Media Ownership

Ill Manors:

• Film London Microwave is Independent
• BBC Films is owned by BBC
• Aimimage is Independent
• Gunslinger (co-production)
• Head Gear Films
• Ill Manors
• Metrol Technology 

Trains crew so they're approvable and successful.

Skyfall: 

• EON Productions is owned by Danjaq
• Distributed by Columbia, which is owned by Sony Pictures

Sony Products

• Motion pictures
• Television Production
• Television Syndication
• Online games
• Mobile Entertainment
• Video on demand
• Digital distribution

Sony Pictures is owned by Sony 

Frozen:

• Walt Disney Pictures is owned by the Walt Disney Studios
• Walt Disney Animation Studios is owned by the Walt Disney Studios

"Synergy Is A Vital Process in the Successful Marketing of Media Products to Audiences", to What Extent Do You Agree With This Statement?

Plan:

Introduction:

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.

Dylan Mann-Hazell

Representation of Age

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

Discuss the Issues Raised by Media Ownership in the Production, Distribution and Exchange of Media Texts in your Chosen Media Area

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.