Work through the following tasks in order to make yourself an expert on the film. You will need this knowledge to answer Task 1 in the exam.
Case Study 1: Independence Day
Most importantly, watch the film. You can buy it on YouTube, Amazon or iTunes or if you have a Netflix subscription it should be available on there.
Then, use imdb.com, rottentomatoes.com and any other relevant websites you can access to find out the following information about the film...
Institutional background
Use IMDB to find out the institutions behind Independence Day. Click on Company Credits and then look for the production company and UK distributor.
1) What was the film studio or production company behind Independence Day? E.g. Warner Brothers, Paramount etc.
2) Who was the distributor for the theatrical release of the film in the UK?
Genre and Media language analysis
1) What sub-genre of Science Fiction does Independence Day fit into? What issues or fears in society might be addressed in the film?
2) How can you tell it fits that sub-genre? Be specific with reference to specific clips or scenes from the film.
3) How does the narrative (storyline) of the film fit the Science Fiction genre?
4) Who are the main characters in Independence Day and why might they appeal to an audience?
5) How does the mise-en-scene in Independence Day fit the Science Fiction genre?
Release date and marketing campaign
1) What was the UK release date for your chosen film?
2) Find the trailer for Independence Day, embed it in your blog and explain why it might appeal to an audience.
3) What other examples of marketing can you find on Google for Independence Day (film poster, teaser trailers, main trailers, newspaper reviews or TV interviews etc.)
Critical reception
1) What is the IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes rating for Independence Day?
2) What is the word-of-mouth like for Independence Day? Use the IMDB user review rating or the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating to judge whether the public rate the movie.
3) Find three quotes (no more than 25 words each) from user reviews of Independence Day and post them on your blog.
Box office success
Use IMDB to find out the box office records for Independence Day. Click on Company Credits and then Box Office/Business. You may also want to use the excellent website Box Office Mojo to find out the budget and box office success for the film.
1) What was the original budget for Independence Day?
2) How much money did Independence Day make in the opening weekend?
3) How much money has Independence Day made in total? (Look for the subheading ‘Gross’ which has the total box-office earnings listed).
4) For a film to be considered a box office success, it needs to make at least two-and-a-half times the budget in box office takings. Using this method, was Independence Day a success at the box office?
Stars and director
Research the stars and director for Independence Day.
1) What other films has the director made? Are they in the same or similar genres?
2) Who is the main star of Independence Day?
3) What other films has the main star appeared in? Are any of those films similar to Independence Day? Are any of them Science Fiction films?
4) Are the stars or the director or writer mentioned in the trailer for Independence Day?
Audience pleasures
1) What specific aspects of Independence Day would an audience enjoy?
2) Identify three key moments in the film that audiences would particularly enjoy and explain the audience appeal for these key scenes. Use media language in your analysis.
3) Which characters in Independence Day would particularly appeal to different audience types? Use specific examples from the film to support your points.
4) Write a detailed demographic breakdown of the possible target audience for Independence Day. Include age, gender, social class, education, job/earnings, where they live, what they enjoy in their spare time and brands they are attracted to.
All tasks MUST be completed before Monday 14 December
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