Birth of an event movie and the transition to the modern blockbuster

Context = reasons

Blockbusters do not stimulate or challenge the mind, opposed to independent films

Film = food

We are fed these formulaic blockbusters. For instance we love to eat Big Macs (blockbusters) but they're not that good. Whereas we're not to keen to eat a healthy salad (independent) but it's good for us in the long term.

At some point between Jaws and Star Wars and the present date. Blockbusters have evolved into sc-fi  driven films and do not focus on the narrative.

1.Technology 

2.Economics=€$¥

3.Audience- social 

Context = reasons

Big dumb movies Mark Komode 

If you spend enough money, which creates an event it will still create a bad film.  People only see the film for the hype and to see the film to see where all the money was spent.

Films now can advertise patrism. And can be used for properganda for instance top gun shows how awesome it is to be in the airforce and how Americans can Kick ass, whereas the rest of the world sees american culture and army as agrogant and as invaders.

Characteristics of block busters

Easy to understand 

Simple stereotypes 

Uses franchising

Merchandising 

Global appeal

Godfarther: budget $6 mill gross $134 mill

Uses simple stereotypes. Star driven with marlo Brando. In the future it became a franchise with video games and sequels. However it is character driven and does not rely on special effects, it does use set pieces but not with SFX. It also has a big director (Francis ford Coppola)

Star Wars: budget $11 mill gross $797 mill

uses simple stereotypes such as Samuel in distress. Is not character driven and does rely on special effects, uses set pieces. It uses A list stars such as Alec Guinness. It had a higher budget than other films and brought in well over triple its budget.

Jaws: budget $8mill gross $260 mill

Is character driven, uses a list celeb with the use of Rob Schneider (nominated for an Oscar). Is part of a franchise

Audiences behaviours: duel ( 1971 tv adapted movie ) Spielbergs first film is commonly compared to jaws. Had a respectable cast. 

Technology: the technology in the jaws was faulty. Used open water not CGI

Economic: first film to ever gross $100 million, simultaneous

Star Wars ended a time of character driven complex blockbusters (new hollywood), and started a new preference where audiences prefer to see visual effects, this is evident through the total gross jaws gross 260 million dollars where as Star Wars made 797 million dollars. Star Wars would become the formula for modern blockbusters.

Does the flop formula work?

Flop formula= not a comedy+ a lister+ big budget (150 million+) + lost of special effects

Does the blockbuster formula still work?

1.highest budget. Dead mans chest budget-300mil grossed- 958mill. Highest grossing movie earned 3 times its budget. Received disappointing reviews.

2.highest grossing. Avatar 2009 budget-237 million  Grossed- 2.7 billion. Not the biggest budget but showed how it was not a major factor in the box office 

1. A flop is a film that doesn't double its profits from its budget. 

2. Double of its budget ( not reviews )

3. Money pumped into advertising and marketing, piracy also may prevent people going to the cinema as its much cheaper.

4. Films have to be similar to other successful films in order to attract audiences, creating a formula, which can actually drive away viewers.

5. A franchise is a film or a series of films that is merely a product or a business as it creates toys and other ways of making money 

Box office mojo-- use this site

Mark Komode- bbc film critic 

Multiplex- use different screens In cinemas to show a vast amount of films.

Cinema budget- the actual budget that is recorded and only spent on the production of the film

Marketing budget- is not included in the budget 

Flop Formula- high budget- visual effects- a list star- not a comedy

We have CGI in blockbusters to deter audiences from viewing the film illegally, this is to create a better experience in the cinema than to what you could get at home. This is also a way of generating a greater income as many teenagers have been spoon fed this formula and will go see it again and again.

Similarities

I Simillarities between the new Star Wars, terminator and the new Star Trek 

1. Iconic soundtracks - identifiable/ familiar/ recognise 

2. Big franchises, been running for many years with spin offs

3. All rebots 

4. Dystopian future

5. Same director

6. Hollywood- products

These similarities between these films show how Hollywood are limited on orginal ideas. These may be because of a lack of profit due to piracy.

VFV & COM representation comparisons

COM- does conform to typical gender roles as 

Does not conform to some character roles as. Theo does not act as the typical Hollywood hero as he smokes and drinks heavily.

The film does not represent london in the typical way, it exaggerates Londons stereotypes such as pollution and how grey its. Whereas hollywood will represent London as being red buses, black cabs with either posh accents or cockney ones.

Hyper masculinity

Mothers as nurturers

Phallic and yonic imagery

Male gaze

Fast and furious drag race

Phalic imagery- gear stick and passing the train

Hyper masculinity- men can do ridiculous things with cars 

We need to talk about Kevin potty training scene:

Mother nurturer- woman cares for the kid

Captain America (weak)

Make gaze

And challenges hyper masculinity as the drill Sargent ridicules capt. America and portrays him as weak ( it is a hollywood film )

Sexual identity conform/subvert to classic Hollywood

Writing an hour long exam use notes 

Question on most recent blog post

Comparative 10 points 

Analysis is mise en scene

Videos are evidence micro 

Hyper masculinity- theo avoids conflict in the scene where he runs away.

People follow v as a leader

Phallic/ yonic

Com- phalic objects are destructive women are the hope for mankind they blledimg out sacrificing himself yonic stab wound

Male gaze v for vendetta we see evey as sexualised, with the bishop she is overpowered and we look at her sexually due to her dress and make up she is vulnerable 

Com gender neutral no is sexualised opening when Kee is showing her bump she is naked but we do not see her sexually we see her as a miracle 

National identity corrupt govt different policies and outcomes of their reign n

Com opening polluted country, shows our country as being racist- link to history 

VFV clean city racist radical ideas opening 

We are own enemy

Mother farther

V is stereotype mother but man all traits

Kee is mum giving birth

Theo is a material farther

Sutler is a farther as has power and gives orders

Jasper is father figure as he sacrificed

Prothero gives advice and guides the nation farthe

Children of men's ending and its themes

Children of men walking with the baby:

Themes,style and representation of gender

1.theo is a protective farther figure, mother is seen as a sacred figure

2. Dystopia, war

3. Tracking shot, POV 

Is likely to be an independent film because the ending is open and challenges us to think. This doesn't conform to the classic Hollywood narrative. 

This film represents masculinity as being the main power in the film. Due to women not being able to give birth they're redundant of all power in government and in society 

In V for Vendetta war is seen as a tool of peace and enables the audience to take a side, where Children of Men uses war as a backdrop to a more important point in the story, war is shown as an object of destruction and is not shown in the way a Hollywood film would; where good triumphs over evil. The difference between VFV and COM is that VFV is a hollywood film.

New hollywood to modern block buster with exam example

When 'star wars' ruled the world
The rise of blockbusters increasing popularity and the emergence of multiplexes

Before Star Wars films were more realistic and not ahead of their time (Visual effects)
Films were focusing on the Vietnam war so all films were quite serious
70s was the year for independent films 'New Hollywood' Directors who have been going to film school
People were seeing this film numerous times. There was lines to see the film going round the blocks
Merchandise as massive etc. Star Wars drapes. 20 billion dollars have been made since 1977 on merchandise alone

KEY NOTE: Ticket prices are rising as the viewing attendance is dropping to make up for loss income

Economic
Box office-cinema attendance and their money they have paid to see them
Budget- production cost is high
Budget-Marketing creates hype. Jaws had a iconic poster that scarred people. The hype generated the summer event
Social commentary- here as a recession in the UK so people did not have disposable income, but mass marketing attracted the people

Point- Jaws and Star Wars were successful blockbusters in multiplexes
Evidence- Film studios built the multiplexes to show these films generating more income, which led to the flop formula and how fleapits went out of business
Analysis + development- This led to only blockbusters to be shown in multiplexes

Technological
Development of visual effects with Stars Wars--- Jaws was an overlap and a blend of New Hollywood and the visual effect driven blockbusters
VHS was developing in the early 80s --- E.T (1981) was the most successful VHS movie
VHS was killing the cinema business and the development of multiplexes that were creating event movies, which was better to watch with a group at a cinema