alex birchmore- media AS evaluation

Practise essay 2

"Media production is dominated by global institutions, which sell their products and services to national audiences."
To what extent do you agree with this statement.

According to this statement media production is dominated by global institutions, in some ways is true as British production companies such as Film 4 brand there services to national audiences, for example film 4 is one of the largest British production companies that focuses on specific audiences. Channel 4 has widened their audiences by buying rights to TV channels such as Film4, Channel4 is on every British television set even without resources like Sky or Free view which enables televisions to gain extra channels, they also on music channels such as 4music. Since film4 produces its own movies it has the ability to exploit its resources by promoting there new films, when they made ‘slumdog millionaire’ they had a low budget but still was made very successful as film4 played that movie on channel 4 regularly so audiences would get interested and watch it, the movie also had a hit US group band that made a successful soundtrack called ‘jai hoe’ this track was continuously played on film4’s music channel 4music.

Also such productions like in the US where companies such as Time Warner who are one of the biggest production companies around benefit from synergy as they own smaller media companies which broaden their circulation and assists their domination, they also have a range of media arms in production, from advertising trailers to merchandise deals. Time Warner own Warner bros entertainment which own industries with TV shows, music stations, internet and even comic books. They also appeal to a range of audiences as the US production companies have a basic story line with a beginning, middle and end, which attracts also the British audiences, in addition to this they also have bankable stars to star in their movies which attract many audiences, something the UK industry can rarely do on a small budget, and usually needs to aquire co-producers sometimes from abroad to fund the movie.

The US advancements in the industry and large budget means that they do not have to sell their products unlike the UK, this makes their dominance in media production solid. The UK also has had many disadvantages as the British Film Council was shut down due to expensive costs; this makes the US dominancy transparent. The other disadvantages the UK faces are that in one movie there are co-producers which mean that two or more companies are financing the movie; this can be a strain as the movie could be changed by co-producers, making the release of the movie delayed. One of the major disadvantages the UK face is that they have to sell distribution rights to other companies in order to get the movie out in the cinemas, sometimes this means over to America. For example Warner Bros decided to hedge its relatively small bet (around $5 million) on Slumdog Millionaire by handing over 50 per cent of the US distribution rights to Fox Searchlight, part of News Corporation, parent company of The Times. (source Times Online)

Also Hollywood are known for there basic storylines, big budget, but they are know known for producing 3D hit movies, the production companies in Hollywood are on top because they know how to keep their audience interested, which the rise in new technology they have the resources to test them on new movies, such as Avatar. The movie was released in 2009, and directed by James Cameron, a director who has released box breaking hits like Titanic, this movie was specifically made for 3D as Cameron waited for new technology to emerge before releasing the movie. The sky high budget allowed Hollywood to turn the animation into a realistic movie, which targeted a mass audience going global. The gross profit of the movie was $2,039,472,387 (Worldwide). Since the genre of the movie was fantasy/adventure, everyone would enjoy it, in contrast to British audiences the production companies only target a small group of the population thus making them less gross profit. Ever since the Avatar movie hit, Hollywood companies have been attempting to use 3D since, especially Disney as they discovered that there animation movies fit perfectly with 3D and they would target a reliable audience such as families, Hollywood production companies are also trying to use 3D because it not only gives them a reason to boost cinema ticket prices, but also gives them extra profit, as creating a 3D movie doesn’t cost them much more money.

Hollywood companies such as Fox are now so interested in the advancement in 3D that they are going to invest is previous movies that made a good gross profit like Dirty Dancing and Terminator. These movies would attract older generations of audiences as they would have most likely seen the movie and would like to see it again, and since it would be in 3D it would give them a new different experience in the cinema. Also since the movie would just be turned into 3D it would not cost the production companies much more money, it would certainly cost them less then making another movie and this would be another easy way of achieving profit and testing out new technology. This proves that Hollywood is dominant in the film industry.

Film4 however does not produce movies that would need to be made in 3D , as it is not fit with the genre, audiences would not go to see a 3D movie if it was a horror. This then limits Film4’s attempts to get into that industry of new technology, Film4 is known for making realistic films that target a certain audience, like Slumdog millionaire, it had torture, poverty and murder, this would not only not target a family audience or an older generation audience but would not be successful in 3D as this new technology is to create a fantasy, and the realistic themes shown in this kind of movie would not suit 3D.

Also the new 2.0 technology used in the film industry such as the internet, digital screens and Red cameras, gives an advancement for the UK as 2.0 gives a digital picture so there are no more need for reel pictures that cost hugely to be sent to cinemas, this then opens a door for smaller independent film companies in the UK who are tying to break into the industry without a big budget. This is a success for the UK as they now have a jump start in rivaling with Hollywood, however with the new advancement in web 2.0 there have been limitations, such as piracy. Piracy has been exposed to the film industry as the new technology released to the public has given people the ability to film movies and download them from the internet, this then puts a strain on the gross profit to both Hollywood and the UK. This strain in my opinion can be battled by Hollywood as they have the budget but the UK would not succeed.

In conclusion I agree with the above statement in terms of the British industry as they face many other aspects to producing a film than the US does, like selling distribution rights, and only being able to produce 10 movies a year with little budget.

what we should think about when in the exam

1.       Global Hollywood

2.       Dominate

3.       Target audience /mass audiences

Bankable stars

Basic narratives based on simple genre conventions

Blanket release/ wide release/ wide audience

4.       Statistics

5.       Budgets – link back to structure, advantages to synergy, 3D attracts audiences, it’s a revolution, action/ adventure genre aimed at a family audience.

6.       Back catalogues remastered in 3D like star wars, titanic, Dirty Dancing- to gain more money as people were interested in these old films. And will attract older audiences to the 3D experience.

7.       Film4 slumdog not typical was a one off for film4

           This is England budget was 1.5 million. Grossed 207,000 opening weekend. Previewed in one cinema in the US. Small release, niche audience. Working class UK audience tell working class stories. Complex narrative, no fixed genre, social realism. Age of average audience is 18+. Whereas 20^th century fox is aimed at a wider audience.  UK films have adult themes.  Not universal themes more British.

8.        Should put in what is the top 10 movies on like’ this weekend at my local cinema...’

9.       Digital screens costs 1500-2500 dollars for a 80 min feature, blanket release. Hollywood can afford distribution budget as it is a parent company they keep it in house. Printing costs like 300 screens in the UK costing 60.000 dollars so film4 don’t have the arms to do it, so they sell the rights to other companies outside the UK. ‘Distribution deal’ sell right, but lose a lot of money; only way film4 can’t distribute movies outside the UK. On a disc it is much cheaper.

10.    Uk film council digital screens network, helping to make independent companies more competitive.

11.   Piracy- blanket release combat piracy – find out for hw .3D fights piracy as you can’t watch a 3D movie without it being in the cinema. Legal streaming, I-tunes download, orange monkey, sky box office, film4 on demand – film4’s way of responding to the internet, they can’t compete with blanket releases or 3D, not a market they can enter.

5 positive aspects of 3D technology and 5 negative aspects

5 positives are:

·         Helps the production companies gain more profit to make more films

·         They can charge bigger prices because the rise in technology is exciting so wider audiences would want to try it

·         The rise in 2.0 makes it cheaper to film a movie so the rise in 3D make the profit more advanced

3d a visual experience, audiences would love to see a movie look realistic, and if it’s an animation, the large group of family audiences would love it. Also 3D combats piracy as you can’t download it on the internet as its 3D.

‘ For a long time, people have opted to download movies and watch them at their own convenience but with all the hype and added advantages associated with 3D movies, it is highly estimated that the number of downloads will considerably go down as more people will opt to fill theatre rooms and experience the beauty of the same, first hand.’   3D MoviesFinder.com

·         Many people are buying 3D televisions so they can watch live football, this way they save money, also many pubs are buying 3D televisions to try and boost their punters.

·         Also cinemas and studios are also re-releasing the old hit movies like Dirty Dancing back to cinemas, this is to try and lure the older audiences to the cinema to give them a chance to see the films they used to love.

5 negatives are:

·         The rise in prices just after the recession, make going to see a 3D film more harder as its too expensive so then they either don’t go to see the 3D one, instead the 2D one, or they just buy the piracy copy

Matt Bochenski
Editor, Littlewhitelies.co.uk
‘Studios are desperate for 3D to work, as are cinemas.’

·         Film4 being one of the biggest British production companies, still can’t get into the group of new technology, as they simply don’t have the budget, and has not yet made a 3D movie, but Channel4 has but it’s only a small scale movie.

‘So far this year, US ticket sales are running 20% behind where they were in the first quarter of 2010’

Dominic Rushe in New York

The Observer, Sunday 20 March 2011

• Article history

·         Studios and cinemas know that they are on the downfall as they’re audiences are not responding to the rise in ticket sales and at the moment there audience hasn’t disappeared but is disappearing.

‘while their audiences aren't disappearing, they're certainly dispersing.’ Matt Bochenski
Editor, Littlewhitelies.co.uk The Guardian.

·         Also through new technology like the 3D movies, they are losing their older audiences like 45+, as the new technology would mostly confuse them, also statistics show that older generations take up a being amount of the population,  rather than the 3D’s target audience which is younger people.

·         Many people dislike the idea with wearing glasses in the dark, and what about people who wear prescribed glasses, what they going to do slip them over there prescribed glasses ?

“Brandon Gray, founder of film-industry website Box Office Mojo, says there will be more of this to come. "For all the boosterism, 3D isn't ready for primetime," he says. "It's still watching movies wearing sunglasses in the dark. Come back when you've got that sorted out."

Interesting Facts and Figures about the UK Film Industry

Domestic -Film made with money in the UK

Co-Production -Money used from abroad

1.       What evidence can you find in the article that the UK film industry is healthy/good?

·         Record inward investment level - up 15% to £928.9 million from £810.7 million in 2009. Within the overall production spend, international investment also set a new recordAt the same time, the number of UK co-productions with other countries dropped to 19 from 26 in 2009, but, at £52 million, spend on these films is a 45% increase on 2009.

·         British films proved popular with audiences, accounting for 22.6% of all ticket sales, including 5.5% from independent British films

·         Streetdance 3D, backed by the UK Film Council with £1 million of Lottery funding, was the most successful independent British film at the UK box office, earning in excess of £11.6 million.

2. What are domestic, inward investment and co-production? Give an example of each.

Domestic -Film made with money in the UK like Kidult hood, Co-Production -Money used from abroad like Slumdog Millionaire, Inward Investment- Hollywood Company making the film, but also making it in the UK, like Pirates of the Caribbean as they come to the UK to use the locations.

3. Is there any evidence that there are problems in the UK film industry?

 The Shutting down of the film council means there will not be as much film investment for the small film makers who want to be globalised. This puts a strain on the young film students who are trying to make their first film, this cutback made it harder.

4. According to Tim Cagney what challenges does the UK film industry face?

“After ten years of UK Film Council support, they highlight the importance of a strong film sector and reinforce the UK's reputation as one of the most competitive and highly-skilled places in the world to make films. The figures also show how difficult it is to raise finance for making independent British films and, with four of the top ten grossing UK independent films funded by the UK Film Council, the ongoing value of public investment in new British films and talent."

5. Do you agree with the statement that the UK relies on Hollywood investment to remain healthy?

According to Table 2: UK spends of features produced in the UK, 2003 - 2010, £ millions, the UK made 928.9 by Inward Investment from America, this in contrast to Domestic UK features 174.1

Practise essay

"Media production is dominated by global institutions, which sell their products and services to national audiences."
To what extent do you agree with this statement.

According to this statement media production is dominated by global institutions, in some ways is true as British production companies such as Film 4 brand there services to national audiences, for example film 4 is one of the largest British production companies that focuses on specific audiences. Film 4 has widened their audiences by buying rights to TV channels such as Channel 4 which is on every British television set even without resources like Sky or Free view which enables televisions to gain extra channels, they also on music channels such as 4music. Since film4 produces its own movies it has the ability to exploit its resources by promoting there new films, when they made ‘slumdog millionaire’ they had a low budget but still was made very successful as film4 played that movie on channel 4 regularly so audiences would get interested and watch it, the movie also had a hit US group band that made a successful soundtrack called ‘jai hoe’ this track was continuously played on film4’s music channel 4music.

Also such productions like in the US where companies such as Time Warner who are one of the biggest production companies around benefit from synergy as they own smaller media companies which broaden their circulation and assists their domination, they also have a range of media arms in production, from advertising trailers to merchandise deals. Time Warner own Warner bros entertainment which own industries with TV shows, music stations, internet and even comic books. They also appeal to a range of audiences as the US production companies have a basic story line with a beginning, middle and end, which attracts also the British audiences, in addition to this they also have bankable stars to star in their movies which attract many audiences, something the UK industry can rarely do on a small budget.

The US advancements in the industry and large budget means that they do not have to sell their products unlike the UK, this makes their dominance in media production solid. The UK also has had many disadvantages as the British Film Council was shut down due to expensive costs; this makes the US dominancy transparent. The other disadvantages the UK faces are that in one movie there are co-producers which mean that two or more companies are financing the movie; this can be a strain as the movie could be changed by co-producers, making the release of the movie delayed. One of the major disadvantages the UK face is that they have to sell distribution rights to other companies in order to get the movie out in the cinemas, sometimes this means over to America.

In conclusion I agree with the above statement in terms of the British industry as they face many other aspects to producing a film than the US does, like selling distribution rights, and only being able to produce 10 movies a year with little budget.

Hollywood Movies

1.       What are the key characteristics of Hollywood blockbuster movies?

They have better CGI and effects, they mostly follow basic storylines such as a beginning middle and end, and they also have bankable stars that will attract there target audience. And they also re use sets like the set of Friends, this saves them money.

2.       Why are these types of movie so popular with the big Hollywood studios?

They are very popular because once a producer creates a movie and identifies his or her favourite trend e.g (horror) then they stay making that genre.  Also they do this to target all audiences so most people will go and view their film. The British industry is like a niche market.

3.       Do you think that a company like FilmFour would make these types of film?

I believe that maybe one company would to see if they could break through the British industry, although I think they would be unsuccessful, as the British industry has a different audience to American audiences, also the British industry is very low budget and would not be as interesting.

4.       What types of films do Film4 produce?

Film4 produce films that are low budget, and have non famous stars, and the set are rather small and quite budgeted and they are not very broadly marketed and they do not follow a particular genre.

5.       Who are they appealing to?

They are appealing to a small audience but there audience varies to what kind of film they make, they are appealing to a UK audience and people over the age of 15.

6.