The document provides an overview of key concepts for a media studies exam focusing on the film industry, including media conglomerates that own multiple subsidiaries to promote synergy, how independent films are produced with smaller budgets, and how technological convergence allows films to be viewed on various devices. Examples are given of different budget levels and institutions involved in independent UK films compared to large Hollywood studio blockbusters.

1. AS Media Studies
Audiences & Institutions
Film Industry Revision

2. Q2 – The exam focus
• The questions are very broad and can focus on one of the
following areas:
1. Media Ownership (Media Conglomerates)
2. Synergy & Cross Media Convergence
3. New Media Technologies
4. The spread of technology
5. Technological Convergence (media gadgets)
6. Big industries targeting British audiences
7. Your media consumption

3. Media Conglomerates.
(Media Ownership)
• Massive multinational
media companies who
own:
• Film Studios
• TV Stations
• Record Labels
• Magazines
• Newspapers A conglomerate has a lot of money to put
into film production. They can also market
• Books their film through all of their subsidiary
• Internet platforms companies.
This practice is known as SYNERGY.

4. Independents
• Some producers work outside of the major
studies. Often British productions are made by
smaller outfits like Warp Films, working with Film
4 or the BBC to try to secure extra funding and
help with distribution. Often films made this way
struggle to get more than £1 or £2 million
budgets and consider a success to break
even, with DVD after-sales included.
• US independent film maker Orin Peli made
‘Paranormal Activity’ for just $15,000. But he
needed Paramount, a US major studio to
distribute his film. In doing so he made over $190
milllion. This shows there are exceptions to the
rule that big budge films always do best...

5. Synergy & Cross Media Convergence
• An example of this:
• Vivendi Universal make a film in Universal Studios.
• It releases the film’s soundtrack on Polygram, one of its
record labels.
• The tracks can be bought online at MP3.com, one of its
internet companies.
• The film can be downloaded on Vivendi Telecom
phones.
• The film is then shown in its Odeon cinema chain.
• Owning all of these assets makes it cheaper for the
producer to make, distribute, market and exhibit the
film, thus maximising profit, enabling the studio to keep
making big budget films.
• A win-win scenario for Hollywood Studios...

6. Film & New Media Technology
HOME CINEMA?
FILMS ON THE MOVE?
OR IMAX 3D?
Advances in new media
technology have made it
possible for anyone to make
films and showcase them on
the internet on sites like
YouTube.
We can now also watch films
on phones, games
consoles, digital TV on
demand.
We can also see state of the
Digital T.V
art SFX on giant screens in
3D.
Satellite ( Sky) Digital Terrestrial (Freeview) Cable (NTL)

7. Media Convergence - Film

8. Technological Convergence
Gadgets to watch films on:
• Smart-phones (iPhone etc)
• MP4 players
• Portable Games Consoles (PSP
etc)
• Laptops (Airbooks etc)
Multimedia devices, films at home:
• Games Consoles (Xbox 360, PS3
etc)
• PC (via DVD, BluRay, il/legal
downloads)
• Home Cinema (Plasma TV /
Projector + digital TV)

9. Q2 – Overview: The Production Cycle
You are expected to know what happens
in each of these 4 stages of a film’s life:
Choose
1. Film Production genre, director, stars, SFX, &
film it!
2. Film Distribution £1000 Film reels produced &
sent to as many cinemas as
possible
3. Film Exhibition Get film into multiplexes & TV
deals
4. Film Marketing Advertise the film as widely as
possible (Synergy?)

10. Industry Overview
The main British success British Films, have low to
story, Working Title now Budgets average £1m modest budgets, make
has US cash to finance its modest returns. British films -
stuck in a rut…
films.
Indie
(UK)
Budgets Working
average $30m Title
(UK/US)
Hollywood
Studios
(US)
Budgets
US films out of Hollywood have
massive budgets, which
average
generate massive profits - a $100m+
cycle of self-sustaining profit.

11. Industry Overview - Examples
• Small Independent Low Budget British Film:
Genre: Social Realist Drama - ‘This is England’
Budget £1.5m, takings £1.5m.
Institutions: Warp Films + Film 4 + various small UK media companies.
• Successful UK Studio: Working Title
Genre: string of blockbuster Rom-Coms:
‘Four Weddings & a Funeral’ budget $6m, takings $244m
Post-Universal take-over ‘Love Actually’ budget $30m, takings $244m.
Produced 100 films, but several non Rom-Com flops.
• Successful US Blockbuster Film(s): ‘Star Trek’
Genre: Science Fiction / Action
Studio: Paramount: massive marketing campaign – budget $140m, takings
$280m+.
• Successful US Blockbuster Film(s): ‘Avatar’
Genre: Science Fiction / Action / Romance
Studio: 20th Century Fox: massive hype, digital, 3D,
massive budget $300m, massive takings $2.7bn.
• + add your own case study films & studios.
• NB: ‘Paranormal Activity’ as Indie case study...

12. Essay Approaches.
• The exam board want to know what you understand about:
• Media Institutions: Hollywood Studios (20th Century Fox etc.),
British Studios (Working Title + Warp Films etc).
• Media Audiences: UK film viewers (either in cinemas, or via
PC / TV / Phone etc)
• Media Technology: Digital filmmaking (CGI, 3D, Imax, DV-
Cams), Online Films (LoveFilm, iTunes, YouTube, piracy),
Convergence (gadgets to watch films on)
• Marketing Campaigns: How Studios advertise their films
(Synergy, TV + Internet trailers, Print ads – newspapers,
magazines, posters, Premieres, junkets, word of mouth, USP,
merchandising etc).
ALL OF THE ABOVE NEED SPECIFIC EXAMPLES.

13. Past Questions for Q2.
• Section B: Institutions and Audiences
• Answer the question below, making detailed
reference to examples from your case study
material to support points made in your
answer.
• Discuss the issues raised by an institution’s
need to target specific audiences within a
media industry which you have studied.

14. Past Questions for Q2.
• Section B: Institutions and Audiences
• Answer the question below, making detailed
reference to examples from your case study
material to support points made in your
answer.
• Discuss the ways in which media products are
produced and distributed to audiences,
within a media area, that you have studied.

15. Discuss the ways in which media products are produced and
distributed to audiences, within a media area, that you have studied.

16. Past Questions for Q2.
• Section B: Institutions and Audiences
• Answer the question below, making detailed
reference to examples from your case study
material to support points made in your answer.
• “Media production is dominated by global
institutions, which sell their services and
products, to national audiences.” To what extent
do you agree with this statement?

17. Past Questions for Q2
• Section B: Institutions and Audiences
• Answer the question below, making detailed
reference to examples from your case study
material to support the points made in your
answer.
• How important is technological convergence
for institutions and audiences within a media
area which you have studied?

18. Marking Grid for Qu2.
Band / Grade Argument Examples Terminology
Level 1: Minimal understanding Limited range and Minimal use of
U & reference to study use of examples terms. Inaccuracies
(0-7) (0-7) (0-3)
Low Level 2: Basic understanding. Some relevant Some terms used.
E>D Some relevant points. examples Some inaccuracies
(8-11) (8-11) (4-5)
Upper Level 3: Proficient argument, Good range of Mostly accurate
C>B well supported. examples terms
(12-15) (12-15) (6-7)
Level 4 : Excellent, relevant, Frequent use of Relevant and
A sustained argument relevant examples accurate terms
(16-20) (16-20) (8-10)