BASICS:
1) What is the name of the film, the director and notable stars?
The film is named after the ficitional protagonist 'Belle'
The director of this film is called Amma Asante.
The main stars of the film are Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tom Wilkinson, Miranda Richardson, Penelope Wilton, Matthew Goode, Emily Watson
2) When was it released?
13 June 2014 in the united kingdom.
3) What genre is the film? What are the generic conventions that tell you the film belongs to this genre?
Genres: Drama,Historical, Fictional etc
Drama Films tend to exhibits real life situations with realistic characters, settings and narratives. They portray journeys of character development and add intense social interaction filled with climaxes to keep the audience emotionally attached to the ongoing tension.
Dispite this, the film claims the fictional title for not being real.
BROADCAST:
1) Write a close-textual analysis of the trailer using the MIGRAIN key concepts of Media Studies.
The trailer for Belle clearly conveys to the audience the attitudes and beliefs placed during the time that the movie was set due through their Victorian attire and accent. It was set in England in the late 1700's were attitude towards other racial groups attitudes were not pleasant and extremely negative compared today's society. This would attract the American audience as the film portrays the Victorian Era when England was still a super power. The non-diegetic sound helps to create the setting of an old-fashion British lifestyle. The trailer itself helps to promote the film as it would be distributed around social media but also on the trailer, they reveal comments and ratings on the film.
1) Write a close-textual analysis of the trailer using the MIGRAIN key concepts of Media Studies.
The trailer for Belle clearly conveys to the audience the attitudes and beliefs placed during the time that the movie was set due through their Victorian attire and accent. It was set in England in the late 1700's were attitude towards other racial groups attitudes were not pleasant and extremely negative compared today's society. This would attract the American audience as the film portrays the Victorian Era when England was still a super power. The non-diegetic sound helps to create the setting of an old-fashion British lifestyle. The trailer itself helps to promote the film as it would be distributed around social media but also on the trailer, they reveal comments and ratings on the film.
2) Find examples of television promotion on YouTube (adverts, chat shows, ‘red carpet’ interviews etc.) and post them to your blog along with an explanation of how these promote the film.
This interview is highly interesting as it is between the love affair characters from Belle gives the audience some behind the scenes information about Belle and their own character's chemistry . This helps promote the film because it keeps everyone interested and it helps increase the audience appeal for the film as they receive more information about the film.
This clip would be targeted at more engaged viewers and allows them to a more insightful understanding about plot and narrative of the film. Similar to the other interviews, also allows the audience to see the true identity of the main character and their thoughts.In addition shows the ambitions of the film makers of the films. This helps maintain the audiences attention toward the film as they would be intrigued to find out more about the Belle
3) Does the broadcast promotion use stars to create interest in the film?
I've noticed that the the main star is not well known and her background in filming is asked quite often. Therefore this almost leaves a soft spot for the audience as the non-known actress appears quite native and shy within the interviews. Many were amazed with the way she portrayed her character so whilst being a rookie and so she was in most of the interviews and chat shows.
1) Read at least THREE reviews of the film and provide a quote from each one.
Critic reviews
If not a star-making turn, Mbatha-Raw's tough, tender performances should give her plenty of opportunities in sharper fare. Full review
"Belle" is an important, engrossing, and incredibly affecting movie. Full review
Belle might be a little too polite, for those who prefer their period dramas to be more souped up; at the same time, though, it has an intelligence that should make it more appealing. Full review
Sandy Schaefer
Screen Rant
Screen Rant
2) Find examples of print promotion (e.g. film poster, billboard adverts etc.) on Google images and post them to your blog along with an explanation of how these promote the film.
The magazine front cover promotes the film as central image of the cover is the main character. The font used to write the title of the film "Belle" is also similar to the font used for the DVD cover of the film. Lastly, the victorian attire and colour of her skin conveys the conventions of the film e.g being race related
The Dvd Cover of the film again covers the theme of the film which is race relations and historical.
The central image is also the protagonist again allowing the viewers to know the focal character of the film.
The picture of the Protagonist with her lover towards the bottom of the dvd cover conveys that there are elements of romance and love in the film too.
3) Choose ONE print advert and write a textual analysis of what it communicates to the audience
The DVD cover allows the audience to see blackness and involvement in victorian era in love, livelihood ab politics. Therefore it helps to increase the film Belle's fan base which a predominately group is African Americans due to the relate able prejudices held in the us. and the interesting narrative it provides.
Gugu (protagonist) is portrayed in this magazine as a strong representation of women and as someone that all conveys the stigmas of being black in 1700's London. This is because the posture that Gugu is posing through her yes conveys might and strength. The pose and the setting around her is usually how those are in the presents of important royal people and also resembles the painting mentioned in the film and interviews. Since she is in Victorian attire which gives us the location and era, the DVD suggest some enigma codes to what is the story of a black women in the Victorian era. This also gives hints about the narrative of the film because it is a factual story all based around a painting of two women were drawn with equal standards despite coming from two different races and classes.
E-MEDIA:
1) Research the film’s presence on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc. How does the film’s social media presence help promote the film?
There was a hashtag called '#bellemovie' on social media sites such as twitter and instagram which were circulating around. Also, there was a whole promotional page on facebook which people could access different byproducts of the film such as interviews and trailers.
The target audience for Belle would be people of the age 16-50 who are reformers and strugglers. Also they would be in the demographic of B/ C1 group. This would be as the middle class viewers would be the main and focal viewers.
3) What audience pleasures does the film provide? Think about the BFI lecture on audience pleasures in British film.
The usage of British accents, Victorian era and attire that would be worn in the 1700's, this would appeal to the British audience but also the American and international audience as they usually enjoy watching films that provide a historical background on Britain when it was a superpower. There is also a sense of identification for the British viewers especially the black British viewers. In the film as the audience would feel sympathy for the young heroine and would taker her side as she struggles to strive in London as a black female.
4) What similar films would the target audience enjoy? Justify your suggestions
- Notting hill - American actors, British culture and British values
- 12 Years a Slave- White oppressors and Black lead role.
- Bridget Jones's Diary- American and British Actors Clash
- Beloved- Slavery and Oppression references.
1) Which film studio produced the film? What other films have they produced? Do they have a track record with this kind of film and this target audience?
- DJ Films
- Isle of Man Film
- Pinewood Pictures
- BFI
4)What was the budget for the film?
$10.9m
5) How successful was the film financially? Why do you think this was?
Financially, the film was successful as at box office, it made $15,500,793. This was due to the narrative of Belle. However, Belle's e-media and print campaign helped promote the film and make it more known.
What certificate was the film given (12A, 18 etc.)? What was the reason for this certificate? Is the certification important for this film in terms of targeting its audience? Why?
12A because the film has some parts of the film may be too much for people under the age of 12.
2) What representation of ‘Britishness’ does the film contain?
The film contains a lot of 'Britishness'. You can see this through the british accents used and the victorian attire that people in UKwould wear in the 1700's. This also applies to the setting of the film as it is set in the London
3) How does the representation of Britain differ to Ill Manors?
Ill Manors represents Britain as 'broken britain' and shows all the drugs and violence that happens on the streets. However, Belle showed the posh and rich side that Britain had which was snoppy and highly racist.
12A because the film has some parts of the film may be too much for people under the age of 12.
Representation
2) What representation of ‘Britishness’ does the film contain?
The film contains a lot of 'Britishness'. You can see this through the british accents used and the victorian attire that people in UKwould wear in the 1700's. This also applies to the setting of the film as it is set in the London
3) How does the representation of Britain differ to Ill Manors?
Ill Manors represents Britain as 'broken britain' and shows all the drugs and violence that happens on the streets. However, Belle showed the posh and rich side that Britain had which was snoppy and highly racist.
