Ill Manors - Music Video (Mr Halsey)

1.What similarities and differences are there between the music video and the TEDx lecture in terms of promoting the film to the audience?

There are many similarities and differences between the music video and the TEDx lecture. One of the similarities between the music video and the TEDx lecture  is when he talks about the government. Plan B makes a point of the government having loads of money but not using is wisely. For example they would rather spend it on other things than keeping a community centre open for young people.

The second similarity between the music video and the TEDx lecture is that he talks about the word 'chav'. Plan B talks about how the word used to mean child which is originally an Romani word. However, it now means a young lower-class person typified by brash and loutish behaviour and the wearing of (real or imitation) designer clothes.

2. Research the Ill Manors track and soundtrack album - Record companies? Sales? Music reviewers' response?

Plan B, who is also known as Ben Drew had  written and performed the soundtrack for the film Ill Manors on July 23 2012. The soundtrack was recorded at the Edge Recording Studio under the record label, Atlantic. 

The soundtrack to Ill Manors was mainly written due to the riots that happened across England in 2011. This was Plan B does this because he wanted to get across how young people felt that they were rejected towards society. The song shows why they decided to riot and how they were feeling.

Media Forms: What techniques does the video use to establish the setting and  engage the audience?

The setting is placed in urban area to show the audience what type of people live there. Society nowadays associates those types of areas with 'chavs'. Plan B used that type of setting to show why young people are up to no good. The target audience for the film Ill Manors are demographics that are aged between 15-25 years old. This is because generally teenagers can relate to the situations that are going on in the storyline of the film. Also, this is the target audience because most teenagers like to watch films which involve a lot of swearing, violence and action along with a good plot.

Media Representations: How is gender/ethnicity/age represented in the video?

More males are shown in the music video, this is because everyone has the stereotype in their head that males are more dominant and always the leader when there is trouble. However, in the music video there were also some females shown but they were being influenced by the males. The age range in the video were from 15 year olds to 25 year olds. This is because around this age range the young adults are dropping out of school or cannot get a job so they are turning towards violence and crime.

Media Audiences: Who does this text/artist appeal to and why? 

Plan B appeals to anyone that has had a hard time growing up whether it was in school or at home, this is because Plan B knows what it is like to come from a background where you feel like society is always judging you for what you do yet they do not know what you are going through.

Media Institutions: In what ways is the video typical of music videos and what values does it promote? 

Plan B believes that children these days resort to drugs and commit crimes is because of how they have been brought up and where they have been brought up. Their parents probably didn't care what their kids got up to because they may have been drug addicts and alcoholics. He also believes that there is not enough support for young people nowadays this is why they turn to violence and drugs. The government is rich enough yet they don't help the younger generation this is Plan B's ideology. The social media portrays young people in a negative and bad way by always highlighting the bad things they do and never highlighting the positive things. Social media only look at one side of the story and only look at it how they want to, they don't look at why they have committed these crimes. Plan B wants to change the way young people are portrayed. So in the music video he did exactly this. He showed how politicians are no use and how young adults resort to violence and crime.

Ill Manors - Research Task (Mr Halsey)

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

The institutions producing the film 'Ill Manors: were Film London Microwave, BBC Films and Aimimage. These are all low budget British film institutions in terms of making and funding films.

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

The film Ill Manors  cost £100,000 to produce and made £453.570 from box office alone in the first eight weeks.

3. How was Ill Manors funded?

The film was funded by three studios called Film London Microwave, BBC Films and Aimimage. Film London Microwave was part of the Ill Manors production in 2009. The BBC Films and Aimimage studios were known for the low budget British film making. Ben Drew who is also known as Plan B went on tour in 2010 and 2011 performing 'The Defamation of Strickland Banks'

4. What is the target audience for Ill Manors?

The target audience for the film Ill Manors are demographics that are aged between 15-25 years old. This is because generally teenagers can relate to the situations that are going on in the storyline of the film. Also, this is the target audience because most teenagers like to watch films which involve a lot of swearing, violence and action along with a good plot.

5. Who is the main distributor for Ill Manors?

The main distributor for the film Ill Manors is Revolver Entertainment, this is because Ben Drew sold the distribution rights to the film Ill Manors to them in April 2011. He did this in order to raise funds for the film. Revolver Entertainment located both in Los Angeles and London. It was found in 1997 and has release independent films and also documentaries.

6. How was Ill Manors promoted using the broadcast platform?

Ill Manors was promoted through Revolver Entertainment because they were given rights to the film. On the other hand, along with this Ill Manors was helped to become big through the music videos that Plan B had done to help promote the storyline as well as what the film was about.

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

Comparing Ill Manors to a big budget blockbuster you can see many differences and similarities as well as differences. One of the similarity is that both have either a main character or protagonist this is the character that makes it big or survives in terms of the storyline. One difference is that big budget blockbusters always have actors/actresses that the audience are familiar with on the other hand the low budget film the characters in the film weren't well recognized as they weren't as famous. 

8. How does the trailer for Ill Manors hook audiences into the narrative and pose questions that the film answer (Bathes: enigma codes)? Identify three ways or techniques.
(Use your notes on the trailer to help)

The Ill Manors trailer promotes the film and appeals to the age demographic that the film is aimed at, the 15-25 year old age range. This is done by the use of a music video as teenagers are more likely to watch the music video therefore getting a point across in a music video is an effective way of hook audiences into watching the movie. 

9. How does the trailer for Ill Manors balance plot and spectacle?

The trailer for Ill Manors have a lot of different scenes and characters. In addition, this creates plot and spectacle as it shows the different storylines in the film and the fact that they all link and cross in one way or another. Also, the use of different spectacles in the trailer also hooks an audience.

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

A 15 certificate involves strong violence and language but not a lot is shown, drug use is allowed however it must not be promoted or encourage drug to be taken. Any sexual context is allowed but if sexual violence is involved it must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification. An 18 certificate film would have very strong violence and language which is likely to be continuous in an 18 certificate film, also strong sexual activity/context is likely to be shown. Gruesome, strong blood scenes and real sex, crude and explicit sex references are permitted. Overall Ill Manors would be an 18 certificate as it contains context from an 18 certificate such as violence, strong language and real sex references therefore would be suitable for audiences who are 18 and above.

Ill Manors: TEDx Lecture

1. What are Plan B's beliefs/politics? What are his values/ideologies?

Plan B believes that children these days resort to drugs and commit crimes is because of how they have been brought up and where they have been brought up. Their parents probably didn't care what their kids got up to because they may have been drug addicts and alcoholics. He also believes that there is not enough support for young people nowadays this is why they turn to violence and drugs. The government is rich enough yet they don't help the younger generation this is Plan B's ideology. The social media portrays young people in a negative and bad way by always highlighting the bad things they do and never highlighting the positive things. Social media only look at one side of the story and only look at it how they want to, they don't look at why they have committed these crimes. Plan B wants to change the way young people are portrayed.

2. Who is the target audience of the TEDx lecture? Demographics? Pychographics? How do you know? How does this compare to the audience for his music/films?

The target audience for this TEDx lecture are people who are fans of Plan B so they can understand why he made the film and people who are constantly judging young people just because they have made bad choices and some mistakes. This lecture could also be targeted at young adults and teenagers that need some advice or even a role model to look up to as Plan B is trying to motivate younger teenagers/adults to do something positive and something they enjoy doing. The psychographic group are reformers this is because they believe in freedom, personal growth and seek enlightenment. In addition, his target audience for his music is what reformers would listen to as they can relate to what he raps about.

3. What does Plan B say about the media? Explain how this can be linked to Cohen's media theory of moral panics?

Plan B doesn't like the way the media portrays young teenagers/adults as they are the reason that there are so many stereotypes for them. Some of them include, criminals, chavs. This makes them hate society as they are being rejected by society and put into their own category which is negative. Cohen's media theory of moral panic can link to this as he says that the media doesn't represent the good in young people, this challenges the dominant view of young teenagers/adults.