I, Daniel Blake

Question 1

What sort of film is IDB?

Answer 1

Independent social realist film directed by Ken Loach + co production/recieved funding from BFI+BBC films

Question 2

Co production

Answer 2

Joint venture between 2+ production companies for purpose of film production not to make money - ability to pool financial resources = higher production budget

Question 3

Who produced IDB?

Answer 3

BBC films + Why Not productions

Question 4

How do co production films obtain funding?

Answer 4

BFI specialise in funding independent films specialising in different film forms - investors, grants, product placement

Question 5

BFI

Answer 5

Founded 1933 - charity governed by Royal charter - combine cultural/creative/industrial roles - they award lottery funding to film production

Question 6

BBC films

Answer 6

Feature film making arm of BBC - founded 18 June 1990 - co produces 8 films per year

Question 7

How was IDB critically successful?

Answer 7

Highly critically acclaimed - generated debate due to contemporary social/political issues in film (gov treatment of WC)

Question 8

How was IDB critical success?

Answer 8

Exhibited at film festivals - won Palme d’or at Cannes film festival + nominated for BAFTA’s

Question 9

Political message in IDB

Answer 9

Clear left wing political message + criticism of gov policies (benefits/employment/work incapabilities)

Question 10

Work Capability Assessment

Answer 10

Central to employment/support allowance

Question 11

Austerity

Answer 11

Difficult economic situation caused by gov reducing amount of money it spends - people who are victims of austerity are forced to live without necessities

Question 12

How does IDB promote ideologies of austerity?

Answer 12

Gov/characters in positions of power villainised due to how they treat Daniel + Katie

Question 13

No recognisable stars in film effect

Answer 13

Enhances realism + positions audience to higher sense of relatability- not out of reach

Question 14

How are the remits of BFI + BBC reflected in IDB?

Answer 14

BFI - “reflecting the public” channeled through Daniel/kate = struggling working class audience…BBC - “range and ambition” unique/ambitious - themes of austerity

Question 15

How does IDB adhere to codes/conventions of British social realism film?

Answer 15

Filmed on location existing region (Newcastle) - verisimilitude, features lesser known actors, smaller budget, linear narrative, no special effects

Question 16

How does the website for IDB encourage consumers to be active?

Answer 16

Includes links to social media + supports #idanielblake - links with twitter

Question 17

How is IDB distributed?

Answer 17

Poster campaigns + trailers in cinemas

Question 18

How is IDB exhibited?

Answer 18

Shown at film festivals + received theatrical release in Britain/other countries

Question 19

How is IDB circulated?

Answer 19

Later released on digital download + DVD/Blu-Ray - now available on convergent platforms (Disney+)

Question 20

How does the British film poster establish positive status of the film?

Answer 20

Critically acclaimed, expert criticism/promise of pleasure, mark of quality, social media presence, hyperbolic language, gestures- standing up for people, direct mode of address

Question 21

Power + Media Industries - Curran & Seaton

Answer 21

Media is controlled by a small number of companies primarily driven by the logic of profit/power - media concentration limits variety/creativity/quality

Question 22

How does IDB challenge power + media industries theory?

Answer 22

Trailer provides experience that sits outside logic of profit/power + demonstrates level of variety/creativity that doesn’t reflect these ideas about media concentration

Question 23

Regulation - Livingstone + Lunt

Answer 23

Underlying struggle in recent UK regulation policy, need to further interests of citizens and need to further interests of consumers…increasing power of global media corporations with rise of convergent media technologies placed traditional approaches to media regulation at risk

Question 24

Reasons for IDB achieving 15 certificate

Answer 24

Some verbal sexual references, infrequent use of stronger expletives “c*nt” featured but are justified by context, 2 notable scenes of emotional intensity