Writing a film pitch

The anon

1) The ‘log line’ (a one sentence summary of the film's narrative or appeal) - in task 3 above: A girl who risks her own life while trying to save others from a mystery assailant even though she risks from getting in danger herself. 2) Brief reference to your film's genre ("this film is an urban thriller..."): Horror 3) Brief reference to at least one similar film ("this film is a cross between The Italian Job and Spy Kids..."): The film is a cross between Scream and Taken 4) Brief reference to the target audience for your film ("this film will appeal to the core cinema-going age group of 12-25..."): The age group is 15-25 5) Indication of main characters ("The story is based around Jack - an honest guy who gets caught up in a major robbery - and Reuben, the villain who is after the money..."): Katherine is a ordinary girl who often gets left home alone from her parents who go to work. Her notable traits are being caring and giving. Her boyfriend however seems supportive but ends up to take a dark turn later on in the movie; something that Katherine isn't familiar with. 6) Brief summary of narrative (what happens in the story): There is an anonymous caller who threatens Katherine. She has to complete some questions because he's got her friend hostage and if she gets a question wrong, he cuts her best friend, Tia's body. Soon Katherine can't bear the pressure so she gives up and her friend is soon dead. Once she get's to grips with reality, the killer starts asking Katherine questions so she can save her own life and then after she gets a question wrong, the killer soon sneaks in her house and chases her so Katherine runs outside. She meets her boyfriend, Adam but it turns out that he's part of the plan to kill the girl too so Katherine has to try to escape the both of them in order to survive.

Key Conventions

Film poster key conventions

• The central image is of Liam Neeson who is confidently standing in a position with his legs shoulder width apart and a gun in his hand. This appeals to the reader as they like to see the main character which is Liam neeson heroic and strong.
• The Secondary images are behind the central image which are all images representing the story line to the actual film Taken.
• The title is big and bold very easily visible right in front of the main character who is fiercely presented at the top third.
• Tagline (like a slogan) There is a slogan at the top left hand corner of the poster which is a quote from Liam Neesons speech in the film.
• Release date is 26.09.08
• Stars are Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen
• Critic reviews are 7.9/10 from 397,409 users  on IMDB
• Production blurb is small and faded, perfectly fitted at the bottom of the poster. Where as the star Liam Neeson's name is the complete opposite.

Film trailers: key conventions

• Institutional details – the film studio is 20 century fox, some of the actors are Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen The director is Pierre Morel 
• Short clips of key moments in film to introduce characters and narrative... There is a short clip where Liam Neesons daughter in the film is dragged from under the bed by the people who have broken into the house.
• Fast paced editing to suggest drama and excitement... There is fast paced editing around the end to showcase the father talking to the intruders and while what the intruders are forcing his daughter to do.
• On-screen text... Right at the end there is on screen text presenting the actors and release date but during the trailer there is screen text telling the audience the film production.
• Title and release date – the title is 'Taken' and the release date the is shown within the trailer is 26.09.08
• Social media hashtags / website details: quotes said by the public is.. 'its a very good movie. I gave it a solid 8. I left the movie feel very satisfied' and also 'Just watched this film and have to say, very good in the scheme of things' etc
• Production blurb (usually final shot of trailer) There is no production blurb on the trailer.
• Music that communicates genre and ‘feel’ of film- there is a heartbeat at the end of the trailer to create intensity and also during the trailer before the daughter gets dragged out from under the bed there is a faint drum beat in the background.

Film language notes

Sound

Sound in film includes:

• Dialogue from the actors, e.g when the dad in the film talks to the daughter through the phone.
• Sound effects- There is a sound of heartbeats in the background around the end of the trailer.
• Music involves a faint drum beat during the trailer or some synth.
• Voiceover is not included.

Diegetic and non-diegetic sound

Diegetic: When the dad talks to the daughter through the phone.

Non-diegetic:The is a sweet and soft song in the background when the daughter in Taken runs to hug her dad. This is non-diegetic as the characters are unable to hear it.

Mise-en-scene

Mise en scène literally translates from French as ‘putting on stage’. 

We use it in film studies to describe everything that appears in front of the camera.

When we analyse mise en scène, we need to look at the following:

• Actors- one example is when the daughter is in the other room in paris watching her friend being taken. Her expression while shes talking to her dad on the phone is frightened and fearful.
• Costume and make-up- All of the actors in the film are wearing casual clothes and no make up to symbolise an ordinary life.
• Setting and props includes a telephone, a voice recorder and a gun. The setting in a normal area but then moves over to france where it becomes more hood-like
• Lighting and colour- No special lighting or colour schemes. 

Taken

The film I picked is called Taken. The reason I picked this film is because its a very well-known film to many people and to me. It has a very interesting, mysterious, intense storyline and a detailed cover poster. There are many things to talk to about which is why I picked it.

Institutional background

1) What was the film studio or production company behind your chosen film? Some of the production companies were Europacorp. Another production company is M6 films.



2) Who was the distributor for the theatrical release of the film in the UK? The distributor is 20th Century Fox, Europacrop distribution and independent films. These are only some of them.


No brand loyalty
1) What genre does your chosen film fit into? The genre my film fits into would mostly be action with a lot of drama going on.

2) How can you tell it fits that genre? The reason I know that Taken fits into action is because within the trailer there's lots of running and actions and fear in many of the actors faces. A lot of the time you see guns and aggressive behaviour towards one and another. Half of the time you see the main actor of the film running and threatening to kill. Explosives also take place, punching and hiding. 

3) Is your chosen movie a sequel? Taken is not actually a sequel itself but it does have two sequels called Taken 2 and Taken 3 is on the way.

3b) If No, are previous films by the writer, director or star mentioned in the trailer? No it isn't because the only thing that the trailer spoke about was the actual film which was Taken itself.



It’s all a matter of timing
1) What was the UK release date for your chosen film? The UK release date was 26 September 2008 (UK)

2) When did the first trailer appear on YouTube for your movie? The first trailer that came out on Youtube was about 3 years ago but the specific date was March 9 2011.

3) What other examples of marketing (teaser trailers, main trailers, newspaper or TV interviews etc.) can you find for your chosen film from before the film’s release date? There was a teaser trailer that was put up on Youtube but there's also a main trailer by the distributor of 20th Century Fox.



It’s a social thing
1) What was the word-of-mouth like for your chosen film? The reaction of people who had watched Taken were really positive and very good views towards taken as they had said things like... 'I saw this movie tonight at the sneak preview and I was completely surprised and blown away' and 'First thing to say is, this is a great and fun movie from beginning to end'
2) Find three quotes (no more than 25 words each) from user reviews of your movie to create a picture of what the public reaction to the film has been. Post them on your blog. So a lot like the previous answer there were also reviews like... 'its a very good movie. I gave it a solid 8. I left the movie feel very satisfied' and also 'Just watched this film and have to say, very good in the scheme of things' etc.

Risky business

1) What was the original budget for your chosen film? The budget for taken was $25 million

2) How much money did the film make in the opening weekend? It made about 100 million

3) How much money has the film made in total? (Look for the subheading ‘Gross’ which has the total box-office earnings listed). The total box office for taken is $226,830,568 and the total gross was $145,000,989.


Stars in their eyes

1) What films has the director previously directed? Are they in the same or similar genres? The director Pierre Morel has directed other films beside Taken such as The Gunman which even in the title you can tell is action as it has 'gun' within the name so yes, they are similar genres.

2) Who is the main star in the film? The main star of Taken is Liam Neeson.

3) What other films has the main star appeared in? Are any of the films similar to the one you are researching? Liam Neeson is also in a film called Non-stop which is action a lot like taken which shows the similarity is has to taken.

4) Are the stars or the director or writer mentioned in the trailer for the film? They are no mentioned in the trailer.

Film Trailers

Film Trailer: This is called Addicted, one of the new film trailers on YouTube.
The genre: The genre is romance. Alternatively it has a bit of drama involved so I would say its romantic drama as a genre.
Evidence (NCIS): This film has a form of a love triangle as the storyline. A married woman who has two children falls in love with an addiction to crave different type of men. As a result she has a secret love affair with a man she is employing and her husband finds out. The characters is a typical family (wife, husband, 2 children and grandmother) some family friends with the wife and a man who falls in love with the wife who is also craving for him. The iconography of this film is a family who is being broken up because of a tragic craving that the wife of the family feels and so the trust between everyone dies. The setting is in a normal and casual area, most times in houses but also in a work environment too. There's a scene with clubbing but its mainly a casual sort of place.


Film Trailer: This film trailer is called another me.
The genre: The genre of this film is horror.
Evidence(NCIS): The narrative of this film, so the story line is about this girl who is living a normal life, goes to school and talks to family. Suddenly there's a unusual form of a body following her everywhere to a point where she thinks she is being followed and stalked which results fear to her everyday life. She tries to find someone to talk to and was told its only something that looks exactly like her and wants to have her life but as long as she doesn't look at this thing it cannot harm her. She is left in fear.
The characters of this film is a girl, her family and friends and also the unknown 'ghost' who looks exactly like her and wants her life. The iconography is high school kids, a family, a girl in a normal place and also a 'ghost' who looks exactly like her. The setting is in a normal area, a school environment taking place in not such a popular area though.

 

Film Trailer: This film trailer is called little man.

The Genre: Comedy

Evidence(NCIS): The story line to this film is about two friends trying to steal a diamond for their boss or leader. They get chased by policemen and ditch the diamond to a ladies bag and have to go get the diamond back which means getting involved with this ladies family or husband at least. In the end there is emotion shown between everyone. The characters are a man who is known as Little man his friend and a wife and a husband who both live with the wife's dad. Theres a gang who need the diamond and the boss. Two police mens and a few family friends. The iconography is guns and running with street clothing but also fashion clothing within the family. The setting is in a normal house area but also local shops. In the beginning however there is a jail environment.