Ill Manors: Research Task

1) Research all the institutions involved in the production of Ill Manors. List them with a summary of what their contribution to the film was.

There are 3 institutions that are associated with the production of Ill Manors. The first is Film London Microwave. This is a film production company that helps in the production of low-budget films like Ill Manors. This production house was able to fund Ill Manors. BBC films are the feature film-making division of the BBC. Similar to Film London Microwave BBC films also help in funding small-budget films. Aimimage is a film equipment company that is based in Camden (Central London), that enables the sale and hire of filming equipment. In the distribution of Ill Manors, Revolver Entertainment had a major hand.

2) How much did Ill Manors cost to produce (its budget)?

Ill Manors was a low-budget British film that had cost £100,000.

3) How was Ill Manors funded?

At first Ben Drew (Plan B) was refused funding as he was an inexperienced director, so he wrote and directed his own short film called Michelle in 2008, which he financed himself. Ill Manors had struggled to get funding three years prior to filming, until in 2009 Film London Microwave scheme enabled to receive funding and start filming. Furthermore, in 2010 Plan B went on ‘The Defamation of Strickland Banks’ tour for music which also funded his film.  

4) What is the target audience for Ill Manors?

The target audience for Ill Manors is people between the ages of 14-25, but also people with a stereotypical view of teenagers, such as upper class people.

5) Who is the main distributor of Ill Manors?

The main distributor of Ill Manors is Revolver Entertainment, who was sold the rights in April of 2005.

6) How was Ill Manors promoted using broadcast platform?

Ill Manors was promoted using different mediums under the broadcast platform. The main method to Ill Manors being promoted was the soundtrack of the album, which Plan B premiered in May 2012. The albums include ‘Lost My Way’ and ‘Deepest Shame’. In May 2012, the track ‘Lost My Way’ was played for the first time on BBC radio 1, and then in June 2012 Plan B then preformed a live performance at BBC radio Live Lounge.

7) Compare this with a big budget blockbuster. What are the main similarities and differences?

The Dark Knight Rises was a major Hollywood blockbuster in 2012 and was only 2^nd to Marvel’s Avengers. The similarity of both films was the release date as they both happen in middle of the year. The differences of Ill Manors and The Dark Knight Rises are that the storylines and narratives are completely; also the budget of both films was significantly different. Ill Manors budget was £100,000, where as the Dark Knight Rises Budget was $250-300 million. Also, the amount each film made at the box office was different, as The Dark Knight Rises Made $1,084,439,099, whereas Ill Manors made £453,570. Finally the genre of the films was completely different as The Dark Knight Rises is a superhero movie based around DC Universe, where as Ill Manors is a British Crime Drama.

8) How does the trailer for Ill Manors hook audiences into the narrative and pose questions that the film will answer (Barthes: enigma codes)? Identify 3 ways/techniques.

The trailer of Ill Manors is able to hook audiences into the narrative by using different techniques. The trailer presents a series of clips compiled together, that present all 6 main characters, in a way that creates different enigma codes that surface the questions of who each character is and what is their significance in the narrative of the film. The trailer presents the questions these questions that can only be answered by the film, as it is the root of all the violence and illegal activity in the trailer. Furthermore the technique of a voice over is used by Plan B, however it is an evolved version of a voiceover as it him rapping his song ‘I am the Narrator’, this produces synergy as it links in his music and his production in to each other to promote each other.

9) How does the trailer of Ill Manors balance plot and spectacle?

10) Think about the certificate of Ill Manors (18 certificates). Research film certification and outline what is deemed acceptable for this certificate. What is the difference between a 15 certificate and 18 certificates?

Ill Manors was deemed with an 18 certificate, this mean that no theme is prohibited at 18. Adults are free to pick their own entertainment within the law. The following presents the topics of a 15 certificate:

Ø  Strong violence

Ø  Frequent strong language (e.g. f***)

Ø  Portrayals of sexual activity

Ø  Strong verbal reference to sex

Ø  Sexual nudity

Ø  Brief scenes of sexual violence/verbal references to sexual violence

Ø  Discriminatory language/behaviour

Ø  Drug taking

The following presents the issues of an 18 certificate:

Ø   Very strong violence

Ø  Frequent strong language (e.g. f***) and/or very strong language (e.g. C***)

Ø  Strong portrayals of sexual activity

Ø  Scenes of sexual violence

Ø  Strong horror

Ø  Strong blood and gore

Ø  Real sex (in some circumstances)
   > Discriminatory languages and behaviour