KEY TEXT: I, Daniel Blake

KEY TEXT: I, Daniel Blake

Who is the director of I, Daniel Blake?

The director of I, Daniel Blake is Ken Loach who is an english filmmaker and is best known for his socially critical directing style and socialist ideals. Being a social campaigner for the majority of his career, he believes that the current criteria for claiming benefits in the UK is "designed to frustrate and humiliate the person to an extent that they drop out of the system and stop pursing their right to ask for support if necessary." Some of Ken Loach's work consists of 'Poor Cow' in 1967 which is about poverty, 'Cathy Come Home' in 1966 which is about homelessness.

Who are the stars of I, Daniel Blake?

The main character of the movie is Dave Johns; before starring in I, Daniel Blake he was an english comedian as well as an actor. He is best known for his breakthrough role in this movie. Katie Morgan was played by Hayley Squires who is an English actress and playwright who is also best known for starring in I, Daniel Blake. Apart from this, she has appeared in Call the Midwife, Southcliffe, Complicit, Blood Cells and more. 

Is this film low budget or high budget?

I, Daniel Blake is seen as a low budget film due to the fact the way they marketed and promoted the film was by organising free screenings and talks in community centres across the UK to build local enthusiasm for the film's message; it was also premiered in London and not Newcastle (where the film is based and set). Moreover, throughout the film it uses basic props and minimalist settings and backgrounds unlike mainstream films with bigger and higher production who have expensive props and lively trailers with pops of colour and upbeat music. 

Which companies produced and filmed I, Daniel Blake?

- Sixteen Films, eOne Films, Why Not Productions, Wild Bunch, BBC Films

These companies may be interested enough to fund and support a film like I, Daniel Blake because they believe that the UK system does more harm than good and believe in the message that it has throughout the movie. 

MARKETING

Who do you think ideal target audience for the film?

Although the movie is based in Newcastle with characters who rely on benefits and who are not rich, I think that the ideal target audience for the film are people who are middle class and middle age (In their late 20s to 40s) because they are able to make a difference and understand what people on benefits have to go through. Furthermore, the premier for the film was in London which further implies that Ken Loach wanted people with wealth to be able to see this film. I, Daniel Blake is a leftist film where is touches up on subjects that disagree with the right wing party which causes left wing people to be more attracted to this film. 

RECEPTION

What type of audience could have oppositional reading of the film?

The Guardian is known as generally being a more mainstream left wing on British political opinion. When critiquing and writing about I, Daniel Blake, they described it as "a battle cry for the dispossessed" which highlights that they are for the movie and its meanings and messages that come along with it. To add, they also believe that the system is corrupt. On the other hand, a newspaper that has an oppositional reading of the film is The Mail who is known for being right wing on British political opinion and traditionally is a supporter of the Conservatives and has endorsed this party in all recent and general elections. When reading what The Mail wrote about the film, we can already see the rage and disagreement in the header "Why only Lefties could go misty eyed at a movie that romanticises Benefits Britain, says TOBY YOUNG." They continue to call the movie "unremittingly depressing" and throws backlash at The Guardian's newspaper. Clearly uneducated, they say that they are "no expert in the welfare system" further connoting that they lack knowledge of what people with benefits have to go through so they do not understand where the right wing party is coming from.