Film Industry: I, Daniel Blake

1) What is independent cinema and how is it different to Hollywood blockbusters?
- Independent cinema, also known as 'indie' is when media producers create a piece of film with a lower budget compared to something like Disney.

2) What is I, Daniel Blake about?
- I, Daniel Blake is an award-winning independent British Drama film. The main character, Daniel Blake, 59, who has worked as a joiner most of his life in the North East of England needs help from the State for the first time ever following an illness.

He crosses paths with a single mother Katie and her two young children, Daisy and Dylan. Katie’s only chance to escape a one roomed homeless hostel in London is to accept a flat some 300 miles away.

Daniel  stands up and fights for his dignity, leading a one-man crusade for compassion that will transform the lives of a struggling single mother (Katie) and her two children.   It is a drama that has a strong political message about Britain in an age of government austerity

3) Who directed I, Daniel Blake and why is this important?
- I, Daniel Blake was released in 2016 and was directed by Ken Loach. This is important because Ken Loach's goal is to educate people about everyday struggles that society deals with.
4) How was I, Daniel Blake promoted to an audience? List at least three different methods used by the film's marketing campaign and how they targeted their audience.

• Organise free (or ‘pay what you can’) screenings and talks in community centres across the UK to build local enthusiasm for the film’s message.
• Film was premiered not in London, but Newcastle (where the film is set) to gain local support. 
• Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn attended the London premiere and people that had been denied benefit payments were asked to placard the event.

5) What unusual or creative marketing methods were used to get audiences talking about the film?

• A partnership was set up with Trinity Mirror (Daily Mirror owners) to run a marketing campaign based on the film. The Daily Mirror traditionally supports the Labour Party and left-wing causes so therefore agreed with the main message of the film.

6) What was the estimated production budget for I, Daniel Blake and how much did it make at the box office?

- I, Daniel Blake was estimated to make £2 million and ended up making £11 million at the box office.

7) How can independent films like I, Daniel Blake compete with Hollywood blockbusters like Black Widow?

- Indie films like I, Daniel Blake can complete with Hollywood blockbusters with their deep messages that speak directly to the audience.

8) What is the name of the film regulator in the UK and what was the age rating for I, Daniel Blake?
- The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) gave I, Daniel Blake the age rating of 15.

9) What aspects of the film contributed to the film's age rating?
- I, Daniel Blake was given a rating of 15 due to bad language, frightening, and intense scenes.

10) Finally, considering everything you have learned about I, Daniel Blake, do you think the film was a success? Explain your answer in a well developed paragraph.

- I believe the movie was a success because Ken Loach aimed for something beyond mainstream entertainment. Instead, he chose projects with the intention of educating the audience. Despite an estimated budget of around 2 million pounds, the film managed to surpass expectations, grossing an impressive 11 million pounds at the box office. What's even more noteworthy is the substantial support it received from the audience, who willingly backed the project.