This document discusses synergy and its importance in the modern film industry. It explains that media synergy is when different elements of a media company work together to promote linked products across different platforms. Hollywood studios now focus on producing mega franchise films that can be cross-promoted through various media like film, soundtracks, video games and more. Ancillary revenue from merchandise has become more important than box office revenue for studios. Spectacle and high production values in blockbuster films act as a barrier to entry for lower budget films, allowing major studios to continue dominating the film industry.

1. Synergy- page 15 filmindustrybooklet
 Sequelization  Convergence or
convergent
 Mega
franchise
Vertical integration
Multiple media
platform
Franchise

 Horizontal
integration
 Cross-
promotion
 Theatrical box
office
 Ancillary
revenue
(secondary
revenue)
 Constant
media
synergy
 spectacle
 Synergyiswhenthe interactionof twoormore forcesworkingtogethercreatesagreater
effectthanthe sumof theirindividual efforts
 Mediasynergyisthe way inwhichdifferentelementsof amediaconglomerate work
togethertopromote linkedproductsacrossdifferentmedia.
 Synergyworkswhendifferentelementswithinamediaconglomeratepromote (e.g.film
studio,recordlabel,videogame division) create linkedproducts(e.g.film,soundtrack,video
game).
 Hollywood hasmovedfromvertical integrationtohorizontal integration.
 Because of thistheynowfocuson producingfilmswhichcancross-promotedwithother
mediatexts.
 Ancillaryrevenue hasnowbecome more importantthanbox office revenue.
Spectacle of mainstream films
 Mega franchise filmsrelyonthe use of spectacle.
 Highbudgetproductionswithexpensive setdesignandspecial effects.
 Thisworksas a ‘barriertoentry’to lower-budgetfilms,allowingthe majorstudiosto
continue todominate the filmindustryadtheyare able to draw inbiggeraudiences.
WHAT MERCHANDISE DOES PROMETHEUS/WHIPLASHHAVE?
Prometheususedtedx talkstopromote theirfilmthroughthe weylandindustriesshown
throughthe franchise
Whenand why did Hollywoodswitch its focusto mega franchise movies?

2. The firstmajor blockbusterwasjawsin1975. Jawsis the seventhhighestgrossingfilmwhen
ticketpricesare adjusted.Thisledtoblockbusterfamilyfilmslikestarwars,whichisthe
second highestgrossingfilmof all time. Thisleadtosequelsasthe productioncompanies
realisedthattheycouldgenerate huge amountsof money toconsumerdemand,while
singularfilmsare lesslikelytogatherconsumerinterestandwill have amore niche target
audience.Thiscombinedwiththe difficulttaskof marketingthe filmcomparedtotoday’s
societymeantthe studiohadlessinteresttomake it.
How are megafranchise moviesdefined?
Tentpole filmswhichthe production companyhasconfidence intogenerate money.The
blockbusteris guaranteedtocreate profit.Thisincludesuchfranchiserswhichhave spanned
several generations like Indianajonesandstarwars,whereasnowadaysthese include
expandeduniversesandmulti seriesfilmslikeharrypotterandthe marvel films.These films
have broad themesandcentredonactionratherthan a socio-economicorpolitical message
for the audience tolearn,whichiswhatmanyindependentfilmsdobecause the storiestold
tendto be more emotioncentredandcreate a representationof humanlife.
How important are sequelstothe Hollywoodfilmindustry?
Sequelsare importantastheyallow productioncompanies togenerate more money.The
sequelsallowthe productioncompaniestogenerate more moneydue tocustomerdemand.
The moneygenerated allowsthe productioncompanytotake more risksin creatingoriginal
films,whiletheyare more likelytoinvestinbuyingthe rightstoalreadymade independent
filmsfromfilmfestivalslike Sundance andCannes,especiallyif the filmcanbe easily
marketedandif it hasan overwhelminglypositiveresponse fromcritics.
What is ancillaryrevenue?How important is it?
Ancillaryrevenue isthe moneygatheredforthe productioncompanythroughsecondary
productsthat co-incide withthe film.These include suchthings assoundtracks,artbooks,
figuresandtoys,clothingapparel suchast shirts,jumpers andsocks,comics,graphicnovels,
novels,video games,jewellery.Thisisimportantasitallowsthe productioncompanyto
gathermoneyoutside of the box office,meaningthroughmerchandisingtheyare able toget
more money
How important are videogamestothe filmindustry?
Videogamesare relativelyimportanttothe filmindustry. Thisisbecause of how synergyis
usedto create filmsbasedonvideogamesand vice versa.Manyof the videogame players
are alsofilmenthusiastsas the industriesare verysimilar.