I, Daniel Blake Media Studies Overview

Aug 14, 2024

I, Daniel Blake - A-Level Media Studies Guide

Introduction

  • Set Text: I, Daniel Blake
  • Exam Board: EDUCAS, A-level Media Studies
  • Component: Section B of Component 1 (Film Industry Text)
  • Focus on industries section of the exam

Key Production Details

  • Director: Ken Loach
  • Production Companies: 16 Films (Ken Loach's company) and Why Not Productions (French)
  • Distribution: E1 Productions
  • Additional Funding: BBC and BFI

Ken Loach

  • Known for social realism genre
  • Famous director, won awards including Oscars
  • His name is key for marketing due to lack of famous cast

Funding and Impact

  • BBC and BFI Funding: Target films that are culturally significant, educational, and distinctly British
  • Implications: Showcases regional Britain, niche storylines, unusual characters

Production Constraints

  • Low budget: Real locations like streets and job centres, minimal set pieces
  • Improvised acting

Narrative and Themes

  • Hard-hitting film about the British benefit system
  • Educational and informative, not just entertainment
  • Political: Anti-conservative, critiques government austerity

Target Audience and Marketing

  • Target Audience: Older viewers (45+), left-wing
  • Marketing Strategies:
    • Traditional media: Newspapers, magazines, trailers, posters
    • Daily Mirror: Articles written as if by the character Daniel Blake
    • Guerrilla Marketing: Projecting film quotes on buildings, protests, and street marketing

Marketing Context

  • Political Context: Aligns with left-wing ideologies
  • Premiere: Held in Newcastle instead of London, Jeremy Corbyn attended and promoted the film

Technology Use

  • Limited use of new technologies in production
  • Post-release digital download available, enabling wider access though potential piracy issues

Regulation

  • BBFC Rating: 15, due to emotional and disturbing scenes
  • Consideration for educational value for younger audiences

Theories and Analysis

  • Curran and Seaton: Reflection of diverse and independent production results in a creative film
  • Balancing educational and commercial objectives

Conclusion

  • Premiere and Promotion: Focused on engaging regional and left-wing audiences
  • Film's Influence: Potentially educational and politically impactful

Note: For exams after 2020, additional texts like Black Panther may be included.