FM2

FILM TRACKING
ASSIGNMENT

1
 PAS

Section A of the FM2 exam paper Producers and Audiences

involves reading and interpreting stimulus material about
audiences, producers and the institutions behind the film making
and viewing process. e.g. box office figures, posters, fan web
sites, statistics, production costs, issues and debates etc. You
will also be expected to refer to your own case studies. An
example of an exam question can be found at the back of this
booklet.

The information you gain from this exercise can be used as a case
study for your exam FM2 Section A - Producers and
Audiences. This assignment will encourage you to read a wide
variety of resources about production and distribution of film.
You will also find out about the finance and the marketing of
films. Also by reading other case studies compiled by your peers,
you will have a wider number of case studies to draw on and be
excellently prepared for the exam!

Most students do badly in this exam because they don't know

what to do with the resource material. By researching and
tracking your movie, you will be able to read and interpret the
resources. Also by questioning the information you find in the
statistics, you will be able to engage with the debates and issues
behind film studies. All essential to gain the top grades…

THE TRACKING EXERCISE:

You have been given the title of a film to

be released some time in the future. This
is now your film which you will champion

2
in Film Studies lessons over the next few weeks. I will check in
on your film’s progress in lessons and you should keep a log of
notes, clippings, pastings, images etc which you can use as a
case study. You need to use your blogs regularly as I will be
checking in and award grades for your progress.
You need to track your film’s success… or failure… on the way
to the big screen. You need to track the processes it goes
through from its birth to production; from distribution to
audience reception; and you need to log any merchandising and
tie-ins connected with your film.

ASK THE QUESTION WHY?

You should interrogate the information you
find. Study those figures. What can you
learn from them? What is interesting to
you in the statistics, tables, articles you
have read?
E.g. compare American and British box
office figures. Why might the film have
done better in the UK than America?
Or does your film appeal more to particular
regional or ethnic groups? Why?
Who decides on distribution? Are the distributors saturating
the market or is your film only appearing in one small art house
cinema in Clacton. If so Why?
We are coming up to Christmas and school holidays. Is this a
factor in deciding on the release date, classification of your
film?
Also think about how we define ‘success’. Is it just money?
Check out the reviews. ‘Sight and Sound’ might be raving about
a film which proved to be a box office flop in terms of first
weekend takings. Why?
Interrogate the information. The person who asks ‘Why?’
learns most!

3
The first thing to do is visit The Film Distributors Association
web site (FDA) to find the exact date for the release and
track any links to related web-sites offering information about
your film.
Other useful websites are listed on pages 5 & 6 of this
booklet.

What to look for and track...

REMEMBER Ask the question 'WHY?' wherever possible. AND
ask yourself, “What is interesting about this information?”
Classification
Release dates
Where?
The distributors
The production company
The director - other films by same director
The Actors who and how much they get paid
The genre of the film
Tie in Promotions e.g. Star and Production Company benefit
Finance Production costs
Actors’ fees
Box Office Figures
First weekend returns

4
How much the movie grosses
Advertising/ Publicity
• Web-sites devoted to the film, Posters, TV ads, Magazine
ads etc
Merchandising, MacDonalds(?) Toys…
Previews and Reviews
Press Releases
etc, etc

If you can, go to see your movie when it is

released.
Interview members of the audience in order to poll what they
thought of the film.

IMPORTANT WEB SITES:

FDA Film Distributors Association

IMDB International Movie Database
Box Office Guru for box office research
Box Office Mojo
UK Film Council
Regional Film Agencies www.filmcouncil.org.uk
Screen Online
MPA Motion Picture Association
MPAA Motion Picture Association of America Useful for press
releases and statistics

And some others…

Let me know if these links do not work.

Bright Lights Film Journal http://www.brightlightsfilm.com/

British Film Institute http://www.bfi.org.uk/
Entertainment Weekly Online http://www.ew.com/ew/
Empire Online http://www.empireonline.com/
Filmsound.org http://www.filmsound.org/
Participations: International Journal of Audience Research
http://www.participations.org/
Premiere Online http://www.premiere.com/

5
Scope: An Online Journal of Film Studies http://www.scope.nottingham.ac.uk/
Senses of Cinema http://www.sensesofcinema.com/
American Film Institute http://www.afi.com/
Animation World Network http://www.awn.com/

PRINT
Sight and Sound
Empire
Film
Screen (v. academic)

6
7
FM2: British and American Film

Section A: Producers and Audiences

Choose one question from this section.

Either
1. Study the items in Part A of the resource material,
which includes:
• a website to download films
• an official film website
• a newspaper article on a Hollywood film and the web.

Using this material as a starting point, and drawing on

your own case studies, answer the following question:
‘The internet is of equal benefit to producers and
audiences.’ How far do you agree? [40]

or
2. Study the items in Part B of the resource material,
which includes:
• the three basic elements for a successful Hollywood
film
• a poster for a popular UK film without stars
• a box office list of the top ten films of 2007 in the UK.

Using this material as a starting point, and drawing on

your own case studies, answer the following question:
‘Hollywood films have movie stars. That’s why they are
more appealing to UK audiences than UK films.’ How far
do you agree with this comment? [40)

8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15