1. AS FILM STUDIES REVISION
FM 2 - Producers and Audiences

2. FM2 - British & American film
• This section of AS Film studies is an
examination.
• This exam is on the 14th May.
• The exam is 2 1/2 hours long.
• You answer 3 questions as 3 essays.

3. FM2 - 3 SECTIONS
• FM2 is divided into 3 sections. Each will be
concerned with a different section of British or
American film.
• Section A is about Producers and Audiences.
• Section B is about British Film (Working Title)
• Section C is about American Film (Comparative
Study)

4. FM2 Section A
• This question asks you to consider why films
are made, the way in which films are made,
who they are made for, distributed and
exhibited.
• This is linked in with audience as
consumers.
• You will need to be able to consider the way
that people watch films, why they watch
them and how films are made for them.
• The exam will present you with a question
about any of these ideas and you will be
asked to answer this using the knowledge
you have gained from this Unit of work.

5. Key foci for FM2
• Filmfinance, production, distribution an exhibition in America and
Britain.
• Reflection on personal behaviour as consumer, fan and critic.
• Hollywood as the dominant force in cinema.
• Technological changes, audience changes and the changes in
consumption.
• Piracy.
• Stars.
• Understanding, analysing
and explaining film consumption is key in this
area of work and you will be expected to undertake individual work
researching this.

6. FM2 - SECTION A
• Inorder to do well on this section of the
exam paper, you will need to take an
interest in films and in cinema.
• You will need to watch films, pay attention
to film stars and films that are in
production. You will need to engage in
research on why people watch films,
explore ways in which people watch films
and begin to develop opinions as to why
films are made and exhibited.

7. What are examiners looking for?
•Understanding & appreciation of cinema. This includes film
finance, production, distribution and exhibition in America and Britain.
A strong understanding of the UK film market through consumption
both nationally but also locally.
•Critical skills of being able to interpret information relating to
differing aspects of the film industry. Reflection on personal behaviour
as a consumer, fan and critic.

8. Sneaky tip!
• FM2Section A will focus on the profit motive of the film industry and the pleasure
motive of the audience.
• Hence, film as ‘product’, audience as ‘consumers’. The exam wants to test you to see if you
are able to show your understanding of film as a way of making money and / or the
choices that people make when watching film are linked directly to their own pleasure.
• Whateverquestions you are asked, they will be about the idea of film created to make
money and then watched for pleasure.

9. What else is there to know?
• Thequestions in Section A will have a focus on the demand for film and will relate to
consumption in the UK-you won’t need to know about how and why people in the US
watch films (although if you do know anything about this it could be a useful counter-
point in an answer).
• Consumption will not just relate to cinema.
• Commercial and cultural significance will be important.
• Behaviour of the audience is key.
• Case studies and research are vital in explaining these behaviours.
• The importance, or not, of stars is vital.

10. Those key areas in single words:
•Finance
•Marketing
Your 2 questions •Organisation
•Audience will focus on these
areas: •Production
•Exhibition
•Distribution
•Consumption

11. How do you do well in the exam?
• Usethe stimulus material. Don’t focus just on that for your answer though-it is there for a
‘jump off point’, to spark ideas, to focus your ideas and knowledge. (You need to know
about those areas on the last slide, but how do you know which one/s you should write
about in your answer? Use the stimulus material).
• Engage the material. Question it. Argue with it. Agree with it. Mention it.
• Use of own case studies.
•A bespoke answer, not one from memory.
• Wide understanding of the industry, especially in it’s complexity and it’s use of marketing.
• Personal answers do well, so long as supported by evidence.

12. Work on your own or in pairs.
You have 5 minutes to write down as
MANY ideas as possible.
why do we
watch films?
You should do this on a piece of
lined paper and this will be key We will then share ideas and
for your revision notes. steal ideas from others.

13. Audience

14. distribution

15. Key findings from research
• Why DO people watch films?
• Is there a difference between ages, genders, location, interests?
• Is this likely to be different to other places, both locally and nationally, maybe even
internationally?
• How have these reasons changed? Why?
• What evidence do we have to support this? (Box office, DVD / Blu-ray sales, changes
in the way people buy/rent films?)
• Make sure you note down the answers provided by others.

16. If we know why people watch films, how can this
be exploited to make money?
• Section A isn’t just about audiences.
• It also focuses on how they are used to make money for the film industry.
• This is where the aspect of Producers comes in.
• What is a Producer?

17. Producer
• A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant hosts while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the
film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period,
before a film is fully financed. Many film producers are also talent (directors, screenwriters, actors) but that is not always the
case.
• The producer is often actively involved throughout all major phases of the filmmaking process, from inception and
development to completion and delivery of a film project. However, an idea or concept for a film can originate with any
individual, including a screenwriter, a director or a producer.
• A producer begins by obtaining the rights to create or co-create a feature-length screenplay. The producer
oversees the process, which includes coordinating, supervising and controlling major aspects of the project.
This includes fundraising and hiring key roles such as the casting director or film director. They'll also influence
the hiring of other personnel such as the UPM or line producer and accountant.
• “From the first draft script, through all stages of production, to the final dub, success or failure rests largely in the hands of the
producer. Experience in this field does not come overnight. Rather it is born out of long years of creative and technical know-
how, and above all a love for the job and all that goes with it, together with the ability to choose the right talent with which to
surround himself.”

18. finance

19. Economics and the film industry
• The main thing to take on board is that a commercial film is the product of an industry
that uses technology and labour. This costs money. This money needs to be recouped.
• Because of this you must have an awareness of how important finance is in the film
industry.
• Where does the money go? Why does a film cost $100million+?
• There are 4 main stages in the film-making process.

20. The film making process
• Pre-production: initial idea is thought of, developed and worked on. This includes
scripts, storyboards and casting.
• Production: The film is ‘recorded’ and put on physical film or digitally recorded. This
includes sound such as voice overs and soundtracks.
• Post-production: Images and sounds are edited together into a cohesive film.
Elements may be changed or developed further.
• Marketing: The act of telling people about the film. Spreading word about the film
and the people in it. This is now usually done throughout the filmmaking process, not
just at the end. Distribution costs are usually factored in at this stage.
• Where does the producer come into things here?

21. The film making process
• Pre-production:
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initial idea is thought of, developed and worked on. This includes
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scripts, storyboards and casting.
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• Production:
r e d l l o
The film is ‘recorded’ and put on physical film or digitally recorded. This
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includes sound such as voice overs and soundtracks.
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• Post-production:
y f o m
Images and sounds are edited together into a cohesive film.
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Elements may be changed or developed further.
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m
• Marketing:o o m
The act of telling people about the film. Spreading word about the film
i s c
and the people in it. This is now usually done throughout the filmmaking process, not
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just at the end. Distribution costs are usually factored in at this stage.
t

22. Work on your own or in pairs.
You have 5 minutes to write down as
MANY ideas as possible.
how do film
companies make money?
You should do this on a piece of
lined paper and this will be key We will then share ideas and
for your revision notes. steal ideas from others.

23. Questions for reflection:
• To what extent are Hollywood films simply ‘products’ made to make a profit?
• How important is marketing in influencing people to watch Hollywood films both at the
cinema and on DVD / Blu-Ray / Rental service?
• How are adverts in their differing forms used to create audiences for films? Are they as
important as they used to be and why?
• Choose one of these to answer in a paragraph of key ideas.

24. marketing

25. Key terms:
• Release pattern: The order in which the film is released to the public. Includes location as
well as time. Includes the number of screens that will be showing the film at any given time,
including (less so these days) physical prints.
• Poster campaign: A marketing strategy involving the careful creation of posters to inform
audiences at the film. Each stage of production will usually yield a specific poster in the case of
large films that have the marketing budget to do so. Essentially done to excite and interest the
audience.
• The talent: A term for the main creative people involved in the film. Usually refers to the
director, producer, screenwriter and actors. May include others such as cinematographer,
soundtrack artist or more.
• USP: Unique selling point. The ‘hook’ by which the film is sold to the audience. Why it is
unique, different, interesting or simply worth watching.

26. Work on your own or in pairs.
You have 5 minutes to write down as
MANY ideas as possible.
how are films
marketed?
You should do this on a piece of
lined paper and this will be key We will then share ideas and
for your revision notes. steal ideas from others.

27. production

28. Old vs New Hollywood
•1930s and 1940s in Hollywood is often known as the Golden
Age of Hollywood. Also known as Classical Hollywood or
simply, Old Hollywood.
•How much do we know about it? How is it different to the
Hollywood of today? How does this represent itself in the
films that are produced in Hollywood now compared to what
used to be? Why?

29. Why the changes?
•On a piece of paper, create a timeline from 1912 to 2012.
•What historical events and technological changes have
occurred in this time that could have had an effect on the Film
Industry?
•Labelyour timeline and be prepared to add extra ideas and
notes for the events/technologies.

30. What do you need to know?
•To
have an awareness of the historical development of the
Hollywood film industry.
•To be able to compare Old Hollywood with new Hollywood.
•Tobe able to explain (and realise) that Hollywood has always
seen filmmaking as a commercial exercise.

31. British Cinema
• What is a British Film?
•Share ideas and discuss. Develop a one sentence answer.

32. British Cinema
• Are the Harry Potter films
British? Think carefully before
you answer:
• What about Four Weddings and a
Funeral? Consider the
• Is
differing stages of development.
Shaun of the Dead British?
• Is Hot Fuzz? Consider the talent.
• What about The Dark Knight? Consider cultural and social
• Are the James Bond films British? identity.

33. British Cinema - Key facts:
• Figures for 2002 (apologies):
At the closure of the UK Film
• Film industry worth $63billion. Council on 31 March 2011, The
Guardian reported that "The
• American film takes 80% share of the market. UKFC's entire annual budget was
a reported £3m, while the cost of
• Britain takes 5% (or 25% of the non-American share). closing it down and restructuring is
estimated to have been almost four
• BBC spends 1% of it’s annual income on film. times that amount."[4] One of the
UKFC's last films, The King's
• Largest amount spent on film production by a UK commercial broadcaster is Channel 4. Speech, is estimated to have cost
$15m to make and grossed
• 95% of Production Companies in the UK employ less than 10 people.
$235m, besides winning several
Academy Awards. UKFC invested
$1.6m for a 34% share of net
• In 2003 43 films are produced by UK companies. In 2004 it was 27. In 1982 it was TWO!
profits, a valuable stake which will
pass to the British Film Institute.
• In 2010 the UK Government scrapped the UK Film Council, a Government Funded
[17]
‘company’ that helped fund film.

34. Questions for reflection - British Film:
•In what way is British Cinema artistically different to American Film?
•What defines a British Film?
•How can British Cinema cope when against American Film?
•Why have British films been both commercially and critically successful
overseas in the last 20 years?
•Why is British talent thriving in the Global market?

35. exhibition

36. Exhibition in the cinema Key Points
• What are the difference between independent and chain cinemas in the UK?
• Do you have any independent cinemas near you? Ensure you can
• Have you ever visited one? How is it different?
answer these
questions. Make
• What is the point of an independent cinema in the modern climate? notes!
• What is the point of a multiplex? How does it make money?
• Who decides what films get shown at cinemas? Why are some films shown for longer?
• Why are some films not shown at the cinema?
• What types of films shown at certain periods in the cinema?

37. Exhibition - discussion points
• Brain storm and share ideas for these 2 questions:
• What effects the success of a film at the cinema?
• Why do the attendance figures (and as a result Box Office figures) change
across years?

38. Exhibition - discussion points
• Why are cinema attendances down?
• How are cinemas trying to attract customers?
• What is ‘The Experience’?

39. consumption

40. Work on your own or in pairs.
You have 5 minutes to write down as
MANY ideas as possible.
This is a great
opportunity to use
the research done how do we
watch films?
in class.
You should do this on a piece of We will then share ideas and
lined paper and this will be key steal ideas from others.
for your revision notes and the
next slide

41. Exhibition - discussion points
Why are popcorn sales down?

42. distribution

43. What is a distribution company?
Production company
Distribution company
What are the differences between the two?

44. A distribution company:
• Acquires the rights to a film
• Decides the number of prints to be made and released to exhibitors
• Negotiates a release date for the prints
• Arranges delivery of prints to cinemas
• Provides trailers and publicity for material for exhibitors
• Puts together a package of advertising to publicly advertise a film
• Negotiates related promotions and /or merchandising deals.

45. Distribution - points for reflection
• Why don’t smaller production companies handle distribution?
• Whycan a good (or large (or both) distributor make or break a film in terms of
success?
• Why do many production companies work with more than one distributor? (Think
global).
• Who distributes Working Title’s films? How have they had an effect on the success of
WT?

46. Revisit this task from 2 weeks ago:
• Thisafternoon you are to put together all of your knowledge and understanding from
Film Studies this half term.
• Working individually, create a diagram to show the relationship between audiences and
the film industry. It can take any for you like, but you must aim to include as many
factors as possible that contribute to the relationship. You should be focusing on how
the producers work to attempt to influence the audience to watch their films.

47. Example
Methods of
consumption
Advertising
Crew and Film as a
actors product
Types of
Merchandise film

48. Interviews
Posters
Trailers
Advertising
Crew Film as a product Merchandise
and
actors
Methods of
consumption

49. •10key points for
each question.
•We’ll work
through question
1 as class.
•Youwill work
through question
2 on your own.
•USE
YOUR
NOTES!

50. SECTION B-
Britain; Working Title.

51. List 10 Working Title Films

52. List as many things as possible:
What makes a
‘Traditional’ Working Title film?

53. ‘A production company often casts the same or similar actors in key
roles, and this contributes to the overall
identity of the company over a period of time.’
How far have you
found this to be the case in the
films you have studied for this topic?