Independent Cinemas : A Trip to Cinema City...

On Wednesday 9th November, we adventured out on a trip to cinema city, to see an exemplar of an independent cinema. A independent cinema can defined in two ways; firstly a cinema which is privately own and profit driven, secondly a cinema which is non-profit making and receives public subsidy. One way in which an independent cinema differs from a multi-complex one is that it does not just show typical films, but also explores others areas (examples = opera, national theatre and educational screenings). Cinema city shows four different types of films :

• Mainstream = High profit films, can be also familiar classics, examples are 'the kings speech' and 'the help'
• Crossover = more complex and difficult films, an example is Amelie
• Challenging = Most hardcore arthouse
• Specialist = Achieve and more obscure films

We were given a half an hour lecture, before the screening on 'Animal Kingdom' (a bit more of an attractive morning than lessons at school!). He first of all informed us of a time line of figures and events in the film industry :

• 1948 : UK British box office admissions = 500 million
• 1975 : Jaws was released (this became the first summer block buster)
• 1980 : UK British box office admissions = 50 million (the downs fall was due to the increase in home video)
• 1984 : First multi complex cinema opened in Milton Keynes
• Modern Day : Peak admission period for America in the summer holidays, whilst as in Britain it is between January and March

He also informed us on what sells a film to the audience, a selling point can be through; genre, the actors/actresses in it, the advertisement of the film (example of this being a major factor is in 'slumdog millionaire'), the reviews (example of the being a Major factor is in 'Ameilie') and who had directed the film. Four of the major films distributors were also stated in the lecture, these dominate 85% of the film company, with them all being USA company's; Warner Brothers, Parment, 20th Century Fox and Universal.

'Animal Kingdom' (2010)
This is an exemplar of an independent, low budget film (it had a budget of $5.2 million and a world wide gross of $6.8 million) which was directed by David Michod in 2010. It is classified as a crime drama genre, and set in Australia. It was a film that won the sun dance award. It follows the storyline of a criminal family, who are focused on through the grandson 'J'. After J's mother dies, he is forced to get in contact with his maternal grandmother, therefore dragging himself into the life of drugs and guns. This film explores, a war between the Cody's and the armed robbery squad. 'J' only past life is shown through his long term girlfriend, but when his personal life is thrown in the air with her murder, its all for one in the fight to survive against his own family. I personally thought it was a very good exemplar of a low independent budget film, it brought suspense and we all defiantly had the "on the edge of your seat" reaction.

Animal Kindom Trailer