Friday 11 December 2015

Distribution - What is it?

Distribution
  • Distribution is the third part of the supply chain 
  • Distribution is often refereed to as the 'invisible art' 
  • When discussing distribution, 'vertical integration' describes the three stages being seen as part of the same larger process, under the control of one company.
  • Vertical integration is not so common in the independent sector. This is because producers tend not to have long term economic links with distributors, who likewise have no formal connections with exhibitors.
  • The independent sector has three stages - licensing, marketing and logistics.
Licensing 
  • Licensing referrs to the process by which a distributor aquires a legal right to exploit a film.
  • There are two levels of licensing - International and local distribution
  • Major US studios often have their own distribution offices. This comes as an advantage. 
  • The three different types of rights you can acquire on a local level - theatrical, video, TV
  • Royalties are when a film producer gains payment from film profit by the distributor
  • Theatrical (cinema) openings are seen as the most effective way to increase interest in a film
  • Two years after opening in cinemas, a film will reach 'free to air' 
Marketing 
  • The two key questions surrounding the marketing of a film - when? and how?
  • Typically, films are released on a Friday
  • Before releasing a film on a Friday, a distributor will look at scheduling a release for the seasonality of the film 
  • In terms of distribution, a 'light week' describes when there is both screen space and adequate review columns in the press
  • When a film is positioned distinctively, it means it avoids a release date occupied with other films with similar traits
  • This has become increasingly difficult in the UK because the release schedule has regularly featured over 10 releases in a week. 
  • P&A describes the costs of theatrical distribution met by local distributors (prints and advertising) 
  • P&A can range from costing less than £1000 up to over £1 million 
Marketing - Prints and Adverts 
  • Typically, a specialized film will have fewer than 10 prints
  • Mainstream films will often have over 200 prints
  • A key factor in developing the profile of a film - favorable press response
  • Awareness of a film can also be raised by advertising in magazines local or national newspaper
  • Distribution in the UK is seen as risky because the cost of print advertising is comparably high 
  • Companies are looking towards viral marketing to extend the reach of advertising and develop more effective communication with audiences at lower costs 
  • A 'Talent visit' to create word of mouth and advance buzz around a film 
Logistics
  • In the pre digital film age, a distributor was responsible for screening the film on certain 'play dates' and to arrange the transportation of a film to the cinema
  • Typically, a 35mm print will cost £1000
  • A typical feature print has 5 or 6 reels.
  • 35mm prints get dammaged because they weigh 20-25 kg.
  • prints are stored in a single hard case
  • Theatrical release used to last around 6 months 
Digital Distribution
  • Digital distribution began in the UK 
  • The two advantages of digital distribution - 
  • countries that adopted digital distribution early - 
  • there were 211 screens that were digital in 2005 and 2K now
  • digital distribution has radically altered the opening model of distributors 
  • the typical release period for a dilm
  • a loss leader is where a film is sold at below cost price and companies using cinema











Friday 4 December 2015

What significance does the continuing development of digital media technology have for media institutions and audiences?

What significance does the continuing development of digital media technology have for media institutions and audiences?


distribution 
marketing

It may be argued, by a main stream audience,that the continuing development of digital media technology carries great significance in improving the quality of viewing and experience for an audience. (mainstream audience) In my opinion, the continuing development has little impact on my viewing experience,however it has had great impact on my ability to access films online or through iphone making them more appealing as i can watch from the comfort of my home. This is an example of media convergence. It may also be considered that the development of digital media has caused negative impact for media institutions and audiences. Film Buffs and aficionados may argue that the development of digital media technology has made all action and sci-fi films so similar that they are now only watched by mainstream audiences.  

Production practices have progressed due to the continuing development of digital media technology. The use of advanced media technology including computer controlled camera movements have made it easier for film producers to capture more action scenes that appear more intense. Mad Max: Fury Road examples the use of this. An 'edge arm' placed on top of a moving vehicle was used to capture fast paced action scenes with clever camera shots and angles. Mad Max: Fury Road was filmed using six ARRI Alexas supported by eleven Codex onboard recorders and a number of Cannon 5Ds. These new digital cameras have improved quality of picture for the audience and allowed director, George Miller, to use Eye Trace and Crosshair framing techniques to keep important visual information in one spot. However, the use of these new digital cameras and devices hasn't come easy to all film production teams. Mad Max: Fury Road was filmed in the coastal deserts of Namibia meaning frequent sandstorms and intense heat required special precautions by the camera crew. In an interview for Codex Digital, Cinematographer John Seale commented, ''I’d shot plenty of film-negative films in deserts and jungles under severe conditions, but never digital so I was a bit worried.'' Similarly, some directors prefer to use traditional celluloid cameras rather than digital. It may be considered that this occurs more commonly among British directors as stereotypically, the British favour tradition. This may then infer that the British film industry is so much smaller than the American industry because advanced media technology has allowed the American film industry to please a wider audience.    


Similarly, the ongoing advance of digital media for post production practices has benefited media institutions and audiences. Well established editing software's have allowed film editors to create faster paced, more 'realistic' continuity action. Mad Max: Fury Road, edited by Margret Sixel, consisted of 120 minutes showing 2700 individual shots. Thats 2700 consecutive decisions that must flow smoothly and immerse the viewer to reveal the story line in a clear concise manner. Mad Max features extensive action scenes including one battle scene in which character Nux practices a suicide jump from one vehicle to another blowing it up. Obviously during the film production no actors could be blown up or injured so clever continuity editing had to be used to create the illusion of this really happening. With the power of foremost editing programmes, Sixel could amplify and accelerate scenes like this to create an overall more intense experience for the viewer. Whilst this is considered a large advantage to media institutions, some media audiences for example film buffs or aficionados may feel that it is this editing that is creating identical films that show only explosions and large battle scenes therefore choose to watch films that avoid this. For example Ex Machina, edited by Mark Dey, uses a more simplistic editing technique. 

Furthermore, Distribution has been impacted by the development of digital media technology. The development of digital media technology has allowed for easier access and a wider range of digital distribution platforms for example, Netflix, itunes and YouTube. Smart phones, tablets and easy internet access support that media audiences can watch films anywhere at any time through these distribution methods. Most media audiences have benefitted from the development of digital distribution. It has allowed mainstream audiences to view films from the comfort of their own homes and it has allowed 

distribution
institutions - more competition, harder for indie films 
audiences - easier to access,  








The final edit ran 120 minutes and consisted of 2700 individual shots. That’s 2700 consecutive decisions that must flow smoothly and immerse the viewer. 2700 decisions that must guide and reveal the story in a clear and concise manner - See more at: http://vashivisuals.com/the-editing-of-mad-max-fury-road/#sthash.22KAM3J4.dpuf
The final edit ran 120 minutes and consisted of 2700 individual shots. That’s 2700 consecutive decisions that must flow smoothly and immerse the viewer. 2700 decisions that must guide and reveal the story in a clear and concise manner - See more at: http://vashivisuals.com/the-editing-of-mad-max-fury-road/#sthash.22KAM3J4.dpuf


The final edit ran 120 minutes and consisted of 2700 individual shots. That’s 2700 consecutive decisions that must flow smoothly and immerse the viewer. 2700 decisions that must guide and reveal the story in a clear and concise manner - See more at: http://vashivisuals.com/the-editing-of-mad-max-fury-road/#sthash.22KAM3J4.dpuf

The final edit ran 120 minutes and consisted of 2700 individual shots. That’s 2700 consecutive decisions that must flow smoothly and immerse the viewer. 2700 decisions that must guide and reveal the story in a clear and concise manner - See more at: http://vashivisuals.com/the-editing-of-mad-max-fury-road/#sthash.22KAM3J4.dpuf
The final edit ran 120 minutes and consisted of 2700 individual shots. That’s 2700 consecutive decisions that must flow smoothly and immerse the viewer. 2700 decisions that must guide and reveal the story in a clear and concise manner - See more at: http://vashivisuals.com/the-editing-of-mad-max-fury-road/#sthash.22KAM3J4.dpuf

Thursday 3 December 2015

June 2010 past essay question

What significance does the continuing development of digital media technology have for media institutions and audiences

Topic: Institution & audience
Aspect: Digital media computers, cameras CGI, Social media, youtube, netflix
Viewpoint: continuing development
Instruction: what significance 

  • includes development of new technology, such as cameras and viral marketing 
  • big 6 companies can afford to use it 

Production
  • Imax cinemas are special as they can project a larger much higher resolution image onto the cinema screen than in usual cinema and because of this increases the viewing quality for the film fan
  • there are now around 700 Imax theatres in 52 different countries around the world


Post production 
  • quality of special effects has allowed for a better quality experience 

distribution
  •  in recent years companies have been introducing an online streaming platform, which gives the viewer the option to purchase the movie and stream or download that film directly to their computer at home

marketing 




There are now around 700 IMAX theatres in 52 different countries around the world.

Tuesday 1 December 2015

Topic, Aspect Viewpoint, Instruction - Past Essay Questions

January 2010 Question

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?

Topic
Aspect
viewpoint 
instruction

June 2010 Question

What significance does the continuing development of digital media technology have for media institutions and audiences? 

Topic
Media institutions and audiences 
Aspect
Computers - technology, editing - Mad Max, CGI - Ex Machina, Marketing - youtube, Netflix - Illegal download, social media
Viewpoint
continuing development 
Instruction 
What significance