Hollywood case study - Focus Questions (300)

Director: zack snyder
writers: Zack Snyder (screenplay) &
Kurt Johnstad (screenplay) and
Michael Gordon (screenplay) (as Michael B. Gordon)



Story Source: Based on the Graphic Novel called 300 which is a fictional retelling of The Battle of thermopylae.

Simplification of characters and narrative: Gerard Butler (King Leionidas) Main character, David Wenham (Dilios) the person who is telling the story.

was shot over the course of sixty days
Post-production took almost a year

highly stylized
1300 visual effect shots comprising 8631 visual effect elements.
Ten visual effects vendors contributed to the film, spread over three continents.


budget of $60 million
Some weapons used in the film are actually weapons from previous war epics like Alexander (2004) and Troy (2004). They were "recycled" to cut costs.

well-marketed, with commercials for 300 dominating television shows and sporting events.
According to Warner Brothers, over 60% of people went to see 300 because of the Internet. Not because of commercials on TV, not because of billboards, but because of the Internet.
While still in production 300 was being marketed and advitisments were every where.

The official 300 website was launched by Warner Bros. in December 2005. The "conceptual art" and Zack Snyder's production blog were the initial attractions of the site. Later, the website added video journals describing production details, including comic-to-screen shots and the creatures of 300. In January 2007, the studio launched a MySpace page for the film.[31] The Art Institutes created a micro-site to promote the film. They also made a PSP game and had figures and replica weapons on sale.
At Comic-Con International in July 2006, the 300 panel aired a promotional teaser of the film.
Warner Bros. announced 300's release date as March 16, 2007, but in October the release was moved forward to March 9, 2007.

Ways in which the film marketed: There were many posters displayed on billboards featuring key characters and main events in the film.
Several similar trailers were released before the film which could be seen on youtube and in the cinema.

Distribution company: Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures
International

U.S. Box Office: $210,592,590