Peaky blinders industry

Question 1

what is the genre of Peaky blinders?

Answer 1

Crime drama, historical fiction with a setting of Birmingham, England in a post-war setting 1919-1934- a hybrid genre, long form TV drama that combines gangster, western and historical drama elements.

Question 2

who was the creator of the series and where did they take inspiration from?

Answer 2

Steven Knight, who drew inspiration from stories told by his parents about gangs in Birmingham in the early 20th century in the area of small heath, Birmingham (where he grew up) , particularly the real life Peaky Blinders gang active in the 1890s. The series was conceived as a family epic, aiming to portray a gritty, stylish version of British organized crime, a mix of historical accuracy with modern aesthetics and themes, including strong visuals and an anachronistic soundtrack.

Question 3

what is the creator steven knight known for and what was the effect of this?

Answer 3

steven knight had previously written several successful TV shows and products with strong characterisation and explorations of social issues such as ‘Humming bird’ and ‘Dirty pretty liars’- all series which gave him a track record of writing crime drama that focused on social issues in working class communities, attracting his pre-sold audience, helping to attract funding from partner companies, and acting as a unique selling point for the Peaky blinders early on.

Question 4

what is the series known for?

Answer 4

The series is known for its cinematic quality- long takes, stylized violence and symbolic imagery.

Question 5

where was the series filmed and what did this anchor?

Answer 5

Although set in the grim, heavily industrial historical setting of Birmingham, a variety of northern locations were used as filming sets, e.g Liverpool, which was used extensively for street scenes due to it’s preserved 1920s architecture. Other locations included Manchester (Victoria Baths and Castlefield), Leeds, Bradford and Cheshire (industrial era- locations used for exterior shots. All these Northern working class Milieu settings helped to anchor the narrative strand relating to the genre and key themes.

Question 6

what filming studios were used?

Answer 6

Ardmore studios (ireland) and the bottle yard studios (Bristol) were used for interior and set pieces.

Question 7

what statistic was released in 2021?

Answer 7

Peaky Blinder was Netflix’s most watched programme globally

Question 8

has Peaky blinders won any awards if so which ones?

Answer 8

Peaky Blinders has won a host of awards, including- for season 1- Best director at the BAFTA’s, and numerous awards for lighting, set and costume design.

Question 9

what actors featured in the first series and what was the effect of this?

Answer 9

Cillian Murphy (Thomas Shelby) , Paul Anderson (Arthur Shelby) , Helen McCrory (Polly Gray), Sophie Rundle (Ada Shelby) etc- the actors were well known and had worked on blockbuster films, drawing pre-sold audiences/ fan bases. Critically acclaimed for writing, performances (especially Murphy and McCrory) set design, and music.

Question 10

who originally distributed the series?

Answer 10

The series landed on BBC two in September 2013 and Netflix picked up the show in 2014, turning it into a global success. Today, whilst Netflix primarily distributes Peaky blinders, the BBC and BBC I player still airs episodes- BBC 2 (series 1-4) and BBC 1 (series 5-6).

Question 11

what did the BBC decide to do despite being vertically intergrated?

Answer 11

Although the BBC is vertically integrated, they initially outsourced global distribution to other companies, firstly the weinstein company before Netflix.

Question 12

what happened before Netflix acquired the rights to Peaky blinders?

Answer 12

before Netflix acquired rights to Peaky blinders in 2014, it was first distributed by the Weinstein company in the USA (alongside Netflix) instead of BBC America, as they were considered a more successful commercial distributor, alongside being distributed in the UK by the BBC. However, the company only distributed the first two seasons. However, the collapse of the Weinstein company due to the Harvey Weinstein scandal in 2017, in which he was discovered to have sexually assaulted several actresses (the #MeToo movement) which caused the series to be solely distributed by Netflix, meaning it was no longer only distributed in America but globally- the BBC wanted to avoid association with him. From season three onwards, Netflix took full international (including US) distribution rights and the BBC encouraged Netflix to do a deal with the Weinstein company to acquire the international distribution rights.

Question 13

what happened from season three onwards with Peaky Blinders?

Answer 13

From season three onwards, Netflix took full international (including US) distribution rights and the BBC encouraged Netflix to do a deal with the Weinstein company to acquire the international distribution rights.

Question 14

why did the series move from BBC 2 to BBC 1?

Answer 14

Peaky blinders was moved onto BBC 1 in 2018 as directors of the BBC claimed that the storytelling and nature of the series was authentic and utterly compelling, and it could be enjoyed and viewed by an even broader audience in a prime time and mainstream slot on BBC 1. However, it was also available on BBC Iplayer to target a modern and younger audience, reflecting the growing trend for TV streaming on demand.

Question 15

what online streaming service is Peaky blinders available on other than Netflix?

Answer 15

BBC Iplayer which targets a modern and younger audience, reflecting the growing trend for TV streaming on demand.

Question 16

in conclusion, what companies and platforms have distributed peaky blinders?

Answer 16

• BBC 2 - BBC 1 in 2018
• Weinstein company - Netflix 2014
  -BBC I player

Question 17

what are the two production companies used for peaky blinders?

Answer 17

Caryn Mandabach productions, tiger aspect productions,

Question 18

what is caryn mandabach productions?

Answer 18

an independent scripted production company which owns and produces award winning, global hit drama series and brands. The company promotes themselves as developing and producing ground-breaking content.

Question 19

what is Tiger Aspect?

Answer 19

independent television production company with years of experience in comparison to Caryn Mandabach productions. Just like the writer, Steven Knight, Tiger Aspect also had experience producing popular TV dramas about working class communities and regional areas of Britain.

Question 20

what were the different areas that peaky blinders got funding?

Answer 20

-BBC funding through public license fees
-Yorkshire Screen fund

Question 21

what company offered Peaky blinders a Grant and in offer of what?

Answer 21

received a grant from Yorkshire Screen content fund- this fund was set on the basis to promote production and representation of Northern regional Britain

Question 22

what is the BBC?

Answer 22

a public service broadcaster, meaning that they are funded through public license fees which are enforced upon the British Public in order to access content from the BBC, which typically costs £179 a year.

Question 23

what is the mission statement of the BBC?

Answer 23

The mission statement of the BBC is to ‘inform, educate and entertain’, promote British talents, cater for different nations, regions and communities of the UK,and fund innately British products which showcase British life to the world.

Question 24

what is the benefit of the BBC being a public service broadcaster?

Answer 24

The fact BBC is a public service broadcaster means that they are not under the financial and creative control of a media conglomerate or have the pressure to be commercially successful. (Curran and Seaton profit and power theory- the BBC are not producing media products which are primarily concerned with them gaining more profit and power within the media industry, and are working for a greater purpose) This also allows the BBC to fund and broadcast products that are considered more ‘alternative’ or ‘niche’- e.g filming a historical drama in a regional area of Yorkshire might be considered quite risky.

Question 25

what is the significance of the midlands in relation to the BBC?

Answer 25

The midlands, much neglected by TV production, has been a key area of investment for the BBC, who has been shifting their studios and offices from London to Manchester and other northern cities since 2011.

Question 26

the BBC is vertically intergrated and has its own what?

Answer 26

The BBC is a vertically integrated organisation as it has its own in-house production unit, BBC studios, as well as a commercial subsidiary, BBC worldwide, which is responsible for distribution of its products and services around the world.

Question 27

the BBC have a global reputation for what?

Answer 27

The BBC also has a global reputation as a quality media brand which less well-known channels/ platforms would be eager to collaborate with.

Question 28

why was Peaky blinders suitable to be distributed by Netflix?

Answer 28

Netflix was suitable for distributing Peaky blinders as just like the production and funding companies, they have a commitment to telling local stories to global audiences, therefore a show like PB which centres on rural, northern Britain entirely fits their mission statement.

Question 29

what were the four benefits of Peaky blinders being distributed by netflix?

Answer 29

- Helped rebrand the BBC's drama output, showing it could compete with premium streaming services -created a global fandom for the series, especially after being picked up by netflix -allowed the series to be globally distributed to 190 countries worldwide, turning a British period drama into a worldwide phenomenon -Helped attracted modern audiences who favour online streaming platforms such as Netflix and amazon prime over traditional streaming- this is as the flexibility, on demand watching, no schedule programming and convergent technology is incredibly attractive for modern audiences. By being distributed by the BBC and Netflix, PB could attract a varied audience.

Question 30

what is the benefit of global streaming services and how do they attract younger and more modern audiences?

Answer 30

the flexibility, on demand watching, no schedule programming and convergent technology is incredibly attractive for modern audiences. By being distributed by the BBC and Netflix, Peaky blinders could attract a varied audience.

Question 31

what was the estimated budget for each episode in the series?

Answer 31

Whilst the exact budget per episode is not public, however it was considered high for BBC standards and estimated to be around $1.5 million per episode.

Question 32

as the series progressed, what elevated the series production values?

Answer 32

As the show gained popularity, funding and partnerships (Notably with Netflix) elevated its production value. Netflix distributed the show internationally, contributing to its cinematic style and growing global fan base.

Question 33

what is ofcom?

Answer 33

the regulatory body that is responsible for regulating content produced by the BBC and for other media companies- considered the 'regulatory watch dog'.

Question 34

what companies regulate peaky blinders?

Answer 34

-ofcom -BBC regulations -BBFC Peaky blinders has a dual regulation between its own standards that it sets out to protect citizens and the standards set out by regulatory watch dog Ofcom and the BBFC.

Question 35

what did Ofcom do in 2018?

Answer 35

carried out research into the BBC in 2018 about what audiences felt about the content produced by the BBC- audiences felt that the BBC did not represent a vast expanse of regional areas in Britain.

Question 36

what does the BBC's continued backing of Peaky blinders reflect?

Answer 36

The BBC’s continued backing of Peaky Blinders may therefore suggest their desire to respond to audience demands for more regional, working class milieu representations- this relates to the fact the BBC is publicly funded and needs to create the impression for audiences that the content they are funding is ‘worth paying for’ and investing in. This may also relate to Hesmondhalgh’s cultural industries theory which discusses risk averse formatting

Question 37

what was the series rated?

Answer 37

The series was rated appropriately with often a 15 or 18, depending on the country and platforms and shown after the watershed (post 9pm in the uk) which allows for more mature content.

Question 38

what is the BBFC?

Answer 38

an independent regulatory body that classifies films, DVD's and videos. They were also responsible for rating peaky blinders, which they awarded with a 15 or 18 age rating for graphic violence, strong language, sex scenes and themes of crime, war and trauma.

Question 39

how did Netflix 'regulate' Peaky blinders?

Answer 39

platforms such as netflix where the series was broadcast carried content warnings such as ‘strong violence’ ‘drug misuse’ ‘sexual content and language’.

Question 40

what does the regulation of peaky blinders relate to?

Answer 40

livingstone and Lunts regulation theory- there is an underlying struggle between the needs to further the wants of the consumer (variety, entertainment and quality) and furthering the needs of the citizens, protecting them from harmful material. Whilst peaky blinders so gritty and dark, it operated within a clear and structured regulatory framework to ensure it was shown responsibly.

Question 41

what is Steve Neales genre theory?

Answer 41

audience pleasures are derived from generic repetition and areas of difference. Codes and conventions are favoured by producers and institutions as they often represent a risk-free investment. (this relates to Hesmondhalgh’s cultural industries theory)

Question 42

what are the 5 different sections/ elements of peaky blinders that we can apply to Neales Genre theory?

Answer 42

1. music and soundtrack 2. western genre 3. crime genre 4. depiction of underrepresented northern urban communities in Britain 5. historical drama

Question 43

how does the music and soundtrack of Peaky blinders relate to Steve Neale's genre theory?

Answer 43

a defining feature of Peaky blinders is the anachronistic rock soundtrack, contrasting the 1920s setting with modern music. Western music also dominates the first season, unconventional to the crime genre

Question 44

how was the series inspired by the western genre?

Answer 44

whilst peaky blinders falls under the sub-genre of TV crime drama, the showrunner, creator and producer, Steven Knight established that each series was heavily influenced by a dominant genre- the first series being heavily influenced by the western drama. The show was inspired by old westerns- Steven Knight wanted to showcase working class people rather than royalty and nobility- something that is rare in British period pieces. That is why he turned to Westerns for inspiration. The western is considered Cinema’s oldest genre, therefore meaning the codes and conventions of the western are well-trodden and reinforced in popular culture and are easily decoded by a viewership.

Question 45

what could be argued about the repeating conventional features of western drama?

Answer 45

It can be argued that the conventional features of the western are repeated in an effort to attract a pre-existing fan base,

Question 46

what is an example of the western drama in episode one?

Answer 46

episode one is opened with a sequence of the lone gun man (Thomas Shelby) riding into town on horseback, which is a direct intertextual motif synonymous with countless westernals and is an easily recognisable cultural code when it comes to the construction of meaning.

Question 47

what does Neale argue needs to happen in order for genres to remain commercially viable and how have Peaky Blinders done this?

Answer 47

as Neale argues, for genres to remain commercially viable and avoid becoming predictable/ generic, repetition is needed to both maintain the interest of a product’s primary audience whilst also potentially attracting new demographics- e.g the post WW1 industrialised setting of 1919 Birmingham is high reminiscent of the wild west like the squalor and lawlessness that inspector campbell witnesses upon his arrival into small health. Whilst the crime/gangster historical drama sub-genres permeate British Television such as ‘Downton Abbey’.

Question 48

what does the first series hybridize?

Answer 48

: the first series of ‘Peaky blinders’ hybridizes many of the tropes and narrative conventions associated with that of the Gangster and Historical dramas, for example historical clothing, violence and a post world war one setting, in an effort not only to make the show more appealing to a wider demographic but also in constructing meaning for global audiences (internationalisation)

Question 49

how does the depiction of underrepresented northern urban communities in Britain relate to Neales genre theory?

Answer 49

Peaky blinders challenges conventional settings and characters within crime and western genres and instead addresses what Steven knight refers to as the Midlands ‘cultural cringe’. The region and it’s culture has often been underrepresented onscreen and demonstrates a shift away from convention via what Knight refers to as a ‘black hole’ in British TV production.

Question 50

what could you argue about the regional setting used?

Answer 50

You could argue that the regional setting of the midlands and its social/cultural and historical heritage may make it more important for Knight to focus and rely on generic repetition in the western and crime genre Tv products- some audiences may find the dialects, sub-plots and Themes hard to follow. Therefore, the reinforcement of familiar universal themes in gangster and western texts such as the binary oppositions of criminal vs lawman, rich vs poor, honour and disloyalty, there is an increase in the internationalism of the show.

Question 51

how does Peaky blinders relate to the historical drama?

Answer 51

uses lavish production design to evoke a specific period and location concentrating on Birmingham in 1919. It also explores many of the social and political issues of that time.

Question 52

what was announced in 2022 in relation to Peaky Blinders?

Answer 52

The sixth and supposedly final season of Peaky blinders was released in 2022, however show creator Steven Knight confirmed in 2022 that a Peaky Blinders movie would end the series off completely. Since then, news about production has been scant, but filming began supposedly in September 2024. Back in 2018 however, Knight had informed fans that the original intent was to film a seventh season of the Television show, with an eye to more seasons down the road; he claimed that he wanted to focus the series between the two world wars, and end the series completely on the final air raid siren in 1939. However, he revealed in 2022 that those plans had changed and the series would progress beyond 1939

Question 53

what is Steve Neales genre theory?

Answer 53

Neale argues that audience pleasures are derived from generic repetition and areas of general difference- repeated elements can be recognisable and familiar for audiences, but variation and new elements are essential for audiences to differentiate between media products and be drawn towards them. Differences can be shown in bricolage, intertextual references, fragmented narrative, self reflexivity.

Question 54

what is meant by Bricolage in terms of Neales Genre theory?

Answer 54

the process of creating new media products by sampling and combining elements from existing media- e.g Peaky Blinders uses elements from the cowboy and wildwest genre.

Question 55

what are intertextual references in relation to Steve Neales genre theory?

Answer 55

direct or subtle references to other media products, enhancing the audiences engagement through recognition.

Question 56

what is fragmented narrative in relation to Steve Neale?

Answer 56

non-linear storytelling where the narrative is broken up and rearranged to keep the audience engaged by jumping between different timelines and character perspectives.

Question 57

what is Todorov's narratology theory?

Answer 57

uggests that most stories follow a three part structure including Equilibrium, disruption and new equilibrium: equilibrium : the story starts with a balanced and normal situation- sense of stability Disruption: a significant event in the narrative disrupts the equilibrium, leading to a conflict. New equilibrium: the story concludes with the disruption being resolved, and a new balance is established, often bringing the story to a satisfying end

Question 58

what is stuart hall's theory?

Answer 58

that a consumer's personal belief system and lived experiences will shape how they respond to a media product and they encode message of the media producer. They could either have an intended, negotiated or oppositional reading. Audience interpretations: audience interpretations vary due to factors such as gender, age, and cultural background.

Question 59

what is an oppositional response and how may this relate to peaky Blinders?

Answer 59

the audience entirely rejects the message of the media product- for example some audiences may have considered the series to be too violent and graphic, or some audiences even analysed historical and factual inaccuracies in the show (e.g the fact the gang operated during the late 18th century, whilst the historical setting of the period drama is between the two world wars) some audiences were even left horrified at ‘diabolical’ attempts of actors’ northern accents