the hurt locker

Question 1

the hurt locker budget and profit

Answer 1

budget: £15,000,000
worldwide: £49,230,772

Question 2

was the hurt locker funded by one of the 7 majors?

Answer 2

no, it was produced by multiple film companies:
- voltage pictures
- grosvenor park media
- film capital europe

and it was distributed by summit entertainment

Question 3

how is the hurt locker a good example of an independent film

Answer 3

it is lower budget and is more artistic/complicated than a major film

Question 4

what topics does the hurt locker cover?

Answer 4

inability to reconnect
bomb disposal
male mental health: PTSD

Question 5

how is the inability to reconnect shown?

Answer 5

shown through the comparisons of usa to iraq
- usa has brighter, harsher lighting
- usa is cleaner, whiter and safer
- sound: muzak music (designed to make you buy stuff), trolly wheels
- based around capitalism
- cereal shot is low angle to show how america is based around consumerism. makes james seem small and lost
- extreme long shot and deep depth of field emphasises his loneliness
- pov shots from james
- sound bridge shows his mind is elsewhere
- feels empty even though he has the american dream

Question 6

how is bomb disposal an indie movie feature

Answer 6

• most films are on the battlefield and we don’t get as close up dangerous action as bomb disposal
• its not what audiences are used to seeing on their screen so therefore will be confused or uncomfortable

Question 7

how is male PTSD represented?

Answer 7

eldridge scene
- repetition/obsessing are signs of PTSD
- playing games of war = coping mechanism?
- handheld camera