FM2
Section A: Producers and
Audiences
Section A: Producers and
Audiences
• This section of the exam will focus on the film
industry and audience film consumption, looking
at film finance, distribution and exhibition in US
and UK cinema.
• This is one of three sections to the unit FM2:
British and American Film (the other 2 will be
covered after half term).
• The exam in May will be 2 hours 30 mins long
therefore you should spend 50 minutes on
each of the 3 sections
Section A: Exam Rubric
• In this section there is a focus on the following aspects of film:
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Film Production
Film Marketing
Film Distribution
Film Exhibition
• This section of the exam will feature 4 different questions that cover
one of the above in some way. You only answer one question,
• The exam tests your responses to stimulus material supplied in
relation to some of the issues covered.
• Your answer should be a mixture of your own knowledge and a
response to the stimulus material.
May 2008 Paper
• Last year’s paper will be different from this year as the
syllabus has changed!
• On this paper there is a choice of 4 different questions
and you have to answer two. This year’s paper will only
feature 2 questions with only one having to be answered.
• The 2008 paper (which was called FS2 not FM2) was a
separate paper without the other two sections and lasted
1 hour and 30 minutes.
• For the purpose of this timed assessment we are going
to all answer the same question!
What the board say.
• Students answer one question from two.
• Each question will have three pieces of stimulus material
which must be referred to in your answer.
• The key focus of both question will be contemporary
aspects of US and UK film form both the industry and
audience perspectives.
• The main emphasis will be on your knowledge, backed
up by what the stimulus material says. They are not
expecting you to know everything about the film industry!
• The board suggest that students split up their knowledge
into case studies….
Case Studies
• Hollywood film production- budgets, type of product,
production processes.
• UK film production- as above.
• Importance of genre and stars in US and UK industries.
• Film marketing.
• Film exhibition- cinema, DVD online etc.
• Non mainstream or independent cinema.
There is likely to be some overlap.
Before choosing a question have specific films, stars, genres,
cinemas, websites etc in mind that you can refer to
Specific examples
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‘Slumdog Millionaire’ – we will make lots of reference to this film in relation to
UK film, independent cinema, commercial crossover versus critical success,
the nature of stars and bankability.
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Stratford Picture House - an independent cinema chain.
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‘Dirty Pretty Things’- you can refer to a case study film from the other topic.
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Stars: have a good US example in comparison with a UK one.
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Genres; we discussed the success of the Saw films and torture horror, what
other trends are there for genres?
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Independent cinema- we mentioned early film like ‘Blair Witch’ and ‘El
Mariachi’.
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Sequels and remakes- Hollywood has few original ideas or is it easy money?
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Go on film websites, newspaper sites (the Guardian) or the BBC and find
some recent articles on the industry/audiences. Industry figures, relevant
stories about the industry and its audience etc.
Question 3
• We are going to attempt question 3.
• This question requires to read the source material ‘Item B’.
• As with all of these questions the instructions state that you should
‘use the resource material and your own knowledge…’
• What is the focus of the question?
• What have you learnt/discussed that could you apply
to this question.
• What wider knowledge do you have of this issue.
• What film examples can you refer to?
• Read the Item B material and make some notes for you answer.
• The examiner is not expecting you to know everything about the film
issue but they are hoping that you have some knowledge to answer
at least one of the questions.
• They also insist you refer to the stimulus material. Failure to do either
will lose you considerable marks.
Introduction
• Task 1: Brainstorm everything you know
about the film industry.
• Task 2: Your Film Consumption – fill in the
film consumption questionnaire in the
handbook.
What makes a great film?
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The acting/performances
The plot/narrative
The direction
The design or look
The script
Other technical aspects
The marketing and promotion
Anything else? The budget perhaps?
• Which of the above are essential to all ‘great films’?
Discussion
What makes a great film?
• Look at these two trailers for two very different ‘UK based’
films.
• ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ – dir: Danny Boyle
• ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ - dir: Gary Yates
• What makes them successful and interesting in their own
right?
To Conclude…..
• Film is a subjective medium. One person’s favourite film
is another’s least favourite.
• Films can be great and successful for lots of reasons.
• Large budgets might guarantee a large ‘gross’ but do not
guarantee a great film.
• The plot and script are probably the two most important
components for any ‘great film’.
• The industry cannot always guarantee if a film is going to
be a hit. Audiences are often unpredictable.