This document provides information and guidance for a student preparing to take an exam on the film industry. It discusses the key topics and stages in the life cycle of a film that will be covered, including funding, production, marketing, distribution, consumption, and exhibition. The document emphasizes the importance of choosing contemporary case studies from the last 5 years and understanding the film chain and how films progress through different stages. It also lists the main areas that may be covered in the exam, such as media ownership, synergy and cross media convergence, audiences, technology, and hardware. Finally, it provides examples of previous exam questions to help the student understand what will be expected.

1. L/O: to understand the main topics of the exam
a) Life of a life
b) Possible topic of focus in exam

2.  Dictionary
 Thesaurus
 (On your phone later)

3.  What is audience?
 What is institution?

4.  What industry are you studying for your exam?
FILM INDUSTRY!
You are studying how the film industry operates.
You must know the main topics which you will learn
about today.
Furthermore, you must know a range of case studies.
*Case studies = films
*Most of the case studies must be contemporary
*Contemporary = within last 5 years (but best if no older than 3)

5. A study of a specific studio or production company within a contemporary
film industry that targets a British audience (eg Hollywood, Bollywood, UK
film), including its patterns of production, distribution, exhibition and
consumption of audiences.
This should be accompanied by study of contemporary film distribution
practices (digital cinemas, DVD, HD-DVD, downloads, etc) and their impact
upon production, marketing and consumption.

7.  Films don’t just magically appear, they have a cycle
…….think of a human life cycle (process)
 Conception
 Grows in womb
 Born
 Infant
 Toddler
 Child
 Teenager
 Adult
 OAP
 death

8.  What process (life cycle) must a film go
through?
 What is the start?
 IDEA OF FILM
 Now carry on with the rest of the process stages

9.  IDEA (don’t really need to know this)
 FUNDING
 PRODUCTION
 DISTRIBUTION
 MARKETING
 CONSUMPTION
 EXHIBITION
 EXCHANGE
These are the stages you need to know.You must know
each of these in a range of case studies (films)

10. FILM CHAIN

11.  Get these ready on your phone…

12. Term Main word in the term Meaning of word Synonym
(similar words)
Antonym
(opposing words)
Funding
Production
Marketing
Distribution
Consumption
Exhibition
(consumption)
Exchange
(consumption)

13. Term Main word in
the term
Meaning of word Synonym
(similar words)
Antonym
(opposing words)
Funding fund
Production produce
Marketing
(or advertise/promotion)
Market
Advertise
promote
Distribution distribute
Consumption consume
Exhibition
(consumption)
exhibit
Exchange
(consumption)
exchange

14.  Discuss with partner to define these……
TERM Definition in relation to life of a film & Example
Funding
Production
Marketing
Distribution
Consumption
Exhibition
(consumption)
Exchange
(consumption)

15. Mixed definitions
of films means……how films are made known to audiences so they are attracted go watch them such as posters,
trailers, promotions/merchandise, events etc
of films means……how films are spread, released and shown to an audience. Examples such as
cinema/home/internet.
of films means…… how films are supported by different companies/corporations including companies such as
‘entertainment’, ‘pictures’ ‘productions’ etc. (how was the making of the film ____ for)
of films means…..how films are spread and released to audiences by different companies and
materials/platforms such as beta/vhs/dvd/blue ray/rental or types of cinemas etc.
of films means……how films are traded between distribution point and audience. Example – web streaming /
piracy
of films means……how films are constructed/made with different materials, techniques, technologies
of films means……how films are watched/taken in/absorbed/bought by audiences

16.  After looking at the previous definitions,
would you change any of yours?

17. TERM Definition in relation to life of a film
Funding of films means…… how films are supported(funded) by different companies/corporations
including companies such as ‘entertainment’, ‘pictures’ ‘productions’ etc. (how was the making
of the film ____ for)
Production of films means……how films are constructed/made (produced) (filming/editing) with different
materials, techniques, technologies
Marketing of films means……how films are made known to audiences so they are attracted go watch them
such as posters, trailers, promotions/merchandise, events etc
Distribution of films means…..how films are spread and released to audiences by different companies and
materials/platforms such as beta/vhs/dvd/blue ray/rental or types of cinemas etc.
Consumption of films means……how films are (consumed) watched/taken in/absorbed/bought by audiences
Exhibition
(consumption)
of films means……how films are spread, released and shown to an audience. Examples such as
cinema/home/internet.
Exchange
(consumption)
of films means……how films are traded between distribution point and audience. Example – web
streaming / piracy
There can be ______________ between institution-to-audience or audience-to-audience

18.  *Just keep in mind, it doesn’t always go in this
order!
 Can you think of an example?
Example:
 Paranormal Activity – production before funding
 Sometimes no marketing or marketing after
distribution

20.  Media ownership
 Synergy & cross media convergence
 Local & Global Audiences
 Digital technology
 Proliferation of hardware
 Technological convergence

22. self

24. self

25.  There are 6 main topics
 Like in section A, only 1 will come up so you
must know all 6
 This exam is tough because you must
remember so much information,
CONSTANT revision is key.
 If you don’t constantly revise, you will not
remember everything

26.  Jan 09 Audiences (production & distribution)
 Jun 09 technological convergence (institution and audiences)
 Jan 10 ownership + (national) audiences
 Jun 10 digital media technology (institution and audiences)
 Jan 11 media ownership (production and exchange)
 Jun 11 audiences (marketing/distribution)
 Jan 12 digital distribution (marketing/consumption)
 Jun 12 cross media convergence/synergy (marketing,
audiences)
 Jan 13 media ownership + audience (products available to
audiences)
 Jun 13 digital technologies (marketing/consumption)
 Jun 14 hardware (broad – effect on audiences and institutions)
 Jun 15 ownership (distribution (which includes marketing)
 Jun 16 internet

27. YEAR QUESTION
Jan 09 Discuss the ways in which media products are produced and distributed to audiences, within a media area, which you have studied.
June 09 How important is technological convergence for institutions and audiences within a media area you have studied?
Jan 10 “Media production is dominated by global institutions, which sell their products and services to national audiences.” To what extent do you agree
with this statement?
June 10 What significance does the continuing development of digital media technology have for media institutions and audiences?
Jan 11 Discuss the issues raised by media ownership in the production and exchange of media texts in your chosen media area.
June 11 “Successful media products depend as much upon marketing and distribution to a specific audience as they do upon good production practices.” To
what extent would you agree with this statement, within the media area you have studied?
Jan 12 To what extent does digital distribution affect the marketing and consumption of media products in the media area you have studied?
June 12 “Cross-media convergence and synergy are vital processes in the successful marketing of media products to audiences.” To what extent to you agree
with this statement in relation to your chosen media area?
Jan 13 What impact does media ownership have upon the range of products available to audiences in the media area you have studied?
June 13 Evaluate the role of digital technologies in the marketing and consumption of products in the media area you have studied.
June 14 The increase in hardware and content in media industries has been significant in recent years. Discuss the effect this has had on institutions and
audiences in the media area you have studied.
June 15 To what extent does media ownership have an impact on the successful distribution of media products in the media area you have studied?
June 16 To what extent has the internet played a significant role in the marketing and exchange of media products in the area you have studied?

28.  What do you notice about the questions?

29.  Revise the film stages and exam topics
 +
 Complete lesson 2 research sheet (coloured paper) – skyfall/spectre
 *The ‘facts’ should be related to STAGES & AREAS
Stages Areas
FUNDING
PRODUCTION
MARKETING
DISTRIBUTION
CONSUMPTION
EXHIBITION
EXCHANGE
Media ownership
Synergy & cross media convergence
Local & Global Audiences
Digital technology
Proliferation of hardware
Technological convergence