Transcript File - Film Studies

WORKING TITLE
Revision – Topic Sentence
Paragraph Starters
PLAN A RESPONSE TO BOTH EXAMPLE
EXAM QUESTIONS
Question taken from WJEC FM2 Exam
7. ‘How far does genre contribute to the
distinct identity of your chosen production
company? [40]
8. ‘How far do the films you have studies for
this topic share similar messages and
values?[40]
WRITING A RESPONSE
After you have completed your plans. Choose one
of the questions to write a response.
Use
 your plan,
 your viewing notes and
 the marks scheme to help you.
Remember to support you points with direct
reference to key sequences.
Include a quote from Tim Beven or Eric Fellner
and refer to the Film Reviews
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Intro: lots of different genres on slate but
I’m going to focus on Romcoms and WT specific British construction of a
Romcom with it’s distinctive characteristics
Success of the Romcom – why does it appeal to audiences?
American actresses- his leading ladies and central love interest in the
narrative
Other stock or stereotypical characters and the similarities between them.
Quirky ones that create comedy.
Use of Big TV names.
Richard Curtis writer closely associated with Romantic comedy genre.
Conc: Economic reasons for success of genre.
Genre and Star theory – is it the genre or the stars now (or both that
contribute to WT identity?)
ESSAY PLAN
Working Title has changed a great deal since its
creation in …It now has a varied slate, working with a
huge number of different actors, directors and writers to
produce some very diverse films.
.
However, as asserted in the title, Working Title is
probably best known for and associated with one genre
the British Romcom and this contributes to the overall
identity of the company.
Perhaps the best known of Working Title’s films is
‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’…
 (Explore how this film had the stereotypical generic
Romcom codes and conventions)
 (You should also briefly explore how it defines itself as
a very British Romcom)
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Perhaps the biggest impact to the overall identity
of Working Title is the repeated use of Richard
Curtis to write Romantic Comedies for the
production company. For my chosen films he
follows a very simple, similar narrative pattern…
(could briefly explore stock characters and
locations)
You could also explore the universal attitudes
and values or ideology that underpin these films
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This idea of using different actors yet similar
roles is also seen in the casting of Will and
Charles’ friends in the two films. For example, …
(Use of stock or stereotypical characters)
There are economic reasons for Working Title
using the same or similar actors, writers and
directors…
 Some critics also believe film should be analysed
using ‘Genre and/or Star theory’, for example…
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And finally, try to include at least one quote from
Tim Beven or Eric Fellner…
WORKING TITLE – FORMULAIC GENRE
Bevan: ‘I think it’s critical. One of the things
we shy away from in British film is the
genre thing and that’s what makes the
movie world go round. We created a romantic
comedy genre in Britain. When you make a film
that a big audience enjoys – that’s a very
gratifying feeling…’
 Fellner: It’s an interesting question because it’s
the natural place of the British [film]
community to start apologising or being
commercial, and I think the thing Tim and I
are quite proud of is that we’re not
apologetic
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‘The Working Title philosophy has always
been to make films for an audience - by that
I mean play in a multiplex. We totally
believe in this because we know it is the only
hope we have of sustaining the UK film
industry.’ (Lucy Guard & Natasha Wharton)
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Fellner: We've got a new Richard Curtis movie
called "About Time" which stars Rachel
McAdams and a fantastic young actor called
Domhnall Gleeson, who is Brendan Gleeson's
son. He was actually in "True Grit" and he was in
"Anna Karenina" as well and he's just gorgeous
to watch on screen. It's a beautiful Richard
Curtis romantic comedy about the simplest of
things in life which is two people who fall in love
and have a family and that is it.