2. MEDIA OWNERSHIP
Most big media films are owned by conglomerates who are large companies that dominate the
majority of the film industry by owning film studios and internet platforms. Their dominance in
the media industry means that it is incredibly difficult for smaller, independent film companies
such as “Warp Films” to produce successful films that can rival these big films.
Therefore many smaller film companies link up with other companies in order to make their films
more successful and organisations such as the UK film council have been introduced to try to
tackle this problem and have worked with Warp Films.
E.g.

3. SYNERGY
Synergy is usually more common within media conglomerates as they have the money
and power to join with other companies in order to promote the film across different
platforms.
However some smaller media companies such as Warp Films do use synergy, mainly
with concerns to the promotion and distribution of their film. For example, Warp
Films’ most successful film was “This is England” 2007. which was promoted on
Channel 4 after a deal was secured with Film 4 – a subsidiary of channel 4
productions. In terms of promotion, Film 4 exhibited trailers, interviews and reviews
of the film in order to promote it to its audience.

4. NEW MEDIA TECHNOLOGIES
What new technology existed that impacted the production, distribution and
exhibition of a film? <- MAIN QUESTION
PRODUCTION – Nowadays Warp Films always shoot their films digitally e.g.
“Grow your own” in 2008 was shot entirely with a digital camera. This has the
potential to save money for film distributors as the shooting and editing process
becomes a lot cheaper.
DISTRIBUTION - Due to new media technologies, distribution is a much quicker
process. Due to the use of the internet, the film can be sent digitally via the
internet as opposed to being physically transported which is much more time
consuming.
EXHIBITION – Digital films are now easier and cheaper to exhibit, particular
through the internet. Warp Films have their own website in which they post
trailers and give access to their films (warpfilms.net) and “This is England”
2007 was digitally exhibited.

5. THE SPREAD OF TECHNOLOGY
Smaller independent film companies such as Warp Films have benefited greatly
from the spread of technology as it has made these films more accessible to
the public.
Internet sites such as YouTube and Vimeo allow companies such as Warp Films to
freely exhibit their footage worldwide and also allows for promotion through the
exhibition of trailers etc.
The spread of technology is also influenced by the growth of social networking
sites such as Twitter and Facebook. Warp Films use these sites as an effective
means of promotion and their twitter account (@warpfilms) frequently posts
news of upcoming Warp Films in order to communicate to their audience.
All of these promotion methods online help small independent film companies such
as “Warp Films” as it helps them to reach their audience whilst encouraging
their films.

6. TECHNOLOGICAL CONVERGENCE
Technological convergence has helped many small independent companies market
their films to their audience. It seems that many major cinemas such as
“Odeon” and “Vue” are dominated by large conglomerates who can afford to
pay large amounts of money to exhibit their films in these cinemas. However
the proliferation of the internet now means that many people can watch films
via the internet as opposed to going to the cinema.
New technology such as iPhones and iPods means that the consumer can
download films straight to their devices from the internet – where the majority
of independent films market their films. Consequently, through their website,
Warp Films offer downloads to their audience as a cheaper way of distributing
their film.
An example of technological convergence was when “This is England” 2007
converged with “Optimum Releasing”, a distribution company who could
effectively distribute the film to its consumers.

7. BIG INDUSTRIES TARGETING BRITISH AUDIENCES
A major issue that small independent film companies have to deal with is money
problems and the lack of funding. The budget of the films tends to be under
£1,000,000 which means that the genres that they can work with tend to be
ones which don't need special effects (i.e. social realism and comedies.) Due
to their blunt nature they generally have a high certification (usually 18's with a
few 15's.)
However this money issue is never a problem with large conglomerates such as
The Walt Disney Company and therefore they can afford to produce expensive
films with visual features such as special effects. These conglomerates
therefore have the money, power and reputation to dominate the British Film
Industry.
However this acts as a barrier for small independent companies such as Warp
Films to successfully exhibit their films in British Cinema and therefore these
independents often exhibit their films through the internet due to its
accessibility and low-cost price.
DOES THIS SEEM FAIR???

8. MY MEDIA CONSUMPTION
I personally enjoy going to the cinema and watching new films. I usually go to watch a
film if I have seen it being advertised through television, radio, magazine
interviews etc. as I like to get a feel for the film before I watch it and decide
whether I think I am going to enjoy the film. I will rarely go to watch a film that I
have not seen being advertised, mainly because with the rising cinema prices, I
don’t want to waste my money going to see a film that I potentially may not enjoy.
I think that the British Cinema Industry is majorly dominated by the big
conglomerates and due to their popularity, I often go and see these types of films
– usually as they have been advertised well or include star persona.
However I feel that the big conglomerates act as a barrier for smaller independent
companies and consequently consumers such as myself rarely get the opportunity
to watch these films at the cinema. I personally would like the opportunity to watch
these films made by smaller companies but unfortunately I feel that due to their
rising power, these conglomerates will continue to dominate the British Film
Industry, forcing smaller independent companies such as Warp Films to exhibit
their films less effectively.