Les mis case study

LES MISERABLES

Les miserables (2012) is a British drama musical based on a stage musical adapted from the french novel. Set in the 19th century in France following the life of an ex convict avoiding capture as he agrees to take care of a dying prostitutes illegitimate daughter.

OVERVIEW

Production for Les Miserables began in June 2011, with Tom Hooper as the director and the screenplay written by William Nicholson. The all star cast includes Hugh Jackman (Jean), Russel Crowe (Javert), Anne Hathaway (Fantine) and Amanda Seyfried (Cosette)

Filming mainly took place in areas of England such as Greenwich, Northamptonshire and Hampshire but also took place in France. The budget was $61,000,000, due to the high profile cast and oscar winning director Tom Hooper and was produced by working title films.

PRODUCTION

Les Miserables was distributed by Universal pictures (the parent of working title films), one of the six major movie studios. It was set to be released on the 14 th of december 2012 but was postponed to Christmas day in fear of conflicting with The Hobbit: An unexpected journey. It was released on the 11 th of January 2013 in the UK.

DISTRIBUTION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNKcLXvuF7g&safe=active

As well as this posters were produced.

MARKETING

The marketing campaign for Les Miserables was mostly viral and promoted through the films facebook page in order to reach more people and create a buzz.It started with the release of a teaser trailer online in May 2012. In September 2012, more buzz was created from a first look video uploaded on facebook in which the viewers could see the extensive singing training the actors had to endure for the film and enjoy exclusive behind the scenes footage, as well as the international trailer.Following this in late September 2012 a new poster for the film was released and then in October, several characters posters were released. Footage of the films premiere in New York was streamed online.Having been based on a book and stage play, Les Miserables already had a pre-sold audience. Versions of the book were also published with the front cover of the book as the poster of the movie.

MARKETING

Tom Hooper is a british director, best known for directing films such as Les Miserables and historical drama The King’s Speech. The Kings Speech won seven BAFTA’s and four academy awards including best director for Tom Hooper. This partly explains the high budget for Les Miserables as Hopper had, by this point, become a critically acclaimed film director.

DIRECTOR

Working title is a British film company that was founded in 1983. After the huge success of British films such as Bridget Jones, Love Actually, Billy Elliot and Shaun of the dead, working title could branch out with American films. Considering it is a subsidiary of Universal studios and one of the most successful British film companies, it makes sense that their films would be successful at the box office.

PRODUCTION COMPANY

• Drama• Musical• Romance

GENRES

Les Miserables has a classification of 12A due to the presence of violence and sexual material but also as not to restrict it’s audience.

CLASSIFICATION

Country: USA/UKLanguage: EnglishRelease date: 11/1/13Filming locations: England and France

DETAILS

Due to the pre-sold audience of Les Miserables, the high profile cast and the list of award nominations, it is not surprising that it was hugely successful at the box office. In the US, Les Miserables broke the record for the highest opening day gross for a film released on Christmas day, premiering in 2,208 screens and grossing $27.3 million in its opening weekend. In the UK it grossed £8.1 million in its opening weekend and was not only the largest opening weekend for a musical film but for working title.

BOX OFFICE

Budget: $61,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend: $27,281,735 (USA) (28 December 2012)

Gross: $148,775,460 (USA)(29 March 2013)

BOX OFFICE

Production companies: • Universal pictures, • Relativity media, • Working title films, • Cameron mackintosh.

COMPANY CREDITS

Distribution Companies:• Universal pictures• B&H film distribution• China film co.• Huaxia• Interfilm distribution• Solar entertainment• Solar films• Toho-Towa• United Internation Pictures (argentina, greece, singapore)• Universal pictures (USA, canada, germany, france, netherlands, russia)• Feelgood entertainment• Universal home entertainment• Universal pictures benelux• Waylen group • Zon audiovisuals

DISTRIBUTION

Double negative (visual effects) The mill (visual effects)Utopia (visual effects)Rushes post production (visual effects)Lola visual effects (visual effects)Webvfx (additional visual effects)Snow business international (snow effects)

SPECIAL EFFECTS

The film opens without any opening credits, the title is stated just before the closing credits.

CREDITS