To what extent is the film based on real events?
There where real Pirate Radios on ships.
There was not a real ship called "Radio Rock" - I feel they made up this name because it goes with the title - "The Boat that Rocked" which has the double meaning of rocking in the musical, 'cool' terms and rocking, as a boat does in the sea.
The Government at the time was labour, not conservative - They most likely made this up so as to make it much easier for them to get the audience to react negatively towards the "evil" character. They made him very stereotyped so him being conservative came naturally.
The boat that rocked station is most likely based on the legendary Radio Caroline. A real, and most successful pirate radio station which is still on air today.
The fact that it is still on air suggests that the boat did not sink. I feel that the sinking boat was added so that the characters could each go their own ways, onto the different boats without making that decision themselves. It means that the audience gets an insight into the futures of the characters simultaneously and without a feeling of them leaving the "rocking" lifestyle.
The 45 minutes a day on BBC I am not sure is true or false. But there was a foreign radio station that was very popular, Radio Luxembourg. The founder of Radio Caroline, who helpped the Rolling Stones, wanted to get them aired. But Radio Luxembourg was filled with major record label music. So the founder of Radio Caroline (Ronan O'Rahilly) wanted to found a radio station whereby indipendant and smaller groups could gain air time.
The class of the people onboard the ship is accurate however. Ronan O'Rahilly was a well off man and lived in relative luxury. This was kept accurate due to the easyness on the eye and brain for the ship to be relatively well looked after and luxurious. This keeps the audience's attention on the goings on of the characters rather than their living conditions. This goes along with the positive, upbeat and 'feel-good' nature of the plot. It also helps create nice, cosy mis-en-scenes.
It is also true that there was American influenced radio stations. This was kept the same since it helps the verisimilitude as well as satisfying American audiences.
Again it is true that there was a massive audience listening to these pirate radios, over a third of the British population.
The Broadcasting Offences act was true and it did become law at a midnight. This allowed for the rather symbolic ending of broadcasting
Things that where kept out:
Major Oliver Smedley hijacked Calvert's fort. In a fit of fury Calvert, who was known to be a violent and irrational person, burst into Smedley's home and hurled a heavy stone ornament at him. He also claimed to be armed with a tear gas pistol. Smedley took up his shot gun and killed Calvert. The image of the offshore stations as jolly buccaneers using spare radio channels to provide popular free entertainment was irrevocably shattered. Now the government could portray them as battling, murdering gangsters.
This was kept out because it was far too brutal and down to earth for this film. Also as it says in this extract the fun loving, jolly buccaneer attitude of the DJ's would have been ruined.
Source:
http://www.radiocaroline.co.uk/#history_part_1.html
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Friday, 9 October 2009
The Boat That Rocked
1. Who are the target audience for the film? and 2. How do you know?
I think that the target audience for this film is probably middle class Americans and Britons. This is because the stereotype of British people is rather overplayed, towards an Americanised point of view. Also the people involved are all middle to upper class. They have rather a lot of money and time to spare, very english accents and live in relative Luxury. This is a feel good film for the masses.
I think that the target audience for this film is probably middle class Americans and Britons. This is because the stereotype of British people is rather overplayed, towards an Americanised point of view. Also the people involved are all middle to upper class. They have rather a lot of money and time to spare, very english accents and live in relative Luxury. This is a feel good film for the masses.
3. How does this film rely on stereotypes?
I feel that this film, and indeed all Richard Curtis films have a large reliance on stereotypes, or breaking of. For example, the "uncle" figure. He's old, and mostly upper class. There would be many domninant discourses about him being grumpy, wise, frail, unfasionable etc... but infact he breaks these and is "cool", he even offers a spliff to the younger character. Also it makes the audience feel more comfortable with conventional characters, people that they can predict what they are going to do. This film is for a more conservative audience, who just wants their mind to be comforted rather than challenged.
4. Cite two principal stereotypes and make a list of at least 10 dominant discourse assumptions about them.
- The lesbian.
She's a woman, therefore she cooks.
She can't realy cook well though, you see burnt toast and odd food.
She's timid about her sexuality. [British - Not overconfident and very self deprocating]
She's maternal of the other members of the ship because she's a woman.
She beleives in Love. [I feel this is rather British]
She's loyal as timid ladies are (The I LOVE YOU sign as her new girlfriend leaves)
She is also not very feminin - she wares unflattering clothes and looks rather stuffy
Dosen't care largely about her appearance - Ties her hair up in an odd way
- The Sex God guy with the leather Jacket
Realy cool without even trying
Leather jacket and trousers
Dosen't realy have to do much
Dosen't realy have a peronality or any interests
Gets lots of women with ease - Doesn't even speak
It is hard to say why these things are quintisentially British. I feel that the characters themselves aren't overly British due to the Americanisation of the film. They do however have some British tendancies such as drinking tea and being friendly. Also another thing I find very British is picking out the faults of others and laughing about it, which is a way of us accepting and appreciating what makes that person individual.
6)In what ways can Curtis and the team be said to be appealing to the mythological tendencies of the audience?
This movie is directed more at nostalgia. It is overdramatising the history of the Pirate radios into something mythylogical and fairy-tale like. It is also picking out the good sides of the overall story just as someone would when reminising about something, this would appeal to the audiences mythological tendancies. Curtis also managed to appeal to the audiences mythological tendancies by using the mass images of people listening to Radio Rock. This probably gives people of that generation a feeling of collective identity due to their connection to that period.
Also he over stereotypes the government into an almost archetypal conservative political system with the greased back hair and black suits which will muster a stereotypical feeling of dislike from the British and American audiences in relation to so much past history against people such as Hitler.
7)Explain the film making process from concept to culmination in 150 words or less
Sorry what? -REMINDER FOR ME ASK WHAT ON EARTH THIS MEANS-
- The lesbian.
She's a woman, therefore she cooks.
She can't realy cook well though, you see burnt toast and odd food.
She's timid about her sexuality. [British - Not overconfident and very self deprocating]
She's maternal of the other members of the ship because she's a woman.
She beleives in Love. [I feel this is rather British]
She's loyal as timid ladies are (The I LOVE YOU sign as her new girlfriend leaves)
She is also not very feminin - she wares unflattering clothes and looks rather stuffy
Dosen't care largely about her appearance - Ties her hair up in an odd way
- The Sex God guy with the leather Jacket
Realy cool without even trying
Leather jacket and trousers
Dosen't realy have to do much
Dosen't realy have a peronality or any interests
Gets lots of women with ease - Doesn't even speak
It is hard to say why these things are quintisentially British. I feel that the characters themselves aren't overly British due to the Americanisation of the film. They do however have some British tendancies such as drinking tea and being friendly. Also another thing I find very British is picking out the faults of others and laughing about it, which is a way of us accepting and appreciating what makes that person individual.
6)In what ways can Curtis and the team be said to be appealing to the mythological tendencies of the audience?
This movie is directed more at nostalgia. It is overdramatising the history of the Pirate radios into something mythylogical and fairy-tale like. It is also picking out the good sides of the overall story just as someone would when reminising about something, this would appeal to the audiences mythological tendancies. Curtis also managed to appeal to the audiences mythological tendancies by using the mass images of people listening to Radio Rock. This probably gives people of that generation a feeling of collective identity due to their connection to that period.
Also he over stereotypes the government into an almost archetypal conservative political system with the greased back hair and black suits which will muster a stereotypical feeling of dislike from the British and American audiences in relation to so much past history against people such as Hitler.
7)Explain the film making process from concept to culmination in 150 words or less
Sorry what? -REMINDER FOR ME ASK WHAT ON EARTH THIS MEANS-
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
Red Sheet Questions.
1. What is the USA like in comparison to france?
Compared with France, USA is very different for many reasons:
Compared with France, USA is very different for many reasons:
- The age, France is a much older institution than America
- America was built very quickly and by the government therefore has "blocks" - Square like map, set out in a grid. France has winding streets, built over time by people living in the town.
- America's diet is much more artificial than France. France has natural produce and a nice ballanced diet whereas American typically has much a much more fatty diet and therefore, fatter people.
- France has different hygine priorities.
- France is also more fasionable and trendsetting
- America drinks cheap beer - France drinks wine
Thursday, 3 September 2009
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
Working Title Films...
...A British film production company founded in 1982. Produced feature films and sometimes television productions.
Has a HUGE ammount of films to it's name. For a British film production company anyway.
Such as:
Working Title films
Has a HUGE ammount of films to it's name. For a British film production company anyway.
Such as:
Working Title films
The Young Americans (film)
Wikipedia Links.
I feel that Working Title FIlms help smaller films becoome more open to a wider audience and therefore more successfull without taking away its individuality and Britishness.
Wikipedia Links.
I feel that Working Title FIlms help smaller films becoome more open to a wider audience and therefore more successfull without taking away its individuality and Britishness.
Teaser Trailers? What are they?
Three British Film (teaser)trailers:
Teaser trailers are like normal trailers except they are much shorter (30-60 Seconds long). They also contain little actual footage of the film/game/television series.
They usually earn the name "Teaser" from being brought out quite a long time in advance of the actual release date of the film/game/television series so as to pep the audience and to make them excited about it.
Teaser trailers are usually only made for big-budget and popularly themed movies. Their purpose is less to tell the audience about a movie's content than simply to let them know that the movie is coming up in the near future, and to add to the hype of the upcoming release. Teaser trailers are often made while the film is still in production or being edited and as a result they may feature scenes or alternate versions of scenes that are not in the finished film. (Source - Wikipedia)
Teaser trailers are made just to make the audience excited of the approach of the product. They manage to do so by showing small, obscure and cryptic parts of the film in order to get the audience guessing and contemplating what may actually happen in the film and consequently get over excited and thrilled.
[Okay now I'm not sure if Mr Wroe actually meant the movie The Myth with Jackie Chan... or myth in general.. I'm going to do the film though.]
Why do Teaser Trailers suit "High concept" films like "The Myth"?
I'm not sure but I'm guessing it's because it focuses on plot/scenery and characters rather than detailed story line and or individual characters roles. It just says about how he will take a journey and discover some stuff that is interesting realy.
Teaser trailers are like normal trailers except they are much shorter (30-60 Seconds long). They also contain little actual footage of the film/game/television series.
They usually earn the name "Teaser" from being brought out quite a long time in advance of the actual release date of the film/game/television series so as to pep the audience and to make them excited about it.
Teaser trailers are usually only made for big-budget and popularly themed movies. Their purpose is less to tell the audience about a movie's content than simply to let them know that the movie is coming up in the near future, and to add to the hype of the upcoming release. Teaser trailers are often made while the film is still in production or being edited and as a result they may feature scenes or alternate versions of scenes that are not in the finished film. (Source - Wikipedia)
Teaser trailers are made just to make the audience excited of the approach of the product. They manage to do so by showing small, obscure and cryptic parts of the film in order to get the audience guessing and contemplating what may actually happen in the film and consequently get over excited and thrilled.
[Okay now I'm not sure if Mr Wroe actually meant the movie The Myth with Jackie Chan... or myth in general.. I'm going to do the film though.]
Why do Teaser Trailers suit "High concept" films like "The Myth"?
I'm not sure but I'm guessing it's because it focuses on plot/scenery and characters rather than detailed story line and or individual characters roles. It just says about how he will take a journey and discover some stuff that is interesting realy.
Thursday, 2 July 2009
Myth?
I feel a propper Myth allways needs a certain ammount of enigma. A certain unawnsered ending such as bigfoot or the Yeti. What is it? Where are they? Do they realy exist?
Usually they origionate from rumor and are local to a few areas or certain places. And are rarely seen even in the Myth itself.
Usually they origionate from rumor and are local to a few areas or certain places. And are rarely seen even in the Myth itself.
They are also a generally accepted truth that is prehaps put into history. The lack of evidence of it's existance helps the enigma of the object/situation continue and thrive as it is mainly the individuals imagination fillin gin the blanks.
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