Independent Films & Joint Ventures

Get Out

The Production Process - 

Pre-Production - 

• financing will be confirmed
• principal cast members, director and cinematographer are set
• The screenplay is finalised
• The scripts broken down into individual scenes and storyboarded
• Locations, props, cast members, costumes, special effects and visual effects are identified
• an extremely detailed schedule is produced
• sets are constructed
• the crew is hired
• financial arrangements are put in place and a start date for the beginning of principal photography is set
• There will be read-through of the script. 

Production - 

• involves:
• camera crew
• lighting department
• sound department
• directorial department
• runners
• location crew
• security
• drivers
• stunt crew
• actors
• talent
• caterers
• rushes runners

Low budget films might be shot over a period of five to six weeks. Sometimes this will involve 18-hour days, often six days a week. Bigger films will take much longer (75-120 days).

Post-Production - 

• principally involves editing and sound
• The editing suite was, at one time, known  as the cutting room, because films reels had to be cut and spliced together. 
• Involves sound designs, with dubbing mixers and foley artists. 

PRE PRODUCTION

Directorial Department

Responsibilities:

    - read scripts

    - select actors

    - monitor rehearsals 

    - hold meetings

    - agree the budget and schedule of them film with the producer

Skills:

    - creative flair

    - initiative

    - excellent communication

    - motivational and leadership skills

    - ability to work under pressure

    - time management

    - attention to detail 

Production designer

Responsibilities:

    - production brief

    - initiate the project

    - carry out planning

    - select, lead and motivate your project team

    - manage the project

    - identify and manage risks

    - implement any necessary changes

Skills:

    - excellent organisation skills

    - strong interpersonal skills

    - the ability to monitor and control budgets

    - good communication and negation skills

    - the ability to use your initiative and make decisions under pressure

    - technical knowledge

Set designer

Responsibilities:

    - reading script to identify a particular visual style

    - meeting the producer and director

    - researching history

    - monitoring the design budget

    - provide scale drawings

    - sourcing appropriate materials

    - hiring and managing an art department

    - instructing the set construction

    - liaising with the costume designer and photographer

    - checking sets and locations during filming to ensure requirements are met.

Skills:

    - creativity

    - the ability to communicate ideas through technical drawing and model makings

    - knowledge of visual arts

    - persistence to follow up leads and gain work

    - the ability to work with others

    - the ability to be resourceful and adaptable.

PRODUCTION 

Actor

Responsibilities:

    - job seek

    - prepare and attend auditions

    - learn lines and rehearse

    - preform for a live audience

    - undertake activities

Skills:

    - good communication and listening skills

    - punctuality and reliability

    - the ability to interpret and analyse roles

    - the capacity to work well in teams

    - the ability to take instruction and criticism

    - confidence

    - self-discipline and stamina

    - resilience and determination

    - some roles may require the ability to sing, dance or play an instrument

Lighting technician

Responsibilities:

    - set up lighting equipment

    - ensure all lighting equipment is working

    - operate and maintain equipment during the shoot

    - work as part of a large crew

    - liaise with and work oder the direction of the gaffer

Skills:

    - technical knowledge

    - time management

    - work well under pressure and to deadlines

    - attention to detail

    - creative flair

    - problem solving ability

POST PRODUCTION

Editor

Responsibilities:

    - assembling all raw footage

    - inputting cut rushes and sound

    - digitally cutting files to put together a sequence

    - creating a 'rough cut'

    - recording and fine-tuning content

Skills:

    - a keen eye for detail and critical minds

    - creativity and passionate interest in film

    - the ability to listen to others

    - high level of self motivation

    - time management skills

    - ability to work under pressure and meet deadline

    - communication skills

SFX technician

Responsibilities:

    - work as part of a team

    - build new equipment

    - deploy what the team has made to create the effect

    - use high attention to detail

    - work on computer to model the effect

Skills:

    - creativity

    - attention to detail

    - teamwork skills

    - proactive approach

    - relevant practical skills.

Post-production = includes all the stages occurring after the shooting of the film.

Production = the process of creating material for users consumption

Runner = someone who helps aid the smooth running of a production

Editor = someone who assemble the material provided to make it the best it can be.

Independent film = A production made by a small independent company, outside of the Hollywood system.

    - Eg. Get out, Before I Fall, The Gift, Dude

How might the content differ from that of a large conglomerate?

- A large conglomerate have a much higher budget

- A larger production crew

- Location differs

- Cast members may be more well known in conglomerates.

Hollywood film studios = 'The Big Six'

    - Paramount

    - Warner Bros

    - 20th Century Fox

    - Universal

    - Columbia

    - Walt Disney 

Bait

- An independent Uk film, released in August 2019.

- Described as a "no budget" film (no exact budget has been given), it was directed by Mark Jenkins and initially recorded without sound. Sound was added in post-production.

- Jenkins also wrote and recorded the score.

Which distributor picked up Bait in the UK?

- BFI - British Film Institute

Where did they see it initially?

- Berlin

What was the marketing strategy?

- The strategy was to start in Cornwall and the south-west and get word of mouth going.

How did Jenkins contribute to this?

- Began a Q&A preview tour in Newlyn continuing at WTW cinemas in Truro, Wadebridge and Newquay

What did the film make on the opening weekend?

- £32,000 for the weekend, £48,000 including previews

What was the film's gross at the time of publication?

- £264,000

List of technical specifications:

- post-sync sound

- in black and white 

- filmed on 16mm Bolex camera

Radio4 interview with Mark Jenkin

- Very positive review in The Guardian

- As a result, tons of people at the premier in Berlin

- Interest begins to snowball on social media

- Offers start to come in after film festival

- Mark Jenkins has done 75+ Q&As - huge part of success

- Film is about 'entitlement' - resonated with a wide audience

- Soundtrack record deal

- Jenkins making a follow up film in the same style

Joint Ventures

Joint Ventures = Some independent companies may undertake a joint venture - this is when one media company works with another on a project mutually beneficial for both parties.

Get Out

Director: Jordan Peele

Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams

Production companies: Blumhouse, QC, Monkeypaw

Distributed: Universal

Budget: $4.5 million

Box Office: $255.4 million

First-Look Deal

- any contract containing a clause granting pre-emption right, right of refusal, or right of first offer to another party, who then is given the first opportunity to buy outright, co-own, invest in, license, etc., something that is newly coming into existence or on he market for the first time or after an absence, such as intellectual property (manuscript, musical composition, invention, artwork, business idea, etc.) or real property (real estate).

Blumhouse Productions (2000)

- Insidious

- The Purge

- Paranormal Activity

- Sinister

- Happy Death Day

Monkeypaw Productions (2012)

- Key & Peele

Joint Ventures 

Advantages:

- other companies will get recognition

- can split up funding cost for production

- a conglomerate may give a lot more money towards production

- a conglomerates can recommend the best crew

- a larger distribution scale/reputation

- a mix of creativity and expertise 

- new, fresh ideas

- a temporary joint venture

- access to better resource

- share the same risk (ownership)

- conglomerate can head hunt from the independent companies

- conglomerated have the facilities to diverse into different platforms

Disadvantages:

- revenue split between all companies

- distribution company may not allow the production companies to get money afterwards

- may have disagreements that they can't do anything about

- imbalance of power from conglomerate

- the conglomerate may not get enough money back from what they put in

Explain why an independent company often works with other companies as part of a joint venture. Use example to support your answer. (4)

Independent companies often work with other companies as part of a joint venture due to the advantages which it brings. For a independent company to become a joint venture with a conglomerate, it will bring may opportunities for the production such as splitting up the ending cost and creating a larger distribution scale. For example, in "Get Out" there was joint venture of independent companies, including Blumhouse, and the conglomerate Universal. This allows the film to be shared to a much wider audience whereby Blumhouse will can recognition and more audience members.

4/4

WWW: Explored the opportunities that joint ventures bring.

EBI: Focus more on certain advantages and expand.

Explain two disadvantages of being an independent company. Use examples to support your answer. (6)

1) One disadvantage of being an independent company is not having mass recognition. As independent companies are produced and distributed by themselves, they may not have a large scale audience and produce a sufficient revenue. For example, conglomerates, such as Disney, have a large scale, secure audience which they can distribute their production to successfully and gain revenue, which isn't the case for independent companies, such as Blumhouse.

2) Another disadvantage of being an independent company is when in a joint venture. A joint venture is when theres a joining of production companies to make a production which benefits both parties. This may be a disadvantage for the independent company as, when joining with a conglomerate, there could be an imbalance of power and say in decision making. For example, "Get Out" is created by a joint venture whereby this may of occurred.

6/6

WWW: Used very good examples.

EBI: In the second question expand on the example.

Peer assessed by Sonny Scheffer the best