To what extent does digital distribution affect the marketing and consumption of media products in 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?

Digital distribution is a distribution (providing / giving out) method in which media content is delivered without the use of physical media (E.g. Film tape.) These distribution programs are now being improved more to offer more secure on-line transactions, consumer licensing and anti-piracy measures.This digital distribution method is potentially minimum expense, This furthers results into consumers getting goods cheaply, easily and with increased profits, this also includes an increased artistic freedom. Moving through into marketing section, this marketing method is based around the action or business of promoting and selling products or services. This marketing also includes the market research and advertising. Finally the consumption of media products, is where the sum of information and entertainment media is taken in by an individual or group. This activities can be interacting with new media such as reading books and magazines, watching television and films but also listening to the radio. 

To begin with, the Digital distribution affects the marketing and consumption of media products due to the rapid change of consumption from the consumers. The reasoning behind this rapid change, is because more consumers are now choosing to consume more media product files on the internet or in the comfort of their own home, with the home cinema surround sound instead of going out to public cinemas to pay money to generally watch the same film. There is now a high dependance on the internet for many. With the film industry taking this into account and having to consider promoting and distributing the film digitally on the internet, there is actually less exchange from consumers at the cinema, which means a lower profit. This profit needs to be raised again, which means the film industry needs to find a sensible distribution method which can be made and completed rapidly but also stay digital for the now dependent digital consumers. These methods are now; DVDS, Blu-Rays, VOD (Video On Demand) and on television. The positive outcome of being able to digitally distribute the product to consumers is that, the product can now be be given around a broader scale such as going world wide, but also being cheaper to transport the products to the consumers through DVDS e.t.c. or even on VOD, because the money does not now have to be paid for transport of actual film tape. More profit is then taken and saved by the film industry. Skyfall as an example had decided to keep the budget of $2000,000,000, before earning the profit of $918,000,0000 in just ticket sales before selling 2 million DVD copies in the UK alone, for a higher price than a ticket in the cinema. This digital distribution based on the consumers way for Skyfall alone, has shown that the consumers way of consuming the film is an extremely important based section as technology advancement has made the consumers advance as well, wanting a more appropriate method of watching the film, compared to having to make a trip to the theatre to watch a film. 

On the other hand, digital distribution through the marketing side is pretty well important compared to the way this digital distribution is consumed. With the old marketing style of posters being printed across sides of buses, or in the under-ground tunnel walls, consumers are now too busy with their travels to work or to important occasions, that this advertisement does not even get noticed anymore like it used to be when consumers had spare time on their hands to actually look around. With the technology becoming more advanced and consumed more in the consumers life, the film industry has too look personally into how their own product can be marketed digitally and become noticed. For example, when the consumers are only waiting for a bus in public or even on a train, phone technology has taken over their lives as every spare second would be spent checking the internet and social networking sites. This is a break through, for digital distribution, as they could create fan pages to promote a film on a social networking site, so the consumers could send in private messages or even public messages on the page asking for information. Google has also linked in with many digital distribution advertisement, which takes information from pages people have mostly visited, either on phones or laptops, before revealing adverts 24/7, linking to an appropriate subject or film. The positive outcome for this digital marketing across social networking sites and pop up ads or even trailers being shown on the sidebar or television when consumers are at their most relaxed, makes the both the consumer trustworthy and more believable to what this advertisement has to say, but becomes a cheaper and quicker method for the institution. With the institution also being already creative and unique for their advertisement and the payment to show this a lot cheaper than having to print on the paper, the only problem the institution has to promote their digital product with digital distribution, is by placing their advertisement in certain areas at certain times to attract the right target audience they want. For example, a film with the classification of 15, would not be shown around about noon for younger children too see, instead it would be placed on in the late evening at around about 9 pm for those consumers who have had work, to return home, relax and see the digital distribution of marketing, before wanting to see more of the film from just the trailer. Harry Brown for an example, was made a digital fan page for advertisement and received 1534 likes from fans and 66 consumers have talked about the digital media product and had 'tagged' them as a link to what they had to say. This all does not include the posts in which are made by the fan page, that consumers have 'liked' and 'commented' on. 

How your experiences of media consumption illustrates wider patterns and trends

How your experiences of media consumption illustrates wider patterns and trends

In the consumption section, audiences are now changing the ways they would like to consume the media product due to the multiple choices they have with the newer and broader technology. An example would be through that home cinemas and downloads now battle against a trip to the cinema. Trends are also becoming well known amongst the audience such as Netflix and DVD's, but also the synergy techniques such as Orange Wednesdays at the cinema. The main danger and problem for institutions are Illegal downloads, which most of the audiences have taken on. I, myself have consumed the film Skyfall in these multiple choices of consumption. 

With the cinema being the main chose of my consumption for Skyfall, the production of this film had to be carefully thought about, to make it the correct viewing for the consumers at the cinema. The budget of this film was $200,000,000, before the overall worldwide gross over took this, giving them an exceeding amount of profit. With the film being recorded on the Arri Alexa digital video camera and the Sony Digital Cinema 4k digital video projector, the expectations and overall film product was shown to be in high quality, resulting into the consumer and myself wanting to watch this film again. The CGI which had around 500 CGI shots against a green screen were also shown to have a more realistic appearance compared to previous films, which made it more acceptable for such a growing audience around my own age to want to consume more of the technology used. The only negative factor with the production, was the fact that Barbra Broccoli the producer, believed that Skyfall was not 'ready' to be produced in 3D. The reason this is actually negative, is because us as the audience are becoming more focused on consuming films which have a more realistic grabbing effect upon us but with also a higher quality. The reason I, as the audience prefer 3D, is because I find it more unique and entertaining with the way it is produced with different technology. The fact that the cinema already produces a bigger screen and a louder and more clearer sound system in placed with the silence of the audience, the consumer such as myself can find it easier to watch the film without disruptions and background noise but also feel the full effect of the screen. 

Moving on from this, the main distribution of Skyfall, well known as Columbia Pictures, distributed 'Skyfall' through the popular method of using emails on the internet digitally, due to the film being already filmed in digital. This distribution can be a negative factor, due to the advanced technology of hacking into email accounts, before exploiting the films illegally through piracy websites. I have previously watched other films through pirate websites, but have found that most of the quality is extremely bad or have previously been filmed by other consumers in the cinema, so it included a shaky experience, people moving in the audience in front of the camera and muffled sound. Another negative factor of this being digitally exported and watched, is that the quality is more negative compared to original way of the film actually being filmed and placed on film to be watched. The positive factors of the distribution of a digital film, is that it cannot be lost, there is no fuel expensive, the film can be digitally sent out to wider places around the world. Skyfall was actually released to 85 different countries, worldwide. The distribution company Columbia pictures is also well known for distributing other films such as; The Grown Ups 2, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, The Smurfs 2. The fact that this distribution both has a record of distributing the second sequels of films, and is well known with the audience, this makes us all including me except the highest quality and expectations when their logo is shown on the screen in a trailer. My experience with this distributor company, is that when I see their well known logo, I automatically believe that the films the distribute would be excellent and worthwhile too watch, due to previous films they have shown. 

With Columbia Pictures being the distribution company of the film, they are also in charge of marketing. This marketing is focused on raising awareness of the actual film but to also target a certain group of people for the audience. This is all done through creating publicity in various methods. With the target audience for Skyfall being between the ages of 15 - 60 year olds but also for both genders, this movie has been aimed at my own age group in which can cause discussions between my group of friends. The various methods of marketing were through; Bonding with Coke ( Became the appearance of the can), Sony previews 4 minutes of Skyfall at the CineEurope, Trailers, Posters, Clips shown on social networking sites such as Facebook, (These clips, can be shared onto other mutual friends walls, shared so it appears on everyones timelines, tag people into the clip so they can also watch it). With everyone in the target audience's tastes being different, I found that by using trailers mainly located on T.V but also my well used account on Facebook the social networking site, I became enticed to actually watch the full film from watching the trailers repeatedly or watching the other films. 

After the film has been marketed, the exchange (Point of sale) becomes the main sector. This point of sale includes, downloading, receiving the DVD through post and buying the ticket online or in box office. As an overall worldwide gross, Skyfall had earnt $918 million in ticket sales, sold 2 million DVD copies in the UK and a high unknown amount of unknown illegal downloads. This then follows through to the Exhibition (The way we watch a film as the paying audience). 

Gender Homework.

In this clip shown, the representation of Gender is shown through the use of camera work e.g. Camera shots, movement and angles. but also editing, sound and finally mise-en-scene.

The first shot used, was a medium long shot. This medium long shot was to reveal the feminine gender in a stereotypical view of a women. This shot is also used to show the mise-en-scene on how this feminine character obeys to the stereotypical rules by wearing an extreme amount of make-up against her red silk dress, to show the expensive taste this character has but also how she is very classy. The connotation of the  colour of the dress also symoblises danger and emotion with it's striking colours which shows how the feminine trait can not be trusted, but also that she must be the 'villian' which goes against societies stereotypes upon women, due to the male gender being the evil ones. Moving on from this a contrast was used by comparing this with a medium close up camera shot of a masculine dressed women, as she is shown in a more of a suit sort of costume with the mise-en-scene which links in with her leather jacket. This shows masculinity through the fact that she is covered up and more formal to show off her strength and power but also to be feared of. The outfit also shows how the female character does not link in with the feminine trait about having to be self conscious with her appearance, making her more masculine. The denotation, automatically shows the audience to expect that this masculine female to have been a part of a male dominated work place in which she has managed to be apart of, solving crime.

Another representation of gender through camera work is a high angle camera shot which is shown to be focused upon the male character. The way this camera is placed, is to exaggerate the fact that this male character can be feminine and looked upon as he does not show an extreme amount of power and strength. The vunerability of this male character makes him extremely feminine and it's stereotypical point is always placed upon the feminine role. The mise-en-scene of this character contrasts against the camera work, as he is shown to wear a suit which shows control and power, which is also a masculine trait. Continuing on from this, the stereotypical feminine characteristic is also shown in an extreme close up of the masculine appearanced female character who goes into a flash back of struggle and fear. This contrast well against her masculine appearance, as this flash back is linked with emotions, which is then shown only with the feminine characters.

The last shot that really stands out is the medium close up shot, due to her body language and the way she is shown to confront the male character. The masculine traits of braveness, power and control are all shown in the confrontation of her domination over this feminine male character. This shows a role-reversal between stereotypes in the clip as the females are now shown to be masculine while the male characters are shown to be feminine. This also links clearly into verisimilitude, as the construction of the action shown, constructs a believable world that people are living in as this resembles the problems many families or students in school have, when female show the masculine role of taking control and becoming argumentative, whilst males are more sensitive and can become easily upset.

The representation of gender is also shown to be used through editing. Things such as eye-line matches are use constantly between the switches of camera shot angles. An example of this eye-line match would be between the man in the suit and the masculine female character. During the actual eye-line match, the man is shown to be at a higher level, dominating over her with more masculine traits where else the masculine women becomes more feminine with the lack of power. Another editing skill was through the montage edit of the flash back as the women is shown to be both feminine with emotion but masculine with the flash back action of her. A following cross dissolve was used to portray two lots of action to show the difference between her feminine side and masculine side.

Keywords that need to be included from now on.:

Realism - do the different techniques used make these piece realistic? - Is the setting realistic 

Verisimilitude - the construction of a believable world, bearing resemblance to real world - Is the action believable. Stereotypes - how people are expected to be or represented in larger groupsDenotation ( or denotes) - the meaning of something eg we could see that from the empty bottles they had been drinking.Connotation ( or connotes) - the implication of that meaning eg they are all alcoholics and will die due to lover failure!

Film Production Company Case Study

Film Production Company Case Study

Sket Overall. - Unfinished.

Gender Homework. ~ Dr Who

Homework

In this clip extract of Dr Who, the gender is shown through camera angles, sound, mise-en-scene and editing. 

To begin this clip, a medium camera shot was used upon a female character who is shown to have two male security guards behind her. This shot alone shows the audience how the masculinity is shown only with the males as they are shown to dominating and powerful over the feminine character who is shown to be captive. A tracking shot of two maids and another imprison-er was shown to be standing with another guard. Once again these three characters were shown to be vulnerable with their facial expressions whilst the guard on the other side resembled a masculine pride as he holds the gun up to them. A low angle of a medium shot was placed in straight after this shot, of a male character containing a masculine appearance and behavior. This was through the stereotypical outfit he wore e.g. the suit but also how the camera angle makes him look more dominating and fearless unlike the camera movements and shots upon the feminine characters. The tracking shot in which was used to follow the feminine women's character's movement, was used for a sense of reality to the characters but also glide and show how she becomes more feminine based on appearance with the contrasts of the obvious masculine characters but also how she walks across to the main character with a glide but also her body swinging with every movement. 

Furthering on from this, a low angle shot was used to establish the difference between the masculine characters and the feminine characters. Whilst these gender's were stereo-typically placed between both sexes, the masculinity was mainly shown through the action seen as he lean down a little with his arm out-stretched which shows commanding and authority over the victim. As he is shown to be the masculinity, he is also shown to have the power and plans as he becomes over dominating and stronger. This contrasts hugely against the female character in the background, who is shown to be more quite and less involved, who also stands there, like she's casually 'eye-candy'. She is also shown to be more vulnerable and weak to the audience as she does not take the reign of having power and domination over the victim like the masculine character does. Once again this also contrasts against another women known as the victim who's outfit through mise-en-scene shows that she may be in the lower status, but she continues to have power through her masculinity with the way she dresses which in fact can actually hide any strength or any secrets from the villain.

Continuing on from this scene, we are introduced to the masculine Doctor through a medium camera shot, who is shown to be surrounded by an extremely radiant blue light through his transformation of an old man to a younger version of himself. Even though this is shown to be a power, the masculinity of the Doctor himself is still shown to over-throw the other male character as the other character starts to become more feminine with vulnerability and fear instead of standing up for his own ground. Even the quick medium close up shot's of the feminine female character shows how weak she really is in an object manner as she joins the more masculine Doctor in the end. This only shows feminine characters as objects in which would choose who's more masculine to stand by and become protected by, as they are unable to fight for their-selves or say a word in which would cause corruption. Moving on from this as well, when both the masculine characters are shown together, they are shown to fight each other in a more sci-fi powered way. This represents how masculinity is supposedly fought over and controlled by the most powerful. 

The editing used was mainly the quick paced cut ins of each scene. By using these quick paced cut in's, the audience can quickly see the power in which ranges between the feminine character and the masculine characters through different camera angles in their own conversations but also the speed in which shows how feminine characters are usually not meant to have the 'spot light' due to being to weak and vulnerable to control it. A flash back was also shown through editing with a crosscutting of the scene of a women struggling through rough weather. This women is only shown to be masculine due to her strength and ambition of getting to the finish line in this flash back as she is shown to not back down to natural problems. She continues to show this masculinity as she is able to perceive on-wards and tell other people of all ages her own thoughts and stories as she becomes the 'spot-light' and takes control. This whole clip shown continuity through out to show how the further time moves forward, the more sex of people change from the stereotypes they are placed through at birth, into the opposite genders. This continuity also gave a sense of reality to the audience, as the clips moving forward in time show a more real outcome.

Sounds were used in this clip throughout. The non-diegetic sound was used with mood music. This mood music was used to build tension with the masculine character to show the features of being feared of, aggressive, powerful and non-stoppable. With the mood music being strong with sharp noises from the first scene which appears, the audience are easily manipulated over, into believing that there is no hope for help with the feminine characters as they're too weak whilst the other masculine side characters are shown to be so feminine against the main villain. Continuing on, diegetic sounds such as the women's laughter shows how femininity can quickly change within certain ways. This diegetic sound of the feminine women's laughter is shown to be timid at the beginning before she becomes more powerful and feared of as the confidence is shown through her loudness. This reveals that feminine characters can and sometimes will over power the masculine characters in unique ways. This also fought against stereotypes laid in media, as the feminine character should never come into more power and reach of being the villain than the masculine character.

Sexuality Homework.

In this clip, there is shown to be camera shots, Mise-en-scene, editing and sound to display the sexuality throughout.

Camera work:

In the first shot of this clip, a two shot camera shot was used to establish the two ladies shown together, relationship with one another. Following on from this the expression of the younger female character behind is shown through the close up shot, to hint towards the audience her 'emotional state' as if she was going through something extremely tense and nerving. With the close up mainly focusing on the actual expression, her hand action was also involved as she stroked the women's shoulders. This starts to suggest to the audience the curious in look of sexuality for this other character. This alone starts the questioning of the females sexuality.

Following on from the establishment of the two women, the movement of a steadi-cam was used to both capture the mise-en-scéne of the scene but also once again the expressions the women pulls. With her chest actually rising high, her posture being straight and her facial expression being near to gasping, the audience can see the frustration but yet excitement as she reads further in depth with her book. The fact that the steadi-cam is used to display the scenery and her inside as it travels around, only shows that this small secreted area, is where she is able to release the tension and frustration of her sexuality away as she is also able to curiously look further in depth about the way her sexuality has finally become, in a more private manner.

The action shot was then simply used with the movement of the zoom in and pan to follow this young women's hand in a closer view as it travels down the other women's body. By using such subtle camera movements and shots, the sexuality of this young female can be shown in a relaxed but yet positive light to the audience. This then shows no threat, as they find it easier to relate to the calm action being shown as this female goes to explore in a subtle and unknown way without being forceful. The shot then ends to the women's hand slowly falling onto this other female's leg.

After the main focus on showing the female's sexuality of becoming a 'Lesbian' is shown in such a peaceful and calm manner, the camera work is taking outside as a close up on the 'lesbian' female's concentrating face.







Following on from the moment, the audience have experienced the different sexuality in a more defined way, an asynchronous sound was used, this asynchronous sound of only a few small birds tweeting is used to reveal the time of day that this scene is taking place in but also shows how calm the atmosphere really is, creating the audience to relax more. A few close up shots were used in this scene, to show the women who is revealed as painting starring at the other female model in a gaze of interest. This gaze of interest, intrigues the audience into believing that she is in a day dream of some sort as her love for this female model becomes overwhelming. This sexuality once again is known to be lesbian. Continuing on from this, the action matches used to show both the women painting and looking towards the female model, is followed quickly by a close up of the women's breast which shows the focus point of the painter who's interest has fallen onto the body features. The atmosphere is then interrupted with anger in an extreme close up shot as the women drops the paint off her paint brush before extravagantly, exclaiming to the female model that her sexuality lies on being lesbian. Whilst this part of the clip is shown, audiences would have released that this 'Lesbian' women could have been frustrated with the 'teasing' of other women in simple situations and become so overwhelmed that they stopped keeping it secret and staying shy about this situation.

Furthering on, the next scene is shown to reveal a sexuality of a heterosexual male, in a long shot as his actions show him to be stronger as he holds a female character up against the tree, whilst trying to kiss her. With the male trying to kiss the female, the male is only trying to represent his sexuality whilst also showing the frustrated attraction towards the female. With the female moving away from this action can only create the audience to wonder on two points. Is her sexuality different or is she not interested? This is soon answered in the following scene with the lesbian women shown to be covering her body right up to her face with the quilt. This is actually a way of representing her emotion and sexuality in a prop as she actually tries to hide away and keep her own thoughts and opinions to herself, without fear of judgement. This whole clip kept the mood music of a piano playing to release tension at the beginning but also show the way sexuality is not actually extravagant enough to create loudness and tension. The only time this music becomes tense in the clip is when the heterosexual male is shown to become angry.

In this clip, every female character dis-including their sexuality is shown to be wearing dresses which actually cover their whole body. This shows how their own bodies are kept up tight to their selves until they can find someone of the sexuality preferences, who their passion also leads them too to reveal their true self. This can always lead to fascinations from those who's passion lies on them instead. The lighting was used carefully through out to set the atmosphere. This was shown specifically through the very dark setting of the scene where the female becomes to scared to show any section of her. This creates the atmosphere to look and feel mysterious and inviting to the audience as they become ever so curious.

As an overall look upon this clip, the producer represents most of the female characters sexuality to be lesbian in a stereotypical outlook, as they become scared to reveal their selves as no one actually agrees with it. The same is also shown for the heterosexual male as his character is shown through the stereotypical light of being dominant and frustrated which can always lead to anger. This heterosexual man is also revealed to be shown to not actually accept the nature of any other sexuality.