Describe what a synergy is and give an insight as to whether I agree with the statement or not. Synergy is used by conglomerate film companies to create products of a greater sum than their potential individual efforts to market the film.
Paragraph One:
Write about the various types of synergy, such as books, video games, theme parks, sequels, etc. Reference Frozen.
Frozen Synergy:
Video Games for DS and 3DS.
Various forms of Frozen merchandise on Amazon, e.g. plush toys, costumes, books.
Frozen sequel in the making.
Soundtrack.
Frozen-based rides in Disney World.
Behind The Scenes TV show.
Paragraph Two:
Write about synergy in terms of independent film companies, and how they market their films otherwise. Reference Ill Manors.
Ill Manors Synergy:
Ill Manors Soundtrack
(The lack of synergy meant a lack in marketing the film)
Paragraph Three:
Compare Frozen and Ill Manors in terms of synergy and write about whether the statement is agreeable to both companies or not. (For Frozen, synergy was a vital process in its marketing stage, whereas Ill Manors did not market their films with a variety of products, so it was probably not a vital process in their stage of marketing.
Conclude:
Giving an explanation as to whether synergy is a vital process for big conglomerate companies, and if it is a vital process for independent film companies.
The first way in which age is represented in this clip is through mise-en-scene, specifically in the area of body language. The younger boy is forced to look up at the older male due to his position in the courtroom. This portrays the older male as more powerful and more in control, and is immediately noticeable as the clip opens with its over-the-shoulder shot. Body language is also used to portray the younger male as vulnerable, as if he is being scolded, denoting the character with his shoulders hunched and his head bowed down, occasionally looking up. Another example of mise-en-scene that helps construct the representation of age is the costumes. All of the people working in the courtroom are wearing grey wigs. Although this is a typical appearance of a judge, it can be pointed out that a stereotype of elder people is that they have grey hair. This perhaps allowed the audience to see that there is a distinct difference in age between the judge and the young boy. Mise en scene again features in this clip in terms of the setting. The younger boy is separated from everybody else by a box, making him seem vulnerable and alone, thus representing young people as weaker than older people. Sound is also used to portray age is specific ways. The use of diegetic sound in terms of dialogue is common within this extract. The younger male is clearly portrayed as struggling to form a sentence quickly, and stuttering occasionally. This conflicts with how the older male is portrayed, for he seems to be very well spoken and completely at ease in terms of how he speaks. Also, he is replying to the boy so quickly that he is almost interrupting him, perhaps indicating that older people can be somewhat disrespectful to the younger people without punishment. As the clip progresses, non diegetic music can be heard, sounding quite ominous and dangerous as the younger boy speaks. This represents younger people as quite untrustworthy and people to be wary of. Diegetic sounds like sniffing and heavy breathing are also featured with the younger male, portraying him yet again as weak and child-like. Camera angles are used concerning the representation of age in many ways. For example, the judge is mostly always shown at a low angle, forcing the audience to look up at him. This portrays him as powerful and as having authority. There are times in the clip also where the younger male is shown at a high angle, giving the audience a view of looking down at him. This is to achieve the opposite effect, making him look small and weak. Later on in the extract, a close up shot is used to show the boys reaction and body language, for example in the shot where boy rests his head on the desk, as if trying to hide from the judge and his questions, making his actions and overall behaviour seem quite child-like. Editing is also used in this extract to represent the differences in characteristics and behaviour of various ages. The shots of the young male answering the questions given to him are long and drawn out, making it seem like he is struggling to come up with answers to these questions. This portrays young people as not yet capable of correctly forming sentences in a short period of time. However, the shots of the judge are fast and indicate that he is speaking at a fast, even pace, which connotes that the older male is superior in terms of his speech. Key Words: Denote - What can be seen Conote - What can be conveyed High Production Value Low Production Value Verisimilitude - Situation looks real Narrative - A story constructed in detail Linear - Chronological Circular- Not from start to finish Parallel Editing: Scenes happening at the same time but in different locations
The term 'Media Ownership' refers to the process where an increasingly small number of companies own most media outlets. This process has an effect on production, distribution and exhibition companies in both positive and negative ways.
The first way media ownership raises issues within production companies is that producers cannot take as many risks, due to the size of the market that they have to satisfy with their product. Although this could be potentially problematic in terms of the quality of the movie, there are advantages for production companies as well in terms of media ownership. An example of such an advantage is that, with a big conglomerate, the company would not need to collaborate with other companies to ensure they get a prophet, due to how successful they already are. Also, big conglomerate production companies can be more ambitious when making the film by using celebrities, better quality (HD, 3D, IMAX) and using broader locations to shoot in.
Distribution companies do not really face any issues when it comes to media ownership, instead having the advantage of synergy. Synergy can be used to promote the film, such as through video games, soundtrack, merchandise, etc. An example of synergy is within Disney and their various products sold at supermarkets, such as plush toys, their clothing range and posters. This is an advantage for distribution companies for it is a good way to promote and market the film to exhibitors and their audiences. Exhibition companies also face advantages and disadvantages concerning media ownership. An advantage for exhibitors is that their companies will have more audiences if their product has been marketed and advertised well. For example, the film Skyfall features famous actors such as Judi Dench and Daniel Craig, both of which featured in all the trailers, and many posters advertising the release of the film. The trailers also featured many of the special effects and action sequences that occur in the film, so it can be ensured that the institutions make a prophet. A disadvantage for exhibition companies however is that the film has to do well at the box office in order for all three of the institutions to make a prophet, making it quite risky to exhibit small independent company-made films. To conclude, media ownership has both a positive and negative effect on the institutions, particularly production and exhibition companies. More well known companies are likely to not have to worry about competition unlike independent small companies that need to make a prophet. This therefore makes production companies face the most issues in terms of media ownership rather than distribution or exhibition.
The extract opens straight away with some diegetic dialogue from a woman who is stating that she 'didn't think there was anything strange about Billy'. This immediately allows the audience to infer that 'Billy' has done something that would warrant being called strange. A cut is then made, showing a different location and a tracking shot of a man walking down a road, dusting himself off. It can be assumed by the audience that this is Billy, due to the previous dialogue. With this cut comes some non diegetic music, which could be described as suspicious or eerie, suggesting that Billy has done something wrong. His body language and the action of dusting himself off also portrays this theory. The makeup used on Billy's face and his costume are quite dirty and scratched, showing a contrast with the clean police uniform shown later.
Soon after, another tracking shot of Billy is shown, apparently oblivious to the police that were shown nearby in previous low angle shots. Those with a disability are being represented in this clip as somewhat ignorant to their surroundings, until Billy notices the police in a low angle reaction shot, and runs off frame. A high angle of the police restraining Billy is shown, forcing the audience to look down on him. This shot is used to represent disabled people as significantly weaker than people without a disability. This is further represented in the clip through the dialogue by Billy: 'I haven't done anything wrong' in a pleading tone, showing him submitting to the police.
After the opening titles, a tracking shot showing a group of people outside a house guarded by police is shown, portraying the concern of people without a disability for those with a disability. A cut is then made to the inside of the house, showing a high angle of Billy's father and Detective Frost talking quietly. Frost asks the father if Billy could be considered mentally subnormal, and after being corrected as to what is the correct form of address, he apologises. This piece of dialogue represents abled bodied people as wary or even scared to come across as mistreating disabled people. During another tracking shot Billy's mother approaches, informing Frost that Billy would feel better if she could clean him up. This part of the extract represents disabled people as needing help from abled bodied people to complete basic tasks such as cleaning themselves.
When Frost and Billy's father enter the room, yet another tracking shot is made, following Billy's father who is approaching Billy. Billy immediately looks up and tells his father that he hasn't done anything, to which his father replies in a gentle manner to calm him down. As Frost sits down, a close up shot of Billy is made, showing his reaction. His head is tilted and he looks quite curious and we notice that Billy is sat lower than the others. This gives the impression that he is vulnerable or perhaps representing him as a lower status than the other two men in the room. Frost starts talking to Billy in a condescending and patronising way implying that Billy needs to be treated like he is a child. It can be seen that Frost is becoming increasingly frustrated that Billy isn’t listening to him and is not participating with any of the questions through his body language, (repositioning himself, leaning in closer).
To conclude, mise-en-scene, sound, editing and camera work have all been used throughout this extract to portray disabled people in certain ways. The ways in which the audience react to disability in dramas generally varies, with reactions such as discomfort, indifference or sorrow, depending on how they are perceived in the show.
Plan: Paragraph One: What is the significance of the proliferation of hardware and content for producers?
Advantages: Cameras are cheaper
Producers can spend more money on the computers and the quality of films in terms of CGI, graphics, 3D, etc. (D-Box). Skyfall is an example of how much money needs to be used to succeed in competition.
Disadvantages: Due to the cheaper cameras, more competition has been created for producers to create a popular film. Ill Manors is an example of a small budget film that was not able to compete with larger film and film companies.
Paragraph Two:
What is the significance of the proliferation of hardware and content for distributors?
Advantages: Marketing is easier because audiences have more chance at seeing the film being marketed through social media and Web 2.0 (the internet), via their phones, tablets, iPads, laptops, iPhones, etc. Skyfall and Ill Manors both had websites, pages, trailers and posters.
Synergy can be used more effectively due to the proliferation of hardware. (video games, CD's)
Disadvantages: Audiences have access to sites such as YouTube therefore they can create their own films, creating more competition for the film industry.
Paragraph Three:
What is the significance of the proliferation of hardware and content for exhibitors?
Advantages: Various ways to watch movies have been created, such as Netflix and LoveFilm, therefore making audiences more likely to watch the movie. High budget, popular movies such as Skyfall (of which had a budget $200 million) may be more likely to be on these forms of movie watching, however, films like Ill Manors (with a budget of £100,00) may not be well known enough to feature on these sites.
Disadvantages: The ways in which audiences can illegally watch movies have also expanded, especially since the invention of Web 2.0.
Paragraph Four:
What is the significance of the proliferation of hardware and content for audiences?
Advantages: Easier to gain access to high quality movies through various manners such as the internet (Netflix, LoveFilm) and DVD/Blu-Ray.
A subscription to a site such as Netflix tends to be worth the money due to the extensive choice of films and TV shows available.
Disadvantages: Piracy videos tend to be bad quality, which audiences may be tempted to watch due to the fast access and lack of money spent on it.
To what extent does digital distribution affect the marketing and consumption of media products in the media area you have studied? There have been recent changes in the film industry in terms of marketisation and the consumption of the products released by the industry due to the increasing updates in digital distribution. An example of a form of digital distribution that has affected the film industry in both positive and negative ways is Web 2.0. Web 2.0, more commonly referred to as 'the internet', has changed the film industry in terms of not only the marketing and consumption of their products, but also in terms of the overall popularity of the film industry. Before Web 2.0, the ways distributors would distribute their films to exhibitors took a lot longer, and was much less efficient. 'Digital distribution' means the exhibitors are receiving the media products electronically rather than physically. Due to the increase in updates relating to digital technology, it is now common for distributors to use this form of distribution, for it is cheaper and easier. In terms of the marketisation of media products, digital forms of distribution have been mainly positive for both the institutions and the audiences. Web 2.0 supplies social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. On these sites, official pages for specific films can be made for people to 'like' or 'follow', therefore giving them occasional information and updates about the upcoming movie. Also, posters are now commonly released online before being released onto bus stations or banners and such. Ill Manors had a very small budget, so when marketing the film the institutions were able to avoid spending a lot of money due to Web 2.0. This is an advantage for it is very cheap, and thousands, if not millions of people can see the posters easily. YouTube is used to post official trailers and teaser trailers for upcoming movies as well, and these trailers tend to include released dates. Trailers and posters help establish the genre and age group that the film is aimed at, and the comment system allows audiences to share their views on the trailer and indicates the popularity of the film.
Ill Manors also has its own website at www.illmanors.com, which the social network sites shared for the audience to view. On this website, all the information the audience needs to know about the film is shown, as well as the marketing and advertising of a DVD and Blu-Ray release of the movie. Skyfall has its own website, sharing the same information. However, due to the higher budget, the Skyfall website looks a lot nicer and features effects like fade ins and fade outs, whereas the Ill Manors website does not. Overall, the extent to which digital distribution affects the marketing and consumption of media products in the film industry is noticeable and very much efficient to both the institutions and the audiences. The fact that distributors can now distribute their films in a digital manner has made the process a lot faster and smoother, rather than transferring the footage of the film psychically, therefore making the updates in digital distribution have more positive effects for institutions and audiences than negative.
