Blinded By The Light case study
Background reading and production research
Read the following interviews and features on Blinded By The Light:
Writer Sarfraz Manzoor on the story behind the film - Guardian
Manzoor again on the promotion of the film and audience reaction
Variety feature on the best films from the 2019 Sundance Film Festival
1) What is the story behind the production of the film?
Writer Sarfraz Manzoor on the story behind the film - Guardian
Manzoor again on the promotion of the film and audience reaction
Variety feature on the best films from the 2019 Sundance Film Festival
1) What is the story behind the production of the film?
Sarfraz Manzoor was first introduced to Bruce Springsteen through his friend Amolak at age 16 and wrote a memoir about his journey as a Springsteen fan and as a writer titled Greetings From Bury Park. This memoir became the basis of Blinded By The Light and Manzoor became a screenwriter for it.
2) What was the audience reaction to the film?
Audiences of all demographics were able to form personal connections with the story, despite sometimes not having anything in common with the central protagonist of the film.
3) Why is the Sundance Film Festival such an important part of the film industry - particularly for lower budget films?
2) What was the audience reaction to the film?
Audiences of all demographics were able to form personal connections with the story, despite sometimes not having anything in common with the central protagonist of the film.
3) Why is the Sundance Film Festival such an important part of the film industry - particularly for lower budget films?
The Sundance Film Festival allowed films that would have had little to no chance of raising enough money for a budget to get their opportunity to be funded by larger companies and build the British film industry, which can give rise to new producers that end up contributing to the growth of British film.
Funding and industry contexts
1) What was the budget for Blinded By The Light and which companies contributed to the production budget?The budget for Blinded By The Light was $15 million provided by Levantine Films and Ingenious Media.
2) Research the Bend It Networks website. What other films and projects has the company been involved with?
2) Research the Bend It Networks website. What other films and projects has the company been involved with?
Beecham House, Viceroy's House, Bend It Like Beckham, Desi Rascals, It's A Wonderful Afterlife, Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging, Mistress Of Spices, Bride and Prejudice.
3) Research Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema on the Warners website here. Summarise the history of New Line Cinema in a short paragraph.
Building on more than 50 years of innovation and creativity, New Line Cinema continues its long and successful history of producing critically acclaimed hit films that resonate with both mainstream and niche audiences around the world. Part of Warner Bros. Entertainment since 2008, New Line coordinates its development, production, marketing, distribution and business affairs activities with Warner Bros. Pictures Group to maximize film performance and operating efficiencies.
4) Read this Variety interview with director Gurinder Chadha explaining how the project came about - including budget details. What attracted Gurinder Chadha to the project and how did she manage to get the film made?
3) Research Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema on the Warners website here. Summarise the history of New Line Cinema in a short paragraph.
Building on more than 50 years of innovation and creativity, New Line Cinema continues its long and successful history of producing critically acclaimed hit films that resonate with both mainstream and niche audiences around the world. Part of Warner Bros. Entertainment since 2008, New Line coordinates its development, production, marketing, distribution and business affairs activities with Warner Bros. Pictures Group to maximize film performance and operating efficiencies.
4) Read this Variety interview with director Gurinder Chadha explaining how the project came about - including budget details. What attracted Gurinder Chadha to the project and how did she manage to get the film made?
Born in Kenya when the country was a British colony, she grew up part of the Indian/Asian diaspora who made their way from East Africa to London. Her movies have always dealt with the immigrant experience. Chadha is also a huge Springsteen fan. It took almost a decade from Chadha’s chance meeting with Springsteen, who gave his thumbs-up to the book after a 2010 U.K. screening of The Promise. They proceeded to reach out to Jon Landau and Barbara Carr at his management company, along with executive producer Tracy Nurse, a former SVP International Marketing at Sony Music, where she worked with Bruce for years, enlisting her to become part of the film’s production staff. New Line Cinema, who acquired it for the $15 million it cost to make.
1) Which company won the distribution rights after the all-night auction and for how much?
Distribution
Read this Deadline feature on the distribution deal for Blinded By The Light and answer the following questions:1) Which company won the distribution rights after the all-night auction and for how much?
New Line Cinema for $15 million.
2) Which other companies were rumoured to be bidding for the distribution rights?
2) Which other companies were rumoured to be bidding for the distribution rights?
Fox Searchlight and Lionsgate
3) According to the article, what was the 'allure' of Blinded By The Light?
The universal appeal of Springsteen’s coming-of-age tunes, which tell honest stories about a hardscrabble upbringing, ambition and the fight to break free of all shackles to do something worthwhile with one’s life.
4) UK distribution was secured by eOne Entertainment. Visit the eOne About Us page on their website - what do they claim to offer under the heading 'Passion meets possibility?'
eOne enables every step in the entertainment value chain from development and production to marketing and distribution. With the reach of a studio and the flexibility of an indie, we share bold stories with audiences around the world.
The trailer suggests that Blinded By The Light is a comedy and a feel-good film but also heavily emphasises that the protagonist is British Asian and that the film is set in the 80s. Audiences could therefore enjoy this film due to personal identification through the protagonist and time period and through diversion as a comedy.
2) What TV shows and websites did interviews with writer, director and stars of Blinded By The Light? Why are interviews a good way to promote a new film release?
3) According to the article, what was the 'allure' of Blinded By The Light?
The universal appeal of Springsteen’s coming-of-age tunes, which tell honest stories about a hardscrabble upbringing, ambition and the fight to break free of all shackles to do something worthwhile with one’s life.
4) UK distribution was secured by eOne Entertainment. Visit the eOne About Us page on their website - what do they claim to offer under the heading 'Passion meets possibility?'
eOne enables every step in the entertainment value chain from development and production to marketing and distribution. With the reach of a studio and the flexibility of an indie, we share bold stories with audiences around the world.
Marketing, promotion and reception
1) What does the trailer suggest regarding genre and the potential audience pleasures of Blinded By The Light?The trailer suggests that Blinded By The Light is a comedy and a feel-good film but also heavily emphasises that the protagonist is British Asian and that the film is set in the 80s. Audiences could therefore enjoy this film due to personal identification through the protagonist and time period and through diversion as a comedy.
2) What TV shows and websites did interviews with writer, director and stars of Blinded By The Light? Why are interviews a good way to promote a new film release?
BBC One, Hey You Guys and Bend It Networks did interviews for Blinded By The Light. Interviews are a good way to promote a new film release as it stimulates public interest and brings the film to the attention of a large audience.
3) What did film posters for Blinded By The Light feature and where did they appear? You may need to research this on Google Images.
Both UK and US posters for Blinded By The Light feature the protagonist, Javed, but in the UK poster, Javed is jumping with an orange and white background behind him, wearing a Sony Walkman, whereas in the US poster, Javed is putting on his headphones behind a blank background.
4) What social media accounts did Blinded By The Light use to promote the film? Note: some sites may be blocked if you are working in school - you will need to use your phone or complete your research at home.
Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.
5) Select three posts from the Blinded By The Light Instagram page and explain how they promote the film.
3) What did film posters for Blinded By The Light feature and where did they appear? You may need to research this on Google Images.
Both UK and US posters for Blinded By The Light feature the protagonist, Javed, but in the UK poster, Javed is jumping with an orange and white background behind him, wearing a Sony Walkman, whereas in the US poster, Javed is putting on his headphones behind a blank background.
4) What social media accounts did Blinded By The Light use to promote the film? Note: some sites may be blocked if you are working in school - you will need to use your phone or complete your research at home.
Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.
5) Select three posts from the Blinded By The Light Instagram page and explain how they promote the film.
On the Instagram account for the film, there are posts of the film poster for Blinded By The Light, reviews from articles and video segments taken from the movie. All of these promote the film as they create excitement and interest through understanding what it will be about while also providing reviews that will make the film more credible for the average audience to belief that the film is worth the watch.
6) Go to the Bend It Networks YouTube channel. How does Gurinder Chadha introduce the channel? What other content is on the Bend It Networks YouTube channel?
She introduces the channel as being a place for people to go to if they have interests that they want to share and be a part of a wider community where people can share not just those interests, but culture as well. The channel also contains movie trailers for Chadha's other works including interviews and the makings of her films.
7) Look at the box office figures for Blinded By The Light from The Numbers website. How much did it make at the box office and why do you think it was largely unsuccessful?
6) Go to the Bend It Networks YouTube channel. How does Gurinder Chadha introduce the channel? What other content is on the Bend It Networks YouTube channel?
She introduces the channel as being a place for people to go to if they have interests that they want to share and be a part of a wider community where people can share not just those interests, but culture as well. The channel also contains movie trailers for Chadha's other works including interviews and the makings of her films.
7) Look at the box office figures for Blinded By The Light from The Numbers website. How much did it make at the box office and why do you think it was largely unsuccessful?
Blinded By The Light made $19,529,914 which is not successful compared to its $15 million budget. This film may have been largely unsuccessful due to its lack of conforming to a specific genre, therefore not being able to have a large amount of people from a certain audience that would be guaranteed to watch the film. It has also been suggested that Blinded By The Light should have had limited screenings in select cinemas at the start of its release to create more public interest.
8) Click on the tabs with further information (such as 'News', 'Box Office' and 'Video Sales'). Copy and paste some more statistics or sales figures to add to your understanding of the film's financial performance.
8) Click on the tabs with further information (such as 'News', 'Box Office' and 'Video Sales'). Copy and paste some more statistics or sales figures to add to your understanding of the film's financial performance.
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