Straight Outta
Compton
(2015)
A level Media Studies Fact Sheet
Straight Outta
Compton
(2015)
https://www.youtube.com/ N.W.A. were also heavily criticised for their
watch?v=oyoew4T74_w misogynistic lyrics and their promotion of a
lifestyle that objectified and marginalised women.
AS Component 1:
Economic and Political Contexts:
Investigating the Media
A level Component 1: Media Products, Two members of the original band N.W.A.
Industries and Audiences co-produced the film, so consider the
possible significance of this in relation to
Subject Content: Media Industries funding and to the portrayal of historical
Focus Area: Media contexts events (could this be considered a sanitised
attempt to cash in by band members?).
Consider the significance of patterns
PRODUCT CONTEXT
of ownership and control, including
Straight Outta Compton is a biopic, produced
conglomerate ownership, vertical
by Legendary Pictures, distributed by Universal
integration and diversification:
Pictures and directed by F. Gary Gray.
Straight Outta Compton was produced
The film follows the story of hip hop band
by Legendary Pictures who entered into
N.W.A. in 1980s America. Members of the band
partnership with Universal Pictures (the films
(Ice Cube and Dr. Dre) were co-producers.
distributor) in 2014. Universal is owned by
The film was a huge commercial and critical NBC Universal, a Comcast company. The fact
success, became the highest grossing music that the film was produced and distributed by a
biopic of all time, and was nominated for the major, vertically integrated film studio that
Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. is part of a media conglomerate is significant
in terms of funding, possibilities for cross-
PART 1: STARTING POINTS Media Industries promotion and reaching a global audience.
Consider other releases from Universal/
Historical Context: Legendary? What are they famous
The film portrays events set predominantly in for? Might audiences have a perceived
mid-1980s California, USA. The depiction of this sense of quality/expectation?
period in a contemporary film may have been
The film was produced by a major studio
impacted by the social upheaval caused by the racial
and co-produced by two members of
tension and the LA Riots in 1992 (the portrayal
the band this is significant in terms
of 1980s California, and the possible glorification
of the film and its marketing:
of N.W.A. as agents of social change, may have
Consider the politics of the band and the
been revised or influenced by subsequent events).
possible perceived glorification of the
Cultural context: band as catalyst for social change. It is
N.W.A. were significant in terms of social change significant that band members from N.W.A.
as advocates for free speech, producers of protest were co-producers of the film and might
songs and as highly successful black men from be accused of downplaying or sanitising
disenfranchised American urban communities. the more problematic aspects of their work
1
A level Media Studies Fact Sheet
2
A level Media Studies Fact Sheet
How does this impact the relationship such as the trailer, has been constructed to make
between audience and product? a profit for the producers. It may be interesting
The film was scheduled for release in August to consider the ways in which elements such
2015. The first trailer was released by Universal as swearing and violence have been either
on 8 February 2015, with a red band card to omitted or toned down to offer a broad appeal
reflect the restricted nature of the content (see and ensure the trailer will reach audiences.
regulation section above); the trailer included Economic factors might also consider synergy
an introduction by Ice Cube and Dr. Dre. - both the soundtrack for the film, featuring
A second, global trailer was released on 1 music by N.W.A. and a Dr Dre album inspired
April 2015, before the screening of Universals by the film, Compton, were released in
Furious 7. Consider the significance of conjunction with the film. The commercial
ownership (vertical integration) here and how success of these albums (e.g. the soundtrack
Straight Outta Compton might have benefited entered the US Billboard 200 album chart at
from being trailed before an arguably more number 2 a week prior to the films release)
mainstream film with wider audience appeal. arguably contributed to the films success.
Further reading: http://www.forbes.com/sites/ Consider theoretical perspectives:
scottmendelson/2015/04/07/why-universal-
teased-straight-outta-compton-with-furious- A level only:
7-instead-of-jurassic-world/#54f76a1c2a52 Cultural industries David Hesmondhalgh
Viral marketing On 7 August 2015 Further explore the concept of profit in
Beats by Dre launched an app that allowed relation to the film industry and in this case
users to upload their own photograph to specifically to the genre of biopic. N.W.A.
the StraightOuttaSomewhere.com website, offer considerable cultural significance but
completing the Straight Outta logo with their story might arguably have been reduced
a location of their choice. Over 6 million to a profit making exercise by industries.
downloads of Straight Outta images were Explore Hesmondhalghs idea that media
generated on social media before the films conglomerates operate across a range of
opening day. Find out more below: http:// cultural industries by considering the way the
uk.businessinsider.com/straight-outta-comptons- film was released in conjunction with very
successful-viral-marketing-2015-8?r=US&IR=T successful (at least in the USA) music albums.
Straight Outta Compton was released in Britain You might also usefully introduce the idea that
on 28 August 2015 and released in the USA on this film has a very low risk for the producers.
11 August 2015 (premiere in Los Angeles); see The musicians from N.W.A. are successful in
other global release dates: http://www.imdb. their own right and offer a pre-sold audience for
com/title/tt1398426/releaseinfo?ref_=tt_dt_dt the product and the genre of musical biopic is
The film was a major commercial success, familiar to audiences.
making over $200 million it had a $50
million total budget ($28 million production
budget). Awards nominations (including
for the Academy Award for Best Original
Screenplay) also contributed to its success.
Consider the significance of economic factors:
The pre-sold Hip Hop fan base of the band
N.W.A. (the appeal of real-life story and
the music itself) might serve to offset the
economic risk of the film production. Similarly,
the success of other hip hop biopics/music
drama films Get Rich or Die Tryin (2005),
Notorious (2009), 8 Mile (2002), might help
to guarantee an audience for the film.
Discuss the extent to which the film marketing,