30 questions on the British Film Industry -

1. What % of global box office was the British film industry responsible for?

The UK's share of the global box office fell last year, despite the international success of James Bond film Skyfall - Britain's highest ever grossing film.The British Film Institute said UK film releases took $5.3bn (£3.45bn) in 2012 - a 15.3% share of the world market.

2.What was this % in 2009?

6.8%

3.What might this change indicate about British film?

The change in the percentage over the years indicates that the British Film Industry is rising, and more of the films they are producing are becoming of a success.

4.What films have been responsible for this change?

The films responsible for this increase are - The King's Speech, Sky Fall, Slumdog Millionaire and The Woman in Black.

5.What % of the British film industry makes a profit?

Lower budget films such as those made for less than £2m were less likely to make a profit of 4%. The figure improves as budgets rise with 17% of films that cost more than £10m making their money back.

6.What % of Hollywood films make a profit?

The percentage of Hollywood films that make a profit is 17%.

7.How does that % differ between £2m and £10m budget British films?

Lower budget films such as those made for less than £2m were less likely to make a profit of 4%. The figure improves as budgets rise with 17% of films that cost more than £10m making their money back.

8.What might we infer from this difference?

By stretching a budget, and using extra special effects, or hiring better well known actors, the film is more likely to succeed in making a larger profit than films without.

9.Which age group makes up the largest % of UK cinema goers?

Ages range from 18-24years of age, both genders.

10.Why do you think this might be?

The quadrant system allows this age range to view all films, as well as genres, so they are targeted as the most popular and significant age range.

11.Which 'type' of film has seen an 18% drop in attendance?

The 18 per cent gross income generated by 3D in 2012 continues a slight decline, down from 20 per cent in 2011 and 24 per cent in 2010.

12.Within that 'type' which genre has seen the biggest fall?

Big family films such as Madagascar 3 and Brave were the genre in which have seen the biggest fall.

13.What did Charles Grant put this decline down to?

The price of 3D tickets deterred families from going to the cinema, as they tried to economise their pricings to ensure they were saving that little extra money.

14.Who is Paul Greengrass?

Paul Greengrass is an English film director, screenwriter and former journalist

15.How did he describe the British film industry?

He says that the British film industry has transformed from what it used to be

16.What did a BFI spokesperson say was the point of less profitable low budget British films?

"tiny budget films that, while commercial success is always hoped for, are successful and beneficial to the industry for other reasons like skills and training development and for artistic and cultural importance"

17.What was the budget for Filth and how much money did it take?

Its budget was just under £2 million, and it made £4million

18.What advantage did James McEvoy feel £100m films have over low budget films?

He says that films with larger budgets have chances to sell the films in all sorts of ways, where as smaller budget films aren't able to do this

19.What is VOD?

VOD is known as Video on Demand

20.What % increase did VOD see last year?

The VOD market has increased by 50% last year.

21.What impact might VOD have on distributers and Studios?

Video on demand is becoming more popular so it might outsell them

22.What impact has it had on Blockbuster rental stores?

It has a chance of outselling the stores, which will cause them profit and business issues

23.What was unique about Ben Wheatleys 'A Field In England'?

A Field in England was the first UK film to be released simultaneously in cinemas, on DVD, on TV and through video-on-demand.

24.What does director of The Machine Caradog James think is the toughest part of film making?

"The toughest thing is you make a good film but can you get it to reach an audience? It's events like this and individuals who champion independent cinema that give us a profile and any chance of a mass audience."

25.Why have rules been relaxed on what makes a film 'British'?

To encourage more people to make British films, so that there can be more successes.

26.How has the use of visual effects in films been encouraged?

Visual effects are used in films to make it more interesting for the audience, to aid boosting of ratings

27.Name five of these rules and link them to The Kings Speech, Kill List, The World's End

-British Themed drama, cultural e.g. The Kings Speech
-'Lad' themed actions - Worlds End
-British director - The King's Speech
-British Cast - Kill List, Worlds End
-Location set in Britain - Kill List, Worlds End, King's Speech

28.What rules has chancellor George Osbourne announced for tax on British films?

He announced that films only need to now spend 10% of their budget within the UK to qualify for tax relief, where previously they had to spend 25%. Tax relief would be applied to 25% of the first £20m of a production, and 20% on any remaining budget, regardless of the overall total; previously only films under £20m were eligible for the higher rate.

29.What is the highest grossing film in UK box office history?

Sky Fall

30.How much has it taken and how many screens was it available on?

Bond adventure has earned £94.3m in the UK, beating the previous record holder Avatar. Sky Fall opened in 587 cinemas across the UK and Ireland on 26 October, and is still on general release.

The Kings Speech Film Posters, Marketing and Audience -

Poster 1 -
This is the original theatrical poster for The Kings Speech, it was widely criticised for its poor design and lack of appeal. The reasons for this are simple. Firstly, the poster has a worrying lack of information. Although the stars' names appear at the bottom of the poster it is unclear to the audience who the main character (the king) actually is. Also, the images which have been used look unrealistic and do not clearly suggest what genre the film is. Both Rush and Bonham-Carter have expressions on their faces which suggest humour. This may of given the audience a false impression of the film, as they may have been led to believe that the film was a comedy. The colour and font of the 'The Kings Speech' also does not fully suggest what the genre of the film is. The golden shimmer which covers the title suggests that the film is about the grand life or the riches which a king has, however it is quiet the opposite, and portrays the dark, hurtful truth about the life of a king. The sky in the background of the picture may also have given the audience the wrong impression of the films genre. The sky appears to be a vintage light blue accompanied by white 'fluffy' clouds, to the audience this may appear as if the film is very calming and joyful, however it is not. Another negative point of this poster is how the characters have been laid out across the page. Once again the audience is unclear as to who the main character is. To the audience either Rush or Firth could possibly be the king.

Poster 2 -
After receiving a huge amount of negative criticism, the designers decided that an improvement on the poster had to be made. This is the improved version, although this has many more positives than its predecessor it still holds a numerous amount of negatives to its name. Similarly to the first, this poster fails to state a vital piece of information, this piece of information is who the King is played by. Although the poster states the names of the three main characters it still does not state or show that Colin Firth is the King. Secondly, the poster is far too bleak. Although the simplicity of it can show the audience what era the film is set in (due to the old fashioned microphone) it still does not suggest what era or what genre the film is set in. The golden background is once again used to connote wealth or high status as well as to stand out and brighten the dull images in order to bring them back to life. Although this is the improved version, it may possibly be worse than the first, dismal attempt as this poster does not even show any of the characters involved in the film. The image used does suggest that a man is going to perform a speech, but does not state that the man is the king, this once again does not give the audience a clear image or idea of what the film is about. Similarly to the first, this poster contains a quote which is used to capture the audiences attention and persuade them to go and watch the film. However, the quote does not stand out and fits extremely well into the boring theme of the poster. As the poster is so bleak and lacks so much crucial information, it is extremely unclear as to what the target audience is, this once again links back to the lack of knowledge of the genre of the film.


Posters 3 and 4 -

Once again the designers were set with the task of creating a poster which would be popular and noticeable with the public, this time more improvements were made. The two posters which were released were very similar and both contained bold text with simple messages, this technique was used to draw the viewer in. One poster, which features Geoffrey Rush, uses certain words from what appear to be positive reviews. The specific words used give off many British connotations and constantly link back to the monarchy. Words such as "Majestic" and "Exquisite" suggest that the Kings speech is a royal or grand type of film. The poster directly addresses the audience when it states the phrase "fills you with joy" which encourages the viewer to watch the film. This poster also features information such as when the film would be in the cinema as well as other actors/actresses who stared in the film. Once again the title/font is coloured in gold to connote power, high status and wealth. The font and colour of the positive reviews may connote purity, suggesting that the words used are in fact true and that the film is truly 'Majestic' 'Marvelous' and 'Terrific.' The simplicity of the font may also connote the simplicity of the film, and the way the audiences eye moves down chronologically the page may also suggest the pattern of the film, how it is easy to watch and slowly moves along in order, with no twists, turns or fast paced action intertwined into it.


Another form of poster was released also, this time it finally featured the King himself, Colin Firth. This poster appears to be much simpler than the one previously mentioned. It uses 'God Save The King'. By using the word King with only Firth in the image, it allows the audience to discover that Firth is playing the roll of the King.  The font and style is similar to the famous "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster which was first used in the late 1930's, the era in which the film is set. The poster also features important information and portrays the film's cast, release date and the companies which were involved; all are placed at the bottom. The large image and text are used to once again draw in the viewer. The image used is of the King, a close up shot has been used which therefore automatically makes the audience feel a personal bond with that particular character, this suggests what the film will be like, a story which closely follows the actions of a King. Similarly to its brother poster, this particular one also contains vital information about release dates as well as other cast members.


Although this style of poster proved to be the most popular with British audiences, the designers of these posters did not invent the idea themselves. The idea originated from a film poster which was released earlier that year, this particular poster was advertising the biopic 'The Social Network' which tells the tale of how one of the worlds biggest social networking sights, Facebook, was created. The Kings Speech's marketing team most likely decided to use a similar style of poster to attract a similar style of audience, a youthful one. They may also have used this style of poster to suggest that similarly to the social network, the kings speech follows the lives of true characters in order to portray the story in a different, more personal way. Both posters show a close up shot of the main character so that the audience can connote their importance/role in the film. Both posters also contain words or phrases appropriate to both the film and the character, these phrases may give the audience an insight into what the films story-line is.




The US Poster -
The team in charge of advertising the Kings Speech went for a different approach when targeting the US audience. This poster was highly popular in America because of it's use of advertising techniques which appealed to the American audience, these aspects are noticeably different from the British versions. First of all, the image which is used shows the King and his family, within the image all three characters are smiling suggesting to the audience that the drama will include happiness and family life. Once again shades of gold have been used on the poster to suggest power, wealth and high status. The background of the poster is light and may connote heaven or purity, suggesting the characters' personalities. These aspects of the poster appealed to the American audience as stereotypically Americans enjoy films which suggest happiness, rather than the harsh/true reality. The images of a smiling family also portrays a more positive attitude than the British posters, as in all three of the British versions the King looks somewhat miserable, this also suggests the difference in film preferences, as stereotypically Brits prefer more 'gritty' films with suffering and unhappiness, where as Americans are completely the opposite.
The colour scheme may also connote the pattern of the story, as the bottom of the poster is dark, this may suggest the Kings attitude or personality at the beginning of the film, however the further up the poster the eye travels the lighter the colours become until eventually a light heavenly image appears. This may connote how the Kings attitude and personality changes throughout the film until eventually, at the end, the King is a happy man, the smile on Firths face also suggests this. Another aspect of the US poster is the fact that the three main actors are mentioned on the poster, showing the audience exactly who is playing the key roles.This poster has also included slogans which inform the audience about the films accolades e.g. 4 times winner of the academy best picture. By using information such as this the audience are able to see just how good the film is, therefore they are eager to watch it and see if they agree.

Representations -

Representations are constructed or mediated presentations of people, places and ideas which are used to represent the real world, this therefore creates verisimilitude which is commonly used in TV dramas such as Eastenders.

E4's hit comedy 'The Inbetweeners' is a prime example of a teenage representation. The story follows four teenage boys and their unfortunate mishaps. The four characters are represented as stereotypical teenage boys as they go to parties, bunk of school, drink too much and hopelessly chase girls. As both a teenage boy and an Inbetweeners fan i can honestly say that the representation is extremely accurate, although certain aspects are slightly exaggerated to make the show and the boys' misfortune more humorous and entertaining.
The men behind the representations are the creators of the show. Damon Beasley and Ian Morris created the series as a way of expressing their own misfortunes and experiences of teenage life, however, they decided to use characters which could make their misfortune even funnier as well as combine their memories into a modern day setting to suit a modern day audience. Therefore, although the creators are in some respects different to me, they are also very similar as both i and them have and are experiencing stereotypical teenage life.

Various aspects of mise en scene are used in the Inbetweeners to once again give the audience a sense of verisimilitude. The show is set in both the boys' school as well as the outside world, therefore different costumes and settings are used to create the effect that the action is taking place in a real life environment. The setting of the school is that of a stereotypical British college and allows the audience to feel involved with the story line as they may also attend a similar environment, the target audience of the Inbetweeners (teenagers) enjoy watching people of a similar age as they themselves are able to compare their own lives to the characters' which they are watching.

The language used in the Inbetweeners may also be classified as stereotypical to teenagers as swearing, slang and neologisms are all used to create a youthful atmosphere and once again make the drama suitable and relateable to a teenage audience.

Skyfall Narrative Conventions -

Action -

Action is a reoccurring theme which lasts throughout the entire clip. The main sources of action come when Bond and the French mercenary are fighting on top of the train, and when Moneypenny is driving alongside it as well as aiming at the 2 men through the sniper rifle. The theme of action is used at the beginning of the film to set a fast paced, action packed atmosphere in order to give the audience an insight into what the rest of the film will be like. 

Enigma -

There are 2 enigma's in this clip, both present the audience with a puzzle to solve. The first enigma enters the clip and the audiences minds when Moneypenny accidentally shoots Bond instead of the mercenary. The audience can clearly see that Bond has been hit and shortly after see his body fly off the train and down down deeper and down into the river below. This piece of action is used to shock the audience and make them wonder as to what is going to happen next, it may have even triggered questions such as 'is Bond dead?' 'He can't be, can he?' 'Whats going to happen now?' The second enigma enters the scene shortly after the first one. After Bond has left the roof the train enters another tunnel with the French mercenary still aboard, the mercenary stares back at Moneypenny before being indulged by the darkness of the tunnel. This enigma creates both anger and mystery as the audience are unaware of where the mercenary is going and what he is going to do with the computer hard drive. 

Culture -

Various aspects of mise en scene can connote the culture of the scene or even the entire film. By analysing the setting, character costume and props the audience can connote that this scene is part of the 'spy' culture, as gadgets, guns, suits and the setting suggest this. Stereo-typically spy's wear formal, 'suave' looking outfits  and carry weapons such as pistols or in this case a sniper rifle. They also either have or are after a form of gadget or device, in this case Bond is after a computer hard drive. The setting also screams out 'SPY' as it is high in the mountains, a secluded place where high intensity action such as this could take place secretly without anybody knowing.

Significance of the soundtrack -

The significance of the soundtrack used in this clip is to strike suspense into the audience and therefore create a tense atmosphere. The soundtrack which is used matches the action on screen and is therefore is classified as parallel sound. The music is also very loud and every so often jumps so there is a split second of silence, this highlights the seriousness of what is happening on screen and grasps the audiences attention. Towards the end of the scene, where the suspense is building the music quickens and the pace becomes faster, it also sounds more violent and sharper. As soon as Bond is hit the music stops immediately, this is to signify that the suspense and action is over. The silence also allows the audience to come to terms with what they have just witnessed. The silence may also connote the 'death' of bond, as silence is often held to remember or commemorate the brave or soldiers. 

Skyfall; Camera Work -

During the opening action sequence of Skyfall, both Bond and a French Mercenary are fighting on the top of a moving train. Within this thrilling opening, many different camera angles are used in order to enhance the action which is taking place as well as create an atmosphere so that the audience can experience the tension and exhilaration of the action which is taking place on screen. The shots used to create this effect are extreme close ups, close ups, mid shots, long shots and even pan shots.

In the opening of our clip, both Bond and the French Mercenary are fighting on top of a train whilst travelling through a tunnel. A close up shot is used at this particular point of the sequence to highlight the importance of both characters and give the audience a realistic view of the action. As the sequence progresses another noticeable and important close up is used, this time on Bond's assistant Moneypenny. In the shot we see her holding a sniper rifle and aiming at both men who are still in battle on the roof of the moving train. In this case the close up shot is used to emphasise the expressions on Moneypenny's face, so that the audience are able to create an emotional bond with the character as well as feel part of the action which is taking place, as the nervousness and tension which is written all over her face will now be the same on the audience's face thanks to this particular shot.

As the sequence continues a long shot is used. This particular shot sets the scene and allows the audience to see exactly where everything is taking place, this makes the footage seem extremely realistic as the landscape suggests the action is taking place in a real, somewhat dangerous environment. This type of shot also gives the audience a fresh perspective as it breaks the non-stop action down. It may also intrigue the audience and give them the desire for the main source of action to be the main focus on the screen.

As the train departs from the tunnel a mid shot is used. This particular shot is disguised in the form of the sniper rifle. In the scene Moneypenny is aiming her gun and the shot we see is just that, we know this as a cross/target has been placed over the camera lens, giving the effect that it is in fact the rifle.Here the audience is given the exact view or perspective which Moneypenny has, making the audience feel involved in the action, as it may feel as if they themselves are holding the gun and have the pressure and responsibility of taking the shot. This shot also gives the audience a different view of the action and allows both characters to be seen clearly by the audience, this also allows the audience to make judgments or connotations of both characters, now that they have seen them in more detail.

As the scene comes to its climax a pan shot is used. This particular shot is used to quickly change from the piece of action to a different part of the setting, in this case another tunnel. This shot gives the audience an insight into what is about to happen in just a matter of seconds and again creates suspense for the audience as well as a nervous, tense atmosphere.  This shot was used at this point in the sequence to round the whole piece off with what it started with, fast paced action which is ever changing.

The Kings Speech, Case Study -

Background information -
Budget - £8 Million
Box Office - £414,211,549
Studio - See-Saw Films, UK Film Council
Distributer - Momentum Pictures
Directer - Tom Hooper
Producer - Iain Canning

Who stared in the film? - Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Guy Pearce, Helena Bonham-Carter


What makes a British Film? 
Most people would define a  film as ‘British’by referencing obvious cultural elements such as the setting in the UK or a focus on British people. A British film requires a predominantly British cast, a story line about some aspect of British life, past, present or future, or is based on the work of a British author. Recent examples of British films include 'Billy Elliott', which is the story of a boy in North East England, and 'Bend it Like Beckham', about a girl from West London, both portraying  particular social issues.

How did the Kings Speech perform at the box office? 

The UK's mainstream media doesn't usually pay much attention to the cinema box office, but in this case an exception has been made thanks to The King's Speech. The Kings speech exceeded many expectations, including that of its distributor Momentum Pictures, as it made £3.52m on its opening weekend, including previews of £227,000. The film has been described as 'A rousing true tale about an English monarch triumphing over adversity.' The Kings speech is one of the most successful British films in recent years and has succeeded other successful British films such as  'Slumdog Millionaire' (£1.83m), 'Calendar Girls' (£1.88m), 'Atonement' (£1.63m) and 'Pride and Prejudice' (£2.53m)

The Reception -
All in all The Kings Speech received extremely positive reviews by both critics as well as the public, and was nominated for a staggering 12 Oscars and 14 Baftas. The film has been described as 'a richly enjoyable, instantly absorbing true-life drama about the morganatic bromance between introverted stammerer King George VI and his exuberant Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue.' Both Firths and Bonham-Carters' performances have been described as an 'acting masterclass.' These comments and statistics quiet clearly suggest that The Kings Speech was highly popular and claimed somewhat magnificent reviews.

Production Issues -
The King's Speech is an excellent example of an indie film that can receive major global success without the help of a major Hollywood studio. See-Saw, a British/Australian company, financed and produced the film by making deals with key distribution partners - The Weinstein Company (USA) Momentum Pictures (UK) Transmission (Australia) and Alliance Film (Canada).
However, See-Saw were faced with a huge decision when Fox Searchlight showed an interest in The King's Speech, but they were adamant that they wanted worldwide rights to the film. This meant they would have to cut other partners See-Saw chose to turn down Fox Searchlight and keep the original partners to keep the control in their hands.

Origins and how the film became a Co-Production -
The King's Speech, the story of how King George VI overcame his stammer, was just a letterbox delivery away from never getting made. While preparing the project, the film's production team provoked one of the film's stars, Geoffrey Rush, by taking the unorthodox step of posting the movie script through his home letterbox in Melbourne, Australia. Rush's management wrote the filmmakers a furious email for their impertinence. Despite this, Rush accepted the role of Lionel Logue, the King's speech therapist. However, publicly, Rush claimed he was immediately intrigued by the script. "I live in a very leafy suburb in Melbourne, and this brown paper package was on my front doormat one day, and I thought, 'Oh, this is interesting', It was lying there like an orphan... The attached letter basically said, 'Excuse the invasion, and for not going through the protocol of your agent, but we're desperate for you to know that this script exists, because there is a wonderful role that we would love for you to consider.' So I read it.

The Finance -
Prescience saw the film's potential early on and became the key financier of the film. The Weinstein Company and Momentum Pictures were also large investors for the film. The UK Film Council gave See-Saw £1 million for the production. Together they created the budget of $15 million.

Distribution and Marketing -
The Kings Speech used posters as a form of advertisement, many of these posters featured large, bold text with simple messages, this technique was used to draw the viewer in. One poster, which features Geoffrey Rush, uses certain words from what appear to be positive reviews. The specific words used give off many British connotations and constantly link back to the monarchy. Words such as "Majestic" and "Exquisite" suggest that the Kings speech is a royal or grand type of film. The poster directly addresses the audience when it states the phrase "fills you with joy" which encourages the viewer to watch the film. Another form of poster was released also, this time featuring the King himself, Colin Firth. This poster appears to be much simpler than the one previously mentioned. It uses 'God Save The King'. The font and style is similar to the famous "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster which was first used in the late 1930's, the era in which the film is set. The poster also features important information and portrays the film's cast, release date and the companies which were involved; all are placed at the bottom. The large image and text are used to once again draw in the viewer. The images of the characters are close up shots which therefore make the viewer feel connected to the characters.

Two trailers were released to the public, the first was the UK version, the second the US one, although they feature similar clips the trailers differ slightly. The UK version follows Colin Firth's character more closely and convey his journey and struggle of over coming his stammer. The UK trailer also shows his family troubles and concerns about the war with Germany, therefore making the UK audiences form a personal relationship or bond with Firth's character before even watching the film. This may also have contributed to the films popularity.
However, the US trailer focuses more on Geoffrey Rush's character and how he helps him overcome his speech problems. In both they use famous London landmarks e.g. St Paul's and Tower Bridge, also landmarks that are linked to royalty e.g. the Queen Victoria memorial statue. The UK trailer uses a well known quote from Shakespeare "some men are born great, others have greatness thrust upon them" this adds to the sense of Britishness in the trailer. In the Us trailer Helen Bonham Carter's character calls her husband the King rather than the Duke of York which is what she says in the UK trailer. The word King might mean more and give an international audience more understanding of his importance if they did not understand the monarchy/nobility system.
The various posters, trailer and film's synopsis all play an important part in the marketing of the film. The posters were placed just about everywhere, on the sides of buses, billboards, bus stops etc. Posters are used to grab the audiences attention and having them everywhere means they are virtually unavoidable. This is a successful way of persuading the audience to go and watch the film. The trailer is used on a larger scale and can be viewed by millions on both TV and on the internet. The trailer allows the audience to see certain aspects of the film, this usually helps the audience decide if the film is right for them, and also persuades them even further to go and watch the film. 

Synergy Marketing -
As well as the marketing techniques mentioned above, the kings speech also used synergy marketing to help advertise the film. The synergy aspect of the marketing came into the picture when See-Saw films combined with Bedlam productions, both companies were responsible for creating and producing the entire film. However, a problem occurred when both of these companies attempted to market the film. The British Board Of Film decided to classify the production as a 15, due to a particular scene in the film which uses excessive swearing. This came as a huge shock to to all as neither company wanted this, as only people aged 15 and above would be able to watch the film, meaning the possibility of a huge audience loss. Both companies were fearful of this as a lower audience at the films premier would reflect on the overall box office figure the film made. However, director Tom Hooper was furious with this decision and protested for a substantial amount of time until eventually, in January 2011 an agreement was confirmed, the film would now be given an age rating of 12A.

The Big 6 -

The Big six are major film studios which produce and distribute a substantial number of films annually and consistently. These companies (which are listed below) command a significant share of box-office revenues in a given market.


20th Century Fox -

Twentieth (20th) Century Fox Film Corporation  is a large American company that makes movies. It is in the Century City area of Los Angeles, California, USA, just west of Beverly Hills. The studio is a subsidiary of News Corporation, the media conglomerate controlled by Rupert Murdoch.
Twentieth Century Fox was formed in 1935 when Fox Film Corporation and Twentieth Century Pictures joined together to form the company. 20th Century Fox Television is a part of the company that makes television series. In recent years the company has released films such as  Ice Age, Wolverine, Prometheus as well as the highest grossing film of all time, Avatar.


Colombia Pictures -

Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American company that produces movies and television shows. It is part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, which is owned by the Japanese company Sony.
Columbia has distributed films such as Skyfall, Elysium and The Amazing Spider-man.



Universal Studios -

Universal Studios is one of the major American movie studios that has production studios and offices at 100 Universal City Plaza Drive in Universal City, California. Distribution and other corporate, administrative offices are based in New York City. Universal have distributed films such as Jaws, E.T, Jurassic Park and The Back to The Future trilogy.






Walt Disney Studios -

The Walt Disney Studios is an American film studio, one of five major business segments of The Walt Disney Company.The studio, known for its multi-faceted film division, which is one of Hollywood's major film studios, is based at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. Walt Disney Studios' film division is a member of the Motion Picture Association of America. The Studios generated an estimated income of $722 million during 2012. The studio entertainment business alone (live-action and animated motion pictures, direct-to-video content, musical recordings and live stage plays) brought in $5.83 billion in 2012.


Paramount Pictures -

Paramount Pictures Corporation (commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount) is a film and television production/distribution studio, consistently ranked as one of the largest (top-grossing) film studios. The company has distributed various commercially successful film series, such as Shrek, Transformers, Mission: Impossible, Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008-2011), Indiana Jones, Star Trek, Jackass, Beverly Hills Cop, "Crocodile" Dundee, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, Paranormal Activity, G.I. Joe, and Friday the 13th.


Warner Bros. -

Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly called Warner Bros.) is a large entertainment group, movie studio and record label. It is owned by Time Warner. Warner Bros. is best known for the creation of the hit cartoon comedy show titled 'Looney Tunes'. The company owns the copyrights to the Harry Potter movie series, the Batman movie series, and Superman movie series, making it one of the most well known distribution companies in the world.

Why Did DREDD Fail At The Box Office? (New and improved version)

There are many reasons as to why 'DREDD' failed so miserably at the box office and why 'The Dark Knight Rises' succeeded. The first reason arises from the British comic book titled '2000 AD.' This particular comic book handed the brand new superhero 'Judge Dredd' its debut in the year 1977. However, 2000 AD comic books were not at all popular or even recognized on the world stage as they were only distributed across the UK. This may be a huge factor as to why 'DREDD' failed at the box office - people from countries or nations other than the UK had never heard of the character and so were simply not interested in watching a film containing it as the main role, this is the first reason why 'DREDD' failed. However, there are also many reasons as to why 'The Dark Knight Rises' was so successful at its box office. Like Judge Dredd, Batman started out as a comic book character, however there is a key and crucial difference between the two. The character of Batman first entered the comic book world in 1940 in 'DC comic books.' unlike 2000 AD, DC comic books were distributed worldwide and so a larger number of people recognized the characters which featured in the book itself, as Batman was one of these characters, audiences were much more likely to watch 'The Dark Knight Rises' upon its release, simply because they already knew the character 'inside -out' This is the first reason as to why 'The Dark Knight Rises' was so successful at the box office.

The second reason why DREDD failed was due to the fact that DREDD is a British film and so had a vast amount of money less to spend on the likes of top, A list actors than the Dark Knight Rises. Although it did feature an experienced cast, none of them were stand out performers. The most recognizable in the film was New Zealander Karl Urban, who has featured in films such as the Lord of the Rings trilogy, as well as Star Trek and the Bourne Supremacy. However, both the producer and director decided to cover Urban's face with the famous DREDD helmet, and so Urban  was almost unrecognizable to the audience throughout the entire film. This may have been another crucial reason as to why it failed so miserably on its opening weekend. It is a common fact that big name actors attract audiences and boost the films advertising; therefore the overall popularity is increased. A list stars also give the film that certain 'wow factor' which audiences are looking for, by giving the audience this, the film is more likely to stick in their minds, as great actors are never forgotten. Unfortunately for DREDD, it lacked the presence of a big name star and so did not have the popularity it so desperately needed.
The Dark Knight Rises on the other hand had a star studded cast and featured the likes of Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman and Michael Cane, all of whom of are some of the most successful and well-known actors of the 20th/21st century. These hugely popular actors may have been another crucial reason as to why The Dark Knight Rises was so successful at the box office, as their names alone may have made the audience attracted to the film. Therefore, another reason as to why The Dark Knight Rises was much more successful than DREDD was because of the big name actors involved in the film.

The third reason as to why DREDD failed at the box office is due to the fact that the production team decided to include many graphic, violent and mature scenes throughout the film, in order to market the film at an older/adult audience.The scenes included were; sex scenes, drug usage scenes as well as graphic violence scenes. Although this style of film may have appealed to a number of people, it also potentially lost the film millions of pounds. The film was released as an 18, and therefore eliminated what could have been the films 'gold mine audience.' By this i mean the younger audience, as it is a common fact that superhero style films are extremely popular with children and teenagers under the age of 18, rather than older audiences of 18 and above.
However, although The Dark Knight Rises included a large amount of violence and mature themes such as terrorism, it was released as a 12A and so children, teenagers and adults could all go and watch the film, therefore it made a huge more amount of profit than DREDD as it appealed and was watched by a larger audience.

The failure of DREDD was not only down to the fact it was not 'child friendly' but because it's attempts to make the film appear American or 'non-British' backfired. DREDD in fact qualifies as a British film and was filmed mainly on location at the London based studio 'DNA films'. The production team behind DREDD decided to make the film appear American in an attempt to highlight their efforts on the special effects (as American films often spend more on special effects because they have larger budgets than British films) as well as lose the stereotypical British 'comedy loving' audience. This quiet obviously backfired as it simply did not appeal to a British or American audience. British audiences stereo-typically enjoy films which they themselves can relate to and laugh at e.g. Bridget Jones' Diary, DREDD did not fit into this category. However, although the American audience stereo-typically enjoy superhero style films with high budget explosions etc. DREDD did not appeal to this audience either, as it was not up to the standards which American made superhero films had set e.g. the explosions were not big enough, the sets were not impressive enough.

The fifth reason why DREDD failed at the box office was due to the fact that the DREDD production team had spent a large amount of their budget on the special effects within the film, they decided to release it to cinema's in 3D only, as they believed it would captivate the audience and show them how much work, effort and money had gone into the creation of the special effects.The film was shot digitally and primarily in 3D using RED MX, SI2K and Phantom Flex high-speed cameras, multiple camera rigs were also used.This proved to be extremely unpopular with audiences globally, as although many people agree 3D is a great experience, many would argue that they prefer to watch a film in 2D with HD features. The Dark Knight Rises once again got the better of DREDD, as the production team decided to release the film to cinemas in both 2D and 3D, giving the audience the option of choosing which style of film they would be most suited to. Unlike DREDD, the option of 2D proved to be extremely popular with audiences globally, as The Dark Knight Rises had a large amount of money coming in from both 2D and 3D films, rather than just 3D. This is yet another crucial error for DREDD and another reason why The Dark Knight Rises was so much more successful.

There is yet another reason as to why DREDD failed at the box office. Prior to DREDD, a 1995 adaptation of the virtually unknown comic book character titled 'Judge Dredd' was released to the worldwide audience. Although this version made an overall profit on it's opening weekend, it was given many negative reviews from critics and was only given an average rating of 3.7/10. To qualify as a successful film it would have had to pick up at least 6.5 out of the possible 10 and make an overall profit.  However, 17 years later and another version of 'Judge Dredd' was released, however it was clear to see that the memories of the horrific '95 version were still present in the minds of audiences worldwide. This clearly gave millions of people across the globe negative visions of what the new version titled DREDD would be like, this is another reason which suggests why DREDD failed at the box office.
However, The Dark Knight Rises did not have this problem. As Batman has been an established, popular comic book character which has been recognized globally since the 1940's and so many different versions of Batman films have appeared in cinemas over the years. Films such as 'Batman' 'Batman Returns' and 'Batman and Robin' all made a respectable amount of profit and were films which were enjoyed by audiences because of their 'comic book style.' However, in 2005, Christopher Nolan took over the role of the Batman director and completely re-branded the character into a dark, misunderstood, crime fighting legend that audiences have been crying out for, for years. The Nolan trilogy is to date one of the most successful superhero trilogies of all time. Therefore upon its release, The Dark Knight Rises was of course popular with audiences not only because it was the third and final installment of the Nolan trilogy, but also because of previous films which were popular and successful. These are other clear reasons as to why DREDD failed and the Dark Knight Rises succeeded. The Dark Knight Rises also received a rating of 8.5/10 as well as making a huge amount of profit, therefore making it a very successful film.

As stated before, DREDD was filmed mainly at London's DNA studios. Although it may not be an obvious reason, it did still in fact contribute to the failure of DREDD. Since the studios opening, it has produced films such as Love Actually and The Last King of Scotland, both successful films in Britain. From the studios history or filmography it is clear to see that it's best use is for British based comedy/drama films featuring British actors, whilst having a British feel/theme throughout. However, DREDD once again did not fit into this category, as it did not have a British theme and did not contain many British actors. These reasons are key contributing factors as to why it failed, as the studio which produced it were not experienced nor equipped for a film such as this, therefore creating a somewhat shambolic superhero mess.
However, The Dark Knight Rises was filmed in a studio with previous history of bringing superheros to life AND doing it well. Legendary Studios have created films such as Watchmen, Batman Begins and Superman Returns, and so has experience and equipment needed to create a successful superhero film - unlike DNA Studios. The studio has also had a partnership with Warner Bros for many years, and as of next year they will develop a new deal with Universal studios. This also suggests why The Dark Knight Rises was a better quality of film than DREDD, it had the co-finance of one of the biggest film companies/distributors in the entire industry and so was bound to have a bigger budget ($250–300 million) as well as a better distribution pattern and better advertising.

In conclusion, DREDD was a box office failure because the character is virtually unknown on the global scale and the previous film which was released was regarded as one of the worst superhero films of all time. DREDD was also released in 3D only which did not prove particularly popular with global audiences as many people find it easier and more enjoyable to view films in HD, due to the fact that the novelty of 3D has worn off. The film was also released as an 18, meaning that a huge portion of superhero fans and possible viewers were unable to watch the film at the cinema, causing a huge loss of money at the box office. DREDD was given the age rating of 18, as it features violent, mature themes and appeals more to film buffs rather than a mainstream audience. Finally, as DREDD was a British film it had a low budget to spend on the likes of A list actors, top of the range equipment such as IMAX cameras and did could not market the film on a global scale.

Targets for improved DREDD essay -

Since reading through Mr Smith’s comments I have learnt:

-I need to make my introduction shorter and more concise in order to answer the question directly.
-I also need to be more specific and add in figures such as film budgets and box office figures.
-When speaking about star power, I need to link the certain points to Mark Kermode’s thoughts on blockbusters.
-I also need to establish what counts as a successful film and include more details on distribution patterns, 2D vs 3D as well as audience types.
-Finally, I need to mention the Britishness of DREDD.

In What Way Have The Improvements In Hardware And Content Affected Institutions And Audiences? -

Today we live in an era where technology is key to everyday life. Across the globe millions of people have access to technology and are able to accomplish tasks which may once have appeared impossible. With the introduction of devices such as smart phones and games consoles the viewing of film has become more available to audiences worldwide. In this essay i am going to explain why the improvements in technology have affected the film industry and how they affect its audiences.

The introduction of 3D cameras and therefore 3D films has seen audiences flock back to cinemas in recent years. The reasons for this are simple. Firstly, it is a well known fact that 3D films automatically have a better quality picture as HD features are in-cooperated into the production, this allows the audience to experience films in a completely new way as 3D offers a clearer depth of picture as well as the novelty of images 'popping' out of the screen. 3D was officially brought 'back to life' in 2009, when James Cameron released the masterpiece known as 'Avatar.' This particular film astonished audiences worldwide due to the fact that the 3D features were used to enhance the wonderful alien scenery as well as highlight the colours and other animation. These features made the film spectacular and completely rekindled the relationship between audiences and 3D films. However, low budget films such as DREDD were also released in 3D but did not have the same affect on the audience. DREDD used 3D in an attempt to make cheap scenery and average CGI effects appear better than what they actually were in order to attract a larger audience. However, this backfired and eventually led to DREDD becoming a box office failure.
There are also many other negative points surrounding 3D technology. Firstly, although many audiences agree that when used properly, 3D can be a truly amazing experience, they also argue that it is overpriced and is somewhat infuriating because of the irritating glasses which have to be worn. Also, with the further improvements of other forms of technology, audiences are less likely to watch 3D films at the cinema because they find it much more convenient to watch it at home or on the go for a cheaper amount of money.

Since Television became commercially available in the late 1920's, the product itself has undergone hundreds of changes in order to update it and make it a more enjoyable experience for the consumer. Some of these changes include a wider, more slimline screen as well as the addition of HD and 3D features, all of these make the viewing of both standard programmes and films a more enjoyable and better experience for audiences at home. Therefore, changes such as these have boosted TV sales and decreased the overall income of cinemas worldwide, as audiences are now less likely to go and watch films at the cinema, as they may feel as if they have a product which could be classed as 'cinema standard' at home and so do not need to waste money on something which is unnecessary.

There are also different forms of satellite technology such as Sky+HD which also adds to the lack of cinema interest shown by modern day audiences. In this modern era, Sky+HD customers are able to view hundreds of films in HD for a lower amount than they could at the cinema thanks to the movie package as well as Sky Anytime or On Demand. Once again, the cinemas overall income and profits will decrease, due to the fact that a large amount of consumers find it cheaper to view recent HD blockbusters in the comfort of their own homes. The introduction of Sky+HD is also extremely likely to lower the amount of profit films make from DVD and Blu-ray sales, as once again, consumers find it cheaper to view films on Sky, rather than spend unnecessary money on DVDs. However, although a film may not take as much profit from the box office or DVD sales, they still manage to make a large amount of profit through companies such as Sky, as in order to show the most recent blockbusters, Sky itself has to pay for the rights to run the film.

In this modern era, games consoles have become a 'must have' item for people of all ages. Leading Consoles such as the PS3 and the Xbox 360 are popular with both older consumers as well as younger ones, because of their ability to play films as well as games. For example, The PS3 is able to play Blu-ray DVD's and therefore both the cinema and Blu-ray DVD players' profits will decrease, as once again consumers find it easier and cheaper to watch HD films at home. The introduction of Netflix is also another contributing factor to the decrease of DVD and cinema ticket sales. Netflix allows audiences who have a modern games console to view hundreds of films as well as TV programmes online. This is once again cheaper and requires a lower amount of effort from the consumer.

Devices such as Netflix are also now available on smart phones such as the IPhone. This improvement allows smart phone holders to view recent films, on their phones in HD for a cheaper amount than they could at the cinema. The installment of Netflix on smart phones was devastating news to both DVD sales as well as Blu-ray sales, as consumers quickly discovered that they did not need to spend money on un-needed items, as they had already got hundreds of HD films literally in the palm of their hand. Therefore smart phone sales soared and once again cinema ticket sales plummeted. However, although the major fall in cinema ticket sales is a reoccurring theme throughout this essay, many cinema's use different marketing techniques such as synergy marketing to try and drag consumers back to the 'home of film' the cinema. Advertisement such as orange Wednesday's is one ways in which cinema’s regain some of their lost profits. Orange Wednesdays allows orange customers to claim cheap cinema tickets for a film of their choice. However, this particular form of advertising does still not reclaim all of the cinema's lost profits, as not every smart phone user is on an orange contract, and so this rule or deal does not appeal to a large percentage of the overall audience.

To conclude, the improvements in Hardware and content within the film industry attract audiences to the cinema, but draw more away. Although many consumers flock to cinemas to watch huge blockbuster films in 3D, many would argue that they prefer to view films in HD. This is because they are still able to see the creative aspects which the director has included in the film, and can view it in high quality depth and do not have to wear the irritating, uncomfortable glasses for a substantial amount of time. Therefore, a larger amount find it more convenient and cheaper to wait for the film to be released on devices such as Sky or Netflix, so that they can view recent HD films for a cheaper amount of money in the comfort of their own homes.

British Film Companies -

Warp Films -

'Warp Films' is an independent film production company based in Sheffield & London. Since its opening in 2001, the company has created short films, feature films, TV dramas and even documentaries. The style of films which are usually created by this particular film company usually contain 'dark' story lines, graphic violence and occasionally racism.

Below are a list of some of the films the company has produced -

-This is England
-Dead Mans Shoes
-Four Lions
-Exhibit A


Film 4 -

Film 4 is a digital television channel available in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company is owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation and offers films in standard definition free of charge. The company has produced over 100 films since the its formation in 1982, all of which have been from different genres such as comedy, horror, action and romance.

Below are a list of some of the films the company has produced -

- Slumdog Millionaire (co-production with Fox Searchlight Pictures, Warner Bros. Pathé and Celador Films)
- Shaun Of The Dead (co-production with Fox Searchlight Pictures, Warner Bros. Pathé and Celador              Films)
- The Last King Of Scotland (co-production with DNA Films and Fox Searchlight Pictures)
- The Inbetweeners Movie (co-production with Bwark Productions, Young Films and Entertainment Film        Distributors)


Studio Canal -

Studio Canal is a production and distribution film company which was formed in 1988 and is based in Paris. The original function was to focus on French and European productions, but later made strategic deals with American production companies. like Film 4, this production company has also produced films from many different types of genre, these include Sci-Fi/horror to Biopics as well as family friendly films.

Studio Canal's most notable productions from its early years include -

-Terminator 2: Judgment Day
- JFK
- Basic Instinct
- Cliffhanger
- Under Siege
-Free Willy
-Stargate

Screen Yorkshire -

Following a major review of the film infrastructure in the United Kingdom during 2000, the UK Film Council created nine Regional Screen Agencies, one in each region of England, to deliver support for film-making, exhibition and related media activities.
For over ten years, Screen Yorkshire has been  in poll position when it comes to selling the films, TV's, games and digital industries in Yorkshire and Humberside. Its aim has always been to secure and support the very best projects, companies and individuals, helping to make Yorkshire and Humberside one of the most sought after destinations for production in the UK.
Since 2000, Screen Yorkshire has produced Feature films, TV Dramas as well as documentaries. Unlike the other companies, Screen Yorkshires films are predominantly aimed at the 'film buffs' audience as they usually contain graphic violence and mature themes.

Below are a list of some of the films/TV Dramas the company has produced -

- The Dammed United
- This Is England '86
- Red Riding
- Kill List

Editing Techniques -

Film editing is part of the creative, post-production process of film making. The term 'film editing' is derived from the traditional process of working with film, but now it increasingly involves the use of digital technology. Film editors commonly work with the raw footage, selecting shots and combining them into sequences to create a finished motion picture.

Below are a list of editing techniques frequently used by during the editing of films -

Continuity Editing -
Continuity editing is the predominant style of film ans video editing in the post-production process of film making. It is also used in narrative films and even television programs. The purpose of continuity editing is to 'smooth over' the inherent discontinuity of the editing process and to establish a logical coherence between shots.

Jump Cut -
This particular editing technique is used when two sequential shots of the same subject are taken from camera positions which vary, slightly. This particular type of technique gives the effect of e.g. a character moving or jumping forward in time. This allows dull parts of the film e.g. someone walking down some stairs to be sped up.

Credits -
Allows the audience to acknowledge the roles of every person involved with the film. In most cases, the opening credits are shorter and state the obvious or needed information, such as who is starring in the film, the studios/company which made the film as well as the director and producer etc. Traditionally the closing credits state everybody involved in the film and what their role was.

Cross Cutting -
This particular editing technique is most often used in films to establish action which is occurring at the same time, in two different locations. In a cross-cut, the camera will cut away from one piece of action to another, which can suggest the simultaneity of these two actions. (but this is not always the case.)

Cutaways - 
In a large majority of films, a cutaway shot is the interruption of a continuously filmed piece of action. The action is interrupted by inserting a view of something else. It is usually, although not always, followed by a cut back to the first shot, when the cutaway avoids a jump cut.

Freeze Frame -
A freeze frame is a single frame, forming a motionless image from a film or videotape. These shots are usually followed by a voice over, this particular editing technique is used throughout the 1991 film 'Goodfellas' and allows the main character to narrate over the frozen image, this helps to break the story up and may keep the audience interested.

Eye line Match -
An eye line match is a film editing technique associated with the continuity editing system. It is based on the premise that the audience will want to see what the character on-screen is seeing. The eye line match begins with a character looking at something off-screen, followed by a cut to the object or person at which he is looking.

Juxtaposition - 
Two things being seen or placed close together with a contrasting effect.

Linear Narrative - 
Linear narrative is a sequential narrative with a beginning, a middle and an end-in that order.

Montage Editing - 
Montage editing is the juxtaposition of seemingly unconnected images in order to create meaning.

Parallel Editing - 
A style of editing that involves cutting back and forth between two or more scenes in which the action is taking place simultaneously or in which one action is compared or contrasted with another. See also crosscutting.

Visual Effects - 
Visual effects (commonly shortened to Visual FX or VFX) are the various processes by which imagery is created and/or manipulated outside the context of a live action shot.

Match On Action - 
Either an action commenced in shot A is completed in shot B, or an action in shot A is mirrored by an action in shot B, for example when we cut from character A in location A reading a letter to character B in location B reading the same letter.

Why Did DREDD Fail At The Box Office?

In the following essay I am going to compare the 2012 version of DREDD with the 2012 version of Batman The Dark Knight Rises and explain which film was  more successful and why –

Before 'DREDD' was even the mere idea of a blockbuster film, the character 'Judge Dredd' featured in British science-fiction comic books known as '2000 AD.' The characters first appearance was in the year of 1977. In 1995 the character made its debut on the big screen and was released globally. Many people, including critics, understand that the main reason for its lack of success is the fact that the character was not recognisable in any other country or even continent apart from the UK, as the comic books which it featured in had never been released anywhere else other than Britain and so in countries such as America, the character was virtually unknown, therefore the film did not attract large crowds to the cinema. The only reason the film did make an overall profit was the fact it featured well known actor Sylvester Stallone. Without his appearance, the film would most probably never have made the amount it did.

The DREDD DVD Cover and advertising poster

However, Batman was also a comic book star before being transported into the cinematic world. The time gap between the two characters is crucial as to why 'DREDD' failed and 'The Dark Knight Rises' succeeded. The first reason is that Batman has featured in hugely popular comic books (DC) which have been distributed around the globe since 1940, a substantial amount of time longer than 'Judge Dredd'. DC Comic books are also much more recognisable and popular than 2000 AD comic books, as DC comics are distributed to hundreds of countries across the planet, whereas 2000 AD comics are mainly distributed in the UK. These reason alone suggest why Batman is a more popular character and why 'The Dark Knight Rises' was so much successful than 'DREDD' at the box office - Batman has been a well-known, popular comic book character for a longer time than Judge Dredd, the character is also more recognisable to more people on the planet and so 'The Dark Knight Rises' was bound to be the more successful of the two films.

DREDD was in fact a British film and so had a vast amount of money less to spend on the likes of top, A list actors than the Dark Knight Rises. Although it did feature an experienced cast, none of them were stand out performers. The most recognisable in the film was New Zealander Karl Urban, who has featured in films such as the Lord of the Rings trilogy, as well as Star Trek and the Bourne Supremacy. However, both the producer and director decided to cover Urban's face with the famous DREDD helmet, and so Urban was almost unrecognisable to the audience throughout the entire film. This may have been another crucial reason as to why it failed miserably on its opening weekend. It is a common fact that big name actors attract audiences and boost the films advertising; therefore the overall popularity is increased. A list stars also give the film that certain 'wow factor' which audiences are looking for, by giving the audience this, the film is more likely to stick in their minds, as great actors are never forgotten. However, as DREDD did not feature any A list stars, it lacked that 'wow factor' and so was extremely likely to be overlooked by the audience, as although the film may have looked like it could be a 'good watch' without that star quality, audiences were just not as interested. On the other hand, the Dark Knight Rises had a star studded cast and featured the likes of Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman and Michael Cane, all of whom of are some of the most successful and well-known actors of the 20th/21st century. These hugely popular actors may have been another crucial reason as to why The Dark Knight Rises was so successful at the box office, as their names alone may have made the audience attracted to the film as typically films with these actors in are usually outstanding. Therefore, another reason as to why The Dark Knight Rises was much more successful than DREDD was because of the big name actors involved in the film.

The production team who worked on DREDD decided to include many graphic, violent and mature scenes throughout the film. These include sex scenes, drug usage and graphic violence. Although this style of film may have appealed to a number of people, it also potentially lost the film millions of pounds. The film was released as an 18, and therefore eliminated what could have been the films 'gold mine audience' by this i mean the younger audience, as it is a common fact that superhero style films are extremely popular with children and teenagers under the age of 18, rather than older audiences of 18 and above.

The Dark Knight Rises DVD Cover and
advertising poster

However, although The Dark Knight Rises included a large amount of violence and mature themes such as terrorism, it was released as a 12A and so children, teenagers and adults could all go and watch the film, therefore it made a huge more amount of profit than DREDD.

Another reason why DREDD failed at the box office was due to the fact that the DREDD production team had spent a large amount of their budget on the special effects within the film, they decided to release it to cinema's in 3D only, as they believed it would captivate the audience and show them how much work, effort and money had gone into the creation of the special effects. This proved to be extremely unpopular with audiences globally, as although many people agree 3D is a great experience, many would argue that they prefer to watch a film in 2D with HD features. The Dark Knight Rises once again got the better of DREDD, as the production team decided to release the film to cinemas in both 2D and 3D, giving the audience the option of choosing which style of film they would be most suited to. Unlike DREDD, the option of 2D proved to be extremely popular with audiences globally, as The Dark Knight Rises had a large amount of money coming in from both 2D and 3D films, rather than just 3D. This is yet another crucial error for DREDD and another reason why The Dark Knight Rises was so much more successful.

As mentioned before, prior to DREDD a 1995 adaptation of the virtually unknown comic book character titled 'Judge Dredd' was released. Although this version made an overall profit on it's opening weekend, it was given many negative reviews from critics and was only given an average rating of 3.7/10. These statistics make it clear that 'Judge Dredd' was not very popular in 1995. However, 17 years later and another version of 'Judge Dredd' was released, however it was clear to see that the memories of the horrific '95 version was still present in the minds of audiences worldwide. This clearly gave millions of people across the globe negative visions of what the new version titled DREDD would be like, this is another reasons which suggests why DREDD failed at the box office.
However, The Dark Knight Rises did not have this problem. As Batman has been an established, popular comic book character which has been recognised globally since the 1940's and so many different versions of Batman films have appeared in cinemas. Films such as 'Batman' 'Batman Returns' and 'Batman and Robin' all made a good amount of profit and were films which were enjoyed by audiences because of their 'comic book style' However, in 2005, Christopher Nolan took over the role of the Batman director and completely re-branded the character into a dark, misunderstood, crime fighting character that audiences have been crying out for, for years. The Nolan trilogy is to date one of the most successful superhero trilogies of all time. Therefore upon its release, The Dark Knight Rises was of course popular with audiences not only because it was the third and final installment of the Nolan trilogy, but also because of previous films which were popular and successful. These are other clear reasons as to why DREDD failed and the Dark Knight Rises succeeded.

Overall, DREDD took a total of $45 million to make, however it only grossed a total of $36.5 million upon its release, therefore the film was in a large amount of debt after its opening weekend and was of course branded as 'unsuccessful' and possibly was one of the worst superhero remakes of all time.
However, as The Dark Knight Rises was an American film, it took a total of $185 million to make, a vast amount more than DREDD. However, although it had a larger budget and spent more to make, the results were extremely successful and proved to be the right decision. The reason for this is because on its opening weekend, The Dark Knight Rises grossed a staggering total of $1,004,558,444, a titanic amount more than DREDD. From these figures alone we can see why The Dark Knight Rises was so much more successful at the box office and why it succeeded. We can also see why DREDD was so unpopular and why it did not manage to make any sort of profit upon its opening release.

Camera Work -

Film directors use many different camera angles throughout their films in order to create different atmospheres and emotions e.g. a close up shot on a character will make the audience connote that the character which has been zoomed in on is important in that particular part of the film. Another example may be a long shot, this sets the scene and allows the audience to see where the action or future action is taking place. The use of different angles means that the film is ever changing and therefore creates more exciting viewing for the audience.

Below are some examples of angles which directors most commonly use whilst filming -


High Angle shot-




Low Angle shot -




'Tilt' shot -



Pan shot -
















Below is an example of how the camera moves in order to create a pan shot. 



















Tracking shot -



















Focus shot -





Extreme close up -
















Close up -




Mid-shot -





















Long Shot -




Inside Framing -














Outside Framing -