What year was Straight Outta Compton released?
2015
Who directed the film?
F. Gary Grey
Which members of N.W.A co-produced the film?
- Ice Cube
- Dr. Dre
What is the genre of the film?
A biopic
What is the significance of Ice Cube and Dr. Dre co-producing the film?
1) To the film itself
2) To the finance of the film
- Arguably adds authenticity as they were there as members of the band
- However, it may contribute to the glorification of the band as they want to be seen in a good light
- May have secured more funding or a financial security as more people might watch it knowing the original band had an input.
Which company produced the film?
Legendary Pictures
Which company distributed the film?
Universal Pictures
What is the significance of Legendary’s partnership with Universal?
- They are owned by Comcast, a mass media conglomerate.
- The vertical integration will keep all of the profits in one place.
- It allowed for SOC to be marketed in front of other blockbuster hits, e.g. Fast and Furious 7, which will increase exposure to a potential audience.
- The audience may know Universal’s other releases and expect a high quality film in a certain style, again increasing potential viewers.
What are the potential audiences that are targeted?
- Fans of N.W.A.
- Fans of rap music
- Fans of music biopics
- Fans of Universal or Legendary Pictures
What was the BBFC age rating of SOC?
What is the significance of this?
15 - however the Director’s Cut was an 18.
- A 15 would open the film up to a much wider audience than an 18, especially with a young end of a target audience of teenagers - themes of rebellion and youth.
Global distribution- give examples of age ratings given in other countries.
SOC was:
- Banned in Malaysia
- Gained an 11 in Sweden.
What viral marketing was used?
What were the figures of users?
the website straightouttasomewhere.com allowed people to make their own versions of the film’s title.
- over 6 million images were downloaded from the site before the film’s opening day.
Give examples of synergy that would have generated profit for the film and other companies.
- The NWA soundtrack was released
- Dr Dre released an album ‘Compton’ inspired by the film.
- Beats by Dr. Dre will also have been affected positively by the exposure.
Apply Hesmondhalh’s theory of the cultural industries to Straight Outta Compton.
- The film was produced by a conglomerate that will want to minimise risk.
- The film posed little risk to producers - N.W.A. members are famous in their own right and the film arguably had a pre-sold fan base.
- Despite N.W.A’s cultural significance, it can be argued that their band was reduced to a profit-making exercise by industries.
