The boat that rocked

boat that rocked overview

1. The Boat that Rocked
The boat that rocked is a film written and directed by
Richard Curtis, the film is about a radio station called
Pirate radio, they talk and play all of the different
varieties of songs in the 60’s and create a film filled
with fun, laughter and also controversy involving the
government.

2. The Pre-production issues for the
production company when making films?
•The idea of the film was from Richard Curtis, there was about five ideas but The Boat that rocked was the best
idea and was most liked.
•Richard Curtis also was involded producing the film.
•The idea was not from a book, comic, magazine, it was a unique idea.
•The original script was written by Richard Curtis and as the production progresses, little changes was made but
some aspects were tweaked by the productions producers, overall the script was almost the same.
•The financial backing of the film was from Working Title films, Richard Curtis once with a script and idea went
and proposed it the working titles film production, they then like or dislike the film and decide whether to produce
it, in this case they did.
•Casting was taking into lots of consideration because the Producer wanted to make the characters seem
realistic and give the film a good set of characters who suit their various roles in the film. All the characters were
a mixture of American and British actors so it was a good mix .
• The producers of working title films and taken the role of the Boat that rocked was Hilary Bevan Jones.
•The music for the film was from the 60’s to give it a realistic film of the time and the sort of music played.

3. What were the issues for the production
company during the production phase
•The shoot for the boat that rocked was set on a boat and therefore the only problem for the shooting is
weathering because some days the sea was quite rough, he had to be re-edited and was critisied.
•So many actors were on the set it produced a lively atmosphere, also to get a feel of the setting the actors
and producers involved stayed on the boat to get a feel for it and therefore putting them in the right
realism of staying on the boat. As for personnel, only being Richard Curtis there were no arguments.
•There was some locations they used, they used London Streets, and also the Boat (main setting
throughout the film). Location of London was to give the film the same realism and therefore the streets
chosen reflect the setting of the boat having a 60’s feel to it.
•The budget of the film was 30 million pounds. Most of the budget went to the cast
•Co producer Ronald Basconvelqueles broke down all of the different sections of the pro0duction such as
costume, music, setting, cast ensuring everything is well within the budget and paid for.
•The main script was kept other than a few changes which were very minor, the script writer Richard Curtis
was always and stay on board of the production.
•Key people were:
•Hilary Bevan Jones- Producer
•Adam Richards- Location manager
•Mark Tildesly- Production designer
•Eric Fellner- Production team
•Ema Freud- Script editor 2
nd
unit director
•James Biddle- Production Manager
•Emma Hickkox- Editor
•Danny Cohen- Cinematography
•Distributing was done through
Universal, a big well known
organisation, almost guaranteed
to be successful through a link to
universal through Richard Curtis

4. Convergence and new technologies in
production, distribution and marketing and its
importance for institutions and audiences
•Distribution of the film was through Universal, therefore it had a
worldwide platform for success.
•Also when reseaching I found a convergence with mobiles
because there was an iphone app.

5. What was the impact for marketing and
consumption from the following aspects of
distribution for your film?
•London's Leicester Square was where the
premiere was of the film, 23
rd
March 2009.
•It was distributed to digital cinemas, such
as Odeon Cineworld for some examples.
•Date of release, DVD: 07 Sep 2009
Blu-ray: 07 Sep 2009
Production year: 2009
•YOUTUBE was used to publicises and
preview trailers for the film, good for the
public to view trailers for free.
•Downloads are helpful because it helps with
the convergence In technology.
•There was not an official film website for the
film but it some pages on the working title
productions website giving information on
the film giving it marketing.

6. What was the impact for marketing and consumption
from the following aspects of distribution for your film
The film poster to the right shows the Boat that rocked
had a number of various actors with a mix of
younger and older ones, thus therefore it shows
that the film appeals to a younger audience as
well as a older one too. In the poster it also shows
the different facial expressions of the characters
giving a quick review of their characters
personality. The poster advertises the large
amount of main cast members and therefore
because there is so many it is well worth viewing
due to the big names it has on show.
Different outlets of the film were T.V, Internet,
Magazines such as Empire. And newspapers.
Merchandise is few, but I did find an I phone App.
As for giving more publicity, promoting it in lots of other
countries for therefore giving it publicity through
another name.
Press reviews of the film were a mixed bunch, some
saying it was too long and some of the shot
sequence did not make sense, there were also
good reviews of it but the dominance was on the
long timing of the film and also how some shots
jumped creating confusion.

7. What were the issues during the exhibition
and consumption/ audience phase of your
film?
•The film was released 1
st
April 2009 in the United Kingdom.
•The prints to distribute to the various countries is very expensive, especially adapting the print
for the every different one, therefore it was very good to be distributed by universal because
they are a very successful company in the film industry therefore having enough money for the
amount of prints for the different countries.
•The film is rated and classified as a certificate of 15 by the BBFC this is due to the sexual
scenes throughout and also due to lots of swearing.
Below are some film reviews in the film and therefore giving a detailed analysis of it:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturecritics/sukhdevsandhu/5095034/The-Boat-That-Rocked-review.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/apr/03/boat-that-rocked-film-review
Overall I believe the film did make a debate, the film made the pirate radios in reality become
apparent and therefore it may of made the government more aware of these.

8. What were the issue during the exhibition and
consumption/ audience phase of your film?
•Overall the film made Gross revenue $35,166,683 overall worldwide.
•The film lasted in the cinema for a good number of weeks until following it up with the DVD sales
and Blu-ray.
Questions for a survey:
Have you seen the film, The boat that rocked?
What overall rating would you give the film 1 being poor and 10 being excellent?
When did you hear about the film? e.g advert on TV
Did you understand the story?
Overall through all aspects give a rating for all aspects of the film with idea, story, cast, setting and
music? (out of 5)
The genre of the film is a comedy, when researching the idea came apparent from a cross of Titanic
and Animal house.
The Working Title production company have produced a variety of films due to different ideas through
genre. In this case the film was a comedy.
Overall, I believe the audiences of today like to watch a new type of film, therefore a different film with
originality and being unique is the key to a new successful film.