Friday, 15 May 2015

Section A Key words

Denotation - What is shown
Connotation - What it suggests
Realistic - If the character appears to be real
Verisimilitude -  If the storyline appears to reflect reality
High production value/ Low production value - Whether it looks cheap or not
Narrative - The way the story is told
Story - Basic storyline, bare essentials
Linear narrative - Told on chronological order
Parallel editing - Two different scenes are cut together, flipping from one to another, that are happening at the same time.
Fast pace editing - builds tension and excitement
Slow pace editing - relaxed, seems calmer
Screen time - important characters have more screen time, less significant characters have a small amount of screen time.
Shot reverse shot - natural flow in a conversation, contrasts the two people
Continuity editing - When the shots flow
Montage editing - Series of paced shots

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Media Ownership - Case Studies

Frozen

 1. Walt Disney Pictures

 - Walt Disney Studios - Subsideries:
  • Lucusfilm
  • Pixar Animation Studios
  • The muppets studio 
  • Walt Disney Pictures

- Divisions: 

- The Walt Disney Company - revenue: US$ 48.813 billion (2014) - Subsideries:

2. Walt Disney Animation Studios

- Divisions - DisneyToon Studios
- Parent Company - The Walt Disney Studios


Skyfall

1. EON productions

- Danjaq - Subsideries - EON

2. Columbia Pictures

 -  Divivions : Columbia TriStar motion picture group 

- Sony pictures Entertainment - US$ 8 billion Revenue - Products:

- Sony-  7.767 trillion (2014) _ Subsideries:

Ill Manors

1. BBC Films

- BBC -  £5.066 billion -  Publicly owned 

2. Film London Microwave

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Wednesday, 13 May 2015

"Synergy is a vital process in the successful marketing of media products to audiences" To what extent do you agree?

Introduction

- Synergy is the interaction or cooperation of two or more organisations, substances or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects
- synergy works when different elements of a company promote each other
- Merchandising - not synergy as it is not two media companies working together
- Tie ins - items seen in the film.
- Cross media convergence - the same as synergy but only with media products

Conglomerate case studies

- Disney - Frozen
- Toys, books with different storyline, board games, video games, bedding, dress up, makeup, CD etc
- conglomerates like disney can use synergy as they own a lot of different companies - subsideries


- MGM - Skyfall
- OPI  makeup with characters in advert
- 007 fragrance
- Coke
- Heineken - tie in
- 007 legends - xbox game
- Omega watches - Daniel Craig in ad
- Adele's song released celebrating 50 years since the first James bond film - advertised on James bond website.


 Independent case study

- Ill Manors
- Film with the same title released around the same time as Plan B's album
- Album promoted on ill manors film website
- Ill manors shirts, playing cards
- Made 4x its budget

 Conclusion/comparison

- Big companies can use synergy more successfully
- Independent companies can still use it, but not as well
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Tuesday, 12 May 2015

Representation of age



The first shot in this clip is an over shoulder, low angle shot. The mis-en-scene denotes the younger man looking up at the judge, which connotes the judge has more power and status than the young man. Here, youth is being represented as being vulnerable and obtaining less power than those of older age. In this same shot, the mis-en-scene also denotes two bodyguards standing on either side of the young man, who is sitting down. This difference in height again represents how much power is obtained, and the idea of younger people lacking power is reinforced. A medium, low angled close up of the young man enables us to see his facial expression. He holds his head low and avoids eye contact with the judge. From this, youth is being associated with wrong doing, and rebelling against the law as the man's body language and expressions imply he is guilty. The editing is very slow, which emphasises the slow pace in which the young man is answering the judges questions. The shots of the young man slowly zoom in so that we are able to focus on his reactions. When the judge is shown, in contrast to the young man, he is filmed using a high angle, which establishes his power and status in the courtroom. He looks down at the young man, which represents people of older age as again having power over younger people. During this shot reverse shot the diegetic sound of both the judge and the young man talking show us a difference in terminology between the two ages. The judge speaks very loudly and confidently, and his sentences are long are complex, for example when he says "the removal and concealment of the knife..." and "...a cold blooded, calculated attempt to get rid of deeply incriminating evidence." On the other hand, the young man speaks quietly, and speaks using simple and more understandable terminology for example when he innocently says "I didn't know what I was doing".  Here, people of older age are being associated with articulate speech, in comparison to young people, being associated with simple, less complicated speech.

A medium shot of the young man enables us to see his upset expression as he admits to dropping out of university. Here, young people are being represented as not being hardworking, and not thinking about their future, which relates to the common perception that young people are 'drop outs'. The disappointed expressions on the audience's faces shown in a medium shot reinforce the idea that this sort of behaviour is wrong, and therefore a negative representation of young individuals has been created. During this sequence, another judge is shown who is a lot younger is shown in both a medium shot and a close up, which allows us to see her facial expression. She looks at the young man in a caring way, rather than a disappointed or angry way as he admits he dropped out of uni 7 months ago. She seems to be able to connect to the man more than the older judge, as she may be able to emphasise with him, being a similar age. This whole part of the scene represents older people as maybe being old fashioned in the way they think, as the judge and the relatively old members of the audience frown upon the idea of the young man dropping out of uni. On the other hand, younger people, around 30, are being represented as being able to understand and empathise easily with each other, and young people are being shown as being more caring. This younger judge is shown again at the end of the clip. She speaks in a calm tone and in simple terms when she says "you've been in the witness box for a very long time." "...everything about you tested and tested" which significantly contrasts against the disapproving tone and complex vocabulary used by the older judge. This again, shows the difference between the speech of older and younger people, but also presents the younger judge as being more caring and considerate towards the young man. Her sighs connote her sadness and empathy towards him, and this again represents young people as being able to empathise and understand each other, and represents adults as being caring towards youths.

Towards the end of the scene, uncomfortable, mysterious non-diagetic music is introduced, as the judge begins to ask the young man more serious questions about the case. This music represents how the young man is feeling scared and axious, which his body language implies. A medium shot denotes him wiping tears from his eyes and holding his head down. Here young people are represented as vulnerable and emotional, but also as deviant, as this body language connotes the young man is guilty. As the music becomes more intense and significant, a high angle close up is shown of the young man which slowly zooms in. He lays his head on the desk and lifts his hands up as the judge asks him questions, as if to protect himself from the older judge who has had the power to reduce him to tears. This as well as the high angle shot, again significantly reinforces the idea of the judge obtaining more power than the young man, and therefore represents older people as having power over their youths. The last shot shows a high angle reaction shot of the young man, after being asked if he committed the murder. The long pause, combined with the intense music and the mans anxious expression shown as tears fall down his face all indicate that he committed the crime. Here, young people are being represented as deviant, but as the long take of the close up reaction shot allows us to connect with the man, we can see he is very emotional and vulnerable, associating young people with these qualities. This last shot of the distressed, emotional man slowly fades out. As the shot lingers, the importance of the image is emphasised, and left on a cliff hanger.
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Friday, 8 May 2015

Issues raised with national and local audiences

Conglomerates

Production

- Big Hollywood companies have a bigger budget as they are conglomerates, and have a good reputation. 
- A bigger budget means they can afford to film in a large variety of locations, appealing to audiences in different nationalities.
- The films themselves appeal to national audiences as they aren't specific to one country - Cinderella 
- Well known, experienced actors can be used so that they are recognisable for national audiences, rather than just local ones. 
- Conglomerates can afford experienced crew as well as actors, meaning higher production value. 

Distribution

- Conglomerates can market and advertise through various different ways internationally. 
- Films can be distributed internationally
- Find it easier to distribute.

Exhibition

- Cinemas commonly show big American blockbusters produced by conglomerates.


Independent British companies

Production

- As they have a lower budget, independent British film companies cannot travel to different locations to film, so they usually stay in Britain, attracting a local audience.
- A lot of British films are dramas or social realism and therefore appeal more to a british audience as this will be more familiar to them. - Ill Manors
- Warp Films produced This Is England, which was specific to British culture, therefore drawing in a local audience. 
- They cannot usually use well known actors with good reputation, and actors that are known worldwide. They may use British actors that a local audience may be familiar with.
- The actors in Fish Tank had no previous acting experience and were not know worldwide or even locally. 
- Small companies can't afford very experienced crew, meaning the quality of the film may not be as good and will have a lower production value. 

Distribution

- Less money for marketing and advertisement 
- Independent british companies may only advertise locally due to budget. 
- Smaller companies rely on digital distribution - Ill Manors 
- Smaller companies rely on secondary income like DVD and Blu Ray sales rather that cinema showings. 

Exhibition

- Films from independent, British companies usually take a back seat due to the amount of big American blockbusters.  
- Cinemas show more big American films that films produced by independent British companies.

Working Titles

- Working Titles is also a British film company, however they are owned by Universal Studios. 
- Some of  Working Titles films are not specific to any one location, and don't focus on british culture like Ill Manors or Fish Tank do.
- Because Working Titles are owned by a conglomerate, they are able to use synergy in order to boost their profits. 

Warp

- Warp Films are an Independent British company. 
- A lot of their films are specific to British culture for example This Is England, attracting a local audience rather than a national one. 
- Companies like Warp might not be able to used synergy to boost their profits as they are independent.  
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Wednesday, 6 May 2015

Production

- Digital storyboards allow a more accurate representation of what will be shot.
- HD digital video cameras - these are mobile, lighter, easy to operate and reduce shooting and editing cost because they do not use expensive film stock - Ill Manors was still made despite its small budget.
- Increased used of CGI - Avatar, Frozen
- New generation of first time film makers with low budgets due to variety of new technologies available.


Distribution

- Digital distribution is beneficial for small, independent companies - Ill Manors.
- The film has a twitter and Facebook page which includes clips and stills from the film, pictures from the cast and of people queuing for signings.
-  They have a both a teaser and a full length advert on youtube, the full length has had 46,076 views.
-  They have their own website including clips from the film, trailers, stills, information about the director, links to Plan B's album (cross promotion), downloads such as screensavers (advertising through word of mouth).
- Distributed online - no cost of making prints, coordinating exhibition schedules and distributing them to individual theatres.

- Also beneficial for large companies - Skyfall
- James Bond twitter which includes information and pictures that relate to sky fall.
- James Bond website with a link to a Skyfall page, which includes announcement dates and downloads.
- Teaser trailer and official trailer with 23,062,300 views on Youtube.
- Animated posters in tube stations and bus shelters.

Exhibition

- Because of the new technologies available to people at home, cinemas have to improve the experience that they create in order to produce profits. The new technologies make this possible.
- Cinemas are now able to have better quality sound and pictures
- IMAX
- D seats
- 3D and 4D

Audience

- Audiences can view films on more platforms like smartphones, iPads, HD TVs, etc
- They can also watch them online through online streaming sites, netflix, love film,
- They can own copies of the film like DVDs and Blu Ray.
- Kick ass 2 didn't make much money as it was one of the most illegally downloaded films.

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Tuesday, 5 May 2015

Discuss the issues raised by media ownership in the production, distribution and exchange of media texts in your chosen media area.


Media ownership is mostly positive for big conglomerates like The Big Six. One of these advantages is that there is no need to collaborate with other companies to increase funding. This is because of the huge amount of profit that these companies make. Because of this money, conglomerates can travel to bigger, more appealing exotic locations, they can afford well known and well trained actors, and they can also afford to have multiple cameras on set at once to film a scene from many different angles, and can afford to spend a lot of money of special effects. A good example of all these qualities is the film 'Skyfall'. The film contains footage from Turkey, Japan, Scotland and various parts of England. This expands the variation of culture in the audience, but is also more appealing for people who are interested in travelling. Famous actors appear in the film, such as Daniel Craig and Judi Dench. Because of these big names, the audience will trust that the film will be good due to the actors reputation. Also, the scene on top of the train is shown from many different angles, which emphasises action. The special effects, for example the house fire, is very dynamic and draws the audience in. On the other hand, films like 'Ill Manors', which was made by a small independent company, do not include these qualities. The budget for the whole film was £100,000, only a fraction of the cost of 'Skyfall'. No exciting locations are used, and the actors are not very well known and not many different or extreme camera shots are used, like in 'Skyfall' which uses helicopter and boat shots.

Another advantage of Media ownership for conglomerates is that they are able to use synergy and cross media convergence in order to boost profits. A good example for this point would be Disney. When the film 'Frozen' was released, tones of merchandise was released around the same time, such as dress-up clothes, dolls, bedding, lunchboxes, etc. Not only does this boost sales for the well known companies producing the merchandise, but also for the film itself. A different kind of example of synergy is when the singer Adele released the song 'Skyfall', named after the film, around the same time the film was released. This also helped boost sales for both institutions, because people who had seen the film and therefore heard the song might want to buy it, and fans of Adele will have heard the song and may be curious to watch the film that it appears in. For small, independent companies, synergy does not work as well, which means they are unable to boost their profits this way.

As conglomerates have a lot of money, it means they are able to spend a lot on marketing and advertisement. They can afford to produce multiple teaser trailers, which will create a buzz within the audience. They are also able to produce a larger variation of advertisement, for example 'Skyfall' was advertised through animated ads in tube stations. A larger variety of advertisement means a larger variety of people will see it. Although smaller companies cannot spend as much on advertising, they can still market quite successfully. 'Ill Manors' was advertised cheaply online, one way being through its website. This site included lots of clips, teasers, information about the film and downloads. Downloads are a free was of promoting the film as the film could be advertised through word of mouth. The film went on to make a profit over 4 times the cost of making the film.

There are quite a few disadvantages of media ownership for smaller companies through distribution. One of these disadvantages is that because the company are not well known and therefore do not have a good reputation, the film is automatically expected to make less at the box office. If this does happen, these companies cannot withstand losses as they do not have as much money as big conglomerates like The Big Six. On the other hand, it is because they do not have as much money which makes them able to take risks when producing a film, as they do not have much to loose. Taking these risks could potentially end up making them a lot of profit. When it comes to exhibition, smaller companies tend to get a backseat due to the amount of big American blockbusters made by big conglomerates with their good reputation.
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Friday, 1 May 2015

Issues Raised By Media Ownership

Big Companies

Advantages for production:

- won't need to collaborate to increase funding
- Big conglomerates can get better actors, travel to better locations, have more special effects
- These companies are able to

Disadvantages for production:



Advantages for distribution:

- Big companies can use synergy and cross media convergence via games, music, toys, etc (Disney) due to their ownership of companies
- better links to related companies
- Large companies can use online marketing in a bigger way
- Bigger companies can create more teaser trailers and announce dates and have a planned timeline. This generates a buzz within the audience.

Disadvantages for distribution:


Advantages for exhibition:

Disadvantages for exhibition:


Advantages for audience:

Disadvantages for audience:
Small / Independent Companies

Advantages for production:

 - Smaller companies are able to take more risks than larger companies

Disadvantages for production:

 - Less budget so film will be less ambitious, with smaller scale locations and less experienced actors
- Often have to secure extra funding

Advantages for distribution:

 - Small companies can market successfully and relatively cheaply online. The budget for Ill Manors was £100,000 and its made £453,570 at the UK box office. Its website included loads of teasers, clips, information about the film, and downloads. Downloads are a way of free advertising, as film is advertised through word of mouth.

Disadvantages for distribution:

 - Less money to spend on distribution campaign
- Film is expected to make less at the box office
- Cant withstand losses with box office returns
- there are difficulties faced by smaller companies with relatively small marketing budgets and few opportunities for synergy.

Advantages for exhibition:

Disadvantages for exhibition:

 - Smaller companies and the majority of British films are given a backseat due to the vast amount of American blockbusters

Advantages for audience:

Disadvantages for audience:
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