This document provides guidance for students studying for an exam on the film industry. It outlines key areas the examiner commented should be studied, including how technological convergence enables effective digital distribution and viral marketing campaigns. Students should investigate and provide examples of how institutions and audiences use media technology across different platforms, and discuss specific examples of websites for downloading and watching movies. The document advises students to critically evaluate alternative distribution and marketing methods used by independent British films with smaller budgets.

1. Starter Activity:
1.Students to read out one of the statistics they have
collected from the ‘BFI year book 2012’
2. Each table to create a glossary of important terms.
3. Assess understanding of the key issues to be
studied for the exam.
Learning Objective:
To consolidate learning, understand and act upon examiners comments.
All: Understand key areas to study for exam (Provide at least 1 example for each
of the key areas highlighted by the examiner.)
Most: Independently investigate the key areas ( relate to WTF, Warp and 1st Sight
Films)
Some: Independently investigate key aspects of the film industry and apply
understanding of the issues to UK film industry and case studies.

2. Examiners Comments: ‘…more able
candidates could develop an argument which
could discuss and evaluate how technological
convergence enables effective digital
distribution, supports viral marketing
campaigns, such as the Dark Knight or The
Simpsons, creates media synergy and, for
example, the use of Sony BMG to record the
soundtrack, and merchandising tie in deals.

3. These able candidates could also
evaluate how institutions and audiences
used media technology across different
platforms, for example on the iPod and
other mobile devices/phones and the
use of social networking sites to share
and offer fan comments.

4. Candidates also discussed downloading
(including the issue of internet piracy)
films, but did not give specific examples
of websites or how you could
subsequently watch the movies.

5. On occasion candidates could offer
criticism that independent and often
British film releases which do not have
the budget of major conglomerate film
studio’s had to find alternative nonconvergent methods of distribution and
marketing.’