Discuss the ways in which media products are distributed to audiences relating to the british film industry.

Media products are produced and distributed in institutions that are related to the audience that predominantly uses the institutions, for example Picturehouse cinemas, predominantly show independent or specialist films, whereas Vue cinema show predominantly mainstream films, they also show a wide variety of films, however picturehouse cinema only show a small selection of films.

Picturehouse and Vue cinemas may both face issues. Picturehouse cinemas may be faced with issues such as; they do not provide enough variety of films which appeal to a wide audience, therefore restricting the amount of people who use the picturehouse cinemas, therefore decreasing the cinemas profits. Picturehouse cinemas, may also face issues regarding the technology and number of screens within the cinema, for example cinema city, a picturehouse cinema in Norwich has three screens, therefore limiting the amount of films that can be shown at one time, however the cinema does have digital technology, which enables the cinema to show more films, because it is cheaper than the previous 35mm film that was used in the cinema and is still used in some cinemas.

Vue cinemas, may also be faced with issues, however picturehouse cinemas, because they are independent are more likely to be faced with more issues than Vue cinemas will be faced with. On the other hand, Vue cinemas may be faced with issues such as; competition between other mainstream cinemas [amount of showing times + their convenience, prices, location], only show mainstream, conventional films, which may not appeal to all of the target audience.

Technology has a vast impact on how media products are produced and distributed, mainly applying to the last ten years, because of the rapid growth and advancements in technology. Technology helps films to be produced and distributed by using the internet, television, mobile phones, mp3s, iPods, social networking sites, film rental, downloading, HD television, Blu-ray, 3D technology and proliferation of technology. These different types of technology allow the audience to be able to watch or download films from a larger variety of sources. The growth of technology, and expansion in the ways that we can watch films, widens the audience for films, however this will also have an effect on the amount of people who go to the cinema to watch a film, because of the growth in technology, therefore decreasing cinemas profits and stopping the cinemas from being able to expand or invest within the existing cinema complex.

Although technology, has had a positive impact of the film industry and helped it to rapidly expand, it has also let piracy happen, because of the technology that is now available, it has allowed people to either record films in the cinema and post it on the internet or record them to DVD, it also allows people to illegally download films from the internet before they have been released on to DVD, technology has also allowed people to burn DVDs for friends and family, which is against copyright laws as you are copying a DVD that you do not have any rights for. Piracy has a large impact on the film industry; it is responsible for loosing £700 million at the box office last year, just because people buy or illegally download films rather than seeing them at the cinema. Technology has a big impact of piracy, because the internet especially is the main source to pirate films. Piracy has an affect on not just cinemas but; the film industry as a whole, actors and actresses, people who work on the sets of films, DVD sales.

Piracy also decreases the amount of jobs in the film industry, which will have the biggest effect on current school and college students and their future careers. Piracy has a huge impact on independent film companies because they do not have large budgets, if their box office and DVD sales decrease, they can not afford to make other films, therefore minimising the independent film industry. It also has an affect on the amount of films that are made, because of the lack of money within the film industry, therefore leading to less producers and consequently a decrease the type and variety of films that are being made. Mainstream film companies are not badly affected by piracy, however independent film companies are, this is not economically viable, therefore creating an imbalance in the British film industry. It also gives audience less choice of films.

The increase in the investment of digital screens within cinemas has enhanced screenings in cinemas and enables cinemas to show a larger variety of films and a larger amount of films, because it is cheaper to show and get hold of digital films, as opposed to 35mm film, which is very expensive to buy. Vue and picturehouse cinemas all have digital screens within their cinemas. Although with the use of digital screens it is cheaper to show films, it also allows cinemas to stream live events from the cinemas such as live concerts and sporting events, it also allows cinemas to invite their audiences to play video games on the big screen, with other players around the world.

How is digital cinema production affecting the british film industry?

Cinema production if affecting the british film industry in the way of technological convergence, the issue of technological convergence is that; as other technologies are discovered and being used more frequently, this then decreases the amount of people that will use the cinema as a place to view films, and will therefore use alternative ways such as; HD dvd players, blu-ray players, ipods, mobile phones, iphones and various other ways to watch films. The introduction of new technologies that allow people to watch films, affects the british film industry because of the new technolgies people will no longer want to go out and watch films at the cinema, when they could download it or watch it on sky+ or another televsion provider that allows you to watch films and record them, to playback t anytime of your choice.

I have studied vue and cinema city cinemas. They are both of importance, because both cinemas, have digital technology which enables live event such as concerts and sports matches to be streamed live to the cinema, you can also connect with other players around the world on games consoles and play them on the big cinema screen. Cinema city is important as although it targets a smaller audience than vue cinemas and only has three screens, it offers a wider vairety of films such as; foreign language, specialist, films that are relevent to the location of the cinema, they also offer a variety of specialised event at the cinema such as; kids club, slackers club etc, which widens the audience. The use of these event and the films they screen help to diversify content, therefore widening the audience and increasing profits. Cinema city is also part of the digital screen ntework, which enabled them to have more digital technology within their cinema. Vue is also important, because of its technology that allows 3D films to be screened at their cinema, although 3D technology has been around for a vast amount of years, it has only become popular in recent years because of proliferation of 3D and the amount of conventional mainstream films that are know being released, it also acts as a unique selling point.

New digital cinema production affects the films and other products that cinema city and vue produce and distribute, because digital technology enables the cinemas to screen more films, because it is cheaper to use digital technology as opposed to a 35mm films reel, which is extremly costly and difficult to use. Digital technology also enables the cinema to screen 3D films, which widens the audience and gives them a unique selling point. The use of digital technology, enable the cinemas to exhibit a wider vairety and more screenings of each films, therefore increasing the audience and increasing profits that the cinemas and the films make. It affects how the audience consumes the product because it offers the audience a wider variety of films to watch and the experience of 3D and watching live streaming concerts and sporting matches at the cinema.

The advantages of technological convergence is that it has helped media technology to evolve and offers a variety of ways in which to be able to watch the films such as; hd, blue-ray, downloading, film rental, online, youtube etc. This enable us to increase our individual consumption of films, because of the increasing ways in which we can access them, however this also has its disadvantages because it will decrease the conventional ways to watch a film and will decrease profits made by cinemas and film companies, therefore leading to a decrease in film making within the film industry. Piracy is has an effect on our consumption of films, because although it is exploiting the film company, directors and actors, however it increases people film consumption. Although it increases the amount of people who watch the film, it does not increase the profits that are made, because people are getting it on dvd or downloading the film illegally.

From my own personal viewpoint i believe that the digital cinema production is effecting the british film industry, in both good and bad ways. I think that the introduction of digital technology into cinemas, is a good point as it increases the amount of films and screenings you can show at a cinema, because they are cheap and easy to use as opposed to 35 mm film, which is expensive and was difficult to use. I also think that digital technology is better, because of the diversity and advancements that it has, which diversifies what the cinema has to offer to its audiences. Although, i think that the advancements in the media, could possibly decrease the amount of people who go to the cinema and also increase piracy, because of the variety of ways that you can play films.

Digital screen network

1). What is the digital screen network?

It is a £12 million investment, a national lottery investment which equips 240 screens in 210 cinemas across the uk with digital projection technology which gives the audiences a greater choice of film.

2). How can it help independent producers and exhibitors like picture house?

It will help independent producers and exhibitors like picture house because it enables them to distribute a vaster amount of films across their screens, which will therefore increase their audience numbers. It also increases the amount of times that one film is shown and enables them to show a greater selection of films which appeals to a wide variety of people and specialized films that are not generic hollywood films.

3). What will it mean for audiences?

It will mean that audiences get the chance to watch a wider variety of films, such as critically acclaimed films. It also means that film distribution can be increased as it is cheaper to reproduce the films as they are digital as opposed to 35 mm film, which is very expensive to reproduce.

4). How does your local area benefit?

My local area benefits from this as two out of the three cinemas in the city have one digital screen each. One of the cinemas is independent and one is mainstream. This benefits my local area, because it enables local people to be able to watch specialized films, which are of interest to the local people it also will increase the number of people who use those particular cinemas, because films are shown more often, therefore helping the entertainment industry and the local economy.

5). How does it impact on your film consumption?

The use of digital screen technology impacts my individual film consumption, as it offers a wider variety of times for me to watch the film, it also allows me to be able to see independent films that i may not have otherwise been able to watch.

6). What will this technology also provide to cinemas?

The technology will increase the amount of people who use the cinema, therefore increasing its profits, it will also bring the cinema a wider audience base and have a more varied audience.

7). What can you suggest this might mean for other technologies?

This may mean that other technologies are not used as often as they had been previously before digital screening came around, therefore people may not use the non-digital screening cinemas anymore, because of the lack of films and amount of times each individual film is screened.

Other technologies will benefit from the use of digital because; of the way in which we can watch films because of digital technology such as; HD dvd players, 3D technology, Blu-ray dvds and dvd players. You can also download films off websites such as itunes and you can directly put them on to your computer, ipod or iphone, you can also watch films televsion on your mobile phone because of the internet and iplayers and on-demand services from televsion broadcasters.

Film distribution in norwich

I collected cinema listings for the weekend of the 13th and 14th of march at both; vue and cinema city and answered these questions about the listings.



1). How many films in total are being exhibited?



Cinema city; 5

Vue; 13



2).Select a range of three different films for each cinema. How many times is each film screened? What does this mean for audiences?



Cinema city

The girl with the dragon tattoo - 6

Fantastic Mr fox - 2

The floods of east anglia 1912-1953 - 1

The amount of times that each film is screened affects the audience, because the films are only on at limited times this may affect the amount of people that watch the films as they may not be convinent for everyone, however at a mainstream cinema, films are screened many more times than at an independant cinema which creates more felxability for the audience.


Vue

Alice in wonderland 3D - 7

Green zone - 6

Hachi;A dogs tale - 7

This affects the amount of people that watch the films, as they are on many times, people are more likely to use a mainstream cinema such as vue rather than an independant cinema like cinema city, because of the large variety of times that films are shown.



3).Identify the total number of films in relation to the total number of screenings.



Cinema city

On the weekend there are five films that are being shown and sixteen screenings.



Vue

On the weekend there are thirteen films that are being shown and eighty-nine screenings.

4).Identify the % of hollywood films vs british films for each cinema that weekend.



Cinema city

The girl with the dragon tattoo - swedish

Fantastic mr fox - american

Floods of east anglia 1912-1953 - british

Shutter island - American

The 39 steps (re-release) - American



Vue

Alice in wonderland - American

Alice in wonderland 3D - American

Avatar 2D - American

Green zone -British

Hachi;a dogs tale - American

Leap year - American

Percy jackson and the lightening theif - American

Shutter island -American

St trinians 2 - British

The crazies - American

The lovely bones - American

The princess and the frog - American

5).What conclusions can you draw about how different audiences are catered for in your local area?

From the research, i have learnt that different audiences are catered for in norwich by the wide range of films that are being shown across both of the cinemas; mainstream and independant. The vue cinema, a mainstream cinema caters mainly for people who want to see hollywood mainstream films, however they do show some british films, however they are all mainstream and very well known and heavily advertised films. I have also learnt that independant cinemas cater for a variety of different people however the screening are very limited which may not suit all people, however they cater for children, the elderly, people who are interested in specialised documentary films and foreign language films.

How does ownership impact upon a film companies working practices?

Ownership has an impact upon a film companies working practices in the way of what control the ownership allows them to have over the production of the films that they make, for example working title are allowed to make any film up to the cost of $25 million, however if the film is over $25 million they must ask permission of universal. This practice gives working title productions more freedom in their film making, this practice is allowed, because they know their films do not hold a high risk.

The ownership also has an impact on the genre of films that an individual film company produce, due to the type of companys they are linked to. Working title are linked with universal; this enables them to have well known soundtracks within their films, many of working titles films are of a sort of `rom-com` genre, many of their films also use similar actors and actresses, working title films are designed to be strong exports due to the way britain is represented in them. The representation of britain in richard curtis films is reffered to as `curtisland`, however warp film company are not designed to be strong exports, due to the opposite way that britain is represented from working title films. In warp films britain is mainly represented as gritty, run down and violent, whereas working title mainly represent britain as wealthy, well educated and polite.

Another way that ownership has an impact on a film companys working practices, is their target audience,as the type of genre will determine the particular films target audience. For example warp films, predominatly make indepentdant `gritty` films starring unknown actors and actress, these type of films have a very narrow and restricted audience and they are not conventional films, wheras working title mainly make romantic comedies, starring high class actors and actresses and are very often set in london, these type of films have a wider audience because the films are very conventional, `safe` films.

Ownership also impacts film companies working practices, because of the different links that each film company has, for example working title are likned with universal which gives them a link to soundtracks, warp films have a link with film 4 which helps their films to be broadcasted on television, which widens the audience.

Warp film production company.

I researched four warp films and found out the cost of the film, the amount they took at the box office, investors and the distributor.

This is england
Distributor; Optimum (united kingdom)
IFC films (united states of america)
Investor; Film four, warp films
Cost; £1,500,000
Revenue; $8,069,240

Dead mans shoes
Distributor:Optimum releasing
Investor;
Cost;£723,000
Revenue;$198,081 (america;$6,408) (other;$191,673)

Bunny and the bull
Distributor;Optimum releasing
Investor;warp x productions,wild bunch,film 4, screen yorkshire,UK film council.
Cost; less than £1million
Revenue;

My Wrongs 8245–8249 & 117
Distributor;warp films
Investor;
Cost;
Revenue;

UK film council
Was created in 2000 and employes around 90 people, it has funded most of the big cultural films in britain,they have backed around 900 films; shorts and features,they haev entertained over 200 million people and helped to generate around £700 million in box office takings. Co-founder of working title film; tim bevan is the chairman and john woodward is the chief executive. They predominatly fund work with different partners across the UK, which includes regional and national screen agencies. Overall the uk film council have an aim to help make the UK a global centre for film in the digital age. The support that the film ouncil provide, helps to develop new filmmakers, funds new british films and brings a wider choice of films to the british audience. The lottery money that they distribute, plays a key role in keeping the british film creativity running well. The film council has a board of 15 directors, it has been established as a private company limited by guarantee.

New cinema fund
The new cinema fund, part of the the uk film council, was set up in order to encourage unquie and innovative ideas, they aim to produce films with passion that connects to the audience. The objectives of the new cinema fund are; support creative excellence, discover and develop new film talent, attract established film talent working outside mainstream industury, encourage use of technology, develop infrastructure in the regions and nations of the uk, ensure there is equality of oppurtunity, promote social inclusion and cultural differences within britain, challenge auidiences, widen the range of films that are on offer for the uk audience.

Warp X
Warp X, is based in sheffield and london, it specialises in cutting egde digital technology and producing low budget films, that reach audiences around the world. Warp X, was given a government grant of £150,000 that helped them to start their production company. They were backed by film 4, the uk film council and the new cinema fund, which all specialise in low budget and short films.

Working title films.

I researched `curtisland`, a name that has been given to the way that Richard Curtis represents britain, in very similar idealistic ways throughout all of his films. In a report by the guardian, `curtisland` is described as being "A shiny, happy place, relaxed about the filthy rich, insatiable in its optimism, in love with happy endings, and very New Labour." Richard curtis`s first film was four weddings and a funeral, the storyline of a sudden heart attack and love, are both very unrealistic and as the article stated `unlikely`. The article describes thet way that richard curtis represents britain in his films as; It was an apolitical place, full of can-do possibility, obsessed with the educated middle class, perfectly relaxed about the filthy rich, much more in love with sentiment than ideas, and insatiable in its optimism; it was also in thrall to the idea of happy endings. This mixing of realities seemed like a two-way process. The article also states that as richards films became more popular, he started to look at different ways of representing britain for example; Britain became the broken-home and teenage-pregnancy capital of Europe; looked at another, it was the subject of ever more feel-good, confetti-strewn, loved-up films. If they were not always from Curtis's pen, then at least they followed his winning formula. The article also stated that;Curtisland was among the least "cool" products of Cool Britannia, but it was always perfect for export; Britain was suddenly a sunny, witty, self-deprecating, charming kind of place.

Research of five working title films;

Notting hill

Gross revenue; $363,889,678

Domestic gross total; $116,089,678

Foreign gross total;$247,800,000

Cost; $42 million

Bridget jones diary

Box office; $281,929,795

Domestic gross total; $71,543,427

Foreign gross total;$210,386,368
Cost; $25 million

Fargo

Box office; $24,611,975

Domestic gross total; $24,611,975

Foreign gross total; $36,000,000

Cost;$7 million

Atonement

Box office; $50,927,067

Domestic gross total;$50,927,067

Foreign gross total;$78,338,994

Cost;

Love actually

Box office; $59,696,144

Domestic gross total;$59,696,144

Foreign gross total;$187,245,873
Cost;$40 million