Film Industry: Blinded By The Light case study
Read the following interviews and features on Blinded By The Light:
Writer Sarfraz Manzoor on the story behind the film - Guardian
Manzoor again on the promotion of the film and audience reaction
Variety feature on the best films from the 2019 Sundance Film Festival
Manzoor again on the promotion of the film and audience reaction
Variety feature on the best films from the 2019 Sundance Film Festival
1) What is the story behind the production of the film?
How journalist Safraz Manzoor began his career in writing and journalism through the messages in the music of Bruce Springsteen during the 1980s, fighting through his fathers ideoligies and the racism of the time.
2) What was the audience reaction to the film?
Many people enjoyed the film as it held nostalgia in many older viewers hearts, even leading to Bruce himself attending the premier and enjoying it deeply. Additionally how two boys from America wrote to Safraz about how much the movie touched their hearts.
3) Why is the Sundance Film Festival such an important part of the film industry - particularly for lower budget films?
The Sundance film festival is an incredibly important piece of the film industry as it is where the smaller and independent studios are given a chance at making it big through selling the rights to their production via auction to a large distribution company, for example how New Line cinema brought the rights to Blinded by the Light to distribute globally.
Funding and industry contexts
1) What was the budget for Blinded By The Light and which companies contributed to the production budget?
The budget was $15 million and was helped by Levantine studios and ingenious media.
2) Research the Bend It Networks website. What other films and projects has the company been involved with?
Most famously Bend it like Beckham, Beecham house, Viceroys house, Its a wonderful Afterlife.
3) Research Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema on the Warners website here. Summarise the history of New Line Cinema in a short paragraph.
New line cinema are an american founded film and television company most famous for productions like the Lord of the Rings franchise and the Nightmare on Elm street series. They are a large branch of the bigger studio Warner Bros.
4) Read this Variety interview with director Gurinder Chadha explaining how the project came about - including budget details. What attracted Gurinder Chadha to the project and how did she manage to get the film made?
1) What was the budget for Blinded By The Light and which companies contributed to the production budget?
The budget was $15 million and was helped by Levantine studios and ingenious media.
2) Research the Bend It Networks website. What other films and projects has the company been involved with?
Most famously Bend it like Beckham, Beecham house, Viceroys house, Its a wonderful Afterlife.
3) Research Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema on the Warners website here. Summarise the history of New Line Cinema in a short paragraph.
New line cinema are an american founded film and television company most famous for productions like the Lord of the Rings franchise and the Nightmare on Elm street series. They are a large branch of the bigger studio Warner Bros.
4) Read this Variety interview with director Gurinder Chadha explaining how the project came about - including budget details. What attracted Gurinder Chadha to the project and how did she manage to get the film made?
Gurinder was mainly attracted and inspired to create the movie simply because she wanted the chance to work with Springsteens music, which isnt something many people have been able to do, and the second he approved the script she went and mad the movie, with the budget of $15 million.
Distribution
Read this Deadline feature on the distribution deal for Blinded By The Light and answer the following questions:
1) Which company won the distribution rights after the all-night auction and for how much?
New line cinema for $15 million
2) Which other companies were rumoured to be bidding for the distribution rights?
Lionsgate and Searchlight
3) According to the article, what was the 'allure' of Blinded By The Light?
How inspiring Bruce Springsteens lyrics were and how relatable they are to the idea of a coming of age.
4) UK distribution was secured by eOne Entertainment. Visit the eOne About Us page on their website - what do they claim to offer under the heading 'Passion meets possibility?'
New line cinema for $15 million
2) Which other companies were rumoured to be bidding for the distribution rights?
Lionsgate and Searchlight
3) According to the article, what was the 'allure' of Blinded By The Light?
How inspiring Bruce Springsteens lyrics were and how relatable they are to the idea of a coming of age.
4) UK distribution was secured by eOne Entertainment. Visit the eOne About Us page on their website - what do they claim to offer under the heading 'Passion meets possibility?'
"To enable and create world class content."
1) What does the trailer suggest regarding genre and the potential audience pleasures of Blinded By The Light?
The story is about Manzoors teenage years set in 1987 Luton and how the use of singer Bruce Springsteens music influenced he and his friend Amolaks life.
2) What TV shows and websites did interviews with writer, director and stars of Blinded By The Light? Why are interviews a good way to promote a new film release?
Many different variety of audiences found a connection to the film
3) What did film posters for Blinded By The Light feature and where did they appear? You may need to research this on Google Images.
The main character jumping, frozen in mid air behind an orange and white background showing his walkman, telling the audience what time period it was set.
4) What social media accounts did Blinded By The Light use to promote the film? Note: some sites may be blocked if you are working in school - you will need to use your phone or complete your research at home.
Twitter, Youtube and Instagram
5) Select three posts from the Blinded By The Light Instagram page and explain how they promote the film.
5) Select three posts from the Blinded By The Light Instagram page and explain how they promote the film.
Highlights the fact that it got a certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, which is a very popular review site.
Highlights the fact that The main character sees Bruce as his boss, showing audineces a peak at his characters behaviour throughout the movie.
Shows the critics opinions on the movie, which influences the public to decide whether they will watch it or not.
6) Go to the Bend It Networks YouTube channel. How does Gurinder Chadha introduce the channel? What other content is on the Bend It Networks YouTube channel?
The channel contains spotlights for all of her other projects, trailers, interviews and behind the scene looks.
7) Look at the box office figures for Blinded By The Light from The Numbers website. How much did it make at the box office and why do you think it was largely unsuccessful?
It made $18.1 million at the box office. It was largely unsuccessful due to the fact that a separate movie also about musics influence released around the same time, however with a bigger cast and larger budget, and also more famous music.
8) Click on the tabs with further information (such as 'News', 'Box Office' and 'Video Sales'). Copy and paste some more statistics or sales figures to add to your understanding of the film's financial performance.
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