AS Media Studies

Study of the Film Industry

 Lesson 5

Todays lesson is brought to you by the terms: ownership, conglomerate,

funding, vertical and horizontal integration, institution, technology, piracy.
 How does all this fit into the exam?

You could be asked about 7 different areas of study in the exam, or a combination of more than 1:

The ways in which the candidates own experience of media consumption illustrate wider patterns and trends of audience behaviour

The issues raised by media ownership in contemporary media practice

The technologies that have been introduced in recent years at the level of production, distribution, marketing and exchange

The issues raised in the targeting of national and local audiences (specifically British) by international or global institutions

The significance of hardware and content for institutions and audiences

The importance of cross media convergence and synergy in production, distribution and marketing

The importance of technological convergence for institutions and audiences

Session aims:

To explore ownership and institution in

PDME
To explore the use of technology in
PDME
Who owns the media?

Does anyone have any idea?

 In groups of 2 you will research the major
American conglomerates.

You will use the Film Industry blog plus

other relevant websites to complete your
research.

Research Task Your research must be posted to the blog.

 Presentation of research

Each group will briefly present their findings to the class

Focusing on the benefits and drawbacks of conglomerate produced major studio
productions
How is British film funded?

And how does this affect the PDME for British Independent films?
Lets have a look at a mind-map of possible funding options: https://
mm.tt/839974477?t=UJnjBuCwGc
Benefits and drawbacks for
independent film PDME

Now youve explored how British films can be funded, think about what the benefits
and drawbacks of this could be
Use your MindMap put benefits in one colour and drawbacks in another
See the next slide for help.
 Benefits and drawbacks for director, writer and producer
Financial advantages/disadvantages
Creative advantages/disadvantages
Commercial advantages/disadvantages
Access to post production methods

Points to Access to the distribution process

Access to points of exchange and available formats
consider: Access to audiences
 Advantages and disadvantages of major
studio films v independent films: a start.
But you need much more information for
your possible exam answer

Lego Batman Movie Major Studio I, Daniel Blake Independent

Advantages Disadvantages Advantages Disadvantages
Range of available Lack of creative More creative control Lack of money for vast
ancillary markets freedom for director marketing budget rely
studio dictate direction on word of mouth more
Option to exploit Being stuck in than major
vertical integration franchise pressure Less pressure to Limited access to
exchange options to succeed (cult make a financial ancillary markets (a
following of marvel success problem?)
fans) ? No options for cross-
Money for vast Pressure to make a media convergence and
advertising budget to profit large budget = synergy (again, a
reach global audience pressure for large profit problem?)
Security of a large ? ? Harder to access
budget audiences
Revision help for ownership:

When planning your revision you should consider the following:

Impact of ownership on:

Production practices how the film is made, who is involved, how long it takes to make,
equipment used to produce the film, personnel involved in producing the film, how creative /
commercial decisions are impacted upon depending on the type of funding.
Distribution and marketing how the film is sold to audiences, types of advertising used,
effect of advertising, types of synergy and convergence, advertising and marketing content,
Exchange how ownership affects the way the film is consumed by audiences, how exchange
strategy is affected by ownership.
Part 2: use of technology in
PDME

Research activity
 The technologies that have
been introduced in recent years
at the level of production,
distribution, marketing and
Re-cap: how does exchange
And also:
technology fit into The significance of hardware and
content for institutions and
the exam? audiences

The importance of cross media
convergence and synergy in
Debates around technology feature in the following
production, distribution and
areas of the specification: marketing

The importance of technological
convergence for institutions and
audiences
What is technology?

Quick definition to the board

Brainstorm how
technology could impact
each stage of the PDME
process
In your groups, use the sugar paper refer to Lego Batman Movie and I, Daniel Blake
Reflection questions:

Which areas of the film chain seem to have been

most affected by developments in technology?
What impact does technology have on film
audiences?
Technology research activity:

In your assigned group:

Research your area of technology
Post your research to the blog
Consolidation of research
Each group must feedback 5 significant factors from their research area.
The rest of the class record notes
Homework: Key Assignment
and Revision Activities

Complete the key assignment and submit by Tuesday 28th March