essay 24hr party people

Compare and contrast 24 hour party people production to that of Hollywood film


I will look at how being produced by a independent production company effects the quality and appeal of the film and how this differs to a Hollywood blockbuster.
24 hour party people was produced by film four, chanel4 films, baby cow, film council, wave pictures. All these who were involved in the production of the film are all Independent companies. This will effect the institutional factors and how the companies fit to there ethos e.g. film four having a significant ethos related to showing a diverse viewing for there audiences. This allows they to take risks in what and how they display there film and how it will challenge the audience. Hollywood would differ as it the films would of been produced by one of the big six Hollywood film companies guaranteed with big well known directors and producers whereas film four are meant to use upcoming directors and producers to show and scout for new talents in the film industry.
The target audience was aimed at adults between the ages of 18-50 .This age range is quite broad as it is set in the 80s the year of punk rock and the introduction of new bands that would be well known today. The older audience will be able to relate to this era being brought up with the music being fans and seeing the bands live. This gives the audience a time for reminiscing on there teenage years growing up with great music. The target audience for a Hollywood would be different as it will be a bigger range of ages to appeal to a family audience.the Hollywood want to keep their reputation as producers of family orientation films.They wouldn't jump to the opportunity to use a unknown director doing such films similar to trainspotting or this is England.
In an independent film you wouldn’t see much new media technology used however in some of the scenes were Tony day dreams and has hallucinations, he sees himself as god and the scene with the pigeons. These were done by special effects to create a different world and show it is far from reality reflecting his mind set. This is not typical for an independent to have such special effects due to the budget and not being able to wanting to affect the impact of the verisimilitude. They used basic sound techniques such as Foley sound, sound from the bands and music playing in the clubs, sound to creating crowd noise for laughter, talking, shouting and screaming. The editing was fast paced and a lot of quick cuts this was to reflect the pace of the film and the characters having hectic lifestyle, there on and off music careers going from highs to lows and them always re inventing themselves as artists. In a typical Hollywood film to engage the audience they would add special effects and graphics to make the film more exciting. The sounds and music will be synchronous to reflect the mood of the film whereas in 24 hour party people some scenes were they were unhappy used songs which were up beat and lively which wasn’t reflecting the characters state of mind.
Use of synergy in the film was making the samples of bands fro the 80s including the sex pistols Happy Mondays, sex pistols, the buzz cocks, new order, the clash and other artists. Having their records included in the film made people either reconnect with there music from their youth or younger generation experience what the music used to be like. Each had to be copyright and permission by the individuals record companies.Hollywood films such as transformers will use synergy within every opportunity of the film.They used burger king, watch make, a Ferrari, jewelery and other products which they think will apply to the target audience e.g which was aimed at men.
Media convergence has helped for the film to be viewed in a broader way. It can be viewed on phones, DVD, blue ray, virgin media, independent cinemas, computers, and television. The film is guaranteed to be shown on channel4 and film four due to them producing it.This helps with the films target audience knowing that people who will watch film four will understand the humor and storyline and will know what kind of style the film will be like.
The representation of Britishness that was portrayed was the attitudes towards sex drugs alcohol, music. The film shows us how all these factors impact on each other. It is shown as a fun experience and is openly done e.g. scene were he is given sexual favours from the women and lead singer starts snorting cocaine.It shows a posstive attitudes to these bad habits adn reflecting the era were these were socially accepted by not only us but the media aswell.
In conclusion 24 hour party people represents a era of Britain were sex drugs and musics was seen and taken on as the care free attitude towards life. The way in which it was produced stuck to its ethos of what it showed taking risk with the content and not holding back from the lives of the characters and knowledge and applying it to real life things us as the audience could relate to.