was really difficult for the director and the producers to make the scenes come out well and appeal fabulously to the audiences. Morris, the director of ‘The Inbetweeners 2, had considered filming the Australia scenes in South Africa due to the comparatively high costs in Australia which despites that they would need a higher budget in order to borrow the equipment they would be needing for the shots.

The film premiered at the Leicester Square, London, on the 5^th of August. In attendance were guests were invited to the show. In Australia, the film was distributed by Roadshow Entertainment and released on the 21^st of August 2014. Roadshow Entertainment, a company who distributed the film, also took the film to New Zealand a week later for a wider audience. This made the film successful because the film had a big turn out when their box office got £62, 724, 372 even though their budget was £3,500,000. This signifies that they have made a lot of profit.