Film Industry Task 3By Josh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1J8ZA8_plw

Big Blockbuster:Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Director: Gareth EdwardsRelease Date: 15th December 2016Budget: $200 MillionBox Office: $1.034 BillionRating: 12AGenre: Sci-Fi, ActionDistribution Company: DisneyProduction Company: Lucasfilm

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is not the first Star Wars film we have seen, in fact it is the 9th Star Wars film to be released in cinemas with many more to come.

Throughout the Star Wars series, there is a timeline that is present throughout all of the films. This timeline is presented in trilogy’s (three films) or in Standalone Anthology films. The films released do not necessarily have to follow the timeline forwards, as we have seen, the films jump forwards and backwards to give us context and expand the Star Wars Universe.

For example, we were first given ‘A New Hope’ in 1977, which is listed as Episode 4 in the series, shortly followed by ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and ‘Return of the Jedi’, Episodes 5 and 6. Then in 1999, we were given the start of the Prequel Trilogy, ‘The Phantom Menace’ which is Episode 1, followed by ‘Attack of the Clones’ and then ‘Revenge of the Sith’ (Episodes 2 and 3)

Recently, a new Trilogy of films has started production, with the first in the trilogy ‘The Force Awakens’ having been released in December of 2015, titled as Episode 7 in the Star Wars Saga.

Background Information

So where does Rogue One fit into this timeline?

Rogue One is what’s known as a Standalone Anthology film, meaning it is set in the Star Wars Universe, but follows it’s own story and has a few connections that relate it to the main Saga of films.

The film follows some unsung (rebel) heroes on their quest to obtain the plans for the Death Star in order to destroy it. This places the film in between Episodes 3 and 4, ending right before ‘A New Hope’ begins. This doesn’t mean that this film isn’t Canon though, as the film is produced officially and approved by George Lucas, the film fits in with the others and is considered to have taken place in the Star Wars Universe.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

The Star Wars Universe was created by George Lucas and first brought to the screen on December 27th 1977.

Lucas first wanted to create a ‘Sci-Fi Space Opera’ in 1971, having been inspired by watching T.V. Shows and Films like Flash Gordon when he was a child. The film took 3 script re-drafts over the space of 5 years before the fourth and final draft was the one that was used in the first Star Wars film in 1977.

Lucas always struggled with dialogue so hired scriptwriters to help him thicken out his story, however he had the creativity to create entire universes, and his world building and character creation was and still is amazing, as it has opened a whole world of opportunities for people to create stories in his universe, known as the Star Wars Expanded Universe (STEU)

He’s also a generous man and donated the majority of his money from the films to charity.

George Lucas

Rogue One, like all other Star Wars films, put a lot of emphasis and importance into Marketing their film and getting the word out about the Film so that people will go out and pay to watch the film on it’s initial release.

They released offers on tickets if consumers purchased certain items/deals (in co-operation with other companies), Star Wars Panels, billboards, bus shelter posters, magazine articles as well as teaser trailers on YouTube also helped to market the film.

As well as this, they also had deals with multiple large companies such as Duracell, Nissan, Gillette, Verizon, General Mills and Uber.

Cast and Crew members would also feature in interviews in order to increase hype for the film.

Marketing Techniques

Because the Star Wars universe is so large and multiple films had been created before releasing their own merchandise, this meant a lot of merchandise had already been made for the film. However, there were still opportunities for Rogue One exclusive merchandise, such as action figures and toys as well as a large clothing line.

Rogue One Merchandise

The marketing team for Rogue One released 8 posters in the lead up to the films release, featuring the eight main characters of the film, all of the posters have the same style to them, showing (what looks like) the Death Star’s plans being projected onto their faces. This was a good way to advertise the film as it allowed people to familiarise themselves with the characters, as well as this, consumers may be prompted to buy the whole collection or multiple of the 8 posters too, which would help advertise the film, as well as create profit.

Merchandise

The popular end battle scenes on the planet ‘Scarif’ were actually filmed in the Maldives.

Rogue One Filming The opening scene to Rogue One, which was set on the planet ‘Lah’mu’ was actually filmed on location in the south of Iceland.

Rogue One used a large amount of practical effects, on location sets as well as digital effects added in post.

The inside shots of the Scarif Data Vault were actually filmed inside the Canary Wharf Station in London.

Rogue One Trailer #1Release Date: April 7th 2016Platform: YouTubeViews: 44,062,455 (44+ Million)Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wji-BZ0oCwg

Trailers/Teasers/Interviews

Rogue One Trailer #2Release Date: October 13th 2016Platform: YouTubeViews: 23,986,629 (24 Million)Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC9abcLLQpI

There are 1000s of results for ‘Rogue One Interview’ on YouTube. There are exclusive interviews with the cast and crew, where they are asked all about filming, on and off set funny moments, and general questions on how they came to get the role.

The YouTube trailers are aimed at the younger, generation because they have been posted on YouTube where the majority of users are teenagers. However, the film is targeted for all ages as the original trilogy was released in 1977, so fans that grew up with Star Wars will want to see the film.

Trailers/Teasers/Interviews

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is yet to receive it’s own official game, however, there has been a DLC (Downloadable Content) Pack for Star Wars Battlefront. There is also a flash ‘Arcade’ game available on the Disney Games Site.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J48gd0GZGWk

Games

The DLC allows players to play as Jyn Erso and Orson Krennic. As well as play on the new Scarif Map with multiple new gamemodes.

This increased profit as well as gaining more consumers for the game.

The film was nominated for multiple awards including a BAFTA for ‘Best Make-up and Hair’ and ‘Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects’. As well as being nominated for an Oscar for ‘Best Achievement in Visual Effects’ and ‘Best Achievement in Sound Mixing’.

They also won multiple awards including ‘Motion Capture Performance’, ‘Best Visual Effects’, ‘Best Sound Effects Editing’ and ‘Best Movie Trailer’.

Awards