Case Study Files

Section B

Films

The Kings Speech• Production Company: See Saw Films• Distributor: Momentum• Budget: £8m• Revenue: £42.4m (UK) $430,821,166 (WW)

Funding• Received 1million from UKFC• Aegis film fund also financed part of the production• SeeSaw films helped put together the finance for the film and secure distribution deals

Marketing:• Promotional materials: posters, • Strategy: Feel good period film targeted at an older audience – smart move?• Cast & Crew: Features an all star cast with international appeal

e.g. Helena Bonham Carter, Colin Firth

Distribution:• DVD• Distributed digitally so it was cheaper

Exhibition:• The average age of the audience was 57.7. • Was put out on 1,543 cinema screens

Searching For SugarmanFact File:

• Production Company: Red Box Films, Passion Pictures • Distributor: Studio Canal• Revenue: £51.9m (UK)

Marketing:• Budget: • Promotional materials: Posters, Soundtrack• Cast: Starring Sixto Rodriguez, Directed by Malik Bendjelloul

Distribution:• DVD

Exhibition:• Shown in ‘art’ cinemas

Synergy:• An Album available through itunes.

The Hobbit• Production Company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), New Line Cinema• Distributor: Warner Brothers• Budget: $200million• Revenue: $922million Opening Day - $37.1million

• Marketing:• Promotional materials: Website, Theatrical trailer, Posters, extensive cross media promotions

e.g. Youtube journals, magazine features, twitter feeds etc• Cast: Ian McKellan, Martin Freeman, Cate Blanchett, Elijah Wood, Directed by Peter Jackson

• Distribution:• Released in cinemas in 7 formats: HFR 3D, IMAX 3D, IMAX, 3D, and 2D • Released in over 2000 cinemas

• Exhibition:• Technology: 48 FPS, Dolby Atmos, Imax 3D

• Synergy:• Itunes got to release the film a few days earlier

• http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/11/21/64780-complete-listing-of-theaters-showing-hobbit-hfr-3d-imax-3d-imax-dolby-atmos/

The Avengers • Production Company: • Distributor: Walt Disney• Revenue: £51.9m (UK)

Marketing:• Budget: $100 million • Promotional materials: Interactive website, posters, comic book• Cast & Crew: Features characters from other successful comic book films e.g. Iron Man, X Men

Distribution:• DVD, Blueray, Blueray 3D, Digital copy• In the 14 weeks since its home video release, the film has grossed $202.4 million in sales

Exhibition:• Shown on 1,700 cinema screens

Synergy:• Toy sales: Figurines sold in the Disney Store• MP3 album: available via iTunes• Digital app: Avengers Second Screen Experience (a free app that allows you to access

interactive content relating to the film)• TV animation: The Avengers Assemble shown on the Disney Channel

• http://sparksheet.com/marvels-the-avengers-hulk-smashes-the-box-office/

Companies –

Independent

See-Saw Films• Has a first look deal with Momentum Pictures• Se Saw Also works closely with sister company Transmission films, an

Australian Distributor. • Buckland co-finance their films.

Film Successes -

Shame –• Budget: $6,500,000 Gross:$10,781,688

Oranges and Sunshine – • Budget: $4,500,000 Gross: $5,000,000

The Kings Speech

Warp Films• Warp Films is a British independent film production company. • Warp Films was established by Warp Records founding partners Rob Mitchell and

Steve Beckett. • It was initially created with a remit to produce a number of short films.

Film Successes -

Kill List (2012) – • Budget: $800,000 Gross: $169,063

Submarine (2010) – • Budget: $1,90000 Gross: $4,581,000

This is England (2006) – • Budget: $1,5million Gross: £5,058,600

Companies –

Conglomerate

Working Title• A British Film Company based in London.

• Owned by Universal and founded by Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe and this is therefore where they get their funding from.

Film Successes –

Four Weddings and a funeral (1994) – • Budget: $4,500,000 Gross:$244,000,000 (highest grossing British Film in cinema history)

Pride and Prejudice (2005) –• Budget: $28,000,000 Gross: $121,000,000

Les Miserable (2012) –• Budget: $61,000,000 Gross: $27,281,735 (opening

weekend)

Love Actually (2003) – • Budget: $30,000,000 Gross: $59,000,000

Paramount Pictures• Distributes through Paramount Pictures and Paramount Vantage,

Exhibition through Paramount Home Entertainment, Insurge Pictures, Paramount Famoud Productions,

• Operates in over 70 Countries such as USA, Australia, Brazil, Ireland, Mexico, New Zeland and the UK

Film Successes –

Rise of The Guardians –Budget: 145,000,000 Gross: $306,590,972

Top Gun – Budget: $15,000,000 Gross: $356,800,601

Paranormal Activity – Budget: $15,000 Gross: $193,876,403

Cinemas

Multiplex

Cineworld• Founded in 1995

• 78 screens in the UK

Luton – • 11 screens• Disabled Access• Digital Screens• Car Parking

Type Of Films Shown –• Mainstream Blockbusters E.g. Olympus has Fallen,

Spring Breakers

Mainly 12A films, apart from kids section.

Cinemas

Independent

The RexIn Berkhamsted• 1 Screen• A Bar• Box seats/ Regular Seats

Types of Films Shown – Art Films E.g. Les Miserable, The Paperboy

Audience – Older Audience, 40 to 80 years of age

issues raised by media ownership

cross media convergence and synergy in production, distribution and marketing

Impact of new technologies on production, distribution, exchange

The significance of proliferation in hardware and content for institutions and audiences

The importance of technological convergence for institutions and audiences

The issues raised in the targeting of national and local audiences by international

Paramount Pictures

See Saw Films

The Kings Speech

The Avengers

Searching For Sugarman

The Hobbit

Star Wars

Past Paper Questions

• "Discuss the issues raised in the targeting of national and local audiences (specifically, British) by international and global institutions".

• Explore the exhibition issues faced by a media industry you have studied.

• Explore some of the ways in which new technologies have had an impact on a media industry you have studied.

• Discuss the ways in which media product(s) are produced and distributed to audiences, within a media area, which you have studied.

• How important is technological convergence for institutions and audiences within a media area which you have studied?

• “Global institutions dominate media production. These institutions sell their products and services to national audiences.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?

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

• Discuss the issues raised by media ownership in the production and exchange of media texts in your chosen media area

• Successful media products depend as much upon marketing and distribution towards a specific audience as they do upon good production practices. To what extent do you agree with this statement, within the media area you have studied?

• To what extent does digital distribution affect the marketing and consumption of media products in the media area you have studied?