Preliminary task

Section A past questions

June 13: Regional Identity- Doc Martin

Jan 13: Age- E.R

June 12: Disability- Coming down the mountain

Jan 12: Sexuality- Fingersmith

June 11: Social class and status: Merlin

Jan 11: Gender- Hustle

June 10: Gender: Primeval

Jan 10: Ethnicity- Hotel Babylon

June 09: Gender- Doctor Who

Jan 09: Age- Monarch of the Glen

Practice exam question

What impact does media ownership have in the media area you have studied? (50 marks)
The media area I have studied is the film industry. I will use my case studies which are Skyfall produced by EON films which is owned by Sony a media conglomerate, the other case study I will use is The Woman in Black produced by Hammer films which is a independent film company. In my essay I will explain the impact of media ownership on the film industry and how it affects the production, marketing and consumption phases for a film and how it benifits the production and marketing phase but not so much the consumption phase.  

The media ownership massively effects the production phase of a film. This is for the reason that Sony is part of a media conglomerate so they had millions of pounds to spend on a film, whereas Hammer films doesn’t as it’s only a small company. That is why Skyfall had around $150 million spent on it whereas the Woman in Black had $17 million spent on it. This is a benefit of media ownership as Skyfall had more money to spend on things like better locations such as they filmed in Russia and China, but the Woman in Black was filmed all in England and used a house in Oundle to film with. This was because Hammer films couldn’t afford to film elsewhere.  Skyfall had the money to afford big actors like Daniel Craig and Judi Dench because of the money Sony had. Whereas the Woman in Black had done well to afford Daniel Radcliff.  This shows that media ownership had had an massive impact on the film industry as because massive media conglomerates have the money to spend on actors and better locations than independent film companies.

The marketing of the films are affected by whether they are owned by a conglomerate or they are an independent film company. Like with the production phase media ownership affects how much money a company has to spend on marketing. Synergy happened in Skyfall as Sony had the money to do so, they had Adele singing Skyfall which was the films theme song this is an advantage of Skyfall being part of Sony as money was put in to advertise the film using the areas they owned such as owning a music label. This is where media ownership is a problem for small companies such as Hammer films as they don’t have to money to spend on advertising they rely on social media as it’s free and is easy to spread the film’s news on.  Skyfall used cross media convergence to promote the film, there was a PlayStation game brought out based on Skyfall, a single by Adele these helped to promote the film which is good for Skyfall as they used media convergence and synergy to get the word out. But because Hammer films are independent and don’t own anything big they couldn’t do that. This shows that media ownership is important as it gives the big 6 media conglomerates a change to put there film all over a range of media products unlike small companies.

In my opinion media ownership doesn’t massively affect the consumption phase and whether the audience watch the film or not. However media ownership affects it in one massive way which is cinema’s. The Woman in Black was shown in around 400 cinema’s compared to Skyfall which was shown in around 500. This is because massive companies such as Sony have to money and the fact they are well known, which means any Sony film is more than likely to be shown in cinema’s compared to small companies who may find it hard getting there film in to the cinema’s. The audience who buys the DVD itself or downloads it on ITunes are likely to affected whether the film is made by a massive company or not, if the audience like the film they will buy it, it’s down to the audiences preference to whether they want to watch a massive block buster or a small companies film.

So overall media ownership has an impact massively on the production and marketing phase as the big companies have the most  money which helps the film market and produce a better film. However when it comes down to the consumption phase media ownership doesn’t really effect it due to the fact it’s down to the audience’s preferences to what film they watch whether it’s a big company film or a small company’s film, it’s not really affected by who the film is owned by.

How did the PRODUCTION and MARKETING/ DISTRIBUTION of 'Skyfall' and 'Woman in Black' influence its success at the box office?

When the film came out it was the 50th year anniversary this gave people an incentive to go see it is it was a big mile stone and people would have wanted to see it as it was a 50th year. Also Daniel Craig was a well known James Bond so people wanted to see it was Daniel Craig was in it, women may have found Daniel good looking hence wanting to see him. They may have gone to see Skyfall for Daniel more than wanting to see the film its self.

Sony was the distributor in which are a massive media conglomerate. They owned many radio stations and TV channels which they used to promote Skyfall, this meant there was many different ways that Sony could promote Skyfall. They also owned cinems which helped get Skyfall shown in 587 cinemas. This helped them as there was many places to watch the film which boosted how much they earnt which was $88 million in the opening weekend. Many companies such as Heineken and Coke Cola put in money for their product to be shown in the film which gave them rights to use Daniel Craig and Skyfall to be used with in their adverts, this helped promote Skyfall. This meant even before the film was realsed nearly everyone had seen some sort of reference to Skyfall. Skyfall was a 12A which meant it appealed to a wide range of ages this meant the target audince which was 1 plus which alot of people compared to if it was a 18 the target audience would be limited, most children go to the cinema with friends more regualar then adults so as the film is a 12A it meant children could go see it which boosted profits. James Bond was already an established collection of films and had already established a massive audience who would go see Skyfall because its another James Bond film. 

Woman in Black was popular mainly due to the fact Daniel Radcliffe was casted as main character, he was 10 years established in Harry Potter and he was world wide known for the character Harry Potter. It attracted Harry Potter lovers and even those who really liked Daniel Radcliffe to go see the film. Also the film was a 12A so again Harry Potter lovers could go to see it, as Harry Potter was aimed at children, they could now go see another film Daniel was in. If it was 18 then young childrne who may have liked Harry Potter cant go to see it which would have lost the film money. Before the last Harry Potter film was shown the trailer of Woman in Black which meant Harry Potter fans could see the trailer and the film could begin to gain and audience for the film. Also the Woman in Black was a west end production and a novel so even before it was a film the Woman in Black had an established audience who would most likely want to see the film.

Technological Convergence: TV, Computer, Radio, Camera--- All is in a phone!
In a TV- TV, internet
Ipad- Camera, Internet, Video recorder, TV

Media Synergy: DIfferent media promoting the same product.
Eg Harry Potter: DVD, borad game, games, books

Viacom

• Head Quarters: One Astor Plaza, Manhattan, New York City, New York,United States
• It operates 170 networks

It owns: MTV Films, Nickelodeon Movies, Paramount Animation, Paramount Pictures

It owns most of the Nickelodeon channels such as Nickelodeon, Nicktoons 

They own also:

Paramount Motion Pictures Group

• Paramount Pictures
• Paramount Television
• Paramount Vantage
• Insurge Pictures
• Paramount Animation
• Paramount Pictures International
• TV Motion Pictures Group
• MTV Films
• Nickelodeon Movies
• Paramount Home Entertainment
• Paramount Famous Productions
• United International Pictures
• Republic Pictures

What is a media Conglomorate?

A thing consisting of a number of different and distinct parts or items that are grouped together.

Some examples:

• Virgin Group
• The Walt Disney Disney Company
• News Corporation 
• Time Warner
• Viacom
• General Electric
• CBS
• Sony 

Section B starts here

Representation of Gender

Our next focus area will be the representation of gender. This is an interesting and demanding area and, to fully engage with representations of gender, you need to be aware of gender stereotypes.

Gender stereotypes are simplistic generalizations about the gender attributes, differences, and roles of individuals and/or groups. 

Stereotypes can be positive or negative, but they rarely communicate accurate information about others. When people automatically apply gender assumptions to others regardless of evidence to the contrary, they are perpetuating gender stereotyping. Many people recognize the dangers of gender stereotyping, yet continue to make these types of generalisations. We see gender stereotypes regularly being reinforced in television drama.

Traditionally, the female stereotypic role is to marry and have children. She is also to put her family's welfare before her own; be loving, compassionate, caring, nurturing, and sympathetic; and find time to be sexy and feel beautiful. 

The male stereotypic role is to be the financial provider. He is also to be assertive, competitive, independent, courageous, and career‐focused; hold his emotions in check; and always initiate sex. 

These sorts of stereotypes can prove harmful; they can stifle individual expression and creativity, as well as hinder personal and professional growth. 

The weight of scientific evidence demonstrates that children learn gender stereotypes from adults. As with gender roles, socializing agents—parents, teachers, peers, religious leaders, and the media—pass along gender stereotypes from one generation to the next.

Self- Assessment- Age question

I found it alright picking out techniques but I found it really difficult to explain why it links back to representation of age and go into great detail on that. I also found editing really difficult I didn't have much clue on how to do it I didn't even write much about it as I ran out of time as was. I think my response was good but I could have gone into more detail and do more links back to the question. 

Representation of Age: Maths Teacher from Waterloo Road

• He's a try hard
• He's easily lead 
• Trying to be young even though he's not 
• He tries to fit in with the trend 
• He's sensitive and easily led
• His only talent and speciality is maths 
• People take him as a bit of a joke
• He's gullible to think that what his wearing is appropriate 
• He's a child in the way the caretaker has to tell him to take the clothes off

Representation of Age

The age groups:

• Children                      0-12
• Teenager                  13-19
• Young Adult              20-35
• Middle Age                35-59
• Elderly                        60+

 

KEY TERMS

Key Terms

The Shots

This is an Establishing Shot

This is a Mid Shot

This is a Close up Shot

This is a Long Shot

This is a Wide Shot

This is a 2 Shot

This is a Aerial Shot

This is a Point of View shot

This is a Over the Shoulder shot



Camera Angle









This is a High Angle







A Low Angle shot is as it is looking up at something.


A Canted Angle is an tilted angle. Maybe used in Point of View Shots.



Movement


Pan- A movement which scans a scene horizontally.

Tilt- A movement which scans a scene vertically.

Tracking-  Following action or a character.
 
Hand-held- Is a person holding the camera so the audience see what the character sees.

Crane- Piece of equipment to hold up the camera above action or a scene.

Zoom- Is zooming in on the action.

Steadicam- Keeps the camera from moving and creates a smooth movement.


Composition

Framing- Whats seen in the picture

Rule of thirds- Where the picture is broken down into thirds.

Focus Pulls- Change of focus

Depth of Field-  Is the amount of distance between the nearest and farthest objects that appear in acceptably sharp focus in a photograph.


Editing

Shot reverse shot- Used in conversations where its the camera over one persons shoulder to another persons over the shoulder shot.

Eye line match- Where the audience sees what the character sees.

Graphic match- A cut in film editing between either two different objects, two different spaces, or two different compositions in which an object in the two shots graphically match. Like a fight scene.

Jump cut- An sudden transition from one scene to another.

Crosscutting- Is cutting from one scene to another in two different locations but at the same time. (Parallel Editing).

Cutaway- Where the action is cut to another scene less dramatic.

Slow Motion- Where action is slowed down.

Expansion of Time- Where action lasts longer than it would in reality. Eg a bomb counting down from 1 minute and the scene lasts 5 minutes and the bomb still hasn't gone off.


There is editing where it goes from 2013 back to 1884.


Sound

Non- Diegetic- Such as music.

Diegetic- Sounds such as talking or the wind.

Sound Effects- Eg a alien spaceship landing and noises are put on in the background.



Mise en Scene

Location- Where the scene is set

Costume- What is worn

Props- What is there around them eg the car

Lighting- If its dark or light

Make up- If the character is wearing some or not.

How The Exam Works

The exam is 2 hours long
It has 2 sections      A and B
The exam is around about may 15th 

It is 100 marks  (50/50)
The mark bands are:     A- 80             B-70               C-60             D-50                 E-40

Section A
Section A is one hour
The focus is tv drama 
There is 1 compulsory question (50marks)
 The question: Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs the representation of age using the following:

• camera shots, angels movements and composition
• editing 
• sound
• mise-en-scene

The 7 areas that maybe covered:

• Gender
•  Age
•  Ethnicity
• Sexuality
• Class and status
• Physical ability/ disability
• Regional identity 

Drama Clip: The White Queen

The White Queen is based Philippa Gregory's historical novel series The Cousins' War, (The White Queen, The Red Queen and The Kingmaker's Daughter).

Set in the time of the Wars of the Roses, the series is the story of the women caught up in the conflict for the throne of England. It starts in 1464—the nation has been at war for nine years fighting over who is the rightful King of England, as two sides of the same family, the House of York and the House of Lancaster, are in violent conflict over the throne. The story focuses on three women in their quest for power, as they manipulate behind the scenes of history—Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret Beaufort and Anne Neville.

Number of episodes: 10

This is a period drama.

Drama Clip: Holby City

Drama series about life on the wards of Holby City Hospital, following the highs and lows of the staff and patients.
This is a type of medical drama.

No. of series:	16
No. of episodes:	691 (as of 3 December 2013)

Drama Clip- Doctor Who

Its about a Time Lord called The Doctor which first aried in 1963. Where he travles in time in his TARDIS, to different planets and era's and coming across a range of monsters.

This is a science fiction.

Episodes: There have been around 784

Drama Clip- Coronation Street

Coronation Street is the story of working people and the city street in which they live.

Since 9th December 1960, up to and including the second episode transmitted on 3rd January 2014, there have been 8293 episodes of Coronation Street.

This is a soap serial.

Genre in Television Programming

The word Genre comes from the French word- Kind of class

If you haven't been somewhere you can can what its like from what you've seen through the media- Eg Luxury Hotel.

You stereotype certain people such as a Secretary you'd think a woman, shirt, blazer and a skirt. 

There are many types of genre such as:

• Children's
• Comedy 
• Drama and soap
• Entertainment 
• Factual 
• Films
• Learning 
• Lifestyle and leisure 
• Music
• News and current affairs 
• Religions and ethics 
• Sport 

Sub Genre: There they are broken down in to e.g.

Lifestyle and leisure- Cooking, DIY, Homes under the hammer 

Drama- Period drama, Crime drama

Factual- Reality shows

Hybid: Then there is a cross over of Genre such as

Horrible History's- Children's, Comedy, Learning 
Tom and Jerry- Children's, Comedy

Drama examples:

Medical- Holby City, Casualty 

Crime/ legal- NCIS, Silent Witness, X Files, Broadchurch  

Period/ Costume- White Queen, Downton Abbey, The Tudors, Dracula

Science Fiction- Doctor Who 

Soap- Eastenders, Coronation Street

Comedy Drama- Mad Dogs

Teen- Misfits, Waterloo Road, Inbetweeners, Grange Hill       

My TV Preferences

I quite enjoy Historical drama's such as the White Queen and the series Tudors also Downton Abbey I love, I enjoy History especially Tudor and Victorian times. Or even History thats quite recent. 

I enjoy watching reality shows such as I'm a Celebrity and Big Brother and Educating Yorkshire and sometimes TOWIE.

I also enjoy comedy however depends on what it is not a big fan of Mrs Browns Boys. 

I can't stand soaps as there just the same old dramas and are very boring. I hate any programs to do with Politics and I can't stand of sort of Politics. 

I quite like keeping up to date with music so I usually watch music channels. 

However recently I don't watch a lot of TV only really turn it on if theres defiantly something I want to watch or if my family is watching it when i'm in the room so I watch what ever is on.