Black Panther - Blockbuster set film

Black Panther

Black Panther was produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

  • Marvel Studios was acquired by Walt Disney in 2009 for $4billion. 
    • increases brand identity
    • bought the Marvel audience along with the business
  • film was produced and distributed by a major vertically integrated film studio that is part of a media conglomerate
    • significant in terms of of funding, possibilities and cross-promotion and reaching a global audience
Brand Identity- how people view a brand

Shaft - 1971

  • main actors are black
  • themes of crime, gangs and violence
  • racism  empowerment
  • film deals with issues of racism
  • black people beat up racists
  • black people in a position of power
    • heroes and the villains
  • Shaft soundtrack features a lot of soul music
  • use of black slang
  • blaxploitation (black exploitation)
  • white people negatively represented
  • targeted a black, inner city, working class audience - NICHE
  • budget was £500,000 and made £12 million

Context - Marketing 'Black Cinema'

  • 2018 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comic by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
  • 18th film in the MCU
  • Directed by Ryan Coogler who co-wrote the screenplay with Joe Robert Cole
  • Cast:
    • Chadwick Boseman
    • Michael B. Jordan
    • Lupita Nyong'o
    • Dandi Gurira
    • Martin Freeman
    • Daniel Kaluuya
    • Letitia Wright
    • Winston Duke
    • Angela Basset
    • Forest Whitaker
    • Andy Serkis
    • and many more
  • Produced by Kevin Fiege
  • Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
  • Budget was $200million
  • Box office was $1.348billion
  • highest grossing film by a black producer, and ninth highest grossing film ever
  • originally shown on Netflix, but the rights reverted back to Disney
  • first planned in 1992, with actor Wesley Snipes in the main role
  • Marketing budget of $150 million
  • an enormous blockbuster film, which carries significant risk for Disney
  • hybrid of 3 main genres
    • action
    • superhero
    • science fiction
  • genre conventions are extremely clear: marvel logo, futuristic cityscape, exciting soundtrack, big explosions
  • significant mainstream actors, including Chadwick Boseman, Andy Serkis, Martin Freeman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, etc
  • extensive use of CGI, spaceships, armour transitions, fantasy cities (e.g Wakanda), explosions
  • stunts and stunt actor
  • Marvel branding and logo demonstrates a certain level of quality
  • Kendrick Lamar poster referenced
  • film clearly ties into BLM movement
  • Wakanda Forever slogan
  • subversive elements - goes against elements
  • clear political message
  • black main cast
  • african setting
  • accent of the actors
Possible Exam Question: How has ownership shaped the production and distribution of Black Panther?

Comments