Sunday, 27 March 2011

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.

Friday, 25 March 2011

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.      

Understanding the differences between Hollywood and the UK film industry

Must look at these three in exam or WILL fail
Production
Distribution- marketing of the movie
Exhibition

Ten film stars:
1.       Ben stiller
2.       Emma Watson
3.       Adam deacon
4.       Taylor launter
5.       Mel Gibson
6.       Richard Gere
7.       Julia Roberts
8.       Aaron Johnson
9.       Brad pitt
10.   George c loony
Top ten highest grossing movies this year
1.       Toy story 3
2.       Alice in wonderland
3.       Harry potter
4.       Inception
5.       Shrek forever after
6.       The twilight saga
7.       Iron man 2
8.       Tangled
9.       Despicable me
10.   How to train your dragon
11.  
What’s showing in cinemas this week?
1.       Black swan
2.       Hall pass
3.       Kings speech
4.       Rango
5.       Unknown

Hollywood major companies:
·         Disney
·         Viacom
·         AOL/TW
·         News corp
·         Clear channel
Distributing
Differences Hollywood can distribute their own movies, but the UK have to either sell the rights to their companies to companies such as Pathe

Production
British films are usually set in the UK, they make them in the major studio Pinewood, they don’t invest in the movies but just a place where they can film it. Not owned by any studios anyone can use it. UK does not own their own property. US do own their own plot

Exhibition
Audience prefer American movies, last year at least 7 out of 10 are American films were really successful.

      





This is England
Pirates of the Caribbean
production

Walt Disney pictures


distribution
IFC Films (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
Optimum Releasing (2006) (UK) (theatrical)


Buena Vista Picturespart of Disney (made it out of their own money)

Exhibition
British stars:
Stephen graham
Bankable stars:
Johnny Depp
Orlando Bloom
Kiera knightly


Hollywood Vs UK

Hollywood
·         Benefits from synergy
·         Cross media
·         Maybe owned by large conglomerates
·         May also own smaller film studios
·         Range of media arms
UK
·         Cottage industry
·         Co-producers- two or more companies financing the movie
·         Selling distribution rights
·         10 movies per year average

publishing                                     Time warner                         internet

Warner bros entertainment                  village roadshow
music         tv station                                  comics                         DC comics
Warner bros Pictures
Reprise records                     Warner bros records                                                       independent       new line
                                                                                                                       Castle rock entertainment
                                                                        Looney tunes                                                                       HBO films
                                                                                                                                         Tuner entertainment
                                                    Own tv channel
                                                                                                                                          Warner bros animation
                                                    Cartoon network


                                                                           



UK
The King's Speech

Director:
Writer:
David Seidler (screenplay)
Won 4 Oscars.
Budget:
$15,000,000 (estimated)
Opening Weekend:
$355,450 (USA) (28 November 2010) (4 Screens)
Gross:
$129,010,235 (USA) (13 March 2011)

These companies all bought a part of the small company that produced the movie
·         Alliance Films (2010) (Canada) (theatrical)
·         Bazuca Films (2011) (Chile) (theatrical)
·         Cathay-Keris Films (2011) (Singapore) (theatrical)
·         Diamond Films (2011) (Argentina) (theatrical)
·         Eagle Pictures (2011) (Italy) (theatrical)
·         GAGA (2011) (Japan) (theatrical)
·         Momentum Theatrical (2010) (UK) (theatrical)
·         Paramount Pictures (2010) (Australia) (theatrical)
·         Transmission (2010) (Australia) (theatrical)
·         Transmission (2010) (New Zealand) (theatrical)
·         Weinstein Company, The (2010) (USA) (theatrical)
·         Anchor Bay Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD)
·         Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2010) (Switzerland) (all media)
·         Cascade Film (2010) (Russia) (all media)
·         CatchPlay (2011) (Taiwan) (all media)
·         DeA Planeta Home Entertainment (2010) (Spain) (all media)
·         IPA Asia Pacific (2010) (Thailand) (all media)
·         Kino Swiat (2011) (Poland) (all media)
·         Paris Filmes (2011) (Brazil) (all media)
·         Prorom Media-Trade (2010) (Romania) (all media)
·         Wild Bunch (2011) (Germany) (all media)
·         Zon Lusomundo Audiovisuais (2011) (Portugal) (all media)



Production Companies
·         Bedlam Productions

Soundtracks
·         Symphony no. 7 in A Major: Allegretto"
Music by
Ludwig van Beethoven
Heard as George VI delivers his first wartime speech

·         "Piano Concerto No 5, Op. 73 ('Emperor') in E-Flat Major: II. Adagio un Poco Mosso"
Music by
Ludwig van Beethoven
Heard as George VI concludes his first wartime speech

·         "Lionel and Bertie"
Music by
Alexandre Desplat
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios

·         "The Overture to La Nozze di Figaro"
by
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
During the first therapy session when King's voice is being recorded

·         "Who's Been Polishing The Sun?"
Music by
Noel Gay
Lyrics by
Charles Gaynor
Performed by
Bert Ambrose and His Orchestra
Vocals by
Sam Browne and the Rhythm Sisters

·         "Shout For Happiness"
Written by Jack Hart and Tom Blight
Performed by
Al Bowlly and the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra
Playing in the background at Balmoral Castle

·         "Concerto for Clarinet in A Major: Allegro"
Music by
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Heard during the montage of Lionel conducting lessons with Bertie

merchandise
There was a competition on a social network called facebook where they held a competition  for a chance to win some merchandise on the kings speech, they also have video games








the black swan
Director:
Writers:

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$1,443,809 (USA) (5 December 2010) (18 Screens)

Gross:

$105,928,217 (USA) (13 March 2011)
Production Co:
Soundtracks
"Outside the Lines"
Written by Praveen Sharma and Travis Stewart
Performed by Sepalcure (featuring Angelica Bess)
Courtesy of Hotflush Recordings
Contains "Swan Lake" written by
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky