World War Z is a 2013 apocalyptic action film directed by Marc Forster, based on the novel of the same name. It stars Brad Pitt as Gerry Lane, a former UN investigator who must travel the world to stop a zombie pandemic. With a budget of $190 million, the film made over $540 million at the box office. It was produced by four smaller production companies and distributed by the major studio Paramount Pictures. Advanced special effects technologies allowed for realistic depictions of weapons and zombies. The film was widely released in theaters and later on DVD and Blu-Ray, promoting audiences' consumption across different platforms.

1. World War Z
By Sam Ward

2. How World War Z compares to
Kermode's 4 rules?
News worthy budget: $190,000,000
Spectacular visuals- The Zombie characters, the disabled
boy.
This film is not a comedy
A List star: Brad Pitt

4. World War Z
World War Z is an American Apocalyptic action film released on
June 2nd 2013, it is Directed by Marc Forster who is also
responsible for films such as Quantum of Solace and The Kite
Runner. The Film is based on a 2006 Novel called ‘World War Z’
written by Max Brooks.
The film stars Brad Pitt who plays Gerry Lane, a former United
Nations investigator who must travel the world to stop a Zombie
pandemic.
From a Budget of $190 million, World War Z made over $540
million at the Box Office.

5. The Plot
A Worldwide zombie Outbreak erupts in several cities around the world;
those bitten by the infected become Zombies themselves. Former UN
investigator Gerry Lane, with his wife and two children manage to escape
by calling in a favor from a former UN friend in Philadelphia. Gerry then
has to travel the world attempting to find a cure, visiting places such as
North Korea, Israel and Wales. He eventually finds, with the help of
scientists that the cure is found in illness of Humans and the Zombies
only attack healthy Humans.

6. The Production
World War Z is Directed by Marc
Forster.

7. Brad Pitt- Gerry Lane
The main character Gerry Lane is played by
Brad Pitt

8. The issues raised by media
ownership in contemporary media
practice
The film was produced by 4 production companies
Skydance Productions, Hemisphere media capital, GK films
and Plan B entertainment.
The companies involved were relatively small companies
that hadn't appeared in that many successful films, the one
exception is Plan B entertainment which have appeared in
more successful films due to its owner being Brad Pitt.

9. The Importance of cross media
convergence and synergy in production,
distribution and marketing
World War Z was distributed by Paramount Pictures. It is a
film company that is one of the ‘Big Six’. It has distributed
successful films such as Transformers, Mission Impossible
and Marvel films between the years of 2008-11.
This could have been one of the reasons for World War Z
success due to the reputation and Experience of Paramount
Pictures.

10. The technologies that have been
introduced in recent years at the levels of
production, distribution, marketing and
exchange
Recent technological improvements allowed World War Z to
have the most advanced special effects currently available.
The weapons used in the film were so realistic, the
warehouse were they were being kept was raided by
Hungarian Counter terrorism units whilst filming took place in
Budapest.

11. The significance of proliferation in
hardware and content for institutions
and audiences.
World War Z was released on 21st June 2013. It was
released later on DVD, Blu-Ray on 17th September 2013. It
was shown on 3,607 screens across the world on its
Opening Weekend. Being released on DVD and Blu-Ray the
film still makes money as it is available for personal use.

12. The importance of technological
convergence for institutions and
audiences
World War Z was distributed across the world and therefore it
was promoted in many ways. This includes posters, TV
trailers and Billboard posters were used to attract audiences
into the cinemas. Many modern films have television
interviews and this was the same with World War Z, the main
actors were involved in interviews and teaser trailers.

13. The ways in which the candidates’ own
experiences of media consumption illustrate
wider patterns and trends of audience
behaviour.
I feel that the film industry has benefited massively from the
development in technology, for example new developing
cameras deliver new angles and better quality to modern
films. Also the advancement in special effects for example
CGI allow Directors and Producers to create scenes never
seen before.