48 questions on star wars

1.       Who owns Lucas film? Walt Disney

2.       Who formed Lucas film? George Lucas

3.       What year was Lucas film formed? 1971

4.       Who is the president of Lucas film? Kathleen Kennedy

5.       What other major films have they worked on? Indiana Jones, the Pixar story, the land before time

6.       How much was Lucas film sold for? $4.05 billion

7.       Who wrote Star Wars: The Force Awakens? JJ Abrams

8.       Who directed Star Wars: The Force Awakens? JJ Abrams

9.       What other major films is the director responsible for? Star trek, mission impossible

How many Star Wars films have there been so far (list them)? 

1977: Episode IV: A New Hope

1980: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

1983: Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi

1999: Episode I: The Phantom Menace

2002: Episode II: Attack Of The Clones

2005: Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith

2015: Episode VII: The Force Awakens

10.   How much money have they all made at the global box office? $2.066 billion

11.   When was the first Star Wars film released? December 27 1997

12.   What does ILM stand for?  industrial Light & Magic

13.   What do ILM do? people send movie scenes to the company for CG effects

14.   Who created ILM? George Lucas

15.   Why did they create ILM? George Lucas wanted special effects that know has ever seen in films before but the 20th century fox special effects department wasn't operating so Lucas and a small team set up ILM.

16.   What do casting directors do? these organize and facilitate the casting of actors for all the roles in a film. This involves working closely with the director and producer to understand their requirements, and suggesting ideal artists for each role, as well as arranging and conducting interviews and auditions.

17.   Where were the first scenes for Star Wars: The Force Awakens filmed? Abu Dhabi

18.   What format was Star Wars: The Force Awakens shot on? Film

19.   What types of camera were used to film Star Wars: The Force Awakens? A lot of the movie was filmed using a film camera not digital

20.   What studio was used to film a large portion of the film? Pinewood studios (England)

21.   Where is the studio? Skellig Michael, County Kerry, Iceland 

22.   What major franchise is famously filmed at this studio? Harry Potter

23.   How does said franchise link to Star Wars: The Force Awakens?

24.   Who was the inspiration for the character Maz Kanata? JJ Abrams old school teacher

25.   What technology was used to create Maz Kanata? CGI

26.   Who played Maz Kanata & what other roles is she famous for? Lupita Nyong'o, famous for being the first Mexican and Kenyan actress

27.   Who played General Snoke? Andy Serkis

28.   What is he renowned for in the movie business? An actor and director

29.   Where was the final scene filmed? Ahch - To, lonely island

30.   Who composed the film score? John Williams was the composer for all of the movies

31.   How many Star Wars films have he composed the music for? He has composed for all the films, which at the moment is 7 films

32.   What other famous films has he created the music for? Harry Potter, Jaws, Home Alone

33.   How many times did John Boyega audition for the film (according to JJ Abrams)? John Boyega auditioned for the film 9 times

34.   Over what period of time did these auditions occur? The auditions process lasted 7 months’ long

35.   How many people operated B-B8? There was 1 person controlling him manually on one model, then in other remote control models there was 3 people operating the different parts.

36.   What type of technology was the main version of B-B8? there was a manual version which is the main version, then there was another model controlled by a man with a remote. 

37.   What colour suit did the B-B8 operator wear? Blue

38.   Why did he have to wear such a suit? As it is like a green screen, they use this suit so you can’t see the person controlling the droid

39.   What type of special effects (SFX) were employed on Star Wars: The Force Awakens? CGI was used a bit but most of it was real props or sets because JJ Abrams wanted to keep the effects like the original films.

40.   How many people were behind the monitor watching the scene when Han and Chewie returned to the Millennium Falcon? 100-200 people were watching because it was such a monumental moment.

41.   Why was Simon Pegg thanked in the credits for Star Wars: The Force Awakens? Simon Pegg helped the film in general by being part of the cast, helping with the screenplay and for some of the reasons below:

42.   JJ Abrams shot part of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in IMAX. What is IMAX? IMAX a technique of widescreen cinematography which produces an image approximately ten times larger than that from standard 35 mm film. JJ Abrams most likely used this because it is a most prestige way of filming a film and he thought Star Wars was the right film to do it on as Star Wars is so popular in western and now global culture.

43.   How many IMAX screens was the film available on? Loads

44.   What was the age rating of the film in the UK? The certificate for the film was a 12

45.   How much money did the UK government contribute to the production of Star Wars: The Force Awakens? (Express this figure as a percentage of the total cost and as a figure in pounds). £31.6 million out of the £235 million which was in total spent. This is around 7% of the total figure.

46.   How much was Harrison Ford paid to reprise his role of Han Solo? $20 million

47.   How much were Daisy Ridley and John Boyega paid? £300,000 each, 76 times less than Harrison ford

Gender stereotype - Georgie in Our Girl 

stereotype is a set idea that people have about what someone or something is like, especially an idea that is wrong; for example, saying that all Blacks are good at sports is a stereotype, because it’s grouping the race together to indicate that everyone of that race is a good athlete.

In the TV series Georgie doesn't fit the typical stereotype for a women because women are seen to be house wife's that should be cleaning, cooking and raising the family, while the men are out working and earning the money to support the family at home. However, Georgie is working out in a war zone as a  medic surrounded by gunfire and explosions. This doesn't fit the stereotype on women because she is out in a war zone where they seen to be out of place, also the stereotype on men is that they should be looking after the women, in this case that doesn't happen as she is putting her life in danger ever day and ends up getting kidnapped . 

Star Wars: The force awakens

Producers/ Production companies: Lucas film, Bad Robot Productions 

Directors: JJ. Adrams 

Screen writer: Lawrence Kasdan, Michael Arndt 

Actors: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Harrison Ford, Oscar Isaac, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Mark    Hamill, Kenny Baker

Buget: $306,000

Locations: England Ireland, Iceland, United Arabic Emirates

Green light: 2012

Screens shown on (opening weekend, peak figure, weeks at cinema): 

Critical reaction (Rotten Tomatoes & Metacritic):

Box office figures: worldwide, US, China: $245,000,000 US, 

Music (composer of score/ soundtrack): John Williams 

Marketing (teaser trailers, trailers, TV spots, posters, websites etc):

Tie-in products: Lego products, action figures, clothing 

SFX (special effects - technology used): green screens, CGI 

Any issues: Harrison ford dislocated his ankle and broke his leg so filming was postponed 

Selected Key Terms for Institutions and Audience

Selected Key Terms for Institutions and Audience

 1.An institution (in the film industry)

Definition: any company or organisation that produces, distributes or exhibits films. The BBC makes films with their BBC Films arm; Channel4's Film Four produces films, Working Title also produce films, as does Vertigo Films, etc. Some institutions need to join with other institutions which distribute films. Vertigo Films is able to distribute its own films, Channel Four distributed Slumdog Millionaire through Pathe. Working Title's distribution partner is Universal, a huge US company which can make, distribute and show films. The type of owner ship within an institution matters as, for instance, Channel 4 and the BBC are able to show their own films at an earlier stage than other films made by other institutions. They are also better placed to cross-promote their in-house films within their media organisations. Use you work on Film Four as the basis for most of what you write, Moon is a good cross comparison as Duncan Jones had to create his own institution just to get the film made.

2.Distribution and Marketing

Definition: the business of getting films to their audiences by booking them for runs into cinemas and taking them there in vans or through digital downloads; distributors also create the marketing campaign for films producing posters, trailers, websites, organise free previews, press packs, television interviews with the "talent", sign contracts for promotions, competitions, etc. Distributors use their know-how and size to ensure that DVDs of the film end up in stores and on supermarket shelves. Distributors also obtain the BBFC certificate, and try to get films released as the most favourable times of the year for their genre, etc.

3.Exhibition

Definition: showing films in cinemas or on DVD. Media attention through opening nights and premieres How the audience can see the film: in cinemas, at home, on DVD, through downloads, through television, including premieres, the box office take in the opening weeks; audience reviews which includes those of the film critics, ordinary people, cinemas runs; awards in festivals, The Oscars, BAFTAS, etc.

4.Exchange

Definition: The unintended use of an institution’s media text (i.e. a film) by OTHER PEOPLE who use the film or parts of it to form new texts. What happens to a film, etc. after the public get their hands on it using digital technology.  Also relates to the selling of the product to the audience.

Examples: People unconnected to the institution/ film using WEB 2.0 applications such as Youtube, Blogger, reddit, Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook, buzzfeed to discuss the film or edit parts together to form a new text which they may then put a new soundtrack to and publish on Youtube, etc. When you add a trailer from a site like YouTube on your blog you have been engaging with exchange. 

5.Vertical and Horizontal Integration

Definition: Absorption into a single firm of several firms involved in all aspects of a product's manufacture from raw materials to distribution.

Example: Vivendi Universal have integrated film, music, web and distribution technology into the company, including owning big stakes in cables and wires that deliver these services. Therefore they are vertically integrated because they own all the different companies involved in film, from production to distribution to exhibition. They are also horizontally integrated because they have all the expertise for producing media content under one roof – films, TV, magazines, books, music, games thus being able to produce all the related media content for one film under the same roof (see synergy). This is important for the control the institution has over their product/film.

6.Synergy/Synergies  

Definition: The interaction of two or more agents (institutions/companies) to ensure a larger effect than if they acted independently. This is beneficial for each company through efficiencies in expertise and costs. 

Examples: Working Title know how to make films and they have formed a business partnership with Universal, a massive US company, who have the experience and size in the marketplace (cinemas, stores, online, etc.) to distribute them. (They create the marketing campaign to target audiences through posters, trailers, create the film’s website, free previews, television and press interviews featuring “the talent”, drum up press reviews, word of mouth, and determine when a film is released for the best possible audience and the type of release: limited, wide, etc.) Channel Four’s Film 4 and Celador Films (Celador also produce Who Wants to Be A Millionaire and films, too) benefited by pooling their know-how, experience and expertise to jointly produce Slumdog Millionaire. These companies formed a business relationship with France’s Pathe to distribute this film. In the UK Pathe helped create the poster, trailer, website, etc. In the USA the film found another distributor after being nominated for the Oscars.

7.Viral Marketing

Definition: A marketing technique aiming at reproducing "word of mouth" usually on the internet and through existing social networks. YouTube Video pastiches, trailers, interviews with cast members, the director, writer, etc. You can find interviews of “the talent” trying to gain publicity for your case study films on YouTube. Find some clips from the films we have studied to help you in the exam.

8.Guerilla Marketing

Definition: The use of unconventional and low cost marketing strategies to raise awareness of a product. The aim is usually to create “buzz” and “word of mouth” around a film. Unusual stunts to gain publicity (P.R.) on the film’s opening weekend, etc.

Examples: Sasha Baron Cohen created “buzz” before the release of his film “Borat” by holding fake press conferences. The studio also accessed the popularity of YouTube by releasing the first 4 minutes of the movie on YouTube, a week before it’s release, which can then be sent virally across the nation. At a special viewing of “Bruno” Cohen landed on Eminem “butt first” from the roof MTV Awards venue, dressed in as an angel outfit with rents in the rear end.

9.Media Convergence

Definition 1: Convergence of media occurs when multiple products come together to form one product with the advantages of all of them. 

Examples: More and more films are being marketed on the Internet and on mobile phones. You no longer need even to buy the DVDs or CDs as you can download films and music directly to your laptop, Mac or PC. Blue Ray DVDs can carry more features than ordinary DVDs and can be played on HD televisions and in home cinemas for enhanced/cinematic picture quality. You can save films on SKY digital, Free-box digital players, etc. You mobile phone has multiple features and applications. With media and technological convergence this is growing year on year. Play-Stations, X-Boxes and the Wii can can connect with the Internet and you can play video games with multiple players.

10.Technological Convergence

Definition 2: The growing interractive use of digital technology in the film industry and media which enables people to share, consume and produce media that was difficult or impossible just a few years earlier.

Examples: For instance, the use of new software to add special effects in editing; the use of blue-screen; using new types of digital cameras like the one Danny Boyle used in “Slumdog Millionaire” (The Silicon Imaging Camera to shoot high quality film in tight spaces); you can use the Internet to download a film rather than go see it in the cinema; you can watch it on YouTube; you can use special editing programs like Final Cut Pro to edit bits of a film, give it new soundtrack and upload it on YouTube; you can produce illegal, pirate copies on DVDs from downloads and by converting the film’s format; you can buy Blue Ray DVDs with greater compression which allows superior viewing and more features on the DVD; distributors can use digital software to create high concept posters; cinemas can download films to their projection screens and do not have to depend on a van dropping off the film! The is also the Digital Screen Network. There are tons of ways in which technological convergence affects the production, distribution, exhibition and exchange by prosumers. ( A prosumer is someone who not only consumes (watches films) but also writes about them the Net, blogs and make films out of them, often uploading them on sites like YouTube, etc.

11.A Mainstream Film

Definition: A high budget film that would appeal to most segments of an audience: the young, boys, girls, teenagers, young people, the middle aged, older people, the various classes in society. Distributors often spend as much or more than the film cost to make when distributing mainstream films that are given wide or universal releases.

Example:The Boat That Rocked was a mainstream idea and was given the mainstream treatment on wide release. The film flopped at the UK box office on release ( and has not done too well since mid November 2009 on release in the USA. This was mostly because of its poor reviews, particularly from “Time-Out”. However, when young and older audiences see the DVD they generally like the film because of its uplifting storyline and the well-chosen soundtrack.

12.Art House Films

Definition: A low budget independent film that would mostly appeal to an educated, higher class audience who follow unusual genres or like cult directors that few people have heard of. Therefore it is usually aimed at a niche market. Foreign films often come under this category. 

Examples: The low budget film, Once (2007) which found a specialised, boutique distributor in Fox Searchlight fits this label. (FOX the mainstream company usually distributes big budget film and blockbusters); So does “Juno” from 2008 which began as a low budget film about teenage pregnancy that the big studios thought too risky to touch – but it found popularity through its touching storyline, engaging music and its Oscar nomination for best script. Like “Slumdog Millionaire” the film crossed over between art-house cinemas and audiences to mainstream ones because of the recognition it received from Canadian film festivals and award ceremonies like Britain’s BAFTAS and the Hollywood’s Oscars.

13.Ratings bodies 

BBFC - The British Board of Film Classification

How your institutions films are rated will affect audiences in so far as WHO can see them. Remember that sex scenes, offensive language, excessive violence, the use of profanity, etc. can affect the rating and certificate the film receives and therefore affect who is able to see the film.

Film Production

Film production is the process of making a film. 

Development - This is simply the process of 'finding' a story. Ideas for films come from a variety of sources, they can range from novels, real life events to computer game adaptations. Once you've got an idea you'll need someone to write a pitch for you which you take to a film producer in an attempt to get some funding to make your film. Even at this very early stage you need a very clear idea of who you're aiming you film at so you can include elements that will appeal to them.

Pre-production - Once you've got funding you establish your budget and can begin to get a film crew together, you can storyboard the script. You also need break the script down into individual scenes and identify all the locations, props, cast members, costumes, special effects and visual effects needed.

Production - This is simply the process of 'making' the film. Provided you've done your job properly in the pre-production stage making the film should be straight forward. 'Film' is very expensive and difficult to store so an increasing number of film makers are using digital cameras to save money.

Post-production - During this stage you take all the 'film' you've shot and give it to a film editor. They will then begin putting it together. Special effects will be added, a soundtrack will be added, any missing dialogue will be re-recorded and added resulting in a 'rough cut'. This will be shown to the director and a test audience who will offer feedback. Often this causes scenes to be filmed and added or removed.


Roles in production 

Writer - The role of a writer, also known as a script writer, is to prepare stories and instructions for films, television, plays and commercials. The job is essential, as without the scrip writer there is no production. The script writer creates the story line, characters and dialog for any piece of staged presentation 


 
Producer - Producers play an integral role in the television, film and video industries. A producer will oversee each project from conception to completion and may also be involved in the marketing and distribution processes. Producers work closely with the directors and other production staff on a shoot.

Casting director - A casting director is a middleman who finds the actors needed to fill roles in movies, TV shows, theatrical productions, commercials or even corporate and music videos.

Director - Generally, a film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects, and visualizes the script while guiding the technical crew and actors in the fulfillment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, production design, and the creative aspects of film making.

Film Finance - is an aspect of film production that occurs during the development stage prior to pre-production, and is concerned with determining the potential value of a proposed film.

Camera Operator - sometimes informally called a cameraman or a camerawoman, is a professional operator of a film or video camera. In filmmaking, the person designing the lighting is the cinematographer or director of photography, who is also informally called a "cameraman" though it is a different job. This job is important as the production wouldn't be able to be done with out a camera man or it wouldn't be as professional. 


Editor - film editing is the art, technique, and practice of assembling shots into a coherent sequence. The job of an editor is not simply to mechanically put pieces of a film together, cut off film slates, or edit dialogue scenes.

Production Designer - are responsible for the visual concept of a film, television or theatre production. They identify a design style for sets, locations, graphics, props, lighting, camera angles and costumes, while working closely with the director and producer.

Marketing - This is when the movie company advertises their new movie in any way, this can be on tv, social media, trailers, on sides of buses or in news papers. Also it can be selling merchandises to do with the new production. When doing this job it can include doing market research. The role of this job is important because the company wants the product to be promoted out to loads of people so they can make more profit back. 

Exhibition - is the way that the movie producers play their movie to the public, they can do this by playing it in cinemas. Cinemas fall into 1 of 2 categories: national chains; and independent exhibitors. The specific programming will depend on the target audience, with large chains often filling their multiplexes with blockbuster fare and individual independents more likely to cater to art-house crowds. A natural entry route to exhibition is to work in a cinema. Chains employ significant numbers of people to handle ticketing, confectionery sales (where cinemas tend to make the bulk of their profits), and film projection. Those working for independent exhibitors may be more involved in its programming as the cinema establishes a distinct identity for itself. The exhibition is important because with out this there wouldn’t be any movie at all.

Top Ten favourite Tv dramas

Downton Abby - Set in 1912 the award winning British Tv drama series that follows the lives of the Crawley family and its servants in classic family home. The reason i like this show is because its very exciting and nerve raking at times, and there's something new every episode whether it's bad a or good thing.



Doc Martian -Successful surgeon Dr Martin leaves his London practice to move into a general practitioner in a quiet fishing village in Portwenn, where he spent many holidays in his youth. But his luxury car and smart look immediately rub the locals the wrong way. The reason i like this show is because its different to every other show, there's so many things that happens that are very funny.



BroadChurch - When the corpse of and 11 year old British boy, Danny Latimer is found bloodied and dirty on an idyllic beach, a small Dorset community becomes a focus of a police investigation and media madness. Out of town Detective, Alec Hardy gets the point position over Detective Sgt. Ellie Miller, who feels the job should have been  hers. Now she must work with Detective Hardy. Slowly more members of the community of Broadchurch are drawn into the investigation, with a telephone engineer drawing great attention to himself when he admits he has special connection with the case. While dealing with so much unwelcoming attention, Danny's family tries to cope with the grief. When a suspect is named and changed, the ensuring trial sees the defendant promising to expose more more of the townspeople's secrets. The reason i liked this series is because every episode was left on a cliff hanger which made we want to watch is even more. 


DCI Banks - The award winning British TV, crime drama that sees Stephen Tomkinson who plays detective Alan Banks involved in some major investigations.    

The Secret - Based on a true story the chilling ITV drama sees James Nesbitt playing a killer dentist Colin Howell commit the double murder of wife Lesley Howell and his affairs husband constable Trevor Buchanan, just so they can have a life together. 


Doctor Who -  is a classic science-fiction series with a cult following. The Doctor is called a "Time Lord," a time-traveling scientist from a far off planet, who travels through time and space in a shop known by the acronym tradis. A tardis is a machine that is larger on the inside than the outside and is supposed to change its appearance based on its surroundings. The Doctor is also able to evolve his biology, so he appears as many different people throughout the series. The Doctor loves Earth, so he makes many trips here to save the planet, or to enlist earthlings to help him with tasks in the galaxy.


Silent Witness -  is a British crime drama series, produced by the BBC, that focuses on a team of Forensic Pathology experts and their investigations into various crimes, first broadcast in 1996 and still on air today. This is a really good program because there is always a new story line every episode, that is completely different to the last one; as well as that, there is always a new detective every episode which changes each one from the last one making it more interesting.


TourchWood - This series is set inside a branch of a covert agency called the Torchwood Institute, where dashing commander in chief Capt. Jack Harkness leads Torchwood Three, an ace team of experts, as it investigates unexplained extraterrestrial incidents on Earth. Other members of the team include newest member Gwen Cooper; medical officer Dr. Owen Harper; computer specialist Toshiko Sato; and technician Ianto Jones. Torchwood Three operates independently of the British government, law enforcement groups and even the United Nations.


Merlin - This action-packed fantasy-drama revisits the saga of King Arthur and his wizard, Merlin, by focusing on the two characters when they were ambitious young men struggling to understand their destinies. In this telling, Prince Arthur is known to be the heir to the throne (no sword from the stone here). And he is acquainted with all those who will one day form the legend of Camelot, including Lancelot, Guinevere, and Morgana. Merlin is also forced to deal with King Uther's Great Purge, which bans all use of magic.

Luther - Luther is a brilliant but emotionally impulsive detective who is tormented by the dark side of humanity while hunting down murderers. Once the self-destructive detective knows the killer's identity, it becomes a psychological duel between predator and prey.