Key Questions

Do you see any similarities between the early channel 4 and an independent film production company?

There are many similarities between the early Channel 4 and an independent film production company.
Channel 4 is as unique as a commerical broadcaster as it has a public service remit. This means that rather than its primary concern being to make money for shareholders it exists to fulfil a public need. The remit stipulates that they must, demonstrate innovation, experiment and creativity in the form and content of programmes. It must appeal to the tastes and interests of a culturally diverse society. Make a significant contribution to meeting the need for the licensed public service channels to include programmes of an educational nature and other programmes of educative value. And also broadcast programmes from many independent production companies, including a high proportion from Europe.
This is the same for an independent film production. Like Film Four. Film Fours Ethos is to help develop new British talent. This is so that everyone gets a chance in the acting world. They are also the leader of innovation in the British Film Industry. They also support international and independent Film makers. Offering a platform for British and independent cinema on terrestrial television by committing to showing each one of Film Four Production on Channel 4.
This is just like channel 4. The first night saw the beginning of its relationship with British, independent cinema with the premiere of Walter.
Both are commercial broadcasters. Both try to produce a realism within society.

How do you think the move in 1993 to being a more commercially motivated broadcaster, with the ability to sell their own advertising space, affected Channel 4's acquisition and commissioning decisions?

In 1993 channel 4 became in charge of its own advertising space. Whereas, before ITV was in control of Channel 4s advertising. This was an advantage as it was able to advertise its acquisitions. Such as 'ER', 'Friends' and 'Simpson's'. This allowed channel 4 to acquisition and commission more programmes than it usually would. I think that the affect that channel 4 got when it was able to get hold of its own advertising space allowed them to make more money, and advertise their own programmes showed on their channel. Even though this made them more money, that thought over took them, making them stray from their original remit.

In what ways do you think Channel 4 have lead to innovations in British Television?

Channel 4 lead to innovations in British Television, when it showed Walter on its first night. This movie featured scenes of homosexual molestation in a mental hospital. This was a shock to the nation. However, this lead to other channels copying and taking on the idea of trying something new. It also lead to innovations in the updating the world with news. News on channel 4 is more formal, educated and unbiased. Compared to news programmes on other channels such as, ITV. When looked at in another aspect, if channel 4 news was to be a newspaper, it would be a broadsheet and news on ITV would be a tabloid.

How has Channel 4 strayed from the ethos of it's original remit as a public service broadcaster to showcase innovation and diversity in television?

Channel 4 began to stray from its ethos of it's original remit as a public service broadcaster to showcase innovation and diversity, when it goy hold of its own advertising space. The fact of making more money bcecame the most important factor to them. For example take the programes which they used to show on teaching. This was showen in the mornings, usually when school for children was not on. This was to help education be followed through the channels. However, as channel 4 has progressed this factor of education has disappeared. It has been taken over by entertainment. Channel 4 said that they were a broadcaster to showcase innovation and diversity. They have now strayed from this. The educatioal programme which had first been shown, has now been taken over by comedies, such as Fraiser, and Everybody loves Raymond. Instead of demonstrating innovation, experimant and creativity, their number one priority is now entertainment. Not appealing to a diverse audience.

Does the factual programming on Channel 4 today have the same educational value as it did 25 years ago?

No, channel 4 does not have the same factual programming value as it did 25 years ago. They used to program documentaries, on various things. However this value has been lost and hidden. Channel 4 now seem to concentrate on entertaining their audience. Showing programs such as Come Dine With Me. This has no educational purpose to it at all. However, the conflict that sometimes takes place has more entertainment value. Which channel 4 seems will appeal to the wider audience. Channel 4 has lost a real important value, making the channel less factual.


Are there any arguments to say that Channel 4 still, in some ways maintain it's original remit?

Yes, it can be argued that channel 4 still contains some of its orginal remit, up to a certain extent. Channel 4 may not show as much edcucational or factual programs its meant to, but it still shows a few. Such as Dispatches. This gives different aspects of certain topics. Giving a educationa side and a more factual side. They also show programs which give a certain affect on the audiece. Such as Embrassing Bodies. This may be off putting to some, but there is alot of things and facts which can be taken on board, and applied to real life.

Is Channel 4's ownership of Film 4 Productions an example of Horizontal or Vertical Integration?

It is vertical as channel 4 owns Film 4 productions. Therefore, channel 4 is the parent company and Film 4 is a subsidary at a different stage which channel 4 owns. Channel 4 is a broadcaster and Film 4 makes movies.

Fantasy Film Making Part 1

I had worked with Ebun, in the Fantasy Film Making Challenge.

We had to pick out a bag, so that it made it fair fr everyone, so it was random.

Firstly, we had to pick out a production company. Ours was Hollywood Filx. This is a major Hollywood production. Its was a bonus for Ebun and I as we knew that our budget would have quite large. Then we had to pick out the budget from a bag, again so that it was random and fair. Luckily Ebun and I got a huge budget of £40 million. Which we was both happy about. This was the largest budget in out class. Then we had to pick a scenario. At fist we got a Charles Dickens, The Christmas Carol, which we had to re-create.

But me and Ebun knew nothing about it and so got to pick another. Our final scenario was a sci-fi. We had to make up a film, based on the storyline of aliens coming and taking over, it had to have an element of Britain in it.

Synopsis

The synopsis of the story Ebun and I came up with was about 5 university students. 5 university students, go on a boat trip to the middle of the sea. 2 of the students decide on go for a dive in the clear waters. They find a black hole at the bottom of the sea. Both the students are fascinated and go closer, where they get sucked in. After about 5 minutes the friends begin to worry that they haven't seen the other 2 come up for air, and have been down there for a long period of time. One of the friends on the boat dives in to investigate. He sees one of their goggles on the sea bad and goes to pick it up, but also gets sucked in. The 2 friends on the boat go and get the coastguards, where they all discover this mysterious black hole.

The coastguards block off the area, so that they can investigate. But soon too many people start to gather around trying to look what's going on, and they find that the black hole sucks itself in, and suddenly disappears. two hours later, when the coastguards are still around securing the area. The ground starts to shake radically. The black hole re-opens and the whole sea is sucked in as well as the coastguards and their boats. The alien eggs start to explode out the black hole and over night they begin to hatch and develop. The rest of the population do not know what is going on and still in for a surprise when they wake up in the morning. The aliens are in search for the Queen, and try take over Britain.

My film represents Britain, as the aliens try and take over from the Queen. And only try and rule Britain, not the whole world.

Location/Sets

There will be two in a fantasy place, which costs £1 million each. One will

be out in the middle of the sea. Where the uni students will be on their boat out on the sea. The other will be the alien world under the sea. It will be showed when the three students get sucked in the black hole, into the alien world.

Another location will be in Central London, this costs £1 million. It will show Buckingham palace. This is where the aliens try break in and kidnap the Queen.

Another will be a location outside London. This costs, £100,000. It will be the coasts of the UK. Aliens explode out at sea, they hatched and work their way inwards from the coasts of Britain in to Central London.

Characters and Actors

There are six main characters.

Helen Mirren, will play Queen Elizabeth and she will cost £5 million.

Daniel Radcliffe will play a character by the name of James, he is one who survives. He will cost £100,000.

Jessica Alba will play a character called Jessica and she is the rich teenager, who's boat their on. She is the other who survives. She will cost £5 million.

Jamie Winston will play Amelia a uni students who goes in the water with Laura and never comes out. She gets sucked into the black hole. She will cost £10,000.

Megan Fox will play Laura the uni student, who goes in water with Amelia,

doesn't come out. She also gets sucked into the black hole. She will cost £5 million.

Ricky Whittle will play Que who is the uni student that goes to investigate when the other 2 go missing. He will cost £1000.

Music

A original orchestral score. this will be used when the alien invasion happens, when the eggs start to explode out the water. It will also be used at the end. Its costs, £500,000.

International. This will be used in the middle of the film. Beyonce will make up the lyrics and beat. This will cost £100,000.

Target Audience

Age range- The age range for my target audience will be around 16-35. This is because the actors in my film are quite young, and will be known well by this age range. Appealing to them more. Take Daniel Radcliffe and Ricky Whittle, who plays Calvin from Hollyoaks, for example, they will appeal to the teenage/young adults as they are young themselves. It may also appeal to the older generation, because it has Helen Mirren playing the Queen.

Gender- My film will appeal to both female and male. Jessica Alba and Megan Fox, will appeal to the males because of their sex appeal. Ricky Whittle will appeal to the females along with Daniel Radcliffe because of their sex appeal. So overall it will attract a wide range of both males and females.

Interests- The audience will be interested in things which are non-fictional. More sci-fi. As it has no realistic elements.

Ethnicity and Location- It will appeal to any one in any location, but maybe more to the people who live closer to the coast, and in the heart of Britain. Only appeal to people who live in Britain, and will appeal more to people who are English, as it features the Queen.

The Package...

Comparison Between Independent And Dependent Films

Independent Films and Hollywood films are quite easy to tell apart. From the high-tech equipment used in Hollywood films to the wide range of shots. Whereas Independent Films cannot usually afford the high-tech equipment that Hollywood films use. There locations are also very limited, but however this makes the independent movies seem much more realistic.

Some examples of Hollywood film makers are, Walt Disney, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Coloumbia Pictures and Universal. These are the 'Big Six' Hollywood Fiilm makers.

Some examples of Independent film makers are, Summit Entertainment, EM Media and Film 4.

Halloween Resurrection



Halloween reveals that Laurie actually killed the wrong guy by beheading him. It wasn't the real Michael Myers. It comes to a new year, where a bunch of selected college students take part in an online reality show in which they'll spend the night locked up in the killer's childhood home being filmed by dozens of cameras and broadcast over the Internet. Little do they know that the real Michael Myers is yet to return.

Texas Chain Saw Massacre

Driving through the backwoods of Texas, five youths pick up a traumatized hitchhiker, who shoots herself in their van. Shaken by the suicide, the group seeks help from the locals, but their situation becomes even more surreal when they knock on the door of a remote homestead. It's quickly apparent the residents are a family of inbred psychopaths, and the unlucky youths suddenly find themselves running for their lives. In hot pursuit is a disfigured, chainsaw-wielding cannibal known as Leather face.

Actors

The actors in a Hollywood film are always famous and well known. This is because then the Films reputation has a big impact. If a film has famous people which are well liked by the public and the films target audience. Then it will make it more appealing.
In Halloween Resurrection the actors are quite famous and appeal to the target audience. Having Busta Rhymes and Tyra Banks in te film make it attract the target audience. The target audience for this movie is around 15-35. Busta Rhymes appeals to this target audience because he is a rapper/singer, and is therefore well known to this population.

In Texas Chain Saw Massacre. The actors aren't really known. They are just ordinary students, that might have some sort of degree in drama. The main character only needs to wear a mask and pretend to go around killing people.


Camera work

The camera work in Halloween Resurrection varies. This is not surprising for a Hollywood film, as they can afford to have the correct equipment for these types of shots. The movie uses a pan. This can be seen in the trailer above. They use this pan so that you can see the whole picture and get a sense of the scene. They do not only use this once, it is used throughout the whole film. They also use a camera movement, where the camera goes nearly 180 degrees around the characters this is so that you can see all the expressions on their faces. This camera movement, also creates tension as, the audience cannot see what the characters see, until the camera has gone about 90 degrees around. When they see what the characters see it makes the audience jump, as it is Michael Myers. Building up tension.

They also use a range of mid-shots, Long shots, and close ups.

An advanced feature of camera movement they use is point of view. this is the main camera movement used. There are little cameras attached to the characters to heads. This lets the audience feel involved in the film, as they can see everything. It makes them feel like they are in the shoes of the character as they are able to see what the character sees. They also use alot of zooms.

Whereas, Texas Chain Saw Massacre is not so detailed. For an independent film, the unusual thing is that in the trailer above, the scene lasts about 2 seconds and then cuts to another. There are not that many long scenes. Which are usually popular in independent films. There are hardly and pans or tilts. And it mainly uses Mid-shot or long shot, with the occasional close-up.

Editing

The editing for a film is very important. If the film is edited in a right way then it makes the film more interesting. Editing can vary from the cuts, to the way the film is put together overall.

Surprisingly, both films editing are quite similar.

Halloween Resurrection uses many flash fades, from scene to scene. However so does Texas Chain Saw Massacre. The other unusual thing is that in dependent films, the cuts are always faster than the independent films. This is because independent films usually leave the camera running and have it long scenes.

Halloween only has the upper quality of the special effects it uses. Halloween has a fire in the house. Which is a special effect. Also the special effect of a character hanging dead from the attic door, as another character opens it, they come flying out, upside-down. It also uses the special effect that makes it television look like it has lost signal, just like one of the cameras in the film.

Texas Chain Saw Massacre hardly uses any special effects. This is due to their budget. They simply cannot afford to have and use special effects.

Mise-En-Scene

The props and locations for Halloween Resurrection are high quality and vary. The props used, such as the knife look very realistic. The locations in Hollywood Films are all over the place. Even though Halloween is only based in one house, the locations for Hollywood films always vary.

However, Independent Films cannot once again afford to have the film set in different locations. They always tend to set in the location, just at different angles and shot in different ways. Texas Chainsaw Massacre, is set in the dessert. This is a clever idea, as they do not need to pay to use the location, and it sets the vibe on loneliness and emptiness making the film more scary. As it can be seen that there is no-one else around, especially if something bad happens.

The Life Of A Film

Pretty Woman.

Synopsis
Pretty Woman is about a young lady who is a prostitute on the Hollywood Boulevard. She runs into a man, who at first just seems like business but she blissfully unaware that he could possibly turn into the man that she has always hoped for. The one night night that they were meant to spend together turned into two nights, then three, and then before they know it the rest of their lives. This is her chance to start her life over.

Production Budget
The production budget for Pretty Woman was an estimated $14,000,000. Which for a subsidiary of a Hollywood firm, is quite low in this era. However, the film was made in 1990, and so was a reasonable budget. The production companies which helped Pretty Woman be produced was, Touchstone Pictures and Silver Screen Pictures IV.

Silver Screen Pictures was set up in 1983 for providing full financing for other and their own films. Silver Screen Pictures was put on the stock market for the public, which had raised $82.8 million. After payment of offering costs and fees, aproximatley $74 million was avaliable for investiment in films. Silver Screens fianced seven films between June 1983 and December 1995.

Other Movies They Produced...
Touchstone Pictures also produced Dark Water, Step Up and the recent releases The proposal and Confessions Of A Shopaholic. Silver Screen pictures, haven't released any new films recently. However the ones which they have released are around the year Pretty Woman was released. Beauty and The Beast (1991), True Identity (1991).

Theartical Distributors
Pretty Woman's theatrical distributors were released in four countries, these were. Buena Vista Pictures, in the USA. Buena Vista International in Netherlands, and Warner Bros, in the the Uk and in France.

Home Distributors
Pretty Woman's home distributors were mainly Buena Vista Home Entertainment. They released DVDs In Brazil and Netherlands. They also produced another DVD in Netherlands, this was an extended special edition. They also relased a video of the film in Brazil. Gativideo released a video in Argentina. Touchstone Home Video, released a video in USA. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment just recently released a Blu-Ray Disc in Netherlands.

Box Office Takings
Pretty Woman's box office takings was $11,280,591 in the USA. Its Gross was $178,406,268 in USA. $463,406,268 Worldwide. $285,000,000 Non- USA. The films admissions was 10,571,908 in Germany. The rentals that it earned was m £91,905,000 in USA.

My Media Summer

My favourite film probably has to be...Pretty Woman.

Pretty Woman appealed to me because it isn't like any other film. Pretty Woman's story line was very unique. About a prostitute who ends up marry the man of her dreams, who first started off as a job. The main reason why I like it, is because of the way the film is constructed over all. I like the fact that the woman who started off with a poor job and life, managed to turn herself around with a rich man's touch. I also like it because its a romantic comedy. Comedies are a genre of which I love. This is because whenever I watch a comedy I end up laughing uncontrollably.

I dislike scary films, as I cannot really seem to handle them. I start to cry by the end of most of them. Such as The Final Destination.

My favourite song is... obsessed by Mariah Carey.

I think that this song is very funny, and makes sense. It's about another song artist telling everyone that him and Mariah Carey had something going on. Its appealing because it gives the listeners an insight on the singers life, expressing her feelings and making us laugh. The songs upbeat bass line, also makes the song very appealing. As we are able to sing and dance along to. I like all R&B music really. The reason for this is because, the beat is very high tempo and catchy, making it stick in my head for the day. Whereas personally I find that Rock music gives me a headache, it isn't to my taste.

My favourite radio programme has to be Kiss 100.

I like Kiss because it plays a wide variety of songs. Making it appeal to a wide range of people. Kiss 100 is also a very easy channel to find and has a good quality frequency system. Making it appeal to me because it doesn't start crackling, when I am trying to listen to it. No matter how far out you go, the frequency is still better than other radio stations. It also appeals to me because, of the amount of things which you can win on the shows. From concert tickets to going on tour with a celebrity.

My favourite TV programme has probably got to be Hollyoaks. I like Hollyoaks because it is very dramatic and keeps you on the edge. I mainly like it because there are a lot of young people in it, and so it appeals to me. It relates to many of the young teenagers situations. I also like it because it has a element of humour to it at times. The cliffhangers at the end of each programme make me want to watch the next episode, and I wouldn't want to miss it!