Independent case study

The basics

The inbetweeners movie was directed by Ben Palmer which is about a group of four young adults going abroad to experience a different lifestyle to the ones they have at home. The characters are played by: Simon Bird who plays Will, James Buckley who plays Jay, Blake Harrison who plays Neil and Joe Thomas who plays Simon. These four characters all feature in the British television show 'The inbetweeners' which has become a great enough success to have a film. The film was released in 2011 17th of August. I think this is an ideal time to release the film because not only is it in the summer when people have more time off but it is that time when people will/want to experience what the characters were able to around the same time of year. The genre for the film is comedy and this is no surprise because the posters for the film already emits a humorous vibe about the film. For example, the characters are all posing awkwardly with a woman who seems to be revealing herself to the boys. It suggests they aren't used to this setting and because they are visiting a place where they may have more of those experiences which could result in humour. Also, their is text at the top of the poster, 'Out of school, Out of their league'. This further emphasises the boys will not be able to handle the females they will see on their holiday which the audience would imply would be comical. Their clothing isn't something people would expect to see at the holiday they are going to. Furthermore, the trailer tells the audience more about the narrative which is the final indication of its genre. We see the character's personalities being portrayed in the trailer from the beginning which adds humour because they are unusual - weird. The 'banter' they share amongst each other is something we would expect to see with 'lads'. Tessa Perkins' theory would tell us that the stereotype about young male adults would being comical and inappropriate is true. Its rating on IMDB is 6.8 out of 10 which is very average. The reviews from ordinary people is really positive as they have repeatedly mentioned the fact that the film has been 'watered down' compared to the TV show, 'Jay has been watered down for some reason' - source IMDB. Also, the film is just a copycat version of other spring break films, 'Basically just another bawdy spring break movie- with an accent'. An international audience would have experienced this sort of film in 'American Pie'. Also the British would make it hard for an international audience to keep up with the witty banter being exchanged between the characters. Many of the reviews give a negative vibe about the film and don't believe the film is any where near as good as the series. Despite this there are still some positive reviews of the film on the same websites. People have written reviews like 'if you enjoy the series, you will definitely enjoy the film'. Overall the reviews vary over a wide spectrum.

Broadcast

The trailer has the four main characters go on holiday with their same style of clothing and approach to women. The humour comes from the 'lad banter' that we see in the series as well as the trailer which would act as a positive for  the audience. Also, the sound used is parallel to the trailer because it has a high tempo which fits really well with the fast pace of transitions - non diegetic. In addition, the instituions shown in the trailer is included in the begining: 'Entertainment film distributors' and 'Film 4' 'Young bwark' and in the end there are more instituions. The genre of the film is comedy, drama and this is evident from the opening scene as we see inappropriate humour. The representation of British youth is what we would expect to see because of the jokes about women and sex. Each of the characters have their own personalities which still fits the stereotype of these young adult/teens being immature. One of the dominant ideologies of over weight women being unattractive is displayed when a character seems disappointed to be left with the her in the club.

This interview helps promote the film because the actors tell the interviewer about the film and how it differs from the TV show.

This interview gives the viewers an in site into the how other characters felt working with the characters. Also, how the boys are in real life.
The broacast promotion does use the stars mainly because their audience want to hear what the stars have to say about the film.

Print

The reviews for the film varies significantly. There are many websites that have reviews from ordinary people who watched the film that have given mixed reviews. From IMDB 'If you are like me and you love the television show, then the movie will have been much anticipated. I am pleased to report that the movie is not a disappointment'. Also, there are negative reviews 'I love the Inbetweeners series. But I feel the film failed to capture the magic of the show. In addition an international audience watch the film despite the show suggesting the film will mainly contain British culture banter 'Seeing the mixed response this movie got here in the US definitely had me lowering my expectations. But I watched the film and it does the series justice'.

This advertisement was on billboards which is an effective way of advertising. This is because they can be positioned in places where audiences of the film live or go. It promotes the film because it has the four main characters from the series which an audience familiar with the show would expect/hope to see. The background of the image suggests they will be travelling in the film and probably somewhere that is out of their league as we see 'bar' and other clubs alongside it. Therefore, an audience would be able to make an educated guess based on what occurs in the TV show that there will be awkward and embarrassing moments in the film. Also, the text 'This summer' allows the audience to generate a narrative as its a hint that the boys will be going on holiday as they are out of school. 

This poster informs the audience that the four characters will be going on holiday. An audience would be able to suggest this because of the text which says 'This summer' which implies they are going on holiday. Also, the background includes bars and clubs which most probably will be in Spain where British people enjoy visiting in the summer as a family or as friends who are going to lose their heads. The colours add to the assumption because they are vibrant and exotic but intertwine with the dark shade of purple which implies the characters will be disorientated. In addition, their clothing is unusual to a holiday setting which fits well with each of their personalities and sense of dressing as seen in the show. This would work well with the audience as they could suggest some of the humour will come from their appearance and as its their first time going on holiday without parents it could be comical. The film's brand is constructed through using the four main characters. This is done by putting them on every piece of advertisement the film has produced. Therefore, an audience would be able to associate them with the film instantly even when watching the television show. This is effective as it's easier for the distributors to build an audience for the film as there already is an audience willing to watch the film. The brand suggests the film will be a bigger success than the show as the audience will see the characters in a different environment to the one in the show. Therefore, it implies the film producers have dedicated their lives into the film as they have recorded the film in another country because of the setting.

E media 

There was a hash tag used for the audiences of the show and film to add their thoughts about the film before its release (#intbetweeners). For example, on Instagram audiences be able to view images with the hashtag which will have been related to the film which adds to the hype over the film. Also, no Twitter we get a better understanding of the film's target audience as they students luck on their GCSE results they were going to receive in the summer. Obviously this message was aimed at teenagers who would be around the same age as the characters from the film.This helps promote the film because these students especially those who are fans of the TV series would feel as if the institution cares about them and have showed their love through wishing them well on their life changing results. This creates a positive brand image for the film as it implies the people working on the film actually care about their fans and the film isn't only being made for the money. I could not find the films website so I have used Facebook as a representation of what they would/did involve on their website. There are videos and clips from television series which is synergy between the series and the film which helps promotion because fans of the show would watch the clips and enjoy them. This would lead to them wanting to watch the film as they know how much they enjoy the television series. There are pictures from the film which have a different look to the TV show so audiences can identify the difference between the show and the movie. For example, pictures from the movie have a brighter more exotic look to symbolise a summer holiday and television show would be more dull representing the characters lives.

Audiences

The audience targeted for the film would be young adults and slightly older adults (25-35 years of age) as they could be able to relate to the characters more easily and build a personal relationship. On the demographics this would be C1 and C2 because they would go public schools like the four characters do and live ordinary, legal and non luxurious lives. On the pshychographics I believe aspires and explores would watch the film as these groups of people would go on holidays to experience lifestyles like their role models which could be a similar holiday to the one the characters visited. The cross media promotion targets this audience through using technology as young people use it constantly. This means that they would be likely to see the advertisement for the trailer on YouTube and tell their friends about it. Therefore, audience and knowledge of the film would be increased through using e-media to catch youth attention. Also, the channels the movie will be advertised on would be relevant to the audience of their film. For example, the advert would most likely come on at watershed times on channels: 4,E4 ect. For a British audience the film would pleasure audiences through the characters using British 'lad banter' because audiences would be able to relate and understand. For an international audience, their pleasures from the film would be understanding the ways young British males act around each other and women (British youth culture). The target audience may enjoy a film like American Pie because it also is a television series but it is an American production. It involves excited teens flirting and trying to get a live parents want them to have.

Institutional

The distributors of the film in the UK were Channel 4 and they usually distribute/ promote similar content. This would be shows/films based on comedy like Jimmy Car ans Russel Howard Live. Also the budget for the film was £3.5 million which is significantly higher than an arthouse film. The Inbetweeners movie was financially successful as their audience was already generated through the television series. This means that many people would have watched the film mainly because of their belief in the film through the reputation of the show. Therefore, the film distributors wouldn't have to distribute the film as much which means more money is saved. In addition the target audience for the film is young people and they are all likely to use electronic devices with social networking applications on it. Therefore, the film can be promoted on the networking site which is cheaper than the usual advertisements. The film was more successful in the UK as this audience would be able to relate to the four characters from the movie. This is because they would understand the British culture and the slang used. It is rated 15 because it does include inappropriate language and fighting but not a lot of it.

Representation 

The representation of British youth was that they are reckless and immature. This is shown through the amount of drinking they consume on the holiday. Also, most (if not all) of the youngsters of holiday were British white people and this is a true stereotype of young white people going to other European countries to party. Perkins' theory tells us the stereotype could be true. The British representations in the Inbetweeners differs from Ill manors because the Inbetweeners has a more legal atmosphere than Ill manors. An example of illegal activities in Ill manors are the drugs, prostitution and weapons. Whereas The Inbetweeners includes some violence and sexual scenes but they aren't as emphasised or significant as Ill manors.

Case study comparisons

The Inbetweeners has some similarities with Ill manors and A Field in England. Inbetweeners includes young people just like Ill Manors. They both follow the ideologies Britain has associated with British youth, these are that they are sexual active, aggressive and careless. In addition, all the films involve the use of drug but they are all displayed in different ways. The inbetweeners has a youngster using the drug but it is portrayed in a more recreational than the other films. Ill manors has drug dealers of the film selling drugs and some people with distraught lives taking the drugs. Finally, A field in England has many points of view of the effect of the drug the characters are taking. They take the drug not really knowing what it is.

The differences are obvious at times between the films. The Inbetweeners movie is about the lives of modern British educated youth, Ill manors is about British youth who are menaces to society and A field in England is about British history. We see how drugs particularly differentiates in the narratives of the story. The Inbetweeners doesn't emphasise the use of drugs as the movie only shows it once. Ill manors' storyline is based around criminal activities and we would expect to see the use of drugs constantly in the film. A field in England is completely different from both because the characters discover the 'magic mushrooms' and don't know what it is.  

  

PPE LR

Question 1 - institution

Channel 4 has done its job as a opinion leader by challenging stereotypes of disabled people. This would have a significant impact on the audience as they would witness an advert about this group of people which isn't ordinary to see. Perkins' theory can be used to suggest disabled people are ignored in sports specifically ans the advert helps us remember these athletes are as courageous as the Olympic ones. This means that Channel 4 could be viewed as a more informative and accepting channel compared to others as they are willing to host the Paralympics where as the BBC is more focused/concerned on the Olympic Games. Therefore, Channel 4's brand image could potentially be enhanced due to them trying to attract an audience which is forgotten about in the World of television. Furthermore the fact that Channel 4 has targeted a minority group to televise could imply other segments of people who aren't on shows could possibly get their chance through the help from Channel 4.

In addition, Channel 4 made the advert to be in the faces of the audience to shock them and question whether they consider disabled people. This means that from the athletes staring at the camera in the beginning of the advert for example, it makes the audience feel a little intimidated and guilty if they don't believe the Paralympic games will as much of a success as the Olympic games. Therefore, the audience could question their ideologies about disabled people being lazy or not able to do what able people can do. We can see events these athletes compete in which are almost similar to the events in the Olympic games. We can use the uses and gratification theory to suggest the audience can build personal relationships with the athletes to feel sympathy with them. This is through emphasising the incidents where the athletes became disabled which could be the disequilibrium. Also, the audience can then feel hyped and gratitude towards the Paralympic athletes as they have overcome the accident/disability and have become hard working athletes (new equilibrium).   

Channel 4 is trying to attract youth culture in the advert as they are an audience who would probably be quick to exclude disabled people from sports due to maturity or knowledge. There is an ideology set about young people not being interested in politics (not many voting) and politics is one way where minority groups are discussed/considered (whether there helped is besides the point). Channel 4 have attempted to inform their young audience about the Paralympics and not writing it off because they are different to them. The young audience watching the advert would realise Channel 4 are being serious for once and its time the youth of Britain follow by starting with accepting disabled people can be as determined and courageous in sport as they are or other able sporting people. This means that Channel 4 have tried to have a positive impact on young people by emitting this moral ideologies.

Institution research

Ill manors: funding and production budget

1. The estimated budget is around £100,000.

2. The organisations/companies that funded the film were Film London, BBC Films and Microwave. 

3. Its budget is significantly low compared to another production like Skyfall which were given £150 for the production of the film. 

A field in England 

1. It's estimated budget is £316,000.
2. A Field in England had a higher budget than Ill manors because it appealed to institutions with more money who focus on producing films for a more educated audience. The director has a history of creating successful films.Where as, Ill manors had a director who's main job was being a musician.
3. The money came from having the backing and support of many more institutions. They believed in the director as he had previously made other successful films.

Film London and Microwave film

1. Film London is an institution that allows film makers with an idea display their narrative in the city of London. It wants the city to be seen as an opportunity for creative people to construct films to make the business of London continue to tick.

2. Microwave film is about funding films, gives development and mentoring support to all films that have been shortlisted. 

3. 'Running out of Grime' is a film produced by Microwave films which is a parody of some of the current rappers journey to where they are. The film has a message underneath the humour which teaches the audience to respect, work hard and understand the person you are. This is similar to Ill manors because although the film is about crime, we see an informative message being told to the audience. Despite this, Ill manors has a more dramatic narrative which allows the audience to construct a relationship with the characters - has a greater impact on emotions.

Vertigo films and Warps films

1. Vertigo film has produced films like 'Football factory' and 'The Sweeny'.

2. The audience is British and would like these films because they are set in Britain. Mainstreamers would watch these films specifically because they fit the representations international audiences have of us so audiences would want to feel part of it. 

3. They have worked with action films like the two examples above and romance and drama with the 'Street Dance' trilogies.

4. Warps film started in Australia.

5. They made films such as '71,  This is England, Four Lions'. 

6. Vertigo films helped produced 'The Sweeny' which includes Ben Drew who also is in association with Ill Manors. Warps film made 'Four Lions' which is similar to Ill Manors because the films show the perspective of the outcasters of society. 

Certification: BBFC

1. 'U' is suitable for all audiences, 'PG' is parental guide, '12A' is a Cinema releas suitable for 12 years and over, '12' is a video release suitable for 12 years and over, '15'is suitbale only for 15 years and over, '18' is suitable for adults only and 'R18' adults works for licensed premises only.

2. A 15 certificate would include things seen in an 18 certificate but it would be watered down: strong violence, frequent strong language, strong verbal references to sex, sexual nudity, brief scenes of sexual violence or verbal references to sexual violence, discriminatory language or behaviour and drug taking. 18 certificate would include all of those but would be more brutal.

3. Ill manors was a 18 rated film because it had strong scenes of violence, sexual scenes and it was very graphical.

4. A field in England is a 15 rated film.This is because of the drugs involved in the film and the effect displayed in the editing.

5. The advantages of a film being rated 18 is that audiences may assume the film is going to relate to their life styles because it wouldn't be appropriate for younger people to hear what they do.The disadvantage would be that less people can watch the film. 

Mest 1 section B index

1. The British film industry: media fact sheet questions
2. Institutional context of the British film industry: fact sheet questions
3. Ill manors: film review 
4. Ill manors: trailer analysis 
5. Ill manors: music video
6. Ill manors: TEDx lecture
7. Ill manors: broadcast platform concluded
8. Ill manors: print platform (newspaper interviews)
9. Ill manors: print branding
10. Ill manors: e-media Tag London campaign
11. Ill manors: e-media social networking research
12. Ill manors: official website 
13. A Field in England: reading, research and questions
14. Ill manors and A Field in England: institution research

A Field in England: appeal of arthouse film

1. The arthouse audience are suggested to be highly educated in order to understand the narratives that the intelligent film makers create. These complex story lines are only going to be understood through someone'e experience of watching arthouse films. Also, arthouse audiences are those who dedicate their time into embracing these intertwining narratives which include many different cultures (foreign language).
2. Some audiences may not understand the narrative of arthouse films due to the difficulty of references in the film. The uneducated audience may find it a struggle to keep their attention on the narrative if it doesn't appeal to them. For example, people who are unemployed and are titled strugglers from the psychographics may not be interested in these films because they aren't mainstream films and the complex story. Perkin's theory could suggest that this is partly true because without an education, interpretation would be weak because being out of school could reduce verbal communication (formally). Furthermore, arthouse films don't tend to follow Todorv's theory of equilibriums. It usually ends with a cliff hanger and the audience have to make suggestions about a possible ending. This is where the experience of watching arthouse films and education would aid the audience into making a realistic decision/inference.
3. Arthouse cinemas are most suitable for middle class people as they may live in areas near the cinemas which tend to be near cities. Another reason could be because they are highly educated and would be able to understand the narrative of arthouse films. An older audience would want to watch arthouse films as they are more challenging to understand which they may enjoy to keep them ticking. Also, because they would be able to afford the travelling/ticket and have the time for travelling.
4. A Field in England would appeal to an older audience as the film is set in the 1600's. They would be more fascinated with a historic narrative which the film is about. Despite this, it has an alternative narrative to the usual historic film because it is about drugs.The use of the 'mushroom drug' is portrayed in some of the shots of the trailer which suggests the characters have taken it. Therefore, a younger audience may prefer to see this as they may be able to relate to the character's state. Another reason could be because a younger audience may perhaps be more accepting in society than an older audience (less traditional - religious).

A Field in England

A Field in England was made off a significantly low budget in comparison to the Hollywood blockbuster films. The highly acclaimed director wanted to subvert the method of releasing films by making all platforms to watch the film available on the same day. The article talks about the directors influences and how distributors are able to get a film known through effective advertising. The article discusses (at first) the steps distributor's need to consider when working with a film and its mainly about interacting with the audience and getting a certain segment to become attracted to the film. The budget the film or any art house film has a disposal is utterly lower than the Hollywood films.


1. Its release was different to a typical film one as it didn't use a staggered release. This means that they released the film in cinemas as well as TV, DVD, Blu-ray, VoD.
2. The possible advantages of doing this is the hype for the film could be generated quickly as there would have to be many advertisements of the film. This would make an audience wonder/know about the film and their attention would be caught. From here, these people could potentially want to watch the film. An Arthouse audience would probably want to watch the film in the cinema and have the atmosphere rather than watch it at home for free. As long as this audience are willing to watch their film in the cinema they may gain a healthier income as people who wouldn't have watched the film can watch it on DVD or TV.
3. The obvious disadvantage of this method is that people who want to watch the film could watch it at home for free. This would then reduce the income the film would receive. Also, it reduces the time the film will have hype for and people would lose their attention from the film. This is because as the film gets old advertisements would be gradually be reduced so the audience would assume the film wasn't a success.
4. The target audience the film is targeted at A,B and possibly C1. This audience would watch the film in cinemas as they wouldn't mind spending money on a cinema ticket instead of watching it for free at home. From the psychographics successful people would watch the film as it they are the audience of Arthouse cinemas.
5. I don't believe all films will be released simultaneously but there will be a shorter staggered release time to prevent many people from watching the film illegally. I believe a staggered release is the best option because it will extend the time revenue will be coming into the film. The hype for the film won't be as significant at the release of the film as a simultaneous release because audiences will only be able to view the film at cinemas. Therefore, a simultaneous release is not healthy for the wealth of the business releasing the film.