Media ownership has a significant impact on the successful distribution of media products. Large media companies have the resources to heavily promote and advertise their films, almost guaranteeing success. While digital distribution has reduced costs compared to physical formats, independent films still struggle for exposure without major company backing. Examination reports highlighted how the most successful responses discussed distribution processes and compared release patterns across cinemas, YouTube, and Netflix, using facts and figures to analyze the effects of ownership on different films' financial outcomes.

1. OCR PAST PAPER
J U N E 2 0 1 5

2. FILM INDUSTRY
To what extent does media ownership have an impact on the successful distribution of media products
in the media area that you have studied.
Candidates must chose to focus on one of the following media ideas. May also refer to other media in
your answer.
• Film
• Music
• Newspapers
• Radio
• Magazines
• Video games

3. • To answer this question you have to think back to your case studies and answer
around your case study.
Mainstream case study: independent film:

4. QUESTION 1
Discus the ways in which the extract constructs the representation of
ethnicity using the following:
• camera shots, angle, movement and composition
• editing
• sound
• mise-en-scene

5. HOW TO ANSWER THE QUESTION
GIVEN
• To answer this question you would first analyse the question given in your head and
start thinking of the acronyms for the four areas to get full marks.
Discus the ways in which the extract constructs the representation of
ethnicity using the following:
• camera shots, angle, movement and composition
• editing
• sound
• mise-en-scene
F- frame
A- angle
M- movement
S-
T-

6. THE QUESTION:
Media ownership:
The big six
Small company's
Talk about the facts from
your big film and small
film but include other
examples of other films.
How the film was
shown:
Cinema
YouTube
Netflix
Exhibition/ exchange
Show how the big film got there film big and how much they earned from distribution also talk
about how they made the film popular so talk about distribution of merchandise and trailers
online.
Talk about overall figures and there starting off budget of the films.
Relate to other films on how they done with there figures.

7. EXAMINERS REPORT
• most successful responses discussed the process of distribution and how ownership affects the
success of a product.
• digital technology had lessened the cost of distribution compared to its physical formats. It was also
recognised that media companies invested most heavily in advertising campaigns which guaranteed
success.
• The most popular blockbuster studied included The Dark Knight Rises, Avatar, Skyfall, Frozen and
Avengers.
• The least successful candidates failed to address the question set and drew on little knowledge or
understanding of the concept of institutional practice. There was plenty of comparison between the
US as major film practice and UK smaller independent film making studios such as Warp and Vertigo
films.
• More able candidates were able to compare the different release patterns and platforms in
distribution, with facts and figures used to support their analysis. There was plenty of reference to
online platforms being used to distribute and market films (Netflix) and the relative success that
different films texts had with these.