Film studies paper

Source A)
Why is Film Franchises important for producers and audiences?
Film franchises are important for producers because it’s were they get all their profit, and it’s important to keep interest within the franchise to the audience as they are the ones who can increase ticket sales and merchandise sales. Film franchises have a long history as the first film of the franchise sends of a cultural trend as it may involve a new style, interesting storyline or even something just plain innovative. So the audience would be excited about this new idea and as word of mouth increases, more people will watch it, then the production company will produce merchandise such as t-shirts, video games, and sort of like a fashion trend if the character has a certain trademark like a coloured top, audiences will want to buy that same styled top to be like the character which makes the film more realistic in a way. After the big success of the first film, the production company will come out with a sequel and given the response by the audience and the ticket sales, they will decided whether to make a trilogy or even more into a saga. Most sequels to film franchises talk about the story in another way or from a different point of view. For example in ‘The Godfather Part 1’ the protagonist, ‘Vito Corleone’ dies near the ending. This would hint to the audience that the film is not going to have a sequel because how can they if the character is dead. But then ‘Part 2’ shows the characters origins as we see the growing up of the character ‘Vito Corleone’ so in some way the story lives on and a new character rises (Michael Corleone). The same is in ‘Batman Begin), as the famous ‘Batman’ franchise shows the character’s origins in the film and explains to the audience how it happened. The way franchises work is that the first film was a great critically acclaimed success and the production company have to keep interest but also same story style to maintain the audience’s relationship with the characters. In most cases they would keep the same characters but different motives. For example the ‘Die Hard’ films have the same plot in every film, Bruce Willis stays where he is but the villains always change. Just like in ‘James Bond’. But also most franchises come from books. For example, ‘James Bond’ written by Ian Fleming has been made into 23 films all based on the books as it was greatly written and was something innovative.  Also ‘The Godfather’, ‘Twilight’, ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Lord of the rings’ are all books turned into films which makes it easier for producers as they don’t have to think of new ideas as they are all already written.  On item 1, the table shows the overall gross total of income for 4 franchise films, ‘Harry Potter’, ‘James Bond’, ‘Star wars’ and ‘Batman’. The films reach a gross amount up to $6.3 million. The reason why they reach such large numbers is because of the merchandise, DVD sales and alongside the reputation of the film. People don’t like risking things and especially not money, so when going to the cinema they want to see something they know they’ll enjoy and then is not a waste of their money. They also want to buy merchandise such as clothes wear, objects, games and DVDs as they follow and like their franchise. People seem to find the franchises more safe and easy as they know what they’re expecting because of their reputation and the film doesn’t have to fight to get the audience’s attention. The ‘The Dark Night Rises’ viral marketing campaign is an example of how being a franchise helps marketing a lot. The website for the 2012 film was initially just a black screen with some unusual chanting. As fans had to find a hidden hyperlink, it revealed a second website which was then used to share on social network sites such as Facebook and twitter. This technique allows fans to be more than fans and actually get involved as the company’s websites allowed them to try and find links and share them to the world. When they shared it over the net, the website revealed a picture of the film’s villain, Bane. Again this technique gives the fans a sneak peak about the film whilst not revealing too much. Film Franchises are all about the money, that’s why it’s so important to producers. Producers aren’t too fussed if their franchise of films go to the Oscars or gain any awards, what they are fussed about is starting a trend, a financial trend where kids, adults and everyone pays to see the movie, buys the merchandise, get the DVDs and repeat this after every 2 years as franchise is the easiest less risky movie investment that is guaranteed increase in overall sales.

How far do the endings of the films you have studied for this topic confirm their messages and values?

For the two films I have studied, key messages and values are crucial. Both films are set in a certain chosen location, social dome and state of mind that gives messages and values to the audience to understand. The endings of the films and in any film are important as it wraps up everything we’ve learnt or missed out and is revealed to us.

‘Get Carter’ directed in 1971 by Mike Hodges starring Michael Caine follows the character of Jack carter as a wealthy London gangster finding himself in the poverty of Newcastle to seek answers and vengeance for his brother’s death. The message of cynical darkness and ugliness of the North is dramatically shown by the poverty and social realism of Newcastle in the late 60s at the end of the film, as the protagonist is located in a muddy, dull wasteland of a beach chasing the man whom he thinks murdered his brother. As we get several wide shots of the rainy grey sky and dirty sand we are sickened by the surroundings we are witnessing and where Jack is lost in. As beaches and sea sides are conventionally known to be somewhat happy and bright, the beach the scene is set in is the complete reverse and contradicts the happiness of the beach. The wide shots also give this over giving sense of enormity in the situation as the dark sea seem never ending alongside with the troubled, muddy and over lapping hills of evil sand. The audience understand how poor and gritty Newcastle is as we’ve witnessed nearly most of it with Jack and to end in the hell beach hints to the audience that something significant and not good is going to happen. The darkness in which Jack finds himself internally is now external as everywhere he looks is wasteland and horror. This could suggest his mental darkness and cynical ways have met him at his last moment as the beach could suggest the way he has lived his life, in crime, darkness and in the shadows. The audience see the horror of the beach as sort of a purgatory for Jack as he has met the end of his life and is where he deserves.

‘Ill Manors’ Directed in 2012 by Ben Drew is an intertwining tale of different kids and adults living in crime in South East London. Redemption is a key moment and message in the film, especially in the ending as the character of Aaron rides in a cab to his parents after his best mate died, along with many other characters as well. As he rides in the cab his facial expressions seems as if he is in peace and not running anymore. After his mate Ed died he closes every tail leading to crime as he returns a gun back to the owner, symbolising he is ending his crime life, he also helps out a young teen girl in a fight, suggesting he is in the good side now and no longer the bad side, and choses to see his parents after many years of foster care. His facial expressions in the cab could suggest that he has also changed his state of mind and has had an epiphany where as everyone in that location has the same negative state of mind but he has learnt now.  Also redemption is seen when Chris stands by the river Thames over viewing the o2 and throws his gun in the river symbolising that he is maybe finished with the criminal thug life, as the gun falling in the river could symbolising he is throwing in the towel in crime. The message the audience get in the end is positive as redemption can come at any time and to not feel like you’ve lost it. Also the reflections of the Olympic stadiums in the cab suggest the values of life, as under all that dirt, filth and crime, is a happy, safe and healthy environment suggesting you shouldn’t ever give up.

Another message that Get Carter gives to the audience at the end of the movie is the continuous and conventional moral of the gangster/crime genre that authority always wins. In most gangster movies the ending is justified by the police, FBI and any source of authority winning and taking over the criminals/bad figures. This is shown by the Newcastle police breaking in Kinnear's, the main criminals house and finding drugs,prostitutes and arresting the character. This message is important because it shows to the audience the consequences of the criminal life. The audience throughout the film are being made to witness Kinnear's wealthy, exciting criminal life as he indulges himself in drug business, pornography and excess, and to show the audience that life isn't this easy, they have to add the realism of authority breaking in and making arrests. The audience also enjoy seeing authority win in the end of movies as it has been for the past decades because it makes them feel safe that the criminals are put behind bars at the end of the film. 

The message of change is shown in Ill Manors in end as most situations and characters change right at the end leaving the audience a lot to think about and question. For example the young teen girl that helped Aaron take care of the baby gets herself in a fight, as she did earlier in the film, but this time she stands up for herself and fights back at her enemies. The audience could think that she's brave now as she fights back and stood up for herself as before she would just take the beating. But the audience could also argue that she fights back because of all thats happened leading up to that point, that the death of her best friend, Ed, and the madness of the baby and the prostitute has made her not afraid of life anymore. The young kid that Jake walks with to score the bag of weed in the beginning of the film was beaten and humiliated by infact Jake as he betrayed him to enter a gang, but at the end we see him holding up another kid asking for his money. This shows us that the bullied turns into the bully as he is repeating what had happened to him to others. The audience feel sympathy towards him as he is insecure and the only reason he is acting this way is because he was treated so badly by his best friend. As he lifts his head up we see that he still has a black eye from the beating that he had taken, this shows us how quick things can change given any situation. It also shows us the delicate matter of how something tragic and scarring can change someone for every which is the whole theme and meaning of the film as Ben Drew shows the audience the tragic early lives of the main characters.