About the film
Name of film- Straight Outta Comptom
Year of release- 2015
Director- F.Gary Gray
Producer(s)- Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E's widow, Tomica Woods-Wright
Context: Hollywood, Mainstream, independent, USA or British film?- American Biographical
Production Budget- $28 million budget
Would you call this a high, low or mid budget film?- mid budget film
Name of Distributor- Universal Pictures
Type of release (Saturation, limited, art house)- Saturated
Number of countries released in- 39
Genre of film- Biopic
Release dates (USA, UK, global)- UK- 20/11/2015
Opening weekend box office-
Total global box office takings to date.
Commerical and/or critical success?
Awards won
Premiere
Regulation:
The BBFC gave the film a 15 certificate because although there is an excessive use of inappropriate language used throughout as well as the amount of sexual scenes/ references and violence; the film doesn't have extreme scenes that would be deemed too inappropriate for that age group.
Marketing of the film
Universal Pictures Int (UK) distributed this film, which had extreme significance due to them being such a well-known distributor worldwide; meaning the film would spread more quickly, further increasing its popularity.
The potential audiences for this film would mainly be black Americans from areas like Compton due to them being able to have a personal connection with the film. Another audience would include those who simply enjoy rap music or are fans of the group/artists. It can also be argued that the film is targeted towards the white middle class by producing a second trailer that focuses on the rap music and the most famous artists such as Dr. Dre, rather than the background of the racial tension. Where as the other trailer was targeted for black citizens as the main points highlighted contained the group as a whole and the violence that they faced by the police.
APPEAL OF THE FILM:
Poster:
The poster includes brand identity and the date of release. The film title is branded due to it being in the same layout as the famous parental advisory one. This means that there is an image that the audience can easily familiarize with.
Label the main codes and conventions of a film poster. The distinct colour palette that is majority black and white represents the racial tension between the blacks and the whites. There is also a tag line on the poster which is there to draw attention to those who are meant to view it. However, the poster is missing images of characters/scenes from the film as it is making the assumption that we know a lot about the film and those that star in the film. Social media links are also presented on this, to help promote the film further.
Name of film- Straight Outta Comptom
Year of release- 2015
Director- F.Gary Gray
Producer(s)- Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E's widow, Tomica Woods-Wright
Context: Hollywood, Mainstream, independent, USA or British film?- American Biographical
Production Budget- $28 million budget
Would you call this a high, low or mid budget film?- mid budget film
Name of Distributor- Universal Pictures
Type of release (Saturation, limited, art house)- Saturated
Number of countries released in- 39
Genre of film- Biopic
Release dates (USA, UK, global)- UK- 20/11/2015
Opening weekend box office-
Total global box office takings to date.
Commerical and/or critical success?
Awards won
Premiere
Regulation:
The BBFC gave the film a 15 certificate because although there is an excessive use of inappropriate language used throughout as well as the amount of sexual scenes/ references and violence; the film doesn't have extreme scenes that would be deemed too inappropriate for that age group.
Marketing of the film
Universal Pictures Int (UK) distributed this film, which had extreme significance due to them being such a well-known distributor worldwide; meaning the film would spread more quickly, further increasing its popularity.
The potential audiences for this film would mainly be black Americans from areas like Compton due to them being able to have a personal connection with the film. Another audience would include those who simply enjoy rap music or are fans of the group/artists. It can also be argued that the film is targeted towards the white middle class by producing a second trailer that focuses on the rap music and the most famous artists such as Dr. Dre, rather than the background of the racial tension. Where as the other trailer was targeted for black citizens as the main points highlighted contained the group as a whole and the violence that they faced by the police.
APPEAL OF THE FILM:
- Fans of Gangsta Rap
- Fans of N.W.A
- Fans of Dr. Dre and/or Ice Cube
- Fans of Biopics
Poster:
The poster includes brand identity and the date of release. The film title is branded due to it being in the same layout as the famous parental advisory one. This means that there is an image that the audience can easily familiarize with.
Label the main codes and conventions of a film poster. The distinct colour palette that is majority black and white represents the racial tension between the blacks and the whites. There is also a tag line on the poster which is there to draw attention to those who are meant to view it. However, the poster is missing images of characters/scenes from the film as it is making the assumption that we know a lot about the film and those that star in the film. Social media links are also presented on this, to help promote the film further.
VIRAL MARKETING
- This is where people all around the world can alter the 'Straight Outta Compton' logo/brand title to where ever they come from. This allows the audience to get personal and express where they come from; as the producers release that everyone could get involved and be proud of where they have come from.
- Spreads extremely quickly.
- It subconsciously makes the audience think about the film/it is a subtle way of promoting the brands image.
- Personal engagement with the audience.
- It is free for the consumers/no rewards for promoting; making it a cheaper way to promote the film.
- Collaboration/ synergy of two companies (accompanied with Beats).
- It was number one trending on all social medias in 24hrs; with social media being a multi-platform it is easier to promote the whole film.
- The website/product is easy to use- increasing popularity.
- Popularity is also increased due to it being image/visual based.
- There is an allowance to communicate between peers; unlike many other marketing.
The title sequence
Formal conventions
Recurring Narrative Rituals
- violence
- action packed
- gangster (guns, smoking, drug dealing, alcohol, disrespectful to women)
- protagonist (Eazy-E) and is an anti-hero as he is jubilantly moralistic
- action and crime
- explicit
- scene setting with the information panels, displaying the date and place
- production company and distributors logo at the beginning
- name of the film in iconic, viral marketing technique
Stylistic conventions
Miss-en-scene (costume, lighting, performance, props, setting)
- scene of gun and speaker represents the link between the two throughout the film and foreshadows the whole film
- the environment that the characters are in is dull and dark as it is a bad place to be in
- close up or medium close up's of Eazy E so that his face is easily recognisable for the audience
- the camera constantly follows him as he is escaping so that identification occurs and the audience feels like they are following his whole story
- tight framing occurs, connoting a trapped feeling and how Eazy-E is trapped in the building
- fast cuts throughout, to match the pace of the action
- the non-diegetic sound of merging of many news reports, discussing crimes committed by Black Americans, to represent to continuous persecution of them
- the opening line of the song 'Straight Outta Compton' is the first line in the beginning of the title sequence; to represent the synergy of Dre's soundtrack and to express the history that is being explored in the film
F**k the police
FORMAL CONVENTIONS
Recurring Narrative Rituals
Recurring Archetypes
Recurring Archetypes
- corrupt policeman- there is an illusion that they are doing something illegal. The police are seen as racist. We are encouraged to participate with the fans. They are the villain/antagonist
- NWA are anti-heroes (aggression, disobeying police orders but they are fighting against oppression and have a strong moral code)
- action and crime
- explicit
- scene setting with the information panels, displaying the date and place
- production company and distributors logo at the beginning
- name of the film in iconic, viral marketing technique
STYLISTIC CONVENTIONS
Miss-en-scene (costume, lighting, performance, props, setting)
cuts were to the beat of the music/ matches the tempo of the visuals. Which helps us to become a part of it
Sound (diegesis, editing, characters, key plot themes, synchronous)
- protagonists are highlighted by spotlights
- dull, dark colour palette when arrested so are matching with the attitudes from the start- bright lights at concerts
- the position of NWA or the audience disallows the audience to witness from the police officers view/perspective
- handheld cameras during shot of being arrested to add physicality and emphasizing different actions. This adds dynamics, realistically
cuts were to the beat of the music/ matches the tempo of the visuals. Which helps us to become a part of it
Sound (diegesis, editing, characters, key plot themes, synchronous)
- diegetic sounds which encourage the audience to engage
Global release trailer
- only show the three most important people
- add clips that are not shown in the film
- make it appropriate to advertise everywhere
- music in it is a selling point (soundtrack) (non-diegetic)
- attractive men, entice women
- element of comic relief
- more music orientated than violence
- unity of two groups caused by NWA
- more individualized, given the three main protagonists
- elements of risk/danger, catharsis (pent up frustration causes an audience to watch violent movies)
- historical events causes more attraction
- cut clips put together to change narrative so when you watch it, you believe it to be different
- had to be targeted to 2 marketing groups (African Americans and white, middle class)
- star marketing
- inclusion of social media/graphics/release information- talk directly back through things like commenting
- personal conversations are included
- mix different sounds at once (police sirens, rapping by NWA, non-diegetic soundtracks) to add adrenaline
- focuses on the spectacle
red band trailer
- includes 'Beats' headphones, familiar to audience
- sirens continuously at beginning to connote the violence
- includes a lot more of their background so that it can be more relatable
- a lot more inappropriate language/ explicit
- Dr. Dre and Ice Cube are in the trailer to reflect how the film will be about their lives
- focuses on Compton
- highlights racism and social contexts
- draws in audience attention by their back story not just their success
- Red band promotes theme of police corruption etc.
- more of an aimed audience