Tuesday 10 September 2013

MICROBUDGET BRITISH FILM: SHIFTY

On Wednesday 11 September we watch Shifty (Eran Creevy) in class on BBc iPlayer HERE. It is available until 16 September. If you are on the Drama trip, please do this prep and class anyway.

We use this as an example of a microbudget film. We note what makes it a British film, how it used unconventional distribution methods and what Creevy made next.

Plot: Shifty, a young crack cocaine dealer in London, sees his life quickly spiral out of control when his best friend returns home. Stalked by a customer desperate to score at all costs, and with his family about to turn their back on him for good, Shifty must out-run and out-smart a rival drug dealer, intent on setting him up for a big fall. As his long time friend Chris, confronts the dark past he left behind him, Shifty is forced to face up to the violent future he's hurtling towards.

THE FILM INDUSTRY

  • Hollywood and British film: differences in genre, cinematography, budget, audience, studio systems
  • The four stages: production, direction, distribution, exhibition
  • Digital film
  • What does a distributor do?
  • On which platforms do you view films?
  • Theatrical exhibition: protected windows, revenue, peripherals
PREP Use Blogger to make a blog in the style of the class blog and email me your url.