Ford media ownership essay

What impact does media ownership have upon the range of products available to audiences in the media area you have studied?

Media Ownership plays a massive role and  has a huge impact on the range of products available at the cinema and online in services like Netflix.  87.5% of the film market is owned by these major companies so there is no avoiding their range of products. There are six major companies which dominate the film industry; Warner Bros, Paramount Pictures, Walt Disney, Columbia Pictures, Universal Studios and 20th Century Fox. These companies are multibillion dollar public figures. And have handsome investors who splash the cash.

Furthermore , the resources that these firms have is incredible , these companies have set a side millions just so they can have the latest technology to create the best films possible. And with the sheer number of films being created at once the major six firms are versatile to more market spread than smaller less budgeted companies. The multiple film production is easy to the big firms and they are quicker at producing higher quality films than much smaller firms.

Other small British companies  like DNA films and WARP will not have updated and high quality of studios. Compared to that the big six which have dominant next level studios and sets . 14 out of 17 paramount’s films have been action related in 2013 , they all have over 80 million budgets and use the highest quality green screens CGI and higher set service than any smaller based film companies . this proves how large ownership of firms and big money can effect the range and one hundred percent the quality of the range of films made .Also with the higher level of technology and quality in the production , these films are now available in imax and 3D cinemas , where smaller owned companies don’t have the investment to rise the range of quality in the film they produce.

Diversity , the major firms which are highly invested in have huge budgets for screen writers and directors , the screen writers of the best kind do not create repetitive action films and create something new broad and exciting every time . meaning the major firms can access a wider audience more easily . unlike smaller film companies which cannot afford these expensive screen writers and cannot have a new fresh look on the fill market.

Smaller firms and other solo film makers  will also turn to major firm for a partner in synergy. One example is the film Paranormal Activity, this film would have been very small and hardly known if Paramount Pictures were not involved.  Orin Peli made the movie for just $15,000, covering all production costs by himself he knew he couldn’t make the film any bigger without paramount. This decision made him over $190 million. This shows how solo film makers can have great projects but cannot fundamentally succeed without the marketing and distribution from the global companies which dominate the worlds audiences .

Big six , these will also be able to specialise in more than one genre of film, giving them a big  advantage. This means that there will never be a repetitive outburst of one type of film, consequently expanding the range of films available. They will also be able to produce these films to a very higher standard than their competitors.

Next, the big six are also very reputable. People know who they are and some will even go to see a film as they have high respect and critical acclaim and the public just love their films . This means that films could have more screenings, again making the range of products significantly more. It also means that other films will not have a chance if these companies are involved, hence why 9/10 of the films which are seen in cinemas have involved these.

In Conclusion media ownership has a massive impact over the range of products that are available to audiences due to the sheer budget allocation and overall power and outstanding influence in everything they do . with even small film makers realising that they cannot compete and selling the rights to bigger companies , it proves how the madness of the size of the companies is overruling the market .

Roland Barthes

Roland barthes. from Livvy Free

30 QUESTIONS

•        What % of global box office was the British film industry responsible for?

·         The British Industry was responsible for 15% of global box office, roughly 600 British films were made in between 2003 and 2010

•        What was this % in 2009?

·         In 2009 there was 6.8% global box office profit from British Films.

•        What might this change indicate about British film?

·         This could indicate that the British film industry is starting to rise in popularity. This would also mean that they are starting to produce even more films as they are starting to actually succeed unlike before.

•        What % of the British film industry makes a profit?

·         Lower budget films (under £2 million) like Kill List are supposed to only have a 4% chance of making a profit whereas British films with a budget of over £10 million have a 17% chance of making a profit

•        What might we infer from this difference?

·         We could infer that if films look more realistic e.g. have better special effects then people will be more inclined to buy/watch them.

•        What % of Hollywood films make a profit?

·         The percentage of Hollywood films that make a profit is 17%.

•        Which age group makes up the largest % of UK cinema goers?

·         18-24 year olds are the most likely to go to the cinema and make up the largest percentage.

•        Why do you think this might be?

·         I think this may be because these people have more free time and more disposable income, they also fit into the majority of the 4 quadrants.

•        Which 'type' of film has seen an 18% drop in attendance?

·         3D films have seen an 18% drop in attendance

•        Within that 'type' which genre has seen the biggest fall?

·         The films type that has seen the biggest fall is family films, films that don’t involve a lot of action/horror

•        What did Charles Grant put this decline down to?

·         Charles Grant basically said that 3D films are just a little bit too expensive, with them not deserving the extra money over ordinary films.

•        Who is Paul Greengrass?

·         Paul Greengrass is a British film director, he is known to be involved in 2 of the Bourne films and Bloody Sunday

•        How did he describe the British film industry?

·         He called it a ‘success’ story showing how it has transformed

·         What did a BFI spokesperson say was the point of less profitable low budget British films?

·         "tiny budget films that, while commercial success is always hoped for, are successful and beneficial to the industry for other reasons like skills and training development and for artistic and cultural importance"

·         What was the budget for Filth and how much money did it take?

·         Its budget was just under £2 million it took  £4million

·         What advantage did James McEvoy feel £100m films have over low budget films?

·         james McEvoy said that $100m movies that "sometimes aren't very good" had an advantage over smaller films because they had a massive budget to sell the film.

·         What is VOD?

·         Video on Demand

·         What % increase did VOD see last year?

·         They increased by 50%

·         What impact might VOD have on distributers and Studios?

·         With recent rises of demand with Netflix love film and sky , there is a chance that the demand companies will out sell Hollywood studios

·         What impact has it had on Blockbuster rental stores?

·         They have had to clos several stores in the UK and globally and move online . they are becoming extinct.

·         What was unique about Ben Wheatleys 'A Field In England'?

·         ‘A Field in England' was special as it was released in several formats simultaneously, dvd cinemas demand.

·         What does director of The Machine Caradog James think is the toughest part of film making?

·         "The toughest thing is you make a good film but can you get it to reach an audience? It's events like this and individuals who champion independent cinema that give us a profile and any chance of a mass audience."

·         Why have rules been relaxed on what makes a film 'British'?

·         To encourage wider audiences so the profit percentage can rise

·         How has the use of visual effects in films been encouraged?

·         Visual effects are used in films to make it more interesting for the audience, to aid boosting of ratings as a more attractive picture is a better seller.

·         Name five of these rules and link them to The Kings Speech, Kill List, The World's End

·         Keeping a British Theme through culture -Kings Speech

·         'LAD' culture - Worlds End

·         British director - The King's Speech

·         British leading Cast - Kill List, Worlds End

·         Location in Britain - Kill List, Worlds End, King's Speech

·         What rules has chancellor George Osbourne announced for tax on British films?

·         George Osborne has announced tax relief would be increased from 20% to 25% on the first £20m of qualifying production expenditure. Productions will also only have to spend 10% of their budgets on UK expenditure to qualify - down from 25% - to help more independent production companies and make the UK a more attractive co-production partner. previously only films under £20m were eligible for the higher rate.

·         What is the highest grossing film in UK box office history?

·         James Bond - Skyfall

·         How much has it taken and how many screens was it available on?

·         $1,108,561,013 was taken and it was on 527 screens in he UK

"Successful media products depend as much upon marketing and distribution to a specific audience as they do upon good production practices". To what extent would you agree with this statement, within the media area you have studied?

Media products like films can only make money if they sell at the box office , and for the film to make lots of money (above the budget) then the film must be adequately marketed and distributed in a way that is stand out or a marketing term ‘blanket marketing’. Even if the production is really good if the film isn't displayed in distribution and marketing to its audience, then the film cannot be sold well as it is unknown to the target audience.

Films must be marketed into their genre well and major institutions usually have dominance over the film industry because they all generally like to make the most common type of film genre , e.g action/adventure, and as over 50% of people prefer this genre this is an instant way of marketing as its already in the public interest. Will films like ‘world war z’  my average opinion of the film and a terrible opinion in the critics left the film pieces but the marketing managed to cover this up so the film made huge profit , and furthermore with a key actor like Brad Pitt , that has already marketed well already . This proves that even if the production practices are poor the film can succeed with marketing and distribution.so therefore i would agree with the question and say especially with the hard pushing of the film the Marketing was a very key part of the films success.

furthermore i agree with the statement as i feel the way audiences can engage with the marketing definitely helps with the balance between and the importance of distribution. like with the star trek, the head marketing body for the film released an 'app' where the public could watch trailers and get get in depth analysis without the best parts of the film being ruined , therefore the way that the marketing has being used with the production shows equal importance.And also there are separate firms that will push distribution and marketing on films a great example of this is the weinstein company , the two brothers who run the company are known for really pushing medium budget films . one of their largest success points was with the British film 'Kings speech' this film after a slow start was really pushed by the company and the film then went to win Oscars and receive great critical receptions around the world. along with making 414 million in the box office. 

Another point why i agree with the statement is the fact that the marketing can be adapted world wide and help reach different dialects, the way technology has helped adapt films and trailers means the distribution has raised seriously. for example with the kings speech certain phrases and terms would be completely lost with an American audiences where they would be fine with  a UK audience , so this use of technology has by far helped the marketing of films globally .

But in a point against , some lower budget films do not need the big budget marketing as they are a smaller market in films and want to show the quality in the production . a great example are films like 'kill list' this film was not set out to receive a massive profit , but it was used to show the quality of new talent like directors and actors .the films had a budget of 500,000 and took 171,000 , this film is still considered to be a moderate success because of its critical reception. these are the exceptions to the statement because the film is made for quality and not to be a massive seller 

Overall i agree with the statement and would say in the modern film industry the marketing and distribution is key as the film has to be endorsed with the public for it to be a success and with flourishing technology its a fact that marketing is by far as important as the production. jut by looking at films where the production was poor like world war z but the marketing made it huge money .

How is gender represented in Doctor Who?

How is gender represented in Doctor Who?

In television Gender can be interpreted in many ways by the producers of the shows , gender usually can be shown as stereotypes in these shows. for example like women being shown not as powerful than men , and sexually and physically inferior to the men in the shows , in doctor who we see how this is not necessarily correct and that some characters show an unusual strength .

The first character we come across in doctor who is the master , who with the slow tempo non diagetic sound and low angle shots seems very powerful, he is a male and is shown in stereotype to be a very strong figure who looks as if they are blessed with lots of authority. furthermore , he is the four front of the camera shot and every one else in the picture is shadowed or reduced into the background by the camera, this is to show his power over all in the furthermore is misenscene , we look at him as he is on a balcony, which is a ploy to yet again raise him over us and as the audience we are made to feel like we are under him , connoting his dominance.

Then we see martha, she is walking in like a weak woman and is dominated by the guards she is with , the camera shots match with her, furthermore we see how she looks vulnerable like she has failed to her male colegause this may be a stereotype of how women may not be able to be independent, when she arrives at the fall of the balcony she is prevailed to look up at the master and his dominating male presence . then the master forces martha to her knees in front of him, this mid shot of looking at her and the sound in the background hitting a all time low, martha is being dominated , also the is sexual context of her being dominated. then we see a picture of martha looking up to the master , this is currently continuity editing as we see timed scenes one after each other , just before we see her de humanised by the master , we see martha walking into the room and we see how the camera follows her and this connotes that the audience should be with and behind her. there is also a jump cut to a view of her fellows who are looking at her in vulnerability.

further on from this we see lots of close ups on facial expressions, especially on martha who is made to look very scared and intimidated , the way she looks links to a female stereotype of how women may be weaker under mens pressure or they are weaker than men.in contrast to this, martha is wearing more masculine clothes and a very un stereotypical attire to what many theories may conform to , therefore she is most a victim of the male gaze unlike the women in the revealing red dress who has no point to the show what so ever, so in contrast this shows how there is a different side to martha through misenscene.

in the next scenes we see a rise from martha and the doctor explaining how they are going to defeat the master, the sound music in the scenes takes a new victorious classic up beat approach to rise the spirit of us as the audience . we then see muddled flashbacks which show that the editing was purposeless mumbled to give us a vague look at what she was doing in her work, this is not flowing scenes, in the actual scenes we see how hard and vigorous the work from martha was and we see how she may be iconed as a hard overworking figure which may go against stereotypes in general.also during the closing scenes there is a timer which is counting down , this timer when watching from the audience makes a noise but not when the camera is not focused on it, the clock makes tension for the characters and viewers and adds to the scene and how much martha has got to over come.

after martha has defeated the masters quest the doctor takes over and is edited to grow and appear in some blue bubble like forcefield we see man a very strong and authoritative structure which may relate to a male stereotype that men are strong. this part of the clip puts men and women on a par which isn't usual for tv shows where women can be victims , this is against any stereotypes.

in general apart from the strong stereotypical scenes at the start the , the show of doctor who isn't conforming to any gender stereotypes and is fair to both women and men during the scenes , especially as a super powerful male character is saved by a female character which is usual the other way round.

Ethnicity Esssay

Hotel Babylon

ethnicity ,in the large UK show hotel Babylon, is a large part of the show with different nationalities and races , the show shows race in rank which can be classed as a classic example of unfair judgement . this show is a key episode on how white people can have a dominance over other races, in the episode an immigrant team raid the hotel , all the white people are high ranked and okay but there's multiple other races who are illegal and they have classic poor paid jobs , the episode is completely dominated by white supremacy .

in the opening scenes of the clip we see a strongly shown immigration police team stroll into the hotel reception, the camera angles in this scene show the white police officer as a dominant character, we are made by the producers to not like this person although there doing their job. furthermore the police officers clothes are very mellow and dark in the episode which yet again portrays an evil side to the officer and a dark underground feel about the police officers work. His serious attitude of power is shown in a close up on the desk , he is shown to be striving  to capture some illegal immigrants and he doesn't look like he wants to be messed with.

we then see dressed in all white the receptionist which appears to be more glamorous than her other partner, she looks asif she speakes down towards some other staff despite the fact shes actually helping a lot of the illegal immigrants, the way shes dressed al in white and pure makes the woman stand out and seem more important than her fellow colleagues , furthermore she also takes up lots of the camera space and is looked upon asif she more royal than everyone else.

When jackie finds out about the immigration officers we see her in her very cramped back room office Jackie is one of the legal immigrant and shes shown to be lower than everyone else with her small amount of equipment and poor working standards with her room, we also from the camera angle in this seen that her boss(white) is seen to look down with implies maybe she lower than the rest. Jackie is also the middle man between the higher up workers and the immigrants, she has to round up al the  illegal immigrants and lock them up in a staff room.

Mostly all the people hidden in the staff room cupboard have low paid jobs like cleaners, but we learn that they may be unfairly looked upon because e.g we learn that one of the african men is actually a doctor and maybe saved someone life, this is a image shown throughout the clip on how the people are shown as unfairly less progress ant than there white leaders or more European head of staff.we see from when the people are locked away the door slamming shut and how actually the people are like trapped behind from the police and there's no escape.

When the news is spread how Ibrahim was caught and how unjust it was many people were upset, the way he was caught yet again cleaning and in panic was a shocking scene but yet again showed that the ethical prominence on this clip is English dominant to the immigrant workers. Later on then we see the young man, being dragged back by his white enemies , this symbolises a sour taste between the men and the police .

In the last scene we see how Jackie Is desperate to make sure the man is not taken away and shouts and begs and is undermined in the show , this is seen as derogatory how the Asian woman is on the floor nearly and is screaming, this may show how the woman is desperate. We then see the white pure woman try a politely usher the workers out the way and tries to calm the predominately white guests who are intimidated but the situation.Jackie is by far the most main character and caring in the scene she is very emotional about the lost worker and in the canteen  everyone in very upset the separate canteen for  the people .

In conclusion the clip we have just seen is very dominated by a white ethnicity and I believe that the way the show has been presented is that white people are dominated , we can see this by the hierarchy in the jobs at the hotel, and the way people dress and the filling camera angles the different races have definitely show power.

KEY TERMS

Selected Key Terms for Institutions and Audiences - The Film Industry

Selected Key Terms for Institutions and Audience

An institution (in the film industry)

Definition: any company or organisation that produces, distributes or exhibits films. The BBC makes films with their BBC Films arm; Channel4's Film Four produces films, Working Title also produce films, as does Vertigo Films, etc. Some institutions need to join with other institutions which distribute films. Vertigo Films is able to distribute its own films, Channel Four distributed Slumdog Millionaire through Pathe. Working Title's distribution partner is Universal, a huge US company which can make, distribute and show films. The type of owner ship within an institution matters as, for instance, Channel 4 and the BBC are able to show their own films at an earlier stage than other films made by other institutions. They are also better placed to cross-promote their in-house films within their media organisations. Use you work on Film Four as the basis for most of what you write, Moon is a good cross comparison as Duncan Jones had to create his own institution just to get the film made.


Distribution and Marketing

Definition: the business of getting films to their audiences by booking them for runs into cinemas and taking them there in vans or through digital downloads; distributors also create the marketing campaign for films producing posters, trailers, websites, organise free previews, press packs, television interviews with the "talent", sign contracts for promotions, competitions, etc. Distributors use their know-how and size to ensure that DVDs of the film end up in stores and on supermarket shelves. Distributors also obtain the BBFC certificate, and try to get films released as the most favourable times of the year for their genre, etc.


Examples:
Universal distributed Working Title's The Boat That Rocked; Pathe distributedFilm4 and Celadors' Slumdog Millionaire after the original US distributor, Warner Independent went out of business. TRONwas heavily marketed across a variety of mediums, Moon struggled to get press attention and Duncan Jones had to really push the film  in obscure places like Popular Mechanics etc. The Kings Speech was distributed by Momentum (a susiduary of Aliance films) who are a major independent film distributor.


Exhibition
Definition: showing films in cinemas or on DVD. Media attention through opening nights and premieres How the audience can see the film: in cinemas, at home, on DVD, through downloads, through television, including premieres, the box office take in the opening weeks; audience reviews which includes those of the film critics, ordinary people, cinemas runs; awards in festivals, The Oscars, BAFTAS, etc.


Examples:
Slumdog Millionaire almost never got distribution. Its early US distributor, Warner Independent was a victim of the economic downturn and went out of business. The film's makers then struggled to find a distributor! Then Fox Searchlight stepped up and "the rest is history". The 8 out of 10 Oscar nomination wins ensured that the film has been the greatest British success in awards and in box office for nearly 60years.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/boyle-reveals-slumdog-millionaire-was-nearly-never-made-1331821.html

Motherhood took just £86!
Moon. Initially Sony Pictures Worldwide were due to distribute the film but they specialise in straight to DVD features. Following positive reaction following its Sundance film festival the rights were acquired by Sony Classic Pictures who gave the film a limited release in the US in Cities like New York and LA.

Exchange

Definition: The unintended use of an institution’s media text (i.e. a film) by OTHER PEOPLE who use the film or parts of it to form new texts. What happens to a film, etc. after the public get their hands on it using digital technology.  

Examples:
People unconnected to the institution/ film using WEB 2.0 applications such as YOUTUBE, Blogger, Amazon film message boards, TWITTER, Face-Book, discuss the film or edit parts of together to form a new text which the may then put a new soundtrack to and publish on YOUTUBE, etc. When you add a trailer from a site like YouTube on your blog you have been engaging with exchange. Look back to MArk Kermodes video regarding piracy and the new release strategies for films like Ken Loach's "Route Irish" (Loach has reportedly steeled himself for a frosty response from critics and anticipates an underwhelming box office, noting the difficulty he faced securing a distribution deal. Though pragmatic in his view that “people don’t make films to communicate; they make it as a commodity”,an unorthodox release strategy utilising Sky Movies Premier - which will place the film (and by extension, its subject matter) in a wider public sphere than it might otherwise have reached – suggests he hasn’t given up on pedagogy entirely.) or the Jack Ass 3 release on DVD and Sky Box Office.


Vertical and Horizontal Integration

Definition: Absorption into a single firm of several firms involved in all aspects of a product's manufacture from raw materials to distribution.


Example:
Vivendi Universal have integrated film, music, web and distribution technology into the company, including owning big stakes in cables and wires that deliver these services. Therefore they are vertically integrated because they own all the different companies involved in film, from production to distribution to exhibition. They are also horizontally integrated because they have all the expertise for producing media content under one roof – films, TV, magazines, books, music, games thus being able to produce all the related media content for one film under the same roof (see synergy). This is important for the control the institution has over their product/film.


Synergy/Synergies  

Definition: The interaction of two or more agents (institutions/companies) to ensure a larger effect than if they acted independently. This is beneficial for each company through efficiencies in expertise and costs. 

 

Examples:
Working Title know how to make films and they have formed a business partnership with Universal, a massive US company, who have the experience and size in the marketplace (cinemas, stores, online, etc.) to distribute them. (They create the marketing campaign to target audiences through posters, trailers, create the film’s website, free previews, television and press interviews featuring “the talent”, drum up press reviews, word of mouth, and determine when a film is released for the best possible audience and the type of release: limited, wide, etc.) Channel Four’s Film 4 and Celador Films(Celador also produce Who Wants to Be A Millionaire and films, too) benefited by pooling their know-how, experience and expertise to jointly produce Slumdog Millionaire. These companies formed a business relationship with France’s Pathe to distribute this film. In the UK Pathe helped create the poster, trailer, website, etc. In the USA the film found another distributor after being nominated for the Oscars.


Viral Marketing

Definition: A marketing technique aiming at reproducing "word of mouth" usually on the internet and through existing social networks. YouTube Video pastiches, trailers, interviews with cast members, the director, writer, etc. You can find interviews of “the talent” trying to gain publicity for your case study films on YouTube. Find some clips from the films we have studied to help you in the exam.
Guerilla MarketingDefinition: The use of unconventional and low cost marketing strategies to raise awareness of a product. The aim is usually to create “buzz” and “word of mouth” around a film. Unusual stunts to gain publicity (P.R.) on the film’s opening weekend, etc.

Examples:
Sasha Baron Cohen created “buzz” before the release of his film “Borat” by holding fake press conferences. The studio also accessed the popularity of YouTube by releasing the first 4 minutes of the movie on YouTube, a week before it’s release, which can then be sent virally across the nation. At a special viewing of “Bruno” Cohen landed on Eminem “butt first” from the roof MTV Awards venue, dressed in as an angel outfit with rents in the rear end.


Media Convergence
Definition 1: Convergence of media occurs when multiple products come together to form one product with the advantages of all of them. 

 

Examples:
More and more films are being marketed on the Internet and on mobile phones. You no longer need even to buy the DVDs or CDs as you can download films and music directly to your laptop, Mac or PC. Blue Ray DVDs can carry more features than ordinary DVDs and can be played on HD televisions and in home cinemas for enhanced/cinematic picture quality. You can save films on SKY digital, Free-box digital players, etc. You mobile phone has multiple features and applications. With media and technological convergence this is growing year on year. Play-Stations, X-Boxes and the Wii can can connect with the Internet and you can play video games with multiple players.


Technological ConvergenceDefinition 2: The growing interractive use of digital technology in the film industry and media which enables people to share, consume and produce media that was difficult or impossible just a few years earlier.

Examples:
For instance, the use of new software to add special effects in editing; the use of blue-screen; using new types of digital cameras like the one Danny Boyle used in “Slumdog Millionaire” (The Silicon Imaging Camera to shoot high quality film in tight spaces); you can use the Internet to download a film rather than go see it in the cinema; you can watch it on YouTube; you can use special editing programs like Final Cut Pro to edit bits of a film, give it new soundtrack and upload it on YouTube; you can produce illegal, pirate copies on DVDs from downloads and by converting the film’s format; you can buy Blue Ray DVDs with greater compression which allows superior viewing and more features on the DVD; distributors can use digital software to create high concept posters; cinemas can download films to their projection screens and do not have to depend on a van dropping off the film! The is also the Digital Screen Network. There are tons of ways in which technological convergence affects the production, distribution, exhibition and exchange by prosumers. ( A prosumer is someone who not only consumes (watches films) but also writes about them the Net, blogs and make films out of them, often uploading them on sites like YouTube, etc.

A Mainstream Film

Definition: A high budget film that would appeal to most segments of an audience: the young, boys, girls, teenagers, young people, the middle aged, older people, the various classes in society. Distributors often spend as much or more than the film cost to make when distributing mainstream films that are given wide or universal releases.


Example:The Boat That Rocked was a mainstream idea and was given the mainstream treatment on wide release. The film flopped at the UK box office on release ( and has not done too well since mid November 2009 on release in the USA. This was mostly because of its poor reviews, particularly from “Time-Out”. However, when young and older audiences see the DVD they generally like the film because of its uplifting storyline and the well-chosen soundtrack.


Art House Films

Definition: A low budget independent film that would mostly appeal to an educated, higher class audience who follow unusual genres or like cult directors that few people have heard of. Therefore it is usually aimed at a niche market. Foreign films often come under this category.


Examples:
The low budget film, Once (2007) which found a specialised, boutique distributor in Fox Searchlight fits this label. (FOX the mainstream company usually distributes big budget film and blockbusters); So does “Juno” from 2008 which began as a low budget film about teenage pregnancy that the big studios thought too risky to touch – but it found popularity through its touching storyline, engaging music and its Oscar nomination for best script. Like “Slumdog Millionaire” the film crossed over between art-house cinemas and audiences to mainstream ones because of the recognition it received from Canadian film festivals and award ceremonies like Britain’s BAFTAS and the Hollywood’s Oscars.


Ratings bodies BBFC - The British Board of Film ClassificationHow your institutions films are rated will affect audiences in so far as WHO can see them. Remember that sex scenes, offensive language, excessive violence, the use of profanity, etc. can affect the rating and certificate the film receives and therefore affect who is able to see the film.

why films are made

Why Films Are Made

Now you 'know' how a film is made, you're going to look into why a film is made.

Mark Kermode believes it is impossible for a Blockbuster to lose money if they just follow some simple rules. Those rules are

1. A newsworthy budget
2. Spectacular visuals
3. NOT be a comedy
4. Include an 'A list' star

These rules can be seen to fit into the five categories of film production
Pre Production (all the stuff that happens BEFORE you begin filming)
Production (all the stuff that happens whilst filming)
Post Production (all the stuff you do after filming to put the film together)
Marketing (advertising your film)
Distribution (how the film is sent to cinemas, how long its on in cinema and how many 

four quadrant

Four Quadrant Picture

A Four Quadrant Picture is a marketing term used to describe a film targeted to all audience quadrants: men over 25, men under 25, women over 25, women under 25. 

Usage
In the movie business, and it is most definitely a business, everyone is looking to maximize the audience for their picture. A four-quadrant picture is that magical type of film that attracts parents and kids, men and women, and brings in huge amounts of revenue on opening weekend. In the term “four-quadrant,” the quadrants refer to gender (male and female) and age (under 25 and over 25). 
For most studios, the goal is to get enough details to line up so that they have broad-based, family-friendly appeal in designing a blockbuster or four-quadrant film. An important aspect of getting that appeal is the ratings system. An 18 Rating can be the kiss of death for a studio trying to market a film featuring pre-teen characters. A lowering from PG-13 to PG can mean millions more in revenue as parents feel more comfortable bringing young children to a given film like Evan Almighty.

Examples
One of the most famous four-quadrant, blockbuster films is Star Wars and all of its sequels. Jaws is another landmark blockbuster film. Other more current examples include Night at the Museum, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Shrek (1-3), Spiderman (1-3), Pirates of the Caribbean (1-3), andWall-E.

Implications
Another interesting by-product of the rise of four-quadrant films in the industry is cross marketing. Those films often are associated with toys and other products that both advertise the film and bring in revenue on their own. In addition, four-quadrant films are powerful vehicles for product placement advertisers looking to show their wares to the largest audience possible.
On the down side, many wonder how much effort is placed on credible, engaging story lines as opposed to marketing opportunities in these behemoth cinematic endeavors.

the bix six

The Big Six

Major Film Studios

A major film studio is a film producer and production company that releases a substantial number of films annually.

The Big Six film studios are:

1. Warner Bros. Pictures. Comprising a whopping 19.7 percent of the US/Canadian market share (2007 figures), Warner Bros. Pictures is the biggest player in the film industry. Securing the rights to major films like Harry Potter, Superman, Batman, The Matrix and Star Wars have made Warner Bros. the No. 1 name in the business.

2. Paramount Pictures. With 15.5 percent of the US/Canadian market share (2007 figures), Paramount Pictures continues to be one of the most successful film production companies in the world. Star Trek, War of the Worlds, the Mission Impossible series, Transformers and Tropic Thunder are just a few of the popular films produced by Paramount Pictures.

3. Walt Disney. One of the most renowned film production companies in the history of the business, Walt Disney now holds 15.3 percent of the US/Canadian market share (2007 figures). With highly successful movies like Pirates of the Caribbean, National Treasure, Meet the Robinsons and Enchanted, there's no doubt that Disney will continue to play a key role in the industry for years to come.

4. Columbia Pictures. Comprising 12.9 percent of the US/Canadian market share (2007 figures), Columbia Pictures remains a big player in the business. Some of this company's recent successes include Casino Royale, The Da Vinci Code, the Spider-Man series and Step Brothers.

5. Universal Studios. 12.2 percent of the US/Canadian market share (2007 figures) belongs to Universal Studios, which continues to make millions for the film industry. With major hits like the Bourne series (Bourne Identity, Bourne Supremacy and Bourne Ultimatum), The American Pie series, Knocked Up, American Gangster and The Incredible Hulk, it's very clear that Universal Studios knows what it takes to make money in this industry.

6. 20th Century Fox. Also known as "Twentieth Century Fox," this highly successful movie production company makes up 11.9 percent of the US/Canadian market share (2007 figures). Some of the biggest and most successful movies from this empire include the X-Men series, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Star Wars Episodes II and III, and the Fantastic Four.

The Seven Key Areas of Audience and Institutions - Translations

The Seven Key Areas of Audience and Institutions - Translations

During year 12 you will study a specific studio or production company within the film industry that targets a British audience, looking at how films are produced, distributed, exhibited and consumed by audiences. You will also have to study how films are distributed (digital cinemas, DVD, HD-DVD, downloads, etc) and their impact upon production, marketing and consumption.

In the exam you will be tested on one of the following areas (the simplified translation is in red italics. You'll notice there is quite a bit of similarity in some areas)

• the issues raised by media ownership in contemporary media practice; (how does who owns a media company influence the type of film made and its potential success? For example do BIG companies make BIG films and therefore make all the money? Is it possible for small companies to succeed?)
• the importance of cross media convergence and synergy in production, distribution and marketing; (how do companies work together to produce, distribute and publicize a film? How can Disney use their size to promote and publicise a film? How can small companies work together to promote their business' when making and promoting a film?)
• the technologies that have been introduced in recent years at the levels of production, distribution, marketing and exchange; (how has the introduction of digital film, 3D, DVD, Blue Ray, internet streaming, downloadable content, home cinema influenced the types of films made, the way we watch them and the way we 'buy' them?)
• the significance of proliferation in hardware and content for institutions and audiences; (how and why have film companies had to alter the way they work now everyone has web enabled phones, PC's, consoles etc? How have audiences changed their viewing habits now we no longer need to go to the cinema to watch a film)
• the importance of technological convergence for institutions and audiences; (can you think of examples of how different technologies have come together to help the film industry?) 
• the issues raised in the targeting of national and local audiences (specifically, British) by international or global institutions; (how do film companies try and attract their audience? Do they do different things in different countries?)
• the ways in which the candidates’ own experiences of media consumption illustrate wider patterns and trends of audience behaviour. (what is your opinion on the above? Do you see the developments as a good or bad thing?)

Dredd essay

Dredd Essay

Etnicity in Shows (freash prince of bel air)

Ethnicity the show

The show has an all Black family cast for the show which will smith plays in, the show doesn't abide by what a stereotype for a black person may be in the show as the family live in a large house int the Beverly hills area, the family are positivity shown for having good sturdy jobs with lots of money.

But Will Smith when he joins the family has a different background from Philadelphia , which usually has a stereotype of having crime rates and other problems. The reason for will joining was because he had problems in bel air after some sort of scrap (displayed as comedy in the show) but the way he dresses and his background could be described as more of stereotype than the rich Beverly hills family he joins.

Dredd Research Task

DREDD 2013

DIRECTOR and green light

The director of dredd was pete travis, he started his career making the bill for two episodes before later being known tv movies like henry VIII and then the film endgame. The PRODUCER of the film was Alex garland , he made himself known through the creation of the video game ‘enslaved’, which was a successful apocalyptic game, which was nominated for several awards.the green light was given the green light in 2009 and then went into production.

The DISTRIBUTORS

The distributors were Entertainment Film Distributors and Lionsgate, all of these are big time film distributors in the film market. Lionsgate distributors are one of the most renound in the world with huge profits. The other which was entertainment film distributors are a big producer but with less big blockbuster title its most taking film was piranha 3D

THE WRITER

The film was actually written not so surprisingly by the producer Alex garland who has wrote lots of plots to his work and movies in the past before Dredd

The BUDGET and BOX OFFICE

The film had a fair budget of 45 million which is good budget for a film, but the film only took back 35 million in box office, despite being described as a cult film.

THE ACTORS

After previously stating about the director earlier , the film had a very respectable cast which included Karl Urban (Judge Dredd) who has starred in some major blockbuster films including two of the lord of the rings trilogy, also he has starred in the Bourne supremacy furthermore he has also starred in huge sci-fi hit Star Trek , and RED . Another key casting role was played by Olivia Thirlby who starred as a psychic assistant (rookie), she has starred in films like Juno, she also performed in other huge films like No strings attached and the darkest hour.A final star in the cast was the gang leader (ma-ma) played by Lena Headey who had previously starred in films such as the Purge,Red Baron, and her most famous role as a queen in 300.

MARKETING

The film used a various selection of posters to display Dredd ,and In August 2012, the advertising site "Dredd Report" was launched, satirising the Drudge Report. The site featured a video condemning the use of Slo-Mo, and links to news about the film. There were also lots of displays of how the film revealed to critics and other rates

Critical Receptions

The film was rated highly by most critics and displayed at worst of a 59/100 and described as average mixed but great action this rating was from metacritic, all critical responses actually stated that the film had great action and average effects which could have been improved, rotten tomatoes gave the rating of 78% which Is a very positive response and for its type of film is a very strong rating, also Karl Urban performance in the film was displayed by critics as the best Dredd performance because of the ‘no ego’ approach he had to the film , his performances of showing full half face emotion was described as the best face emotion in any film.

REASONS FOR FAIL ?

A huge reason for its fail was the fact it’s a remake of a very bad film called Judge Dredd where Silvestre Stallone plays the lead role and displays is face which completely defeats the object of the mysterious character. So this contributed to the fact that in America it took a lot less than what was originally planed .Another reason for the films lack of success was the fact that the film came out with lots of other blockbuster films and they had huge marketing attributes which Dredd didn’t have .Also lots of famous critics did not approve of the way justice was displayed in the film and called it grey with no new reasons for a view.

TIE INS

The film had some special edition comics released with some special figures of the character but it really lacked with intention on tie ins, it did have a massive sell in home media as it hit amazons top 200 selling dvds.

TECHNOLOGY

The film was made into 3D , using computers from the company called DNA films , the company made mega city one in the film through using special computers, the film was actually shot in 2D before being transferred into 3D,the film was transferred into 3D in post-production.

AWARDS

·        Dredd won The Art of 3D award at the 2013 Empire Awards

·        Was nominated for  Best British Film

·        And Best british sci fi

PERSONAL OPINION

I felt the film had a good line of action and I enjoyed the mystery of the character Dredd and I think the way the film panned out was very amusing, im a huge fan of post-apocalyptic films so the setting of the film was good, but actually I wouldn’t say I liked the film as I thought it was partially empty and very closed in the filming. I also thought that the special effects in the film were seriously bad and the way people died in the film was poor.