Past Paper Question Plan

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Task 10: Distribution

• Intro what is film distribution? Film distribution is the process of making a film available to view by an audience, it includes: marketing and promotion. 
• What is the distributor's role? The distributor's role is to market the film and so they may set the release date of a film and the method by which a film is to be exhibited or made available for viewing: for example, directly to the public through home viewing etc. 
• What's a distribution plan? A strategy outlined by the Production Company that's aimed at successfully promoting and distributing a film. 
• What's a P + A budget? A P&A budget is the money set aside for print and advertising of a film. Prints are the actual physical film that are shown in theatres and are quite expensive to make and distribute. Each theatre needs at least one print and possibly more depending on how many screens the film is playing on. The advertising part of the budget is the amount spent on advertising. Most of the money is spent on TV, but radio, newspapers and magazines, the Internet and in-theatre advertising are also very important. The average P&A budget for a major studio release was $34.5 million the last time the MPAA reported the figure in 2006.  
• What is the average distribution cost for a big six film?
• What does the distribution budget include? All marketing costs including press, interviews and billboard campaigns and the cost of distributing the film to cinemas. 
• What is a simultaneous release? A simultaneous release describes a film's release to an audience across all platforms. So instead of being showed in cinemas, then to DVD or Sky store etc. the film is released to cinemas and other channels such as DVD, internet and television, on or around the same date. 
• What are some main distribution companies? Warner Bros, Walt Disney, Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Universal, Lionsgate, New Line, Dreamworks SKG and Miramax are the top 10 film distribution companies. 
• What do you think is the link between audiences and distribution? Audiences are crucial to think about when distributing and marketing a film because essentially the audience decide whether the movie is successful so in order for that to happen a film has to be marketed with the appropriate target audience in mind. 
• Define target market audience? What's audience positioning? Target market audience: a particular group at which a product such as a film or advertisement is aimed. Audience Positioning: the relationship between the audience and the responses that the audience will have to the film. A film will be encoded with messages and signs that the audience will have to decode. Different audiences will decode these messages in different ways. Camera shots and angles are used to position the audience; a close up shot of a character's facial expression will help the audience to see their emotion and create an emotional, sympathetic response in the audience.   
• Why is the release date crucial? The release date for a film is crucial because it could determine whether the film is successful or not. For example: Star Wars: The Force Awakens was always going to do well in the Box Office however in order to maximise this success the film was strategically released on the 18th December 2015, the day that schools break up for the Christmas holidays. This means that all of the children who would not have been able to watch it whilst at school can now get their parents to take them, maximise Box Office sales. Releasing it on this date was crucial in Star Wars making over $1.405 billion in total. 
• What is self distribution? A process by which the Director/Producer decides to distribute their film themselves. This means that they can retain the rights to their film and the distributors cut of the sales of their film. 

Task 9: Terminology

Mainstream: films that are widely released in cinemas, examples of this would be Hollywood movies and blockbusters. These have a large and extensive budget and are often produced by one of the big six. 

Independent: films that are produced outside of a major film studio, independent films are usually distinguished both by the style and the artistic way the director chooses to show them. They have a smaller budget than the mainstream films and have a limited release in comparison. 

Production (stages): 

Pre-Production- planning e.g. 

Production- filming e.g. 

Post-Production- editing and completion of the film

Distribution: the process of making a movie available for viewing by an audience. 

Marketing: is a key stage in the distribution of a film. Marketing is the promotion of a film, it usually includes press releases, advertising campaigns and merchandising. 

Exchange: how a film is viewed whether its in a cinema, at home or on a device via streaming.
Multinational Conglomerate: a company or firm that has branches all over the world and offers a branch of services such as Walt Disney.

Monopoly: where one single company dominates all or nearly all of the market for a given product.

Oligopoly: is where the market consists of a select few companies having significant influence over an industry- the big six. 

Name the Big Six (90% of box office takings): 20th Century Fox, Columbia Pictures, Warner Bros, Paramount Pictures, Walt Disney and Universal Studios.

Horizontal Integration (also known as cross media ownership): this is where a production company expands into other areas of one industry. This means that the company can develop in a particular area of production or they can buy out another company that deals with these areas. 

Vertical Integration: this is when the production company has the ownership of the means of production, distribution and exhibition of the film by the same company, because of this they receive all of the profit.

Synergy: is the simultaneous release of two or more products to promote each other

Merchandising: branded products that help to promote a film or media event such as Iron Man helmets sold in children's toy shops.

Ultra Violet: allows you to store digital versions of films bought on DVD or Blu-ray. This enables playback on different devices using multiple applications from several different streaming services. 

Above the Line: where mass media is used to promote a brand or film. These include conventional media as we know it, television and radio advertising, print as well as internet.         

Below the Line: an advertising strategy in which a product is promoted in mediums other than radio and television etc. 

Technological Convergence/Cross media convergence: the combining of two or more mediums, like the film industry working together with the music industry (Adele releasing to promote the film)

Consumption: the sum of media information taken in by a group or individual. 

Exhibition: the last stage of a film's distribution journey- showing the film in theatres. Exhibition 

Piracy: obtaining, copying and distributing a media material without proper rights of legal ownership. 

Hollywood Franchise 4S Model – synergy, spectacle, sequelisation, story

Tie-In: a media product such as a book, video game or movie that makes use of material presented in another usually more well-known media product. For example: a video game that was a tie-in to a popular movie- Lego Batman game etc. 

Task 8: Technology

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

Production: Motion capture technology was used in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes by Andy Serkis and in Star Wars: The Force Awakens by Lupita Nyong'o.
CGI and Green Screen technology- used in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 in order to create the Capital (large scale replicas were created by the production team and were then enhanced using this technology)
Filming on iPhones (Tangerine was filmed on an iPhone 5s)
4K cameras used in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Animatronix was used in Jurassic World
The Hobbit was filmed at 48 frames per second and filmed in 3D using RED Epic cameras, there were 16 in total.

Distribution: Marketing strategies like the Jurassic World website which became a viral success.
Strategic marketing- Deadpool Billboards
Movies are distributed using hard drives rather than film reels- cheaper and easy to transport
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 released a Virtual Reality App to help promote the film
Online- YouTube is often used to promote films like Devil's Due which released a genius marketing video called Devil Baby onto YouTube. Carrie released the New York Cafe prank.
Social Media- Twitter, Facebook

Exhibition: different formats have now been made available including IMAX 4D and 3D. IMAX with lasers is a new way of viewing films that has recently been developed. IMAX now use a laser light source rather than xenon arc lamp. This enhances the sharpness and brightness of the image and introduces a new colour scheme and blacker blacks.
Korea released Kung Fu Panda in 4D with massage chairs that move during the fight scenes to create a more immersive feel.
The Hobbit was played in Dolby Atmos, Sony's immersive sound system with two new overhead speakers and the ability to direct sounds at specific speakers inside a movie theatre.
Event Screening- The One Direction Concert, Opera, Ballet and Sports events.
Odeon's Screen Unseen event- £5
Moonbeamers Drive in Movies
Hot Tub cinema, Secret Cinema, Community Cinema, Pond Cinema,

Exchange: different platforms- Netflix, Amazon Prime, LoveBox, Flixter, iTunes.
Available to watch on Tablets and Smart Phones- on the go
Ultraviolet- can share films with up to 5 people and stream on different platforms
Blu-ray/DVD
BFI Player + Curzon- able to view independent cinemas for a monthly subscription
Increased use of piracy

Task 7: Audience and Cinema Going Statistics

What days to audiences go to the cinema?- Mainly weekends as they offer more free time than in the week.

What are the most popular genres?-  Comedy, Adventure and Action

What was the top film in each of these genres?- 

Action and Adventure: Ant Man, Insurgent, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Furious 7, Avengers Age of Ultron. 
Comedy: Trainwreck, Spy, Daddy's Home, Get Hard, Inside Out, Pitch Perfect.

How do audiences hear about films?- Mainly through trailers and word of mouth.

Do audiences prefer US, UK or other nationality films?- the US have recently produced some of the biggest blockbusters including the Marvel series resulting in the majority of audiences preferring US films to UK or other nationality films. 

Do audiences like 3D films?- No, 3D films are quickly declining in interest as they are hard to watch and are unrealistic. 

What other ways do audiences watch film aside from the cinema?- The majority of audiences use streaming services such as Netflix more frequently than going to the cinema as it is more convenient. 

Who do audiences go to the cinema with?- Friends predominantly but the occasional family member.

When and where are most audiences likely to go to the cinema?- Audiences are most likely to go to the cinema on weekends and to their local mainstream cinema chain such as Odeon and Cineworld. 

Areas To Focus On

After receiving my marked essay question back I have a greater understanding of what I need to work on in the future.
My main area of weakness is terminology as my essay lacked a wide range of camera, editing, sound and mise en scene terminology. In the future I will take steps to rectify this issue for example: I will incorporate detailed and relevant camera shots as well as editing terms thus increasing the level of my essay.

Camera shots that I will ensure I include:

• Medium Long Shot
• Establishing Shot
• Wide Shot
• Medium Close Up
• Big Close Up
• Long Shot

These technical camera terms will increase the terminology mark of my essay in turn the overall mark of my essay itself. So, terminology will be my main focus from now on when writing media essays. 

Paragraph Re-Write 

Similarly, the camera work in the attacking scene shows a counter typical representation of men when confronted with danger. When the Saber-tooth tiger attacks, the man hides in a hole and is seen whimpering and cowering away from the animal. The medium long shot of the man, pictured at a low angle, connotes fear and lack of control compared with the dominating view of the animal. The contrast of a low angle, medium long shot for the man and a high angle, medium close up for the women shows that the woman is more powerful within this situation than the man is. 

Throughout this scene, continuity editing can be seen which creates a more realistic and immersive viewing experience for the audience. When the Saber-tooth tiger attacks, mud can be seen falling on the camera which adds to the tense and fearful atmosphere that is being created throughout the scene. 

Representations of Age

Task 6: Independent Cinema Listings

Top 10 Independent Cinemas:

• Corn Exchange, Newbury
• Barn Cinema, Totnes
• Genesis, London
• The Phoenix Cinema, Finchley
• Greenwich Picturehouse 
• Curzon, Mayfair
• The Rio, Burnham-On-Crouch
• Cramphorn Theatre, Chelmsford
• Thameside Theatre, Grays
• The Rio, London

Listings: Home, Manchester

March 3rd:

• Spotlight- 12:40, 17:35
• A Bigger Splash- 13:00, 15:45, 17:45, 20:20
• Bone Tomahawk- 13:10, 17:50
• Rams- 13:25, 15:25, 18:10
• The Revenant- 14:35
• Room- 15:35
• King Jack- 15:55, 20:35
• NT Live: Hangmen- 18:45
• Trumbo- 20:25
• There Should Be Rules + Q&A- 20:40

All of the independent cinemas I have researched seem to show the same set of films, the most common of which include: A Bigger Splash, Rams, The Big Short, Spotlight, Carol, 45 Years and Youth.
Independent Cinemas attract people who simply want to watch outstanding films and stories. As independent cinema is not focused on big stars or budgets it focuses solely on telling inspiring, often true, stories about incredible people. This is what attracts people to see independent films at local, authentic cinemas such as The Barn Cinema in Totnes, Darlington.
Price is crucial when it comes to people wanting to go watch a movie and it is the price of an adult ticket that differs dramatically between multiplex cinemas and independent cinemas.
For example:
Odeon Chelmsford: Adult Ticket- £8.75
The Rio, Burnham-On-Crouch: General Admission- £3.00

Task 5: Institution Research

Task 4: Independent Film Research

Task 3: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2

Task 2: Audience and Exhibition

Top Grossing Films of 2015

1: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Production Company:

• Lucasfilms Ltd.
• Bad Robot Productions  

Gross: $851 millionGenre: Action, Blockbuster
Venues: Saturation

Release Date: 17th December
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Blockbuster

2: Jurassic World
 Production Company:

• Ambling Entertainment
• Legendary Pictures

Gross: $652 million
Release Date: 11th June
Venues: Saturation
Genre: Blockbuster, Sci-Fi

3: Avengers: Age of Ultron
Production Company:

• Marvel Studios 

Gross: $459 million
Release Date: 23rd April
Venues: Saturation
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Blockbuster

4: Inside Out
Production Company:

• Walt Disney Pictures
• Pixar Animation Studios

Gross: $356 million
Release Date: 24th July
Venues: Saturation
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy

5: Fast & Furious 7
Production Company:

• Relativity Media

Gross: $350 million
Release Date: 3rd April
Venues: Saturation
Genre: Action, Crime, Blockbuster

What kinds of films are they?
All of these films fall under the heading of blockbusters.
Blockbuster: a thing of great power or size, in particular a film, book, or other product that is a great commercial success. They were extremely successful because they are easy viewing and they are more widely accessible than some of the other great films that came out in 2015.

How many are sequels?
4 out of 5 of the top five highest grossing films are sequels. This could be one of the main reasons contributing to their success because the original films or first instalments generated such a huge audience meaning that their sequels were already guaranteed to attract a large audience.

     

How many are blockbusters aimed at a younger audience?
Inside Out is primarily targeted towards children but managed to appeal to all. Star Wars, Fast & Furious 7, Jurassic World and Avengers are all targeted to the same kind of audience.  All are sequels and so had already generated an audience that would pay to see the sequels.

How many were produced by the Big Six?
One of these films was produced by a big six company but all of them, if not produced, were distributed by one of the big six production companies that include: Walt Disney Pictures (Inside Out, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Star Wars: The Force Awakens), 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Sony Entertainment, Universal Pictures (Jurassic World, Fast and Furious 7) and Warner Bros. Pictures. 

How many different formats are there? Name them.
IMAX, IMAX 3D, Real 3D, Regular.

What kinds of films seem to be missing?
There are no real romance films featured in the top five as the majority are blockbuster/action films.

Predicted top films of 2015 - were they right?

1. Avengers: Age of Ultron
2. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
3. Spectre
4. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part 2
5. Inside Out

What were the Oscar nominations 2015? What are the producers and what were the release dates?

Best Picture

“American Sniper” Clint Eastwood, Robert Lorenz, Andrew Lazar, Bradley Cooper and Peter Morgan

• Release Date: 16th January 2015

“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher and James W. Skotchdopole

• Release Date: 14th November 2014

“Boyhood” Richard Linklater and Cathleen Sutherland

• Release Date: 15th August 2014

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven Rales and Jeremy Dawson, Producers

• Release Date: 28th March 2014

“The Imitation Game” Nora Grossman, Ido Ostrowsky and Teddy Schwarzian

• Release Date: 25th December 2014

“Selma” Christian Colson, Oprah Winfrey, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner

• Release Date: 9th January 2015

“The Theory of Everything” Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce and Anthony McCarten

• Release Date: 26th November 2014

“Whiplash” Jason Blum, Helen Estabrook and David Lancaster

• Release Date: 16th January 2015   

Top 10 Predicted Highest-Grossing Films of 2016

1. Captain America: Civil War ($1.3 billion) 
2. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story ($890 million) 
3. Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice ($865 million)
4. Finding Dory ($836 million)
5. Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them ($720 million)
6. Independence Day: Resurgence ($654 million)
7. X-Men Apocalypse ($630 million)
8. Suicide Squad ($535 million)
9. Star Trek Beyond ($496 million)
10. Alice Through The Looking Glass ($488 million)

Who are the target audiences for these?

A lot of these films are again sequels (Captain America: Civil War, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, X-Men Apocalypse etc) and so have already generated an audience which will pay to see the follow up film. Some of them are primarily targeted towards children like Finding Dory and Alice Through The Looking Glass but Sci-Fi/Superhero films clearly appear to dominate the top ten as there are 7 that fall into this category. 

Task 1: Cinema Going Habits

This is my survey on Cinema Going Habits:

 

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/8PFVKDF 

 

From analysing the results of this survey I have found that there are key factors that make people want to go to the cinema. Surprisingly, the cast is an important factor when attracting an audience as people will often go to the movies to watch a specific actor or actress. The most common names that appeared in my survey answers were: Jennifer Lawrence, Zac Efron and Justin Timberlake.

Furthermore, my survey has also shown how popular watching movies at home is as opposed to going to the cinema. 66.67% of people who took the survey prefer watching movies at home than at the cinema.

Lastly, I found that when marketing a film, trailers are the most effective in attracting an audience to go and watch a film. Including marketing strategies such as YouTube Pop-ups, Bus and Street marketing and Social Media, trailers were found to be the most popular and most effective with 75% of people saying that they personally hear about films via trailers on TV or the internet.