This document provides an overview of the G322 Section B: Audiences & Institutions film industry unit. It will cover how films are made, distributed, marketed and exhibited, as well as factors that influence a film's success or failure. Students will study and compare two films - a big budget blockbuster and small British independent film. They will research each film's production, promotion and film chain. One important exam aspect is new technologies affecting the film industry, like digital cinema and new ways to watch films. The exam will include questions on topics like audience behavior patterns, media ownership issues, new production/distribution technologies, targeting national/local audiences, hardware/content significance, and technological convergence importance.

1. G322 Section B: Audiences & Institutions (Film Industry)
Introinto Unit
You will be studyingaspectsof the filmindustryforthisunit.Itisnot aboutwhat itin the film(the content) butHOW
filmsare made,how theyreachaudiences,howaudiencesview films,typesof filmstheyenjoyandthe factorsthat
can affectthe successand/orfailure of a film.
Thisis an examinedunitand youanswerone unseenquestion,itisworth 50 marks and therefore worth25% of
your overall ASgrade.
IndependentResearch
You will be expectedtoconduct researchforhomeworkwhichisoften the contentof the lesson.The more detailed
and comprehensive the work,the betteryourresponse islikelytobe.
You needtobe onthe lookoutforlatestfilmreleaseslikespottingtheirpostersandmarketingstrategiesasyougo
aboutyour everydaylife.Alsokeepaneye outforthe latesttechnologies –the new waysto view films,new appsfor
phonesandotherdevicesetc.Youmightwantto lookat filmsthatget wide coverage aftertheirpremiersincentral
London – mostlikelytobe successful.However,indiefilmsare makingtheirwaytomore mainstreamaudiencesbut
how?AndWhy?
Contentof Study
As a classwe will be studyingthe production,distribution, marketingandthe exhibitioncycle of filmswhichis
calledthe filmchain.
You will study 2 films;one large bigbudgetblockbusterfilmandone small British independentfilm. Youwill needto
researchthese filmssuchashowtheyare made and promotedtoaudiences.Comparingthese filmsisessential in
the examby comparingexamplesof their filmchains,factsandstatistics –be warneditis quite a lotof infoto take
inand rememberforthe exam.
One veryimportantaspectof the examisabout new technologiesthatare affectingthe filmindustry.Issuesaround
convergence,digital cinema, home surroundsoundcinemasystems,3Dand new waysto watch cinema(toname a
few) will come up.
Exam Questions
7 keyareas –
“The waysin which the candidates’own experienceof mediaconsumption illustratewider patternsand
trendsof audience behaviour”
“The issues raised by media ownership in contemporary media practice”
“The technologies thathavebeen introduced in recent yearsat the level of production,distribution,
marketing and exchange”
“The issues raised in the targeting of national andlocal audiences (specifically British) by international or
global institutions”
“The significanceof hardware and content forinstitutionsand audiences”
“The importanceof cross mediaconvergence and synergy in production,distribution and marketing”
“The importanceof technological convergenceforinstitutionsand audiences”