THE TRACKING EXERCISE
You will need to pick a film that has been
released in the last month.
You need to track your films success – or
failure on the way to the big screen. You need to track the processes it goes
through from its birth to production; from distribution to audience reception;
and you need to log any merchandising and tie0ins connected with your film.
ASK THE QUESTION WHY?
You should interrogate the information you
find. Study those figures.
What can you learn from them?
What is interesting to you in the
statistics, tables, articles you have read?
EG Compare American and British box office
figures.
Why might the film have done better in the
UK than USA?
Or does your film appeal more to particular
regional or ethnic groups? Why?
Who decides on distribution? Are the
distributors saturating the market or is your film only appearing in one small
art house cinema in Clacton. If so Why?
We are coming up to Christmas and school
holidays. Is this a factor in deciding on the release date, classification of
your film?
Also think about how we define ‘success’.
Is it just money? Check out the reviews. ‘Sight and Sound’ might be raving
about a film, which proved to be a box office flop in terms of first weekend
takings. Why?
Interrogate the information. The person who asks ‘Why?’ learns the
most!
TASK ONE
WHAT LOOK TO LOOK FOR AND WHAT TO
TRACK…
REMEMBER
Ask the question ‘WHY’ wherever possible. AND ask yourself, ‘What is
interesting about this information?’
Classification
Release dates
Where?
The distributors
The production company
The director – other films by same director
The actors tho and how much they get paid
The genre of the film
Tie in promotions e.g. Star &
Production company benefit
Finance Production costs
Actor’s Fees
Box Office Figures
First Weekend Returns
How much the movie grosses
Advertising and Publicity
- Websites
devoted to the film, posters, tv ads, magazine ads etc
Merchandising, McDonalds? Toys
Previews and Reviews
Press Releases
If you can, go to see your movie when it is
released.
Interviews members of the audience in order
to poll what they though of the film
IMPORTAND WEBSITES
MPAA Motion picture association of
America useful for press releases and statistics
Bright lights film journal
BFI
Entertainment Weekly
Premiere online
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FDA
IMDB
Box office guru
Box office mojo
UK Film Council
Regional film agencies
Screen online
MPA – Motion picture association
LABEL: UNIT 26 LO2
