Straight Outta Compton Analysis

Mainstream Films - Films that cost a lot to make and therefore seek to create profit. To make up for the costs, the films are made so that many people will want to see it. Examples are: Avengers, Joker etc.
Independent Films - Films that are made with a lower budget than mainstream films. Independent films are sometimes identified by their content and style.
Differences:

• Marketing Strategies - Mainstream films tend to use expensive campaigns, advertise on TV,billboards and the internet and use any possible method to get it out into the public. Whilst on the other hand, Independent films have small marketing campaigns and are spread through word of mouth or critics/reviews.
• Actors - Mainstream films use well-known actors and actresses to attract audiences and fans of the actor/actress. The actors used in Independent films are usually unknown and are used because it is cheaper.
• Set - In Mainstream films, they personally build the sets and also in some cases travel the world to get what they need. Independent films are filmed in the same location with only a couple of shots located elsewhere as this is the cheapest option.

Production Information

• Funded by Universal Pictures and Legendary Pictures for $28 million.
• Produced by Legendary Entertainment, New Line Cinema and Universal Pictures.
• Ice Cube and Dr. Dre (members of NWA) helped produce the movie along with F. Gary Gary, Tomica Woods, Matt Alvarez and Scott Bernstein.
• Marketed with the 'Straight Outta Somewhere' meme (created by Dr. Dre) which went viral across the social media platform.
• Ice Cube's son portrayed him in the movie.
• Seven days into filming in Compton, a drive-by shooting took place directly in front of the cast and crew members while they were on the set.

Regulation and Certification

• The trailers were given the rating of 12A because whilst there was 'no clear detail of blows making contact and no bloody injury', there was still 'suggestion of violence and the sight of guns and baseball bats'.
• They were given a rating of 15 by the BBFC because of 'strong language, violence, sex, drug abuse'.
• The Director's Cut was given a rating of 18 because of 'sexualised nudity and drug use' and their more explicit scenes.

Film Marketing Exam Question 1

How do mainstream films target and maximise their audience ?
Refer to Straight Outta Compton to support your points ( 10 marks)


You should refer to the content and purpose of the  film's marketing campaign, the production history and making of the film, use of stars , links to other media industries and products , some mention of  the film's content and demonstrate that you understand how this is typical of mainstream film production and promotion 

A mainstream film is a film that cost a lot to make and therefore seeks to create profit to make up for the costs of production. To do this the films are made in a way that makes people want to come see it, using factors such as actors/actresses, set and marketing. Straight Outta Compton is an example of a mainstream film that uses these factors. The use of well-known actors/actresses in mainstream films attracts audiences and fans of the actor/actress. Straight Outta Compton uses Ice Cube's son O'Shea Jackson Jr. to portray him in the movie. This could attract fans as they would want to see a movie about Ice Cube that has his son in it. The set in mainstream films are usually built just for the movie and are very expensive. They sometimes even travel to different countries to get what they need. Straight Outta Compton was set and filmed in Compton, California and Los Angeles, California. Another major factor of mainstream films are the marketing strategies. Mainstream films tend to use expensive campaigns, advertise on TV, billboards and the internet and use any possible way to get it out into the public. Straight Outta Compton had a huge marketing strategy 'Straight Outta Somewhere' meme. Beats by Dr. Dre launched a new app through the website StraightOuttaSomewhere.com. This app loanword users to create a meme by filling in the blank space in the Straight Outta logo with a place of their choice. In under 24 hours there were over 78,000 Straight Outta images were downloaded on social media. This was a successful viral marketing photo campaign that brought a lot of attention to the film.

A mainstream film is usually produced by a famous production company. Straight Outta Compton was produced by Legendary Entertainment, New Line Cinema and Universal Pictures. Real members of NWA, Ice Cube and Dr. Dre helped to produce the movie along with F. Gary Gary, Tomica Woods (Eazy-E's wife), Matt Alvarez and Scott Bernstein. The movie was funded by Universal Pictures and Legendary Pictures for $28 million.