I daniel blake

Question 1

Hollywood v Independent cinema

Answer 1

Independent films have much smaller budgets, and are often supported financially by public service broadcasters, film institutions and charity funding. They are also distributed by smaller companies.

Question 2

IDB - narrative

Answer 2

I, Daniel Blake is an award-winning independent British Drama film. The main character, Daniel Blake, 59, who has worked as a joiner most of his life in the North East of England needs help from the State for the first time ever following an illness.
He crosses paths with a single mother Katie and her two young children, Daisy and Dylan. Katie’s only chance to escape a one roomed homeless hostel in London is to accept a flat some 300 miles away.
Daniel stands up and fights for his dignity, leading a one-man crusade for compassion that will transform the lives of a struggling single mother (Katie) and her two children. It is a drama that has a strong political message about Britain in an age of government austerity.

Question 3

when was it released?

Answer 3

I, Daniel Blake was released in 2016

Question 4

ho was it directed by?

Answer 4

directed by Ken Loach.

Question 5

what did the BBFC rate the film?

Answer 5

The film was rated by the BBFC as a 15.

Question 6

genre:

Answer 6

Social realism.

A UK/French co-production, the film is a classed as a drama due to the nature of the narrative and themes within the film.

Social realism. I, Daniel Blake addresses contemporary British social issues such as poverty, the welfare system and the Work Capability Assessment.

Question 7

cast:

Answer 7

The cast is made up of lesser known actors, including Dave Johns, Hayley Squires and Sharon Percy.

Question 8

is it a hollywood or independant film?

Answer 8

The film is classed as an independent film, due to the fact that it is a low budget film with a relatively unknown cast.

Question 9

director power:

Answer 9

Ken Loach has been a director for over 50 years. He’s never had Hollywood success, mainly because he’s never wanted it. Loach’s style is social realism – telling stories that represent the lives of ordinary working-class people and the social issues they face, for example unemployment, poverty and addiction. His films also have political themes. Rather than create films for entertainment or money, his goal is to expose and educate people to the issues that many people in society face.

he was the unique selling point.

Question 10

marketing and promotion:

Answer 10

Along with traditional trailer and print adverts, the film makers eOne also used disruptive marketing such as:
- Organise free (or ‘pay what you can’) screenings and talks in community centres across the UK to build local enthusiasm for the film’s message.

• ## Film was premiered not in London, but Newcastle (where the film is set) to gain local support.‘I, Daniel Blake’ was projected onto the Houses of Parliament (‘guerrilla marketing’) and in various cities.
• Loach appeared on BBC Question Time to talk on issue giving the film extra credibility.
• a conventional trailer was also produced for the film- posted on youtube.

Question 11

additional promotion:

Answer 11

• A partnership was set up with Trinity Mirror (Daily Mirror owners) to run a marketing campaign based on the film. The Daily Mirror traditionally supports the Labour Party and left-wing causes so therefore agreed with the main message of the film.
• The film also paired up with NomadiX Media’s iProjector to create an outdoor campaign using quotes from the film.
• Finally, a video was released using members of the public and politicians that supported the film’s message. This was highlighted with the hashtag #WeAreAllDanielBlake.

Question 12

production costs:

Answer 12

It is very difficult to establish the exact production costs of ‘I, Daniel Blake’ although 16 Films Producer, Rebecca O’Brien, said it was a ‘modest amount’, even for a Ken Loach film. We know some of the funding it received (e.g. £300k from the BFI) and can estimate it to be around £2 million.

Question 13

box office and critical succes:

Answer 13

I, Daniel Blake was exhibited in 24 countries and performed well in Europe and other smaller countries. The film grossed £11 million and received a wide range of positive critic reviews.

‘I, Daniel Blake’ Is Ken Loach’s most successful UK release ever and continued to sell well around Europe. Like all Ken Loach films, it did particularly well in France. As well as Box Office success, it was also a critical success and award winner (including the renowned Palme D’or from the Cannes Film Festival).

Question 14

regulation: BBFC rating

Answer 14

‘I, Daniel Blake’ was awarded a 15 certificate by the British Board of Film Classifications (BBFC). This was despite the following scenes being included:

• Bad language (uttered by the main characters out of anger and frustration or for emphasis. Was justified by context and not impactful.)
• Sexual scenes (There are some verbal sexual references voiced in the film.
• Frightening and Intense scenes (There are two notable scenes of emotional intensity. They include ‘the food bank’ scene and the ending ‘funeral’ scene.)

Question 15

List all the production companies involved in the making of ‘I, Daniel Blake?

Answer 15

Sixteen Productions (UK) and WHY NOT Productions (FR)

Question 16

Who distributed and marketed the film ‘I, Daniel Blake’?

Answer 16

E One Productions

Question 17

Who financed the film ‘I, Daniel Blake’?

Answer 17

BBC and The BFI

Question 18

Who financed the film ‘I, Daniel Blake’?

Answer 18

BBC and The BFI

Question 19

economic contexts:

Answer 19

Getting funding from the BBC and the BFI meant that they had to fulfil certain obligations in order to get that money.
The BFI and the BBC fund projects that are innately British, target a niche or alternative audience, is culturally significant, educational and show British culture. They don’t fund mainstream films.

Question 20

low budget:

Answer 20

The low budget for IDB meant that there was no money for large extravagant sets, or famous actors.

It was filmed mainly on real locations, real streets, real houses. They couldn’t afford extras so they had real people in the background of their shots. A lot of it was improvised by the actors.

Question 21

ken loach involvement to make it a mainstream film?

Answer 21

Some people have argued that because Ken Loach was on board that might make the film more mainstream as he is well known and has won several awards. Perhaps it makes the film seem more popular and open up to a wider audience. If it had been an unknown social realism director it may not have got the recognition.

Question 22

setting: problems

Answer 22

It is set in a regional area of Britain which narrows the audience down. It is difficult to sell a film like that to a global audience. Many other audiences are only really familiar with Britain in reference to London or Surrey. To try and sell a film about places such as Newcastle and Sheffield is challenging. Particularly because of the heavy regional accents in the film. Audiences in America for example will find it difficult to understand the accents.

Question 23

niche nature:

Answer 23

The niche nature of the film, along with its limited global appeal, might explain why the film had a limited distribution to just a handful of countries.
The film did better in countries where it could be subtitled i.e. France, Spain, Brazil, South America. It was only shown once in America at an award ceremony.

Question 24

bbc - public service broadcaster:

Answer 24

The BBC is a Public Service Broadcaster, which means that they get their money from the public - from the TV licence that the national residents pay for. Approximately 140 British pounds.

Part of their remit (obligations) as a broadcaster is that they have to be informative, educational as well as entertaining; show diversity and showcase new talent.

Question 25

social and cultural contexts:

Answer 25

Ken Loach is also very well known for being very left wing, and anti-conservative. He loves exploring problems caused in the UK by Government policy. He is staunchly a Labour supporter.
The difference between Labour and Conservative is that the latter wish to ‘conserve’ the status quo and like the idea of hierarchy. Whereas the former are inherently socialist and promote the interests of working and lower class.
You can see the impact that Ken Loach’s ownership and leadership has had on the narrative, the content and all the marketing materials. So the director’s political views are clearly reflected.

Question 26

technology in production:

Answer 26

Very few ‘new technologies’ were used in the production of the film. For examples there was no use of 3D, IMAX, CGI etc. This was due to the genre of the film, it was not needed in the narrative. They also had a low budget so it was unnecessary.

Question 27

target audience:

Answer 27

the audience for the film was a older demographic 45+.

Question 28

daily mirror: marketing

Answer 28

Eone productions who marketed they put a article within the Daily Mirror as though it was I Daniel Blake writing, as if he was a real person.

This is a very interesting narrative enigma for the audience; it created mystery, it engaged them and it added to the genre, giving a sense of realism. The Daily Mirror is a left wing, so they will have the same political beliefs that are perpetuated in the film. This was a key marketing tool.

Question 29

eOne guerrilla marketing:

Answer 29

Eone Productions did the distribution and marketing for IDB they used a range of methods that might have been inexpensive but had high impact. A lot of these techniques are what we call ‘guerrilla marketing’ techniques.

That means it’s wild, it’s on the streets and the public are going to see it. Sometimes it’s controversial or even illegal in some cases.

Question 30

margaret thatcher: marketing:

Answer 30

Maragret Thatcher who was the prime minister made several policy changes which affected the Northerners more than the South. Statistically the North of England is more likely to be left wing than right wing. Thus, this was a good way of targeting the audiences who would agree with the ideologies conveyed in the film.

Question 30

margaret thatcher: marketing:

Answer 30

Maragret Thatcher who was the prime minister made several policy changes which affected the Northerners more than the South. Statistically the North of England is more likely to be left wing than right wing. Thus, this was a good way of targeting the audiences who would agree with the ideologies conveyed in the film.

Question 31

distribution:

Answer 31

The film was distributed on DVD, after it’s release in the cinema. It was also available as a digital download perhaps to target younger audiences