They used a budget of $15 million – David Hesmondhalgh (“risky business“). Production in US and UK – Globalisation. Produced by Warner Brothers Pictures Group (Conglomerate) investing into the film. Distributed by Social Media (use facts (eg. views, followers, for example twitter with them having over 3000 followers)) Can me consumed in multiple countries around the world at cinemas (more Globalisation) and on multiple streaming services. Can be consumed again and again (Cultural industries). Creates cultural imperialism on the UK and the US because it celebrates the culture of the united states through Bruce Springsteen’s music being prioritised in the film. Warner brothers uses Horizontal Integration. Directed by Gurinder Chadha. Bend it Films being a producer. The companies use commodification by the fact that they sell DVD’s of the film where they are distributed through things such as amazon and consumed on things such as your phone. Film regulated by British Board of Film Classification which allows for things such as diversity and innovation. The role of the use of Bruce Springsteen’s music in getting the film financed and in the marketing of the film
Category Archives: Exam Prep
Filters
Blinded By The Light
- Low-medium budget film-making product.
- Example of UK/US production and distribution.
- New Line Cinema (subsidiary of Warner Brothers Pictures) is an American production studio that funded the product’s creation.
- The role of the use of Bruce Springsteen’s music in getting the film financed and in the marketing of the film
- The use of film festivals in finding distribution deals for films
- Use of traditional marketing and distribution techniques; trailers, posters, film festivals etc.
- Marketing techniques such as use of genre, nostalgia, identity, social consciousness
blinded by the light
Blinded by the Light is a low-mid budget production ($15m) co-funded by New Line Cinema (an American production studio owned by Warner Brothers Pictures Group). It is an example of a US/UK co-production and distribution. Its distributor New Line Cinema is associated with ‘indie’ films although it is a subsidiary of Warner Brothers Pictures, part of the global conglomerate, WarnerMedia.
Use of traditional marketing and distribution techniques; trailers, posters, film festivals etc. The use of film festivals in finding distribution deals for films. Marketing techniques such as use of genre, nostalgia, identity, social consciousness. Distribution techniques – reliance on new technology; VOD, streaming.
It is based on the ‘true story’ of a Pakistani boy growing up in the UK in the 1980s. These links demonstrate how the historical context, nostalgia and British-Asian identity is used in the promotion of the film.
blinded by the light
Blinded by the Light is an example of low-medium budget film making. production ($15m) co-funded by New Line Cinema (an American production studio owned by Warner Brothers Pictures Group) and independent
this film has production context and distribution
materials including:
• website (Bend it Networks)
• website (Warners)
• posters
• trailer
• social media presence (Twitter, Instagram, facebook etc).
Its distributor New Line Cinema is associated with ‘indie’ films although it is a subsidiary of Warner Brothers Pictures, part of the global conglomerate, WarnerMedia. The role of the use of Bruce Springsteen’s music in getting the film financed and in the marketing of the film. Use of traditional marketing and distribution techniques; trailers, posters, film festivals etc.
Distribution techniques – reliance on new technology; VOD, streaming
Marketing techniques such as use of genre, nostalgia, identity, social consciousness
Blinded By The Light
Blinded by the Light is a film produced in 2019 at a lower budget than most other films, meaning that the value of production, distribution and marketing was significantly lower and there were less resources for the directors and creators to use. Its distributor, New Line Cinema, is an American film production studio and a label of the Warner Bros. Pictures, usually associated with the “indie” film genre. The film is an example of a US/UK co-production and independent
production companies including Levantine Films, Bend it Films and Ingenious Media helped to fund it.
Bruce Springsteen music is used and licenced within the film.
The film wasn’t a high budget film with only around $15 million to spend on the entire production.
Companies that funded the film were New Line Cinema, Levantine Films, Ingenious Media and Bend It Films.
The film used the normal ideas of posters, adverts and bill boards to advertise the film.
The film wasn’t released on the typical DVD format after being released to cinemas, it was released to a streaming service after making $17.2 million in the box office.
Perfect example of what a low-budget American film can look likeIts distributor New Line Cinema is associated with ‘indie’ films although it is a subsidiary of Warner Brothers Pictures, part of the global conglomerate, WarnerMedia.
co-funded by New Line Cinema and independent production companies including Levantine Films, Bend it Films and Ingenious Media.
‘Bend It Films’ is a UK based, indie production company owned by major US conglomerate ‘Warner Brothers’. Linking to the fact that major companies need new ideas and concepts, provided by the independent companies they own whilst independent companies need major companies to fuel distribution and exhibition because these major companies have the right to use streaming platforms to display their productions.
As a low-mid budget film, it can be considered in its economic context having a mix of independent and major production and distribution contexts targeting a different audience to ‘indie’ and high budget films.
The production uses Bruce Springsteen’s music from his fame during the 1970-80’s. The use of his music is a clever way of not only globalizing exhibition to project to Springsteen fans worldwide and also playing to a older demographic through a sense of nostalgia and way of looking back to the past.
Some original songs were created for use with the film, this creates opportunity to mix these songs in with actual Springsteen albums and playlists to make money.
blinded by the light
‘The movie musical seems to be thriving at the moment, and in these tumultuous political times, who is really going to complain about experiencing the escapism and joy that only a film of this genre can bring?’ – Sarah Buddery Review.
The film is similar to movies such as Rocketman and Bohemian Rhapsody yet the film is as much about music as it is told with music.
Inspired by an incredible true story, and based on the memoir ‘Greetings From Bury Park’ by Sarfraz Manzoor, the film tells the story of Javed Khan (Vivek Kalra), a Pakistani teenager who dreams of a life outside Luton, far away from his very traditional family and particularly his slightly overbearing Father (Kulvinder Ghir) who believes Javed can be anything he wants to be. As long as one of those things is a lawyer, an accountant or an estate agent! When his friend Roops (Aaron Phagura) introduces him to The Boss aka Bruce Springsteen, Javed’s world is turned upside down and through the lyrics of the legendary musician, he finds his voice.
Release of film: 2019
More than one poster design is made to involve all cultures, languages and to keep the advertising interesting.
• Blinded by the Light is a low-mid budget production ($15m) co-funded by New Line Cinema (an American production studio owned by Warner Brothers Pictures Group) and independent
production companies including Levantine Films. Bend it Films and Ingenious Media.
• Identification of how Blinded by the Light is characteristic of a low-mid budget release, considering production, distribution and circulation
• The role of the use of Bruce Springsteen’s music in getting the film financed and in the marketing of the film
• The use of film festivals in finding distribution deals for films
• Use of traditional marketing and distribution techniques; trailers, posters, film festivals etc.
• Marketing techniques such as use of genre, nostalgia, identity, social consciousness
• Distribution techniques – reliance on new technology; VOD, streaming
• Regulation of the industry through BBFC (British Board of Film Classification).
• Regulation including Livingstone and Lunt
– Hautlieu creative blog
Blinded by the light
Blinded by the Light: (Gurinder Chadha, UK, 2019)
This is a Targeted Close Study product for which you will need to focus on the following areas ofthe Theoretical Framework:
• Media Industries
Students are not required to watch the film for the assessment.
TASK 1: Use this post (and the links provided) to build up your own post and notes in preparation for the unseen question that you will take in class. CATEGORIES: NEA, INSTITUTION & EXAM PREP
Blinded by the Light is an example of low-medium budget film making. Students do not need to watch the film but will need to be familiar with the production context and distribution
materials including:
• website (Bend it Networks)
• website (Warners)
• posters
• trailer
• social media presence (Twitter, Instagram, facebook etc).
The film should only be studied in relation to Media Industries
Media Industries
Blinded by the Light is an example of a US/UK co-production and distribution. Its distributor New Line Cinema is associated with ‘indie’ films although it is a subsidiary of Warner Brothers Pictures, part of the global conglomerate, WarnerMedia.
• Blinded by the Light is a low-mid budget production ($15m) co-funded by New Line Cinema (an American production studio owned by Warner Brothers Pictures Group) and independent
production companies including Levantine Films. Bend it Films and Ingenious Media.
• Identification of how Blinded by the Light is characteristic of a low-mid budget release, considering production, distribution and circulation
• The role of the use of Bruce Springsteen’s music in getting the film financed and in the marketing of the film
• The use of film festivals in finding distribution deals for films
• Use of traditional marketing and distribution techniques; trailers, posters, film festivals etc.
• Marketing techniques such as use of genre, nostalgia, identity, social consciousness
• Distribution techniques – reliance on new technology; VOD, streaming
• Regulation of the industry through BBFC (British Board of Film Classification).
• Regulation including Livingstone and Lunt
The Importance of Film Festivals
The following link discusses the use of a film festival to secure a distribution deal.
The Importance of recognisable Generic Conventions (and the use of familiar music)
Blinded by the Light has been described as a feelgood jukebox musical film using the music of Bruce Springsteen.
This link offers ideas about the importance of genre and this link about the use of recognisable music in the marketing of the film,
It was directed by Gurinder Chada, a British director known for Bend it Like Beckham
Social, economic and cultural contexts
Blinded by the Light is characteristic of contemporary cultural production in its use of new technology at production and distribution stages, reflecting shifting patterns of audience consumption. As a low-mid budget film, it can be considered in its economic context having a mix of independent and major production and distribution contexts targeting a different audience to ‘indie’ and high budget films.
These videos show how directors, their past work and the ideas they aim to communicate can be important in film marketing.
It is based on the ‘true story’ of a Pakistani boy growing up in the UK in the 1980s. These links demonstrate how the historical context, nostalgia and British-Asian identity is used in the promotion of the film.
institution – key terms
Cultural industries – an economic field which involves the producing, distributing and exhibiting of music, television, movies, publishing etc…
Production – the process of making a motion picture, television show, video commercial, internet video or any other viewable programming
Distribution – the process of delivering products to audiences through advertising and marketing campaigns
Exhibition / Consumption – the retail branch of the film industry/ when the media is taken in by individuals or a group
Media concentration – when a company integrates its ownership of different media sectors (production, distribution, exhibition) with other companies This means that as time progresses, less and less companies or institutions control the share of mass media
Conglomerates – a company that owns multiple companies involved in mass media enterprises such as television, radio, publishing etc…
Globalisation (in terms of media ownership) – the worldwide integration of media through the cross-cultural exchange of ideas
Cultural imperialism – a theory regarding the fact that the western world dominates the ideas and influence of the media industry by imposing western views, often destroying native culture
Vertical Integration – when a company owns different businesses in the same chain of production, distribution and/or exhibition
Horizontal Integration – when a company owns other companies that performs the same part of the production, distribution or exhibition process as them
Mergers – when two or more existing companies unite creating one new company, often to expand a companies reach or gain market share
Monopolies – concentrated control of major mass communications within a society
Gatekeeper – a company who filters the information sent out to the public in order to create a certain message
(Mass Media) Regulation – rules enforced by the jurisdiction of law regarding how the media industry is owned and controlled, often to protect a stated ‘public interest’
(Mass Media) Deregulation – the process in which a government removes rules previously enforced by the jurisdiction of law regarding how the media industry is owned and controlled
Free market – a market when voluntary exchange and the laws of supply and demand provide the sole basis for the economic system, without government intervention
Commodification – the act of turning something into an item that can be bought or sold
Convergence – a circumstance involving the interconnection of information and communication technologies and media content eg, a phone which allows you to read the news as well as just make phone calls
Diversity – a corporate strategy used to enter into a new market or industry in which the business does not currently operate
Innovation – the process of not just an “invention” of a new value for journalism, but also the process of implementing this new value in a market or a social setting to make it sustainable.
definitions
Cultural industries- the different types of popular media, produces, distributes products in the creative arts generally in favour of popularity
Production- the making of a form of media
Distribution- The methods by which media products are delivered to audiences, including the marketing campaign
Exhibition/ consumption- the retail branch of the film industry/ when the media is taken in by individuals or a group
Media concentration- the ownership of mass media by fewer individuals
Conglomerates- a group that owns multiple companies which stand out different media specialised in written or audio-visual content
Globalisation (in terms of media ownership)- the worldwide integration of media through the cross-cultural exchange of ideas
Cultural imperialism-The practice of promoting the culture values or language of one nation in another
Vertical Integration- a way in which media companies expand by acquiring different businesses in the same chain of production and distribution
Horizontal Integration- a way in which media companies expand by acquiring media companies that work in similar sectors
Mergers-a merger or acquisition in which 2 or more of the undertakings involved carry on a media business
Monopolies- concentrated control of major mass communications within a society
Gatekeepers- the process through which information is filtered for dissemination
Regulation- the process by which a range of specific, often legally binding, tools are applied to media systems and institutions to achieve established policy goals such as pluralism, diversity, competition, and freedom
Deregulation- the process of removing or loosening government restrictions on the ownership of media outlets
Free market- one where voluntary exchange and the laws of supply and demand provide the sole basis for the economic system
Commodification- the transformation of the shape of the relationship, which is initially trafficked into things that are free of the commercial nature of the relationship
Convergence- the merging of previously distinct media technologies and platforms through digitization and computer networking
Diversity- diversity of ideas, viewpoints or content options
Innovation- change in several aspects of the media landscape, from the development of new media platforms, to new business models, to new ways of producing media texts