Question 2 Examples

Intro - There is a huge difference within the film industry, exemplified by the issues of media ownership on bigger budget films and the low budget films. There is a significant difference with films like Shifty, compared to Working Title. For example, Working Title productions have a large budget, compared to the film Shifty, which was made by Microwave. Media ownership can have a wide impact on whether the audience is universal, or a specific target audience.

Paragraph 1 - The simple budget of Working Title started off at around £3 million, which was their first feature film, My Beautiful Laundrette (1984), which was a social realist film exemplifying homophobia. Nowadays, Working Title make films for £20 million and onwards. This may be because of the trans-Atlantic feel Working Title have added to their films, due to overseas producers, such as American producers, coming over and taking over Working Title productions. This means the films loose some of their ‘Britishness’.

Paragraph 2 - Shifty was funded by Microwave, and produced by Between the Eyes, and Film London. It was a social realist film exemplifying criminals, made for a budget of £100,000. The budget differentiates from Working Title, as their films usually have a more ‘British’ feel to them. It has a more niche audience, which may not appeal to a bigger audience. British audiences’ can relate to these issues, who can see this as “a slice of life”, whereas bigger audiences’ would not appeal to it.

Intro - I agree that cross-media convergence and synergy are vital processes in the successful marketing of media products to audiences. Synergy is the simultaneous release of different products to boost both, and is most often used by bigger companies, often media conglomerates. Cross-media convergence is the combining of two or more mediums, such as film and music (e.g. The Boat that Rocked). However…

FOR

Synergy

• They boost different boosts
• The film studio, record label, etc. create linked products (e.g. the film, the soundtrack)
• Create a big franchise – it can appeal to different  audiences/ages (e.g. radio appeals to elderly people, music appeals to the younger people).
• Promotes less popular mediums (e.g. soundtrack)
• The film can promote the music, which can promote the radio, which can promote the magazines… and so on
• Give examples of Shifty and Working Title

Cross-media convergence

• Can happen in the production, distribution or exhibition
• Convergence of magazines can lead to websites

Intro - Digital distribution affects the marketing and consumption of media products in Working Title and Shifty. Marketing techniques include DVDs, Blu-Ray. We consume media products through streaming, piracy and viral marketing.