Blinded By The Light case study

Background reading and production research

Read the following interviews and features on Blinded By The Light:

Writer Sarfraz Manzoor on the story behind the film - Guardian
Manzoor again on the promotion of the film and audience reaction
Variety feature on the best films from the 2019 Sundance Film Festival 

1) What is the story behind the production of the film?

Blinded By The Light is a rites of passage comedy drama directed by Gurinder Chadha, who also directed Bend It Like Beckham. Set in 1987, it revisits my teenage years and much of it is directly based on real events.

2) What was the audience reaction to the film?

• The most common responses to the film were in the ways that audiences found personal connections to the story.
• ‘I was deeply moved by This Is England even though I am not a young white English skinhead; by Annie Hall even though I am not a neurotic American-Jewish comedian.’ Stephen Graham in This Is England (2006).
• Brendan in Chicago told me that while “we have very different backgrounds, I found myself reflecting about what it was like for me at that age – that feeling of being in a place where you feel you don’t fit in but realising it’s what has helped shape you, whether you like it or not”. Beth in Missouri had a pithier summation: “Worlds apart but the same.” In telling a very specific story, it turned out, I was actually telling a universal one.

3) Why is the Sundance Film Festival such an important part of the film industry - particularly for lower budget films? 

As out of all the major festivals, the juries picked The Sundance Film Festival, as they are independent in their choices. Many of their movies took the top awards. They billed as one of the year's most diverse edition ever. 

Funding and industry contexts

1) What was the budget for Blinded By The Light and which companies contributed to the production budget?

Blinded By The Light cost around $15 million to make. Key points: Bend It Films developed the film with support from Levantine Films and Ingenious Media.

2) Research the Bend It Networks website. What other films and projects has the company been involved with?

Beecham house, viceroy's house, bhaji on the beach, desi rascals, bride and prejudice.

3) Research Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema on the Warners website here. Summarise the history of New Line Cinema in a short paragraph.

New Line Cinema continues its long and successful history of producing highly acclaimed hit pictures that resonate with both mainstream and niche audiences worldwide, building on more than 50 years of innovation and creativity. As a division of Warner Bros. Entertainment since 2008, New Line works in tandem with Warner Bros. Pictures Group to optimise movie performance and operational effectiveness through development, production, marketing, distribution, and business affairs activities.

4) Read this Variety interview with director Gurinder Chadha explaining how the project came about - including budget details. What attracted Gurinder Chadha to the project and how did she manage to get the film made? 

Blinded by the light co-writer/director Gurinder Chadha knows first-hand what it feels like to be an outsider. Born in Kenya when the country was a British colony, she grew up part of the Indian/Asian diaspora who made their way from East Africa to London. For that reason, the 59-year-old’s movies has always dealt with the immigrant experience, and her latest is no different, telling the story of a Muslim Pakistani teenager growing up in Thatcher’s England whose narrowly structured life is saved when he’s turned on to the music of Bruce Springsteen during the late ‘80s National Front/dole queue era. It serves as a poignant parallel to the xenophobia of today.

Distribution

Read this Deadline feature on the distribution deal for Blinded By The Light and answer the following questions: 

1) Which company won the distribution rights after the all-night auction and for how much?

"In yet another all-night deal auction at the Sundance Film Festival, New Line and Warner Brothers are acquiring for $15 million for worldwide rights, minus a a few territories, the Gurinder Chadha-directed Blinded By the Light."

2) Which other companies were rumoured to be bidding for the distribution rights?

The deal is both New Line and Warner Bros, the latter of which will market and distribute the film. Release details still are being decided, but they’re looking at a possible summer berth.

3) According to the article, what was the 'allure' of Blinded By The Light?

Some of the allure of Blinded by the Light had to do with the surprisingly universal appeal of Springsteen’s coming-of-age tunes, which tell honest stories about a hardscrabble upbringing, ambition and the fight to break free of all shackles to do something worthwhile with one’s life. Chadha wrote the script with Sarfraz Manzoor and Paul Mayeda Berges.

4) UK distribution was secured by eOne Entertainment. Visit the eOne About Us page on their website - what do they claim to offer under the heading 'Passion meets possibility?'
eOne enables and creates world class content. eOne enables every step in the entertainment value chain from development and production to marketing and distribution. With the reach of a studio and the flexibility of an indie, we share bold stories with audiences around the world.

Marketing, promotion and reception

1) What does the trailer suggest regarding genre and the potential audience pleasures of Blinded By The Light?

Identifying as an immigrant or struggling to find direction in life after reaching maturity are examples of the 80/90s period, coming of age, a bit of romance, and it incorporates elements of social realism and, in my opinion, the satisfaction of personal identity. It can also serve as a diversion by removing us from our own routines and introducing us to the humour of others' lives.

2) What TV shows and websites did interviews with writer, director and stars of Blinded By The Light? Why are interviews a good way to promote a new film release? 

Bend It Networks, Hey You Guys, and BBC One were among them. Interviews are meant to entice reporters to write about their "exclusive interviews" with the movie's actors, which will generate "marketing buzz" and boost viewers' interest in seeing the movie.

3) What did film posters for Blinded By The Light feature and where did they appear? You may need to research this on Google Images. 

The Javid main character was featured on the poster to illustrate how the film defies the stereotype of a traditional white lead in a British picture. The poster is available in two versions: an American and a UK edition. The USA one is red and blue, supporting the movie's plot and giving off a Bruce Springsteen vibe, while the UK one is more plain with orange stripes.

4) What social media accounts did Blinded By The Light use to promote the film? Note: some sites may be blocked if you are working in school - you will need to use your phone or complete your research at home.

YouTube, Instagram, Twitter

5) Select three posts from the Blinded By The Light Instagram page and explain how they promote the film.

In numerous blogs, Javid and his pals demonstrate how Bruce Springsteen's music helps him discover his own freedom and life's path. By performing live, he can draw in his fan base and demonstrate to them the inspirational and guiding nature of his remarks. Javid's English instructor posted a picture of herself with the words "who are you" behind her. This image serves to further illustrate the post's attempt to elicit self-reflection and consideration of one's goals and uniqueness.

6) Go to the Bend It Networks YouTube channel. How does Gurinder Chadha introduce the channel?  What other content is on the Bend It Networks YouTube channel?

When you first go on the YouTube channel, there is an introduction video to the Bend It TV. The content on the channel is mostly the movies that she created, her talking about it on the news, trailers and conferences.

7) Look at the box office figures for Blinded By The Light from The Numbers website. How much did it make at the box office and why do you think it was largely unsuccessful?

They made $19.5 million at the box office, but given that the movie was released in August—the same month that "Yesterday" was released—I think they were a failure. This is due to the fact that they shared characteristics such as social realism. But Ed Sheeran, whose songs are more famous among the younger generation than Bruce Springsteen's, is one of the more well-known and well-respected actors in Yesterday. Director Richard Curtis, who has whelmed numerous highly popular films, directed this one as well. The only film that Gurinder Chadha had ever produced that was a hit was Bend It Like Beckham.

8) Click on the tabs with further information (such as 'News', 'Box Office' and 'Video Sales'). Copy and paste some more statistics or sales figures to add to your understanding of the film's financial performance. 

Domestic Box Office: 11,901,145 dollars

International Box Office: 7,628,769 dollars

Worldwide Box Office: 19, 529, 914 dollars