2. The issues raised by media ownership in contemporary media practice;
Gravity was distributed by warner Bros. pictures, which is a film big company. The revenue is worth over
12.3 billion and an operating income of $1.3 billion. Therefore before gravity was released it was already
likely to be very successful as they have more money for the cast, production, and directors etc., which
will also have a massive influence on the film, making it more successful. The budget of the film was
$100m but at box office it made $716,392,705m. The film did have a fairly big budget but made a big
profit at box office. So in this case a big film did make a big profit.
3. The importance of cross media convergence and synergy in
production, distribution and marketing;
Gravity Production Companies were Esperanto Filmoj and Heyday films and was distributed by
warner bros. the production companies are not very well known, although Heydays was also the
production company of all the harry potter films so maybe more well known. It helps if both the
production company and the distribution company work together as they can put all the money
together to make it into a better film as they will be able to afford more expensive things to include
in the film such as A-list stars to make the film do better e.g. George Clooney and Sandra Bullock;
and it will also promote the other production company. And in the film Gravity it included a-list starts
and also high technology, so the features were very good, and by working together with the small
and big companies made the film more successful.
4. The technologies that have been introduced in recent years at the
levels of production, distribution, marketing and exchange
, A lot of people purchase films on DVD, blu ray, internet streaming etc. due to the technology around
now days. Gravity was available on DVD and blu ray and online for internet streaming. But this can
have a major disadvantage on the film as a lot of the film found online and through streaming will
mean that they are free to watch therefore the company will be losing out on money. Online the film
was available on sites such as Netflix’s which could be named one of the best sites to watch home
cinema films as they offer hundreds of films. The advantages of this film was the fact that it was
made in 3D meaning that when people go to the cinema they will pay more money to go watch the
film, so then the film will be making even more money. And now as 3D TV are available more people
will by the film on 3D making more money for the film.
5. The significance of proliferation in hardware and content for institutions and audiences;
Films companies have now have to alter the way they work now everyone has web enabled phone,
PC etc.; as they now have to be viewed on different websites/technology e.g. flash player as this will
change the film into a different view that mobile phones are not able to access, so view the film in a
different format. Audience have changed their viewing habits as now we are able to watch films in
the comfort of our own homes which also saves time and money as the cinemas are more expensive
than buying the filming and viewing it online so they prefer it this way; also this way they can watch it
anytime for the same price. So many people may have waited for gravity to come out on DVD
because then is would be cheaper and people would know from other peoples reviews of the film if it
was good or not.
6. The importance of technological convergence for institutions and
audiences; (can you think of examples of how different technologies
have come together to help the film industry?)
The improved technology has allowed filming to improve due to new cameras
improving the quality of the filing. In this Gravity the graphic used a very good
and they have won an Oscar for their visual effects. The decision to make the
film predominantly using computer graphics (CG) was key, according to
Webber. Normally, CG is used to add a creature into a shot, or extend the
environment created by the set. In this case, however, CG was used to create
the whole environment of space, as well as the characters' space suits.As a
film industry due to new technologies they have come together to help the
importance of technological convergence, for example advertising them on
TV which will make and attract a bigger audience to the film.
7. The issues raised in the targeting of national and local audiences
Different film companies across the uk with use different techniques to attract the
audience, this is especially done through the marketing of the film. The British film
industry would have to come up with newer ideas in order to attract a audience
compared to American films as they are all very famous and especially those that have
a list actors such as gravity.