Question

People wanted to see spectacle, and so films such as Star Wars used lots of special effects to create these spectacles such as space ships, laser guns and holograms, which were all made by ILM, who then inspired future blockbusters such as ET. 

The Godfather was also a blockbuster, however it was not as formulaic as Star Wars and ET, and it used A-list stars to attract and audience, rather than special effects.



Special effects in Star Wars

Special effects in ET

A-List Stars in The GodFather

Production, distribution and exhibition

Production - how tey make the film

Distribution - how they get it to the cinema and marketing

Exhibition - sales, revenue from advertising, which films are shown where and experience 

Marketing - DISTRIBUTION

YouTube and Vimeo - DISTRIBUTION

Test screenings - PRODUCTION

Web distributer - DISTRIBUTION

Film lab - PRODUCTION

VFX studio - PRODUCTION

Legal - PRODUCTION

Cable TV - DISTRIBUTION

DVD retailers - EXHIBITION

Merchandising - EXHIBITION

Distributer - DISTRIBUTION

Producer/writer - PRODUCTION

Artists and designers - PRODUCTION

Film subscription service - EXHIBITION

Multiplex cinema - EXHIBITION

What social, economic, and technical context have rise to theblockbuster film from 75-83?

What social, economic, and technical context have rise to the blockbuster film from 75-83?

Social

Teen audiences had a huge influence in 75 - had to impress teens 

Due to long work hours adults had during the 70s, their lives began to become repetitive and wanted to escape from their regular lives because they wanted to see something that they hadn't seen before which they couldn't get from watching TV and the cinemas provided a spectacle in which they could escape from. 

Teen audiences had huge influences during 75 because blockbuster hits attracted huge media attention which drew teens to go and see films in the cinema rather than pirating them since the media attention turned it into an event movie - Jaws is seen as an event movie

Multiplexes were also always on the motorways because there was more space to build more screens and bigger car parks, which is opposite of independent theatres as they were in the high street so people could get there, which would attract teenagers to create a bigger audience which could explain why the rise of multiplexes had a strong correlation to the increasing number of teenage cinema attendees. 

Technological

More special effects and technology was very appealing to the public since is created a spectacle and was something they hadn't seen before, ie Star Wars introduced elements in to films which had not been seen before  

The early 80s cause an increase in cinema popularity due to new technologies becoming available to big screen

Economic 

Growth in TV ownership drew older audiences away from the cinema as it became became fashionable to stay at home and watch TV because it was easier and cheaper 

Multiplexes were bought in by American companies because they were worried that their films were not being seen by English audiences, English people wanted/expected to see bigger and better films, which America provided - such as Jaws, which is classed as the first blockbuster which is exactly what English people wanted to see, which drew them to the cinema. 

Homework - 30 minute timed mock

What social, economical and technological context gave rise to the Blockbuster film from 1975 to 1983?
30 mins

Blockbusters were brought into English culture during the same era that multiplexes arrived in England, as the American film industry wanted to show their films in England so that they could earn more money. However, cinemas were dirty and run down, so the American film industry built multiplexes to encourage people to see their films. Audiences would expect to see spectacles when they went to multiplexes, and so the American film industry would create spectacles, such as Star Wars, which people enjoyed because it showed them something new, with space ships and laser guns, was shown multiple times in multiplexes across the UK. The multiplexes gave people the chance to experience something new, with bigger screens and sound quality than their TVs, more seats and more of a choice of what to watch. People paid to see spectacles in multiplexes, and so Hollywood made more of them.

To advertise the film and earn more money, blockbusters became 'event movies' and merchandise was made, for example, Jaws, which is seen as the first blockbuster, became such a hype that everyone went to see it. Lunch boxes and clothing was made to make even more money. Because 'event movies' made a lot of money, the American film industry decided to create sequels and prequels, for example, multiple Star Wars films were made, and it became a hype and was shown multiple times every day. The recession during the 70s and 80s drew adults away from the cinema and attracted teenagers, who did not work or have to pay bills, and so pocket money would be a disposable income. This means that films were aimed towards teenagers, who would also buy into the hype a lot easier than adults.

Special effects had a large impact on blockbuster, because people were paying to see the spectacles that they created, and so people went back to multiplexes to see more films with special effects, which brought them out of their homes.

The influence of blockbusters created trends in filmmaking and caused producers to create spinoffs and trends, for example, people would want to go to discos because of Saturday Night Fever, which created the disco era. Fame had such a good response in multiplexes that it was made into a TV show.

What makes a blockbuster a blockbuster

Point (yellow)

Blockbusters and multiplexes came in at the same time because blockbusters are shown in multiplexes

Explain (blue)

Film studios from Hollywood built multiplexes so that they could advertise and show their own films - first one was built in Milton Keynes

Analyse (green)

Audience wanted to see spectacles, bigger screen, more seats, more house of films, better sound - 

P - people who built multiplexes also made blockbusters

E - the first multiplex was in Milton Keynes, and the first blockbuster was Star Wars 

A - it was shown because it was a spectacle, 

S - may not be more choice because blockbusters are formulaic 

P - teenagers were the only ones going to the cinema because adults can't afford it

P - films were marketed so that people would watch it, they were marketed as an event movie - merchandise would make more money

E - Star Wars is still an event movie - lost of people paid for merchandise

A - people kept making blockbusters because they made lots of money

The Godfather (1972)

Had A-list stars, didn't have explosions but made a lot of money

Jaws (1975)

First event movie - merchandise and hype made jaws successful

They spent a lot of money of advertisement 

Character lead, didn't have visual effects or stories

Star Wars (1977)

Had a lot of visual effects but no story line, this is the basis for which all modem blockbusters are based

ET (1982)

Same director as Jaws, effects done by the same people that Star Wars did

There was a rescission, people lost their jobs, so they didn't have any money for tickets and so they didn't go to the cinema, they watched films on TV

This means that teens would go to the cinema because they had a disposable income, and no bills

Cinema attendance went down, until blockbusters came around, when attendance came up again

Multiplexes came around because American film studios wanted their films to be seen by English people

Film studios invested in multiplexes because they made the film, and so they wanted only them to make money for them

Industrial Light and Magic did the visual effects for all the blockbusters, owned by George Lucas and Stephen Speilberg 

Photos

Location report

Central Park
People could fall over on twigs and rocks on the grass. Other people and their dogs could also be dangerous as they could attack us. There are rivers as well, and due to recent rain fall the rivers could be high and the current could be fast.
Central Park is suitable for my film because it is a few minutes walk away from school, and in the centre of my other locations.
The amount of people who pass through Central Park vary depend on the day of the week and the weather. I would estimate that there would be around 100 other people there when I shoot my nine key frames.
There are no electrical points at Central Park.
Central Park is very bit, and I will definitely be able to fit a film crew in there.

Restaurant
There are no trip hazards in a restaurant, however waiters will be walking around with hot food and drinks, which means that we will have to be wary of them.
The Harvester would be suitable to my film because it is close to Central Park and easily accessible by car and bus.
I would estimate around 50-80 people would be at the Harvester when I film there, as I would need to film shoot at night.
There would be electrical points in the kitchens, but we would not be allowed to enter there, therefore there are no electrical points available to me.
The Harvester is not very big, but whether or not I will be able to fit an entire film crew in there would depend on how many people are eating.

Living room
There are a few trip hazards in my living room, but they are mainly wires and they can be moved. I have a dog, but he is not vicious and he can be moved to another room.
My living room would be suitable for my film because it is easily accessible to me, and is very close to a few bus stops.
There are five people in my house, including me, however the other four can easily be moved.
There are multiple plug sockets and extensions leads in my living room which can all be easily reached.
My house is not very big, but a film crew would be able to squeeze into my living room.

Mark Kermode and summer blockbusters

• What is the argument he makes?

-Not all films that open in the summer have to be good. 

-In summer because kids are off school - made for kids - has to r a spectacle (fancy things - Ferrari driving down a road of golfs)

-Have to sacrifice a story line to get good special effects - style over substance 

-Director has to balance spectacle and story

-Must have believable characters and seeing stuff that looks cool

-Films encourage people to go to the cinema because most people watch it online

-We used piracy so Hollywood uses more special effects to get us to the cinema

-Selling you an experience

• What is the blockbuster budget formula?

-It should cost a lot of money and earn a load of money

-Use a star, special effects, and spend more money - spending money makes the movie an event

-Cannot use money in blockbuster films

-Adding money to the film, part of the marketing, more people will see it - it's an event

-Spend money > news worthy > hype > event > 6+ weeks (youth audience - summer holidays)

-People will say more because they've bought into the franchise

-Youth audience are naive - SOCIAL - audiences are getting younger - Robocop was 12a, used to be 18

-Trailers show all the funny stuff

-Youth audiences are more susceptible to advertising

• Summer blockbusters

Good storyline and cast

Only use special effects when they needed

Look for Technolgy, economics and social (what people can do other than go to the cinema 

Shia LaBeouf - always plays the teenager (relatable character)

Stars are part of the marketing 

Average budget for a blockbuster: $250 million

How much is spent on marketing:

•Blockbuster must have a global appeal

• Narrative - Always have good v evil - CHN - following a formula - conformist/repetitive - McFilm - always are the same - marketing ~ kids like films - what you eat at McDonalds is the same (familiar) it's simple and easily repeated process (mass produced)

• Genre - Sci Fi, Thriller, Action, Comedy (event movie) 

-Sci Fi and Actions are summer blockbusters because they have spectacles

Question: what is the value of the blockbuster formula?

Product placement - companies want their product to be in the film - paying to see advertising

Inception, Jaws are both good blockbusters - play with the rules 

Social: audience want spectacle. 

Technology: cgi - the audience want "spectacle" - they want a new experience - cinema attendance is low, they want it up, but there is piracy, people can't copy 3D - atmosphere and quality is better at the cinema

Economic: pre-sold - chance to make money - risk of new ideas - cinema attendance - piracy

HOMEWORK - 4.2 lessons plan - set reading - divide into social, economical and technological. 

The "Minecraft" Movie

Franchise: Minecraft

A-list actor: Robert Downey Junior

Set piece: A man killing zombies