Film4 had a significant impact during the pre-production of the documentary by setting expectations for controversial realist themes and low budgets. This influenced the filmmaker's choice of unknown actors, location, and style. During production, Film4's model of using average equipment and prioritizing authenticity without added sounds was followed. Post-production distribution plans included small independent cinemas and word-of-mouth on social media to target the intended 18-24 audience, in line with Film4's approach.

3. Impact during pre-production
• Film4 had a big impact during pre-production because they were the institution I was
working for. Whilst planning my production , I considered past films that Film4 had
released.Film4 are known for releasing controversial films such as ‘12 years a slave’ which
follows a free black man from upstate New York, who is abducted and sold into slavery.
Whilst planning my production, I knew that my production had to deal with such
controversial themes to live up to Film4’s expecations.Film4 exemplify their need to
showcase realist films as they have a wide audience associated with their kitchen sink
drama. Part of Film4’s ethos is to produce “ten to twelve feature films a year with a mix of
license fee and equity and all almost our films are co-financed with other financing” . Film4
, in general , have a low budget with the films they released as they tend to steer towards
realism rather than Hollywood. This means that my production had to be on the cheap side
because I had to consider their funding so I was to make sure the mise-en-scene was real
rather than stayed liked Hollywood films.
• Whilst looking at Film4 BSR films, I noticed that they used un-known actors and just
ordinary people with little or no acting experience , this ensured realism because using
popular actors such as Leonardo Dicaprio would make BSR films look more staged rather
than real , so I had to make sure the actors I would be using were not well known but
rather just typical people who could display the everyday situations. I also noticed the
directors working for Film4 used the camera. Films such as ‘The Selfish Giant’ had many
long shots which is something I needed to include in my own production because it would
further show the British mundane setting.

4. Impact during production
Following their impact during my planning , Film4 also impacted my production also. I had to
keep within the budget and had to put my ideas to work as I began to film my opening
sequence.Film4 use average cameras to film BSR films , for example , a camera phone can be
used for certain scenes to give a jaunty effect and to give the impression that a lot of scenes are
done by a hand-held camera. This in turn gives the film a much more realist context and feel.
For my own production I used the camera my school provided which was easy to use. I also
used the tripod to help me move the camera for tilts and pans.
Keeping to the realism stated in Film4’s ethos, I stayed away from foley sounds as I wanted my
footage to be 100% natural and not tampered with, making it authentic and fully
representative of its themes.
Considering the type of actors used in Film4 , I made sure my actors were undiscovered which I
had originally planned. Film 4 believe in “enhancing the British film industry by nurturing and
funding new talent” , therefore , these undiscovered actors can kick-star their career in small
budget productions prior to their future commitments. Once I had my actors and shooting
script ready , I filmed my production in London which a popular setting for Film4 as it is the
capital city and holds a busy atmosphere which helps connote the theme of commuting and
working in such a busy place. London was a great place to film because it was gritty and
followed the mise-en-scene in BSR films.

5. • My film , ‘Pushing Buttons’ is targeted towards a British audience
aged 18-24 , therefore , my film will be distributed around Britain
and will not be shown worldwide. The location is set in Canary
Wharf, London , so culturally , my film will interest those more
within England/London rather than someone in another country
because they are more likely to find personal identity within a
British film rather than someone abroad. As my film is a low-
budget film , I will not be showing my production in big cinemas ,
instead it will be shown in small art house cinemas such as the
ones in Stratford and Hackney. Curzon is an example of an
independent cinema that distributes controversial films such as
‘Keep The Lights On’ which focuses on the taboo of sexual
dysfunction , therefore my film would be great to show here as my
film deals with similar themes such as sexual harassment in the
work place which is something not spoken about often and fits the
criteria of a controversial theme. These smaller cinemas are known
to show independent films , therefore , I can ensure the right
audience will watch my production as they will be looking for these
types of film in particular due to Curzon’s reputation. My film will
also sell DVD copies in local stores such as HMV.
• To promote my film , I would post about it on social media
websites that I would expect my target audience to use such as
twitter and use the process word of mouth to help spread my film,
this is a low-budget way of marketing as Film4 tend to use a low
budget.
Distribution