The document discusses key concepts and institutions related to the film industry. It focuses on issues of media ownership, cross-media convergence and synergy, technologies used in production, distribution and marketing, and how these affect both institutions and audiences. Specific topics covered include the major Hollywood studios ("the big six"), Disney's cross-media structure and use of synergy, the UK film industry and institutions like the BFI, changing distribution technologies, and how proliferation of platforms impacts consumption patterns.

1. AS Media Studies Institutions: The Film Industry
Section B: Institutions and Audiences
Candidates should be prepared to understand and discuss the processes of production,
distribution, marketing and exchange as they relate to contemporary media institutions, as well as the nature
of audience consumption and the relationships between audiences and institutions. In addition, candidates
should be familiar with:
the issues raised by media ownership in contemporary media practice;
the importance of cross media convergence and synergy in production, distribution and
marketing;
the technologies that have been introduced in recent years at the levels of production,
distribution, marketing and exchange;
the significance of proliferation in hardware and content for institutions and audiences;
the importance of technological convergence for institutions and audiences;
the issues raised in the targeting of national and local audiences (specifically, British) by
international or global institutions;
the ways in which the candidates’ own experiences of media consumption illustrate wider
patterns and trends of audience behaviour.
Ownership
the big six
concentration of media ownership
cross-media convergence
synergy
Disney – structure
Disney and cross-media ownership
Disney and synergy – Tron, Toy Story
3, etc.
UK film industry institutions
BFI and lottery funding
co-productions and UK industry
Film 4 and synergy
typical Hollywood products
typical UK products
effect of ownership on film
distribution
Distribution
distribution costs (prints and
advertising)
distribution of US films
distribution of UK films
‘Pulp’ – Xbox distribution
technology and distribution
digital projection
online distribution
cloud-based technology
piracy
Technology
production technology – 3D, CGI –
Tron, Street Dance
digital filmmaking
distribution (digital/online
distribution)
distribution – cloud-based
technology
convergence – Second Screen app
piracy
marketing – Toy Story 3 viral videos,
social media, Alice in Wonderland
UK film industry and online
marketing – Infidel, Girl With the
Dragon Tattoo, etc.
Production
how ownership affects film
production
the big six
synergy
typical Hollywood products
UK film industry co-productions
typical UK products
technology – 3D/CGI/digital
filmmaking

2. AS Media Studies Institutions: The Film Industry
Marketing
elements of film marketing
synergy – Tron, Toy Story 3
viral marketing – The Dark Knight,
Toy Story 3, Tron
social media – Toy Story 3, Alice in
Wonderland, Infidel, etc.
Cross-media convergence/synergy
cross-media ownership
concentration of media ownership
the big six
Disney – structure
Disney and cross-media convergence
Disney and synergy
UK film industry
differences between US and UK
UK limited use of synergy
Consumption/Exchange
effect of new technology
different platforms used to watch
films
piracy
declining DVD sales
video on demand
streaming platforms
the long tail
US dominance of global box office
Proliferation
different platforms used to watch
films
different methods of film distribution
streaming
video on demand
decline in DVD sales