Which Case Studies/topics Are Relevant For Each?

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Which case studies/topics are


relevant for each?

Big Budget with lots of tech used & stars


=
Mass distribution, huge amounts of marketing and
various experienced-based exhibition practices

LOW BUDGET

MEDIUM
BUDGET

BIG BUDGET

Niche Audience
Limited Release
Wide Audience
UK Wide Release
US Medium Release

MASS AUDIENCE
WORLDWIDE
RELEASE

Hollywood Big Six Domination

Benefits of the CoProductions

Negatives

How might TimeWarners huge amount of media power


offer advantages to the producers of Gravity

How might TimeWarners huge amount of media


power offer advantages to the audiences of Gravity

Cross-Media
Conergence
and Synergy
From Disney

Synergy with
WB/Lego

Synergy with
Netflix

Produc'on

Distribu'on

Exhibi'on

though most commonly HDD

UK Film Council championed the Digital


Screen Network in 2005 (Article in pack)

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND DISTRIBUTION


What impact/changes has digital technology made
within FILM DISTRIBUTION?

Digital distribution is cheaper for distributors


Digital distribution is quicker
Simultaneous global releases of films to cut down piracy
Better quality
Cut down piracy and illegal copies
Provide more outlets for consumption
Digital 'prints' offer consistency in quality as opposed to
celluloid

EXHIBITION:
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY ON
FILM EXHIBITION?
KEY POINTS:
Better quality of picture
Operationally easier for cinemas and reduces staffing
More flexibility in what you can watch in the cinema/home
Films displayed exactly as director has intended
Disadvantages: expensive to change all of the cinemas to
digital technology.
Unique cinema experiences -DBOX, IMAX, 4DX, 3D films
(although better quality 3D TVs could make this less unique
in future)

Case Study
Links to key
areas of study
Key Production
Details
Key Distribution
Details
Key Exhibition
Details

Gravity

Media Ownership - WB
New Technologies
Proliferation
Exhibition
Technologies - Iris, Lightbox, 12 wire rig
Casting
Director
Saturated release
Press screenings to build buzz
Synergy with squash'd
Interviews
3D
IMAX
Strong Reviews

e.g. Proliferation

Area of Study
Definition
Relevant Case
Studies
How it relates
to Institutions
How it relates
to Audience

X-Men, Gravity, SG, Lego


New higher quality production and
distribution equipment
New avenues to market

Prosumer
Affordable equipment to produce own products
More platforms to view media
Online access to media both legally and illegally

The Selfish Giant &

Exam Advice
If words like 'technology', 'convergence', 'distribution', 'marketing', 'digital'
come up and you should see them as your 'hook' into the question.
You only have 45 minutes to answer the question, so there isn't time to
waffle!
In this essay, I shall write about (concept/question) in relation to the film
industry, drawing on (examples X, Y & Z) as my case studies.
Try not to overload yourself with too many examples/case studies. 2-3 max.
Use contrasting examples so that you can look at all angles; for example, you
might have a mainstream high budget film from the USA to contrast with a
low budget independent Uk film.
Use PEEL for your paragraphs, the biggest mistake people make is giving great
points and even exemplifying and explaining their points, but not actually linking/
relating it back to the question.
Remember many different things you have learnt can be applied to multiple topics,
e.g. the concept of the 'Prosumer' can be used in discussion with Proliferation,
Media Ownership, Production and Technologies.
Most of all, do not panic, everything you need for the exam is in your brain
somewhere. Just relax and let it out.

Key Points for Discussion

How audiences are attracted and/or targeted


The ownership and operation of institutions
and how that affects products made and
audiences
BFI Film Fund & Tax Credit
Working Title Template
Technological Convergence e.g. iPhone/
SmartTV, Digital Cameras
The impact of digital technologies on
institutions and audiences - e.g. Higher quality
products, cheaper production costs, "Prosumer",
Piracy, Proliferation
Issues regarding the production of your
chosen case studies - e.g. finances/
technology/ownership
Issues regarding the distribution of your
chosen case studies - e.g. marketing
campaign/synergy/technologies utilised in
distribution
Issues regarding exhibition - e.g. digital
screens/IMAX/VoD/DVD/Blu-Ray/Piracy

Some key questions that


cover multiple topics...
How does a lack of utilisation of digital technologies, in
production, distribution and exhibition inhibit a films success?

How does the vast amount of money and resources available to


global institutions provide their films with a better chance of
success than smaller companies?

Discuss the issues raised by an institution's need to target national


audiences within a media industry which you have studied.
To what extent have audiences influenced and affected an institution
which you have studied?

The Key
Remember, this exam unit is called
'Institutions and Audiences'
So talk about how, whatever topic
you are discussing, affects
INSTITUTIONS AND AUDIENCES!!!

The use of high and low angle shots for different characters are used
frequently in the sequence to demonstrate representations of class
and status...

An example of this during the duel with Merlin and the royal character where
the camera shoots each character from different angles to show their position
in the duel, in terms of who is winning. A final low angle shot is used of the
royal character as he knocks Merlin to the ground, thus winning the duel.

This usage of low angle shots gives the royal character clear superiority to
Merlin, who is repeatedly shot with a high angle shot to reinforce his
inferiority.

This usage of camera angles is important in juxtaposing the two characters and
their two clearly different statuses. However throughout the duration of the
sequence this power balance often shifts to portray Merlin as the superior one.
LINKIN
G
TO NE SENTENCE
XT PAR
A

The use of the editing technique shot reverse shot is used to display this
juxtaposing character representation as it enables us to see clear differences in
the positioning and status of the two characters, as it switches back and forth.
This technique also emphasises the shift in representation and positioning as
one character gains status towards another.

Whether you use SEXY or PEEL the main thing is that


you relate all your PEEs or SEXs to the representation
in question!

Unseen TV Drama - Prose phrase bank - How to turn your notes into better
sentences
1) STRUCTURE - This TV Drama clip is made up of 4 scenes of which the second
is the most dramatic.
2) MISE-EN-SCENE - The mise-en-scene is dominatedby the [adjective] setting
and low/high-key lighting. This creates an atmosphere of .....
The director is aiming to create a recognisable 19th century London world via the
use of period costume......
There are many props in the second scene that highlight... the most important
being.... because it accurately reflects the main characters purpose.
3) CAMERA - The low-angled establishing shot of... immediately informs the
audience that the place where the story is set
The camera pan from left of the main character to the right of room reveals...
The director foregrounds... This demonstrates the importance of the character
to their surroundings.

4) SOUND - Towards the end of the extract we hear....The tempo/pace/volume of


the sound is... causing the audience to feel increasingly tense/excited.
The soundtrack is mixed carefully, allowing the audience to focus on the sound
of.... This is done to help emphasise...
5) EDITING - The editing in the third scene cross cuts between... At first
these two settings do not seem linked until... The cross cutting is used to build ....

"There can be no Drama without


conflict!"
These conflicts are usually shown through binary
oppositions (BINARY = two things).
So ask yourself:
"Which characters in the extract seem to be the main
participants in this conflict?"
"What are the binary opposites in the area of
representation in the question?"

Remember! The conflict of power will


often shift throughout the extract or at
least show a range of representations
with the same area.

Remember this example!


The Doctor

The Master

The Master's Wife

Martha

Gender - Doctor Who (May 2009)


Ethnicity - Hotel Babylon (Jan 2010)
Gender - Primeval(May 2010)
Gender - Hustle (Jan 2011)
Class - Merlin (May 2011)
Sexuality - Fingersmith (Jan 2012)
Disability - Coming Down The Mountain (May
2012)
Age - E.R. (Jan 2013)
Regional Identity - Doc Martin (May 2013)
Class & Status - Downton Abbey (May 2014)
Ethnicity - Treme (May 2015)

Is there stereotyping in the clip?


Are there counter-types?

watch the clip from Hotel Babylon

Are there examples where representa8on conforms/follows ethnic stereotypes? - link to


mise/sound/edi'ng/camera
Are there examples where representa8on challenges/subverts ethnic stereotypes? - link
to mise/sound/edi'ng/camera
Is there an example of conict or opposi8on in the clip? Are these examples explicit
(obvious) or implicit (suggested) - link to mise/sound/edi'ng/camera

Implicit opposition?
Shown through.....?

Positive ethnic
status?

countertype?

conforms or subverts?

stereotype?
Ethnic CONFLICT
- EXPLICIT!!!!

Ethnicity?
stereotyping?
Positive or negative representations?

Lastly...
Cinematography is great for representing power and
status in an extract, but Mise-en-scene is the easiest
way to show stereotypical representations!
Remember to think about how the following can reflect the character's
class/age/gender/sexuality/ethnicity/regional identity and ability/
disability;
Location - council estates could reflect class or ethnicity or region
Costume - e.g. trackies could reflect class, age, ethnicity or regional
identity
Props - e.g. a briefcase could reflect class, ethnicity, age or regional
identity
Hair & Make-up - e.g. fake tan/heavy foundation could reflect class,
ethnicity or regional identity
Performance - e.g. an aggressive performance could reflect class/age,
gender, sexuality, ethnicity or regional identity
Colours - e.g. Pinks could reflect gender or sexuality
Lighting - e.g. use of shadows could represent a submissive character or
a minority within any of the areas

S ND D
T D SRS TS C
S R BB ES SEXY
C P BO TA RR
H CC ECU J D

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