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

50 marks

20 marks Evidence, Analysis, Argument 
20 marks Examples
10 marks Terminology

Refer to Ex Machina and Star Wars: The Force Awakens in your answer.
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Marketing Star Wars

Find as many examples as you can from different media that were used to market Star Wars: The Force Awakens - add still images and video clips to your blog. Include: 

• Websites
• Facebook 
• Twitter
• Trailers
• Posters
• Chat shows and other TV interviews
• Product tie-ins
• Toys
• Any other areas you can think of

http://www.newstatesman.com/2014/08/s-all-folks


http://www.wirefresh.com/how-are-digital-movies-distributed-and-screened-every-question-answered/

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.

Film Production - the PROCESS of making a film

 

http://creativeskillset.org/creative_industries/film

Film Production

Film production is the process of making a film. 

For the exam you'll need to understand all the stages of film production, these are:


Development - This is simply the process of 'finding' a story. Ideas for films come from a variety of sources, they can range from novels, real life events to computer game adaptations. Once you've got an idea you'll need someone to write a pitch for you which you take to a film producer in an attempt to get some funding to make your film. Even at this very early stage you need a very clear idea of who you're aiming you film at so you can include elements that will appeal to them.
Pre-production - Once you've got funding you establish your budget and can begin to get a film crew together, you can storyboard the script. You also need break the script down into individual scenes and identify all the locations, props, cast members, costumes, special effects and visual effects needed.
Production - This is simply the process of 'making' the film. Provided you've done your job properly in the pre-production stage making the film should be straight forward. 'Film' is very expensive and difficult to store so an increasing number of film makers are using digital cameras to save money.
Post-production - During this stage you take all the 'film' you've shot and give it to a film editor. They will then begin putting it together. Special effects will be added, a soundtrack will be added, any missing dialogue will be re-recorded and added resulting in a 'rough cut'. This will be shown to the director and a test audience who will offer feedback. Often this causes scenes to be filmed and added or removed.

In today's lesson you need to find out what the following key roles and areas entail:

• writer
• producer
• casting director
• director
• film finance
• camera operator
• editor
• production designer
• marketing
• exhibition

You must write a description of each role/area and add a relevant image to illustrate.

These sites (alongside wikipedia) will help 

 

The Seven Areas of the exam

In pairs, apply your research of Star Wars: The Force Awakens to the seven key areas from the specification. Make sure you provide clear examples linking the areas to the film. Add images, graphs, figures to illustrate your points.

The Seven Areas:the issues raised by media ownership in contemporary media practice;

1. mportance of cross media convergence and synergy in production, distribution and marketing; 
2. the technologies that have been introduced in recent years at the levels of production, distribution, marketing and exchange; 
3. the significance of proliferation in hardware and content for institutions and audiences; 
4. the importance of technological convergence for institutions and audiences; 
5. the issues raised in the targeting of national and local audiences (specifically, British) by international or global institutions; 
6. the ways in which the candidates’ own experiences of media consumption illustrate wider patterns and trends oThe Seven Areas (Translations):

• 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?) Which companies made Star Wars: The Force Awakens? How did this impact on the type of film that was made? 
• 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?) Who publicised and distributed the film? How did these companies work together? What roles did they undertake?
• 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?) Research the types of technology utilised during these stages of the film production process of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
• 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) Link this area to Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
• 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?)  Consider, amongst other things, the many ways that the film was marketed.
• 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?) How was the film marketed in the USA, Europe and the rest of the world (particular focus here on China).
• 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?) Link this area to the film. Find figures for audience consumption on the different platforms for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.​