Paramount pictures production company

Paramount Pictures

The production company we have chosen to research for our film is Paramount Pictures. We think this particular company will be suitable because Paramount Pictures have produced a number of well known, successful films that fit into our chosen genre, teen romantic comedy.  These films include, The Prince and Me, Mean Girls, Crossroads, Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging and She’s Out of My league.

The majority of films, which they have produced, were highly successful at the box office. Angus thongs and Perfect Snogging, a relatively new teen rom-com, has made over £10million in the UK alone. Not only have the films been successful, they also incorporate many of the themes we are considering selecting for our own opening, which include social grouping and relationships, both of which we feel the company portray well through the films they produce. The majority of teen rom-coms such as Mean Girls and Crossroads also have the same audience as who we will be targeting ourselves, meaning it will be a popular production company amongst our own audience, as the previously produced films are likely to have been watched and well received by our target audience, something we found through our questionnaire results, which proved angus thongs and perfect snogging in particular to be an extremely popular choice.

Furthermore, Paramount Pictures is a vertically integrated company because its production and distribution diversion are entwined. This is significant because Paramount Pictures have the control of all elements within the business, therefore the profit and expenditure made by Paramount Pictures is internally contained.

Following on from this, the films, which have been distributed by Paramount Pictures, include Mean Girls and Failure to Launch and they tie into our film because they incorporate the teen comedy genre. In addition to this the distribution company have experience in marketing and distribution of films regarding this genre.

Multimedia presentation

Presentation script

Audience expectations

Through various findings from both our audience questionnaire, and our study of films and film openings, which also share the genre of teen rom-com, we have been able to acquire information on what our target audience may expect from our film opening.

Firstly, the characters, which featured the most in the teen rom-coms we studied, for example mean girls and St Trinians, included the loner, geek, popular girl, bully and new girl. In addition to this, when our target audience were questioned, they confirmed these were indeed the characters they would expect to see from a new film like ours. When asked which of these characters they personally would relate to the most, the majority of answers were the loner or the new girl, and therefore these are the two stereotypes of girls we think should most prominently feature in our own opening.

Another key element that also featured in the majority of studied teen rom-coms was the common themes of social grouping, relationships, friendships and segregation. When our audience were questioned on these themes, it became clear the general opinion was the audience expect to view the main themes of relationships and social issues, incidentally, with virtually all of them commenting they could relate to all of the possible themes mentioned.

Also in terms of audience expectations, it is clearly important for films of this genre to feature both alcohol and parties, but also to stick to situations that would be deemed realistic. The possible settings for us to incorporate also in order to meet these expectations include a school and a home environment, which were the most popular among our audience, however a number of surveys also proved many would not be surprised if they were to watch a teen rom-com set outdoors, for example in popular teen location the park. 

Analysis of film openings

Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging

This film is a stereotype of teen rom-coms on the whole exploring the struggles of love and friendship through the eyes of a teenage girl desperate to be socially accepted and in a relationship. The target audience of the film is around 12-18 years of age. In just the opening two minutes of the film, we as an audience are introduced to two separate conflicts which both fit the stereotype of the problems which surround teenage girls of todays society. Firstly, there is the on-going problems between teenage girls and their parents. One of the most popular story-lines incorporating the struggle of teen girls trying to prove they are not children but responsible young women. This film we predict from the opening will be no different as the opening scene is an argument between the main character and her father, as Georgia does not feel she needs to be dropped to a party but is old enough to make her own way, a scenario which is likely to be appreciated by the target audience who probably all have found themselves in a similar situation and therefore will be able to relate to the characters. The second conflict which appears in the sequence is the arguments which occur between different friendship groups in the struggle for popularity and attention from males.   

This conflict is not only exaggerated between the actions and language of the girls, but is also highlighted through their physical appearances. The stereotypical 'bitchy' girls who appear are exactly what, from experience, we would expect to see from the popular girls in teen rom-coms. The long blonde hair and perfectly, if not slightly heavily applied make-up of the girls makes them more difficult to relate to from the point of view of the audience, which was obviously the aim as the the main character is part of a group of who have the stereotypical attributes of 'normal' girls. In no way are these girls less attractive, but are simply less groomed and seem to have a much better attitude regarding popularity and the social ranking within school groups. 

The main setting of this film is a party, which is a good way to view all girls at once, which gives an instant portrayal of the importance of fitting in and the appearance features the majority of teen girls conform to in order to be accepted by other teen girls. Out of roughly thirty girls, there is only Georgia who does not blend in. All other girls are dressed and made-up perfectly to match the glamour that is linked to teen girls in their 'desperation' to look good in the eyes of their peers. The decor of the room in which the party is being held is another pristine representation of the characters of the popular girls, as it has a sort of sophisticated feel.

Sisterhood of the travelling pants

Sisterhood of the travelling pants is a teen romance with elements of comedy and at certificate PG, is aimed at teenage girls, roughly aged 11-19 years old. It is the tale of four best friends, different in styles, shapes and sizes but who mysteriously discover a pair of jeans which fit all of them. Convinced this impossibility must have been magically brought to them, the four, who are about to be parted for the summer, decide to share the jeans between them in the hope they will be brought together regardless of the distance between them. The film opens with the narration of one of the friends, describing the ‘fate’ which brought them together. Her speaking in my opinion is a good interaction technique with the audience, who because of this are able to begin this story with some sort of background knowledge and connection to the girls. As she is speaking the images of the process of jeans being produced is being played, which although a powerful series of images, still ensures attention will mainly be directed at the voiceover.

A straight cut directly to a contrasting bright setting provides our first visual shot of all four girls. The image of the girls who make up this friendship group is automatically very striking for the viewer, as their appearances when put together almost make up a countertype of what we imagine as a modern day group of girls. The ideology surrounding friendships in teen girls is they generally socialise in groups which conform and in many ways duplicate the appearances and styles of each other, so all appear extremely similar in clothing and appearance. The image of this group shows four very different individuals, which is appropriate as there is likely to be at least one of the girls who members of the audience will be able to relate to according to their own personalities or experiences. Firstly, we have a very beautiful, long blonde haired girl, obviously highly praised for her physical appearance, however is also very athletic and outgoing. On the apposing end, we see a girl with long dark hair, with highlighted blue streaks dressed in mainly black. At the first sighting of this particular character, many would immediately label her as a ‘goth’ according to the stereotypes which accompany social groups of today’s society. Because of this, this opening sequence as a whole could be described as a countertype of teen romances in general, as the majority would incorporate the conflicts of girls of apposing characteristics.

Another technique used in this sequence is the use of flashbacks to when the girls were young to put across the length and therefore the depth of their friendship. This technique is used very well and in my opinion is very effective as it ensures along with narration, the story is told in varied, interesting ways, and by providing visual aids such as this rather than just describing the past has been proved to be more effective in inticing younger audiences such as teen girls.

The perfect match

This teen romance, aimed at teenage girls aged 10-16 years old roughly, is the tale of a teen girl who is forced to constantly move around the country at the first sign of trouble in her mothers love life, never allowing her to settle down. In the opening two minutes of this sequence, we are constantly changing from the contrasting lives and mother and daughter. The daughter is what we view as the stereotypical American teenage girl. Blonde and beautiful, however clearly lacking in total confidence to be what we would deem a popular girl in school. The main character and her friend are trying on dresses for their school prom. Prom is an event which prominently feautres in teen romances as it captures all of the interests of teen girls according to the ideology among todays society, which is taking excess pride in their appearance, mainly to attract the attention of teen boys. It also signifies the passage from being a childhood to womanhood, also another key theme surrounding the interests of teen girls.

The appearance of the teen girl in this sequence is very sterotypical. Her red dress either encodes passion or danger, which is what many beleive to be the aims of teen girls who mainly wish to appear above their years, however, the pink, flower under-garment underneath the dress reignforces the naivity of the teen.

The small clips we view of the girls mother include her going to the effort of baking a cake for her boyfriend, only to be dumped by him. Even as a mother, this woman would still come across as a very attractive, well-dressed character, however, like in so many other teen romances, the out-dated ideology reguarding women is highlighted. This idea that women are dependant on men is arguably a very bad example of gender roles for the teenage girls consuming this film, however maintains to appear in so many films of the same genre.

Evaluation of film sequences

Crossroads
Crossroads is a teen romance with elements of comedy and is the story of three teenage friends who have grown apart but find themselves re-united on an unplanned road trip. The main themes of the film are friendship and loss, but it mainly conveys the pressures and struggles of life as a teenage girl. The attitudes and behaviour of all three girls do include the fun and laughter the teen years bring, however, the strongest portrayal follows the dominant ideology of todays society that teenage girls see life as a dramatic, unfair cycle as the storyline focuses on the drama and stresses that surround the girls, which include teen pregnancy.

                                                                    

As the majority of the film is set in a car, the clothing throughout is generally just casual clothing such as tracksuits and jeans which portray the stars as 'normal' girls, something teen viewers will relate to. Reguardless of the social grouping which surround the three girls, each share the mutual similarity when it comes to their clothing during the girls' prom and night out. The dresses worn by the girls are all exaggerate their petite figures, and definatley follow the opinion of many that teen girls of todays society dress in far too revealing clothing, however, it works as the film is being consumed by other teenage girls who generally aim to dress above their ages.

As previously stated, the majority of the film is set in a convertable car. The interesting thing about this setting is even in todays society, the girls have to become dependant on a male to ensure they can get from place to place, who later provides a love interest for on of them.

Wild Child

Teen rom-com wild child is the story of an American teen whose wild ways force her father to send her to a British boarding school. After many escape attempts, formed friendships and a love interest, the teenager decides to stay and adjust to the British way of life. This film in my opinion is the perfect stereotype of teen rom-coms on the whole because of the characters incorperated in it. The stereotypical good vs evil is adapted to fit the world of teenage girls with friendship groups clash over popularity and attention from the male of the film.

The costume in this film proves a very vital aspect in ensuring American teen poppy stands out from the other British teenagers. The two nationalties are contrasted through the clothing and make-up choices with American glamour apposing the stereotype of the natural British beauty. Whatever the styles and personalities of the girls, we see them unite and bond through fashion, again not only a stereotype of teenage girls but also a common theme of teen rom-coms aimed at young girls.

                                                                                                            

The setting of wild child is the British countryside and comes across as a typical American interpretation of Britain as a country with excess farmland and limited exitement and city life. The boarding school is composed of rules with education and little room for social interaction, yet the girls are soon changed by the arrival of Poppy which supports the ideology teen girls only act in groups.

St Trinians

The film St Trinians is a teen comedy, certificate 12, aimed mostly at teen girls aged 12-18, and its set in an old British girls school. The films main themes include the differences in social groups of todays teen culture, and the pressures teens girls face to be accepted in schools. The different social groups which include 'chavs', 'goths', and 'geeks' etc are mainly translated through the costumes and props of the film. The different features of girls from different social groups are highlighted through typically girly attributes such as hair, make-up, body piercing, and jewelry. Language is also contrasted from the well-spoken nature of the 'posh' girls and the slang language used by the 'chavs'. 

The setting of an old fashioned girls boarding school usually would carry the iconography of well-educated, well-behaved young ladies. However, the props which soon appear such as alcohol and cigarettes support the dominant ideology of todays society regarding teens which is of course all teens are rebellious and will at some point experiment with drinking and smoking. It quickly becomes clear the students have no respect for their scenic surroundings which fits another stereotypes surrounding teens being their lack of respect. 

Finally the film of St Trinians does not only explore the stereotypes of social groups of teen culture, but pushes the typical conventions to the point it becomes a joke, which is a popular approach taken by comedies. It is however still a good example of teen comedies as there are still aspects of the film and its characters which teens can relate to such as the constant criticism they receive from the adults of the piece.

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