CASE STUDIESResearch into other films of the

same genre and format of “Spinning Time”

WILD CHILD (2008)

Featuring still fairly unknown teen star Emma Roberts, whose initial claim to fame was that she was Julia Roberts’ niece. She previously headlined in her own sitcom 'Unfabulous' on Nickelodeon in 2004.

The film proved popular in some countries but didn't procure as much financially as it was expected to. It was estimated to gross $20 million dollars but it just missed it's target only grossing $19.8 million. 

 According to reviewers the issue with the film wasn't the newbie stars that were in it, rather with the content of the film. They said it was a fairly plausible concept - spoilt brat being sent away to boarding school - but instead of "Wild Child“ it should've been "Mild Child" as protagonist Poppy didn't do anything anywhere near mild, "unless you think short skirts and “horse face” put-downs are outrageous" said the Sun online.

Teen Star: Emma RobertsBudget: 20,000,000 Gross Revenue: $19,786,125

THE HANNAH MONTANA MOVIE (2009)

o Starring phenomenon Miley Cyrus, this film already had a much bigger shot at success than “Wild Child”. The fact that the movie was capitalizing on the popularity of the teen award winning Disney sitcom, it was destined for success. 

o  o Reviewers had pretty positive things to say about

the movie. Saying it was perfect for the target audience, claiming Hannah Montana fans wouldn't befdissapointed.illlkjljkljkljjklkjljklkjlkjjljjlkjlkjlk

o Teen Star: Miley Cyruso Budget: $35,000,000 o Gross Revenue:

$155,545,279

A CINDERELLA STORY (2004)

This film with Hilary Duff, is as you can guess, a remake/adaptation of the fairytale Cinderella. The plot is straightforward as it is a take on the well known story. For it’s target audience, teen girls, it’s fun, has eye candy and is not too taxing on the mind...so in other words – perfect!

Hilary Duff was very popular at this time as the whole “Lizzie McGuire” franchise was still going strong, with the movie of the TV series being released just one year prior to this film. That also did very well bringing on over $55million from a $17million budget. Whilst teen heartthrob Chad Michael Murray had just begun melting girls hearts everywhere, weekly as Lucas Scott in long running drama ‘One Tree Hill.’

The film’s success even spurred a sequel – ‘Another Cinderella Story,’ starring Selena Gomez and Drew Seeley, however this was released straight to TV.

Teen Star(s): Hilary Duff Chad Michael Murray

Budget: $19,000,000Gross Revenue: $70,067,909  

NEW YORK MINUTE (2004)This chick flick, the last from the identical duo was not a financial success; with it bringing in less than was originally spent on it.

Critically, the film didn’t do very well either. Roger Egbert and, hosts of US film review show, “At The Movies” gave the film two thumbs down, whilst Rotten Tomatoes gave it a meagre 11%

Aside from the film’s critical and financial failings, Rob Blackwelder, of contactmusic.com gave an enlightening review –http://www.contactmusic.com/new/film.nsf/reviews/nyminute

Most interestingly was this...

“But the Olsen twins -- who despite being quite pretty don't need the clumsy pratfalling of Hilary Duff, Amanda Bynes and Lindsay Lohan to make them seem accessible and average -- have the charisma to help this movie earn the grins it needs to satisfy parents and others dragged along with the less-demanding fans already inclined to see it.”

Teen Star(s): Mary-Kate and Ashley OlsenBudget: $30,000,000Gross Revenue: $21,300,000

MEAN GIRLS (2004)

This film was major success, being written by comedy wonder woman Tina Fey and starring well established teen star Lindsay Lohan this movie attracted girls of varying ages, and was sure to be a hit!

Having grown up in front of the camera, at the age of 18 this was Lohan’s fourth feature film. The role, gained her much acclaim as she was nominated and won several awards for her performance including ‘Choice Movie Breakout Star’, ‘Best Female Performance’ and ‘Choice Actress-Comedy.’

Teen Star: Lindsay LohanBudget: $17,000,000Gross Revenue:

$129,042,871

WHAT A GIRL WANTS (2003)

Amanda Bynes was very popular around the time this film was released. As her comedy sketch series ‘The Amanda Show’ had run for three seasons on Nickelodeon, 1999-2002 and she’d recently starred along side Frankie Muniz in the highly successful ‘Big Fat Liar.’

Although the movie was pretty much a financial success, it received quite a beating in regards to reviews. Most said, although fun ‘for tween girls too young to recognize its artificiality’ it was completely inconsistent, and as such, off-putting for the more discerning viewer.

For example, Father of Bynes’ character, Colin Firth saying ‘“She has my eyes,” when Bynes’ peepers are big, round, bright and green while his are narrow, overcast and dark brown?’

All this and others are valid points, they’re really just nit picks and as such disposable. The film despite its flaws still did well because of its popular teen star. Which sort of begs the question, can anything no matter the quality, do well if it has a big enough star in it? Answer; Probably, yes...but not in the case of the next film.

Teen Star: Amanda BynesBudget: $25,000,000Gross Revenue: $50,732,139

FIRST DAUGHTER (2004)

The film had a very similar story line to ‘Chasing Liberty’ starring Mandy Moore released just a few years earlier in 2001. In fact ‘Chasing Liberty's’ working title was First Daughter. Both plots follow the president’s daughter as she tries to embark on an independent life away from the White House, and similarly to ‘Chasing Liberty’ the film was not received well by critics. ‘The film was a financial failure’ according to Wikipedia, ‘Opening in fifth place at the box office...It was Katie Holmes' second least successful mainstream film.’At the time of the film’s release Holmes was already a household name. Having starred as ‘Joey Potter’ from 1998 to 2003 on primetime drama “Dawson’s Creek.” Holmes received world wide attention for the role and Life magazine wrote..."Holmes has had seismic influences on teen life... Through it all, Joey has managed to hang on to her integrity... The show—and Katie's character in particular—has touched a nerve.“Homles had also just prior to this film, headlined in another film ‘Pieces of April’ in 2003 which was made on a tiny budget of $300,000 but returned a grand $3,272,028!The film’s lack of success wasn’t down to the star as she was practically America’s Sweetheart at the time. Reviewer’s site the plot as the let down.

Teen(ish) Star: Katie HolmesBudget: $20,000,000Gross Revenue: $10,400,000

Film Budget Gross RevenueHannah Montana (09) $35,000,000 $155,545,279

Mean Girls (04) $17,000,000 $129,042,871

A Cinderella Story (04) $19,000,000 $70,067,909

What A Girl Wants (03) $25,000,000 $50,732,139

New York Minute (04) $30,000,000 $21,300,000

Wild Child (08) $20,000,000 $19,786,125

First Daughter (04) $20,000,000 $10,400,000

Film Budget Gross RevenueAvatar (09) $237,000,000 $2,768,529,651

The Dark Knight (08) $185,000,000 $1,001,921,825

Shrek 2 (04) $150,000,000 $919,838,758

The Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King (03)

$94,000,000 $1,119,110,941

The above film’s I looked at seemed quite successful compared to their own budgets and other films in the same genre as themselves. However, in comparison to the highest grossing films released in the year they were, their grossing seem quite meagre. The film’s below had much bigger budgets but I think this demonstrates the weighting of chick flick’s in the media field. None of the films in the highest grossing list (that can be seen here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_films) can be describes as chick flicks, so this gives a very good idea of how successful I can expect my film to be. It will by no circumstance be the biggest the film of the year. The highest grossing Romantic Comedy, which sort of falls under the umbrella of a chick flick, is ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ (2002) with a lifetime gross of $241,438,208. Which is still very little in comparison to the highest grossing film of that year, which was ‘The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers with $925,282,504.

These are images of the protagonists of all the films I’ve looked at so far. To be a leading lady you have to be attractive. And all of these girls, fit the prototype of beauty today. A basis of relating to a character is if you can recognise elements of yourself in them, and an aspect of that is what the character looks like. These actresses are generic and commercial, and can represent masses of girls from all of the world. This presents me with a decision – does my protagonist have to look like these girls to seem relatable and accessible?

CONCLUSIVELYLooking at all of these different films with similar formulas to mine has given me a very good idea of how to market the film in terms of poster, magazine and the teaser itself.

I have a much more realistic view of how successful the film can be, due to the research into the financial details of these movies. I clearly know the audience I am targeting, and looking at the leading ladies of all of these films has given me a better idea of how to style my protagonist.

The teens I’m targeting all admire the life style of celebrities and teen stars like the one that will be in my film, but I recognise the importance of making the protagonist seeming authentic and accessible - not just like a rich kid playing the role of the average teen.

As Egbert said before about Mary Kate and Ashley seeming more charming and average than girls like ‘Hilary Duff’ and ‘Lindsay Lohan,’ who appear more like superstars than the average girl at school, so they have to make fools of themselves to seem more normal, like falling over and humiliating themselves in front of loads of people, which appears false on screen. As I do plan on having elements of slapstick, like most of these films do, this will have to be something I consider carefully because I don’t want it to translate as false and staged to the audience.

Finally, looking into these films has given me great insight when it comes to my own film. I’ve been given many things to think about it terms of choosing a leading lady, and how to style my protagonist to make her relatable and accessible to my target audience.