Grades I Need

Mock Exam - Film Piracy

To what extent does internet piracy pose a threat to the film industry?

Film piracy is poses a significant threat towards the film industry, due to the rise of piracy many films are much of the same thing, many sequels and a lot of predicatability has been seen with films. Although, low budget and non-mainstream films are given more of an opportunity to be discovered and watched, as they are more likely to not be shown with cinemas, an example is The Human Centipede. Piracy has also made a lot of film production companies lose a huge amount of money which means these companies are not going to take any risks on films and will only produce films that are guaranteed to sell like blockbusters. The industry is now making a lot of films in 3D as these type of films are very difficult to pirate online - which is the main destination for film piracy. Megaupload paved the way for many pirated films avaliable on the internet and films are now easier to pirate as they are distributed digitally rather than on 35mm film. A pirated film site I use is 1Channel and the reason for this like many people is having little money to go and see films in cinema. Also pirated film websites are quite efficient in watching a range of films you want to watch, rather than cinemas that are going to show similar films mainly from the 'big film studios', and very few if any films from smaller less mainstream film studios.

Technology has influenced piracy through the use of the internet, there is such a rich harem of films online. Also they have such variety and if a film is removed from one website its then uploaded unto another. Additionally it is very difficult to enforce the law on film piracy via the internet as there are many loopholes. This makes it very hard for film companies to stop their films being pirated. A very large amount of cinemas now distribute films digitally meaning these films will be streamed through the internet, making piracy more easy. In comparison to when films were distributed through 35mm film, which was harder to pirate. A lot of films are now being produced in 3D as this is something that is very difficult to replicate in the process of piracy. Without 3D many production companies are no longer wanting to take risks with films, meaning directors are almost forced to do 3D films.

Film piracy is quite an effiiciently social way of watching films, in which someone can just invite others to go and watch a pirated copy of a film through the internet. The sound and video quality is also good making piracy a sociable option. Film piracy also offers the chance of a variety of films that audiences would not be exposed in cinema. Also this creates a potentially larger audience for less know directors and the smaller prodution companies that produce their films. The home cinema experience is overpowering cinemas, as attendance in cinemas continues to drop, home cinema allows the viewer to watch anything, whether old or new and can affect their knowledge in films. As most cinema goers are mostly watching blockbusters, suddenly the world of on-line piracy offers a variety of films, some with complex narrative and genre aspects that can educate audiences.

Films prices are continously rising even though cinema attendance is decreasing, making piracy a more viable option. A large amount of films that are now screened in 3D are also more expensive to see in comparison to 2D. Film companies also have to pay more to film in 3D which decreases their overall budget and profit. The threat of piracy has meant that film production companies are restocking on producing re-makes, and sequels of films that are generally all the same. Another thing is the continuously re-booted films that are shown in 3D. The reason films are going down this route is because they are guaranteed to sell, because they have a pre-sold audience. Production companies do not want to create a film with a deep narrative aspect that will be critically acclaimed but pirated all over the internet. 

The threat of film piracy is clearly significant to the film world. With the continuous flow of 3D films and film remakes in 3D this has seen much of the cinema world declining in ticket sales and overall gross profits for films. Piracy has been happening since early 1980s with home video and although the 3D overdose in film is occurring, it is more of a phase and the industry will deal with piracy another way. For cinema to defeat the online piracy of todays world it will have to start showing a range of films, it will also have to restrict the large database of films available online which are matching cinematic film quality. There also needs to be film language of high quality embeded into films - narrative, genre, messages and values rather than just the visual aspects of CGI and 3D that are boring due to how overused they are. 

Mock Exam - Film Censorship

“Film censorship is motivated by fears about audiences and technologies.” Discuss this statement in reference to the concerns expressed about uncensored and unregulated video content in Britain in the early 1980s. [30 marks]

Film censorship was put in place to both protect audiences and to try and conquer the power of technology in relation to illegal distribution of unregulated films in the early 1980's. Although, this was not fully the sole reason why film censorship was put in place. Margaret Thatcher, Mary Whitehouse, the rise of home video and piracy along with cinemas losing money were all things that influenced film censorship.

During the 1980s there was a significant rise in the use of home video, people saw this new craze as fashionable and as a status symbol. The two home video systems were VHS and Betamax - who were competing in format wars against each other. This eventually saw VHS win this war, with the defining aspect that VHS had a longer tape recording of 3 hours, compared to Betamax with a recording time of 60 minutes. Nevertheless, the rise of both home video systems allowed much more efficient piracy for audiences and unlimited access to unregulated films. Film censorship was not able to rule out these unregulated films and cinemas began losing money because people were staying at home and watching films, instead of the cinema. 

The early 1980s resulted in many video nasties being made and consequently banned by the BBFC. A common occurrence with these videos was that they were horrors usually with quite graphic content. Initially many of these films were banned in cinemas, but with home video people could watch them at home - regardless of the audiences age. There was moral panic with the conservative party (who were in charge at the time. Margaret Thatcher who led the party at the time used home video as a scapegoat to blame for the UK's problems of the time. Video nasties were seen as a threat in influencing people to go and copy what they saw from these films. Also these films were spreading messages the government did not agree with and the conservative party being right-wing wanted to have control over what audiences were watching.

The BBFC were the actual group who enforced the 1984 Video Recordings Act which banned many video nasties. Initially video nasties were banned in cinema, but there was not really a rule to deny their distribution through home video. The recording act meant that all films including video nasties had to be sent to the BBFC for classification. At the time the BBFC were quite lenient with films and were more influenced by the conservative party who were consistently linking video nasties to nearly everything negative that was going on in Britain. Screenings of video nasties were shown to both conservative party members, as well as the National Viewers and Listeners Association, who feared these films would lead to people acting them out in real life.

Film censorship is partly motivated by audiences as the government did genuinely believe people would be more likely to commit the acts they saw in video nasties. Technology is a huge factor as without home video, video nasties could not be watched. Looking at today's cinema, many of these video nasties have went onto become hugely successful and many of them have been re-made and distributed in cinema, this is because they have a guaranteed pre-sold audience and this shows that the government of today would not censor these films as they would be economically successful in cinema. Also 'video nasties' are basically non-existent in today's film as so many films are such graphic and violent (The Human Centipede), audiences have become de-sensitized to them. I do not believe films should be censored as they are a matter of audiences personal choice, if you don't like something don't watch it. Their was no real evidence and there still is not that video nasties are/ have been corrupting society as The 1984 Video Recordings Act did not lessen crime or boost morale values in society.

Textual Analysis (Final Version)

Harry Brown and The Dark Knight are two films in which the narrative involves the protagonists taking on the role of vigilantes; embarking on taking revenge for deaths they blame themselves for. Batman blames himself for the death of Rachel, who he has feelings for and Harry Brown blames himself for the death of his best friend Leonard. Through the motive of revenge Batman and Harry Brown end up cleaning up the mass criminal society around them, (Harry Brown with the South London council estate and Batman with Gotham city). As vigilantes Harry Brown and Batman end up committing morally wrong actions, but as the audience we never see them suffer for their actions, also through the long stride of violence Harry Brown and Batman follow and with the clear up of society, this shows that their wrong actions actually lead to positive results. Harry Brown’s actions in killing more people than he needed to enables him to experience peace and safety, this shows that as a film Harry Brown really demonizes modern day working class youth as the epitome of evil. As Harry is never punished the film justifies the killings of youth as a liberal decision. The Dark Knight is a contrast as Batman does end up leaving Gotham, whilst he does much less wrong doing in comparison to Harry Brown. The Dark Knight represents human nature in not being believing that someone can do good for intrinsic benefit rather than an extrinsic reward – this is seen with Batman.

Harry Brown is a film in which Daniel Barber makes his directorial debut in this fast paced, grimy thriller. The film is an independent one distributed by Lionsgate UK. Harry Brown the lead protagonist, an elderly man who witnesses the council estate he lives in quickly deteriorating into youth crime; when his best friend Leonard is murdered Harry decides enough is enough. Through his transition into a vigilante Harry then returns to his past lifestyle of when he was fighting in the Marines, except as he says’ those people were fighting for something; for a cause. To them out there, this is just entertainment.’ Harry Brown makes the audience side with Harry automatically, seeing as his threat is the ‘youth hoodie chav culture that was being paraded around the media around the same time Harry Brown was released. The Dark Knight is a big budget film in which Christopher Nolan directs his second of the Batman trilogy. The film is distributed by the major Hollywood production Warner Bros. Gotham city is being invaded by mass amounts of crime, the most significant being the menacing threat of the Joker. The only one who can challenge his authority and power is Batman. Although like many other Hollywood films The Dark Knight has a large budget, there is still a large focus on the narrative, something that is not that common with Hollywood movies, especially movie franchises.

Harry Brown and The Dark Knight are both introduced by showcasing the mass threat of the antagonists of the film. This sets up the narrative of both films, showing the audience that the protagonists are going to have to overcome the antagonist’s control of the society around them. This is seen at the beginning of both films. Looking at props in Harry Brown there is drug abuse, and gun control the estate gang portray. Looking at mis-en-scene the use of guns in broad daylight really shows the audience how the estate is really a warzone with no respect for others. With cinematography the opening of Harry Brown is shot in a POV handheld camera phone form, adding a more realistic ideal to the film, along with the camera quality representing the quality of life the youths on the estate have. Along with The Dark Knight in which we see the Joker using menace, violence and smart tactics to kill the other bank robbers who he is meant to be teaming up with him, showing how cunning he is. With the use of masks looking at mis-en-scene this establishes that all the bank robbers posses some menacing and disguised tactics used to cause havoc on others, they also show savagery as when a mask is worn an identity is lost. With cinematography we see The Dark Knight start with an establishing shot to show the audience the scale of crime being committed and the Joker is rarely really shown through close-ups to add to the mystery of his character until he reveals his face at the end of the scene.

Harry Brown and the Dark Knight both follow and break genre conventions. They both follow the classic Hollywood narrative structure. Harry starts of weaker to the youth thugs on the estate and this is shown in the tunnel scene where he walks past the tunnel in which the youths are in fear. Looking at costume Harry is shown wearing bright clothing and the location around him is generally quite bright showing good, whereas the tunnel is very dark showing evilness. The use of graffiti on the tunnel location also indicates some form of property belonging to the youths. A wide shot is used on Harry as he walks off away from the tunnel in which the location becomes bigger than him to show that the place in which the youths are situated is more powerful than him. In comparison, The Dark Knight shows Batman losing power over the antagonist the Joker who is constantly mentally and psychologically defeating Batman. In the interrogation scene Batman and the Joker are constantly in uniform, the Joker in his war paint mask shows the re-birth of a new evil identity in which he can hide behind. Batman in his dark black cloak and mask shows a sense of hidden darkness inside him, and also a new identity hidden behind a mask. The fact that Batman is in Black which represents evil in comparison to the Joker in purple, green and white showing goodness also breaks the typical genre convention as the evil character is hard to identify. Until the last part the Joker is constantly shown through mid and low angle shots to show his power along with Batman who is also shown through these shots. Only later when Batman uses physical violence does he gain power and this is seen where he is shown through low angles shots in comparison to high angle shots on the Joker. The fact that the antagonists in both The Dark Knight and Harry Brown are shown having the upper hand allows the films’ narratives to show the protagonists development in overcoming the antagonist.

Harry Brown and Batman start to grow in development through narrative as vigilantes. Both Harry Brown and Batman are motivated by revenge based on the death of loved ones, due to the deaths both characters equilibriums are disrupted. Harry Brown is motivated as his best friend Leonard is murdered and decides to avenge those who are responsible. Looking at the Harry Brown subway scene the atmospheric music with rhythmic editing sets the iconic suspense of a thriller. Through mis-en-scene the tunnel location is used to show this scene as it is the estate youths main place to ‘hangout’, and the fact Harry is coming in there shows him being voyeuristic and invading their area. This also shows through narrative Harry no longer fears the threat of the antagonist’s. The use of lighting to show Harry coming out of the darkness into the bright tunnel shows his development as an anti-hero through him becoming evil. The Dark Knight shows the Joker’s threat as an antagonist, as Batman is motivated by revenge through the death of Rachel. The Joker is shown growing as a threat. The use of costume with the Joker being in a nurse uniform this shows his natural evil ability to be threatening even whilst looking like a woman. Also when the Joker hands Harvey a gun to shoot him the Joker is still shown through low angles, showing he is still in full control. The location of the hospital being used to be blown up shows the Joker’s success in beating Batman as he is able to continue to wreak havoc on Gotham city. Also the long shot of the hospital building being blown up shows the large threat the Joker has as opposition against Batman.

Batman and Harry Brown’s actions as vigilantes effect others and it is evident how both protagonists have fulfilled their roles as vigilantes. Harry Brown by killing all the estate youths involved in the revenge of Leonard does restore peace on the council estate and restores a stable equilibrium. At the end of the film Harry is seen walking through the tunnel he once feared with peace, through mis-en-scene the removal of the graffiti on the tunnel is shown and replaced with a white background, which shows purity, this also represents the removal of evil from the estate. Depth of field is used effectively to show Harry walking into the tunnel and being bigger than it, showing how he has overcome the antagonists and is more powerful now. Also the use of sound when the tunnel is now being shown is with quite calmly atmospheric music, rather than the suspenseful dark music that was associated with the tunnel previously. Through narrative Harry Brown has now finished his task and can return to his normal life. In The Dark Knight Batman’s role as a vigilante is not fully fulfilled, he does not completely stop the crime in Gotham and also has to leave Gotham. The narrative is able to continue in The Dark Knight as Batman still has tasks to fulfil which is why the film ends like this due to the fact it is the middle of the Batman trilogy. Although Batman leaves Gotham he is still shown through low and mid angle shots foreshadowing him regaining power and returning to Gotham. As he also leaves with the Batman costume and bike it shows he is still not finished and this foreshadows he is to return a hero.

Looking at both The Dark Knight and Harry Brown, the protagonists of the film take up the role of a vigilante. Through both the films narratives, we see the characters progression as vigilantes.  The use of In The Dark Knight and Harry Brown we see how through the motive of revenge and redemption both vigilantes (Harry Brown and Batman) therefore clean up the criminal society around them. This is seen with Harry Brown cleaning up the crime in the South London council estate and Batman cleaning up the crime in Gotham city. Although we as the audience see Harry Brown & Batman do morally wrong both protagonists escape punishment, this shows through narrative both films communicate that the protagonists are right through their actions. In Harry Brown we see Harry's equilibrium restored at the end of the film as the estate he lives in is no more infested with youth gang crime, rather replaced with peace. Also the fact that he has avenged his best friend Leonard's death by killing all those involved in the murder, he restores his equilibrium as he no longer feels guilty for the death. In the Dark Knight we see Batman's equilibrium still unstable as he does not avenge Rachel's death. Comparing both the two, Harry Brown is not as morally right compared to Batman. Harry kills many people and perhaps more than he needed to but Batman does not intentionally kill anyone and ends up leaving Gotham for greater good. Also because he no longer feels he is a worthy leader and also "Because he's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now“.