Digital technology has significantly impacted the UK film industry by making film production, distribution, and exhibition cheaper and more accessible. It has allowed for higher quality cameras and editing/special effects software to be used at lower budget levels. Distribution has benefited from digital formats that are cheaper and higher quality than physical film reels. Exhibition has expanded to smaller independent theaters and nontheatrical platforms like online streaming. However, piracy remains a major issue that costs the industry financially. The future may see further improvements and normalization of home viewing experiences, but major studios still rely on theatrical revenue from merchandise and concessions.

1. Feedback on essay
‘How has digital technology impacted on
production, distribution and exchange of UK
film. With particular reference to your case
study.’

2. ‘How has digital technology impacted on production,
distribution and exchange of UK film. With particular
reference to your case study.’
1. Answer the question!
Use the words and phrases directly from the essay
question, particularly in your introduction & conclusion.

3. ‘How has digital technology impacted on production,
distribution and exchange of UK film. With particular
reference to your case study.’
2. Begin with brief intro....
eg ‘Digital technology has had a significant impact on
the UK film industry in all aspects of the process of film
making and consumption. There are numerous
advantages as well as disadvantages that can be
identified when researching micro and macro
examples. I looked at Working Title/Vertigo/Disney
(insert your own example) films and in particular, looked very
closely at the production distribution and exhibition of
‘Iron Lady’/‘Street Dance’/‘Avatar (insert your own example) .

4. ‘How has digital technology impacted on production,
distribution and exchange of UK film. With particular
reference to your case study.’
3. Work through the question chronologically, some of
you hadn’t even copied the question down in the right
order!
The question follows the process of film making, so it
makes sense to write in this order as well.
You must always try and be as clear as possible when
responding.
This includes your layout. Use paper with a margin,
leave clear gaps between paragraphs so I can annotate
and hand write as prep for the exam. For some of you
handwriting is a real concern!

5. ‘How has digital technology impacted on production,
distribution and exchange of UK film. With particular
reference to your case study.’
4. I would always suggest the formula of
intro
advantages
disadvantages
implications for the future
conclusion

6. General points
synergy is not convergence
digital is not necessarily better quality than film
films are still mostly recorded on film, then transferred to digital for
editing/postproduction than transferred back onto film reels for
distribution.
try and include some theory:
Gauntlett-making is connecting, DT has democratised media.
Naughton-new ecosystem, audiences no longer passive, gone from
push to pull.
Digital Screen Network. £12 mill=240 screens in UK, the indie ones
not only screen but also encourage community involvement,
education & digital art, eg FACT in Liverpool.
White Bus, Leigh film society, Southend Film festival.

7. ‘How has digital technology impacted on production,
distribution and exchange of UK film. With particular
reference to your case study.’
Use UK/£ statistics and be specific.
Refer to actual film companies,films & websites.
When using acronyms, always use the full name the
first time you mention them.
eg FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft)
BFI (British Film Institute)
After the first time you can then use the abbreviated
version.

8. ‘How has digital technology impacted on production,
distribution and exchange of UK film. With particular
reference to your case study.’
Get the time spans for your case study & reflect on
their significance. Although digital tech makes global
synchronised exhibition possible, they may want the
stars to appear at the premieres, particularly in Europe
and US, so not always possible for really big releases.
Text
UK cinematic/theatre release and/or premiere
US cinematic/theatre release (global if different)
Illegal download how
soon?
DVD/Blueray release are these the
same?
Legal download release/pre-order

9. ‘How has digital technology impacted on production,
distribution and exchange of UK film. With particular
reference to your case study.’
The focus for this unit is Instiutions and Audiences, so
for any question you need to consider what is the
impact on both of these?
What is the demographic of the target audience?
How will this effect the distribution and exchange
points?

10. ‘How has digital technology impacted on production,
distribution and exchange of UK film. With particular
reference to your case study.’
There has been a proliferation of hardware and
software that has affected all aspects of the film
process.
It has made films cheaper and easier to produce,
distribute and exhange.
How?

11. Production
digital cameras, handheld, phone cameras, flip
cameras, longer battery life, no longer need expensive
film or tapes. More mobile & flexible.
editing software, imovie, available on domestic level
computers and even iphones, windows movies maker,
sony vegas etc. cheaper & easier than big crowd scenes
On a pro level, CGI, 3D, SFX, stop motion animations,
much more cheaply available. A lot of expertise in the
UK in this field. Aardman Animations (Dreamworks).
Can improve quality of film & make piracy harder.

12. Distribution
Internet
Amateurs: can upload and share, via, You tube, Vimeo,
Myspace, Facebook, digital natives V immigrants.
Prosumers: short film sites and online festivals/
competitions.
Professionals: can use the digital tech for the actual
movement of the film to the exhibition stage, and the
marketing.
Use your own case study, how was it distributed/
marketed? How much use did they make of dt?

13. So, due to digital technology, distribution is now,
cheaper, quicker, the quality is retained and it is more
secure than shifting costly film reels that will deteriorate
after every screening, across the globe.
Who does it benefit most? Big institutions or indies?

14. Exchange
Some of you need to define this more clearly.
What was your experience of consuming the film?
Exchange is the point at which the audience comes
into contact with the product the institution is
exhibiting. What has been the impact of digital
technology on this?

15. In terms of marketing the cinematic release DT helps us
know about it.
We can find out about it on the internet, reviews,
timings, book online.
It can be distributed digitally to smaller, art house/
independent cinemas. So niche audiences can
potentially have more choice.
Although you will find the industry is still dominated by
blanket distribution of mainstream films to multiplexes,
eg Southend Odeon.

16. ‘How has digital technology impacted on production,
distribution and exchange of UK film. With particular
reference to your case study.’
negative exchange-piracy
home/personal consumption/exhibition- the
proliferation of hardware and software has led to a
much greater choice and flexibility in how and when we
can consume media & films.
We can watch a film phone, PSP, internet site, buy,
rent, illegally download etc
You should give some UK statistics about the
advantages/disadvantages/financial impact & the work
of bodies such as the BFI & FACT.

17. ‘How has digital technology impacted on production,
distribution and exchange of UK film. With particular
reference to your case study.’
To conclude, again, refer back to the question and
consider the implications for the future?
Will DT ever be good enough to allow home exhibition
to be on a par with the ‘cinematic experience’. The big
instutions want this to continue due to profit to be had
from merchandising, drinks, popcorn, etc, all extra
profit to be had.
Will the current disadvantages be solved? (piracy,
download bandwidths?
How will the UK film industry in particular, move with
digital technology?