The document compares an independent film company, Cambridge Film Works, to a conglomerate, Disney. Cambridge Film Works collaborates with other independent media companies and academic institutions, while Disney owns numerous subsidiaries across different industries like film, TV, and theme parks. Both companies leverage synergies between their productions, but Disney's integrated structure allows profits from one subsidiary to benefit others under the same corporate ownership. The key difference is that Cambridge Film Works is an independent operation that hires external partners, whereas Disney has consolidated numerous companies under its corporate umbrella.

1. Conglomerate compared to
Independent
Andrew Redhead

2. Independent company
• Cambridge Film works is an independent company because they have had
cross media ownership with companies such as Microsoft research,
Channel 4, University of Cambridge, National Geographic, The Royal
Geographic society etc.
• An example of synergy for Cambridge Film works is when they produced
an advert on Cambridge University.
• Cambridge Film works do joint ventures with smaller independent media
companies.

3. Conglomerate
• Disney are a conglomerate because they own many subsidiaries such as
Lucas Films, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Touchstone Studios,
ABC News etc.
• An example of synergy for Disney would be Lucas Films making Star Wars
and the fact that Star Wars had Lego toys and various Lego themed video
games. Star Wars also had a spine of TV show to do with Lego.
• Disney do joint ventures with many of their subsidiaries such as Marvel
Studios and they did this to make a chain of Marvel Films such as the
Avengers and Guardian of the Galaxy.

4. Similarities and Differences
Similarities:
• Disney and Cambridge Film works both produce films.
• They both do joint ventures.
• They both used synergy to promote different products.
• They both have a place or space to work.
Differences:
• Disney is a conglomerate and Cambridge Film works is an independent company.
• Disney own a large number of subsidiaries so when they pay a company like Pixar to produce
a film the money isn’t really going anywhere because they own Pixar.
• Cambridge Film works has to hire different companies to distribute their films.