2. One question: 45 Minutes
The essay question focuses on Media Industries, ownership and the
relationship with the audience.
“Students will demonstrate understanding of contemporary
institutional processes of production, distribution, marketing and
exchange/exhibition of film at a local, national or international level.
Students will demonstrate understanding of British audiences’
reception and consumption … and the effect of digital technologies”
NOTE: There is only one question, so no choice.
3. Objectives
You MUST understand the basics of film production and a little about
The Big 6
You SHOULD discuss the Disney Studios and Lucas Films in detail in
relation to your Hollywood case study: “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”
or Paramount Studio and Brad Pitt’s film, “World War Z”
You SHOULD be able to compare this to a British film: “A Field In
England”
5. Production – the concept of the film is developed
from idea, to script, to filming to editing.
Marketing – publicity for the film in all countries of
release to create interest/hype in the lead up to
theatrical release.
Distribution – supplying the product/film to cinemas
in hardware/software
Exhibition – the showing of the film to audiences
6. Film Production Companies are the ‘people’
who fund the film.
They sometimes fund a film individually, but
commonly they ‘team up’ to create films
together.
Sometimes splitting roles e.g. one company
funds the production, another the marketing and
distribution.
See flow chart on “A film’s journey”.
7. Major Film Studios
• A major films studio is a film producer and distribution
company that releases a substantial number of films annually.
• The ‘Big 6’ studios are:
◦ 20th Century Fox
◦ Warner Bros.
◦ Paramount
◦ Columbia
◦ Universal
◦ Walt Disney Studio.
◦ Roughly 9/10 films in the UK are seen as a result of these
distributers.
8. Hollywood film case study
For your exam you need a specific case study.
You have the choice of either
“World War Z” (2013) or
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”
(It should be noted that this film will not have been released in time for
the exam; however there is sufficient information already about
Production, Distribution and Marketing to-date to write a very good
answer)
9. Task
• Search ‘Major Film Studio’ in Wikipedia.
You Must
• Make some basic key notes about the ‘Big 6’
You Should then
• Research Walt Disney Studios and the Star Wars franchise
(Lucas Films), or Paramount (World War Z)
• Make a copy of the table that breaks-down the company and
its subsidiaries.
• Cut and paste important facts and highlight key information
about the development into your own documents. DO NOT just
print off pages of information
10. Main tasks
You are now going to research into the
Production, Marketing, Distribution, Exhibition
and Reception of either:
“World War Z” or
“Star Wars : The Force Awakens”
There are notes and worksheets to help you
with either option.
NOTE: You have no time to change your mind. Stick with your
first choice.
11. British Film Industry
You are then going to look at the Production and
Release of an Independent British film,
“A Field in England”
This will be your second case study for your exam.
