Past exam questions

Section A:

Areas of Representation:

• Age
• Sexuality
• Ethnicity
• Class and Status
• disability and ability
• regional identity

You need to answer the question in relation to:

1. Mise-en-scene
2. Editing
3. Camera work
4. Sound

Section B

• Digital Technologies- Phones, ipads etc, evolving technology
• Media Ownership- intuitions, conglomerates, the big 5 companies
• Digital distribution- marketing, VOD, streamed on TV and internet

 

Convergence- Media convergence is the coming together of multiple media platforms, to create a flow of contents across multiple media platforms. It is the corporations and collaboration of media platforms to create lots of different products for their audience.

Synergy- this is the promotion and sale of a product e.g. film soundtracks, figures,  toys, video games. The products help advertise the film itself. e.g. Skyfall released the same time as Adele’s song Skyfall.

explain the ‘standard Hollywood release’- In the standard drill, a movie is first released through movie theaters , then, after approximately 16 and a half weeks, it is released to DVD. After an additional number of months it is released to Pay TV and VOD services and approximately two years after its theatrical release date, it is made available for free-to-air TV.

The 5 main film conglomerates: 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros, Paramount, Universal, Walt Disney

Tentpole- a film that is expected to be very successful and so able to fund a range of related products or films. HARRY POTTER.

Most likely that I need to say the Hollywood film first.

Facts From My Case Studies:

A Field In England- Ben Wheatley

• shown in 17 cinemas and the opening weekend too £21 000
• released on the 5th June 2013
• The target age is 18-25 , aimed at the same demographic group as Shaun Of The Dead and Attack The Block.
• This film’s budget was £316,879 with £112,000 Publicity and Advertising spend supported by £56,701 from the BFI.

Attack The Block- Joe cornish

• The target Age for this film is 15-34 year old men and women but mainly teenagers.
• The film was released on 11 May 2011 in The UK, in 66 theaters.
• The Films Budget was £8M and in the BoxOffice it made £3,831,475.
• The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc in the UK on 19 September 2011.
• Play.com have an exclusive Blu-ray and DVD double play edition, with a glow-in-the-dark sleeve, featuring the bio-luminescent jaws of one of the creatures.
• Rock Of Ages-Adam Shankman
• Released in cinemas first on the 13th of June 2012 by Warner Bros and Pictures Distribution.
• It was later released on DVD and Blu-Ray on October 9, 2012.
• Warner Bros has a reputation of releasing quality films, therefore it has loyalty, people will not be put off by the distributor as they know they are good.
  This is the normal, traditional release method: cinema- DVD Blue Ray- VOD- TV.

Opening Paragraphs

Evaluate the role of digital technologies in the marketing
and consumption of products in the media area you have
studied.

Digital technologies are forever changing and we are experiencing more and more different and fresh methods in which to access film and its portability. In the traditional hollywood method of marketing and consumption of products, the film goes from the cinema, to DVD and BlueRay then to VOD and then free TV. In the film Rock Of Ages the film was advertised in cinema adverts when people go to watch other films, buses, websites etc. Twitter and Facebook provide a free method of marketing for the company. Ben Wheatleys film A Field In England became the number one trending thing on twitter on the friday night just before the weekend release. Ben Wheatleys active role within the connection with him and his fans provided a loyal fan base in which people tuned into his live Q and A, creating yet more film awareness and a method of marketing.

What impact does media ownership have upon the range of products available to audiences in the media area you have studied?

Media Ownership is a huge part of releasing a film. The 5 main film conglomerates are 20th Century Fox, Paramount, Walt Disney, Universal and Warner Bros. They are extremely successful and well known, and because of this they can have complete control over the films they release and when and where. They release TENTPOLE films that are expected to be a huge success, for example the 7 Harry Potter Films released by Warner Bros. The larger film conglomerates can release extras and synergy with the film, as they can create extra products aside the actual film, for example, again using Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, they release action figures, wands, generally extra merchandise to go with the film.

The Hollywood movie I chose was Rock Of Ages by Adam Shankman released on 13th June 2012. This films release was standard, starting firstly in cinemas and the film was produced by New Line Cinema (an american film studio) which is a Subsidiary of Warner Bros. Warner Bros is the parent conglomerate of New Line Cinema. This provided the film with a huge awareness as Warner Bros is successful and well known, therefore its films are publicised to the max with a film budget of $75 million. The film was later released on DVD and Blue Ray on 9th October 2012, then VOD followed. This film also has synergy as it released a soundtrack with the film and the DVD has extras where there’sscommentarys from the actors and director.

In contrast A Field In England, a film by Ben Wheatley, released on the 5th July 2013, was released on ALL PLATFORMS as a new revelation and unorthodox approach in which people were intrigued. This film was released in cinemas, DVD, BlueRay, VOD and free TV all on the opening weekend. Attracting a huge audience with a choice of media to see it in.  Ben Wheatley had an active connection with his fans, his film became the number one thing trending on twitter on the friday night before the weekend release

Section B- Practice

What significance does the continuing development of digital media technology have for media institutions and audiences?

Section B question on film distribution

What significance does the continuing development of digital media technology have for media institutions and audiences?

Key words in the sentence: continuing development of digital media technology + Media institutions and audiences.

What does this mean? It basically means the forever changing and evolving internet and the ability for film and TV to be streamed through internet as well as DVD sales which are physical objects. The power of VOD, social media sites and sites that let you watch film and TV. It also includes the ability of carrying films in your pocket of your mobile or on a tablet.

SO….  You need to look at how film distribution has been helped and made easier by the continually changing technology

• A Field In England:

1. This Film was released on all platforms, this was an advantage as it made people more aware of itself as a film, the filmmaker stood out as a risk taker, intriguing people, he was brave to release it on all platforms, meaning he must have had some kind of faith that it would be a success. The platforms the film was released on was cinema, TV, VOD and DVD and Blue Ray.
2. A Field In England had a significant advantage as the film maker had a strong and active fan base, who have a keen interest in new forms of communication and distribution. (12000 followers on twitter)- Twitter is a digital media technology which has a large significance in the distribution of A Field In England.
3. Film4 and Channel 4 supported A Field In England and this was an advantage as both companies already had a reputation and was recognisable for quality innovation, all from previous films that had been supported by Film4 and been a success. Therefore making people trust the companies and be loyal, and thinking that this next film would be good.
4. Aswell as having a television channel, Channel 4 has its own DVD label (4DVD) which also distributes to transactional  VOD platforms such as iTunes, this was an excellent link which gave the film companies which supported it.
5. The exhibitor and distributor was Picturehouse Cinema, it helped devise, refine and execute the strategy. Picturehouse cinema had the major advantage of local loyalty towards its cinemas around the world as it has the reputation of good quality cinemas around the UK.
6. Ben Wheatley also took part in Q&A screenings which showed his active involvement in the advertising and distribution of his film.
7. The involvement of Twitter and other social media sites also play a large part in the advertising and awareness of the film, gaining and pulling in an audience that are anticipating to see the film, but also knowing that it will be on a range of platforms for them to choose which way they see the film.

 

• A Major Hollywood Film (standard model):
• The 5 Major film conglomerates:  20^th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros, Universal Pictures, Columbia Pictures

1. My Choice of film: Rock of ages: then how the continuing development of digital media technology has helped it. Rock of Ages is Warner Bros.
2. Released in cinemas first on the 13^th of June 2012 by Warner Bros and Pictures Distribution.
3. It was later released on DVD and Blu-Ray on October 9, 2012.
4. Warner Bros has a reputation of releasing quality films, therefore it has loyalty, people will not be put off by the distributor as they know they are good.
5. This is the normal, traditional release method: cinema- DVD Blue Ray- VOD- TV

 

• My chosen film- Attack The Block

1. The film was first released in cinemas, but later brought out on DVD and Blue Ray.
2. StudioCanal chose to promote Attack The Block through social networking sites such as Facebook. Social media helped with the awareness of the film and helped build the anticipation of it.  Film4 Productions had also contributed to the production of Attack The Block, the film also aired on Channel 4 and Film4 without any added cost. Again both companies with loyal and extended customers, people know they provide quality films and have the faith that the film will be good.
3. A website was created supporting the film and keeping fans updated, and trailers were broadcast on TV and social media, again, places like twitter helped create a build up to the opening weekend and get people excited.

SO…….

Overall the significance of the ever changing technology is that it is creating new and easy ways in which we access and watch films. It is also advertising film and making people aware in a way which is simple for the directors and helps with the distributing methods and it gets the audience hyped before they watch it. Social Media sites being the most powerful and simplest way of getting your film talked about, also having a director like Ben Wheatley is a good thing because of his active fan base and interest in having a connection with his audience, showing them he has an interest in the people he is selling to as well as his film.

 

Doc Martin- Exam Practice

Regional Identity displayed in the clip:

Camera work:

• There are long lingering shots of the country side and scenery
• Doc Martin moves through the scenes quickly and the camera follows him, the camera is rushing like him, but the locals are relaxed and slower and their shots are much longer.
• When Doc Martin panics the camera shakes a little bit, his unsettled emotion is displayed through the camera not being still, this is a contrast with the relaxed plumbers and locals.

Sound:

• The music is a composed score and therefore regionally appropriate, it suits the country scenery and is in harmony with the relaxed locals.
• Doc Martins voice is much louder and more volumised than the other characters, he is the odd one out, his voice is dominant, he stands out from the locals as he is clearly a city man.
• The diegetic sounds have been emphasised, like the sea gulls and shop doors, to emphasise the country side touch in contrast with Doc Martin and his impatience and flustered city ways.
• At some points the music becomes quirky, displaying how he is like a foreigner to the locals as he is different, or how the locals are like a different kind of person to him and he is unlike them.

Editing

• A filter has been put in the first shot which is done outside, Doc Martin is made to look really pale and his suit stands out from the scenery in the background and the old woman. The paleness represents his city ways and his inside office job, where as the locals are always outdoors catching the sun and dressing in clothing that tends to match the colours of their environment like green and brown.
• Doc Martin has lots of reaction shots, showing how he is so used to the city life that all of this country side is not suited to him and to him strange things are happening like the dog coming into his window.
• When he is angry and annoyed the shots are quick and fast, this displays his impatience and short temper, whereas the countryside folk are chilled about all the things he is getting stressed about and their shots are long and slow paced.

Mise-en-scene

• Doc Martin is in a navy suit and tie, clearly dressed for the city and an office job, the country folk are all in farmer clothes and dressed for the outdoors, there is a contrast.
• Doc Martin speaks very abruptly and impatiently, his temper is short and he expects everyone to do as he says, including the dog. This contrast with the locals, they speak west country and not too loudly. They are relaxed.
• One of the plumbers which is really fat, is sat at the sink when its spraying out everywhere and eating and spitting his food everywhere, this displays his feel of comfort and relaxed approach in the village as he is totally at home.
• The room that Doc Martin is staying in is very dark and gloomy, matching his mood and character, however outside in the fresh air with all the country folk, its bright and sunny and everyone is chilled.