This is England Case Study

How do filmmakers use new technologies to help attract audiences to their films?

Film makers use new advanced technology to attract their target audiences to get higher rating and gain a profit in double figure millions. However companies such as Film Four, have small budget films and are after keeping an audience, but only make small profits so attracting there audience is crucial.
In many of the websites that are associated with the production UK use new technology through monthly newsletter which you apply for free. (Optimum Releasing and Screen Yorkshire) This is more effective than sending it through the post as the majority of today’s society use a computer daily. By having a huge database from film reviews to actually purchasing the film, it allows their target audience to gain a broader knowledge of the film they may see or again, purchase (BFI). New technology can allow some of UK productions to get to the target audiences through social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. Video links have become increasingly popular on the homepages of the websites and also pod casts.
Distributing films such as Shane Meadow’s ‘This is England’ can be difficult as it was funded by the national lottery which means lack of money for advertising. However websites such as IFC entertainment give links to the film’s blog which gives an insight into how these films are made. By putting it into sections; such a theatrical releases and DVD releases gives a more direct link to the audience.
There are many different ways you can distribute the DVD. Examples of this may be a website giving a trial such as Netflix (the largest online DVD rental service, offering flat rate rental-by-mail and online streaming to customers in the United States) and them giving the audience the chose of through post or through the Internet to their TV. Also having a whole website dedicated to the film shows the audience the preparation the directors and actors went through to create the film. An example of this is Shane Meadows ‘This is England’ which gives behind the scenes footage etc. This is just another way that filmmakers use technology to attract audiences.
Relating the issues within the film can be another way that the filmmaker attracts their audience to the film. Shane Meadow’s deals with racism and rights of passage in ‘This is England’ and by attacking the issues through reviews, this attracts his audience as they will show an interest as they will understand more about it and form their own opinion.