Labels

Monday, 17 June 2013

Photoshop skills

Find a photo you want to mess with. Any photo. Then, as you watch/read this, pause every time you learn about a new tool and use that tool on your photo. Don't just watch - apply!

http://lifehacker.com/5753459/learn-the-basics-of-photoshop-in-under-25-minutes



Now hone your skills and test yourself with these exercies:

http://distans.svefi.net/exercises/index.htm



Monday, 10 June 2013

Creativity - homework

How have you tried to facilitate and encourage your own creativity?

Did you experience limits/blocks on your own creativity?

How easy/difficult was it to be creative while still working to the brief?

Did working within conventions stifle your creativity?

To what extent did you need to work with others and ‘bounce ideas’ off other people to be truly creative?

How much of your creativity was about trial and error?

To what extent was a lack of confidence an issue in terms of your creativity?

To what extent was a lack of technical competence/confidence an obstacle to your creativity?

Tuesday, 7 May 2013

New technology in the news

Distribution and Marketing: Revision

A history - from the future

Tips on how to survive the exam on Section B


AS Level Media G322: Section B:

Institutions and Audiences

Tips on how to write a good answer for this part of the exam….



1. The three-step introduction

Place your three main points that answer the questions - and preferably a counterargument - in your introduction, then use them as a guide to the content of each paragraph.


2. Debate & weigh up both sides of the argument:

e.g. ‘However’, ‘having said this’, ‘an exception to this is the film……..released in……..’


3. Try to cover 3 case studies or more:

a. Thin Man Films (production)

b. Working Title (distribution)

c. Film4 (was all 3, now only exhibits films)

d. Cineworld/ Odeon vs. Electric Palace/ Curzon (exhibition)



4. You must mention a variety of different films to support your points/ ideas:

Your first film

Your second film

Other films too


5. Mention specific audiences and how they are targeted

-through age/ gender/ time era/ taste/ lifestyle/ location

-do British audiences prefer British films? Is this a misconception?

- where do they consume?

- how are your habits indicative of wider behaviour



6. Mention the threat and opportunities of Digital Cinema to all institutions:

a. Growth of internet

b. Downloading/ live streaming/ file sharing

c. Piracy

d. DVD sales

e. Cost/ inflation/ credit crunch

f. +ive: IMAX cinema/ digital reels



8. Engrain your essay with your own point of view and ideas.



Plan

Stay Calm

Good Luck!



Vertical and horizontal integration (Ownership)

Vertical & Horizontal Integration

Richard Gent | Tuesday July 19, 2011

Vertical Integration

Commercial institutions try to combat the power of the BBC by becoming larger and creating vertical integration. This is where an institution has shares or owns each part of the production and distribution process. For example: Warner Bros Entertainment calls itself a fully integrated broad based entertainment company which owns film studios and the means to distribute the films as well as some of the cinemas in which they are shown. Warner Bros in itself is part of an even bigger conglomerate called Time Warner which is a huge media conglomerate institution which uses horizontal Integration to consolidate its power and profits.
BBC | Dragons’ Den Definition:
A situation when two firms in the same industry but at different stages of production come together.
This could be through the two businesses merging together or through one firm taking over another.
For example a baker could buy a wheat farm or a television studio may buy up a production company which produces some of its television programmes.

Horizontal Integration

Horizontal Integration is where an organisation develops by buying up competitors in the same section of the market e.g. one music publisher buys out other smaller music publishers.
BBC | Dragons’ Den Definition:
A situation when two firms in the same industry and at the same stage of production come together.
This could be through the two businesses merging together or through one firm taking over another.
For example two chocolate companies or two estate agents may decide to join together.
Time Warner describes itself:
Time Warner Inc. is a leading media and entertainment company, whose businesses include interactive services, cable systems, filmed entertainment, television networks and publishing.
‘Whether measured by quality, popularity or financial results, our divisions are at the top of their categories. AOL, Time Inc., Time Warner Cable, Home Box Office, New Line Cinema, Turner Broadcasting System and Warner Bros. Entertainment maintain unrivalled reputations for creativity and excellence as they keep people informed, entertained and connected.
Our enterprise is more than a collection of great brands that are owned under one roof. Time Warner’s businesses strive to gain competitive advantage from opportunities for constructive collaboration.’
There are issues that you can discuss such as whether the size of ownership affects the product, and how a very large institution may become too distant from its artists and audiences.
Some music artists, like George Michael, have taken their music company to court – is this to do with issues about institutions?
The rise of very large global institutions raises issue of ownership as decisions about the variety, quality and range of media products available to media audiences are controlled by a few large companies.

Useful Links

Link: Horizontal Integration: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horizontal_integration
Link: Vertical Integration: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertical_integration
Link: eJumpCut on Media Empires: http://www.ejumpcut.org/currentissue/MeehanCorporate/index.html
Link: The News Corporation via http://www.pgsm.co.uk: The News Corporation [PDF]
Link: News Ownership: News Ownership on MediaEdu
Link: Free Online Research Papers on Media Globalisation and its Effects: Media Globalisation and its Effects
Link: The Media Industry: Structure, Strategy and Debates 2 by David Croteau and William Hoynes

Wednesday, 1 May 2013

Homework: representation of class

Discuss the representation of class in this extract:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdq0HYggnKk&playnext=1&list=PLAC15C50BB775177D&safe=active

Watch it just FOUR TIMES. No more. Make your notes, then give yourself 45 minutes.

Try to include ideas of binary opposition and characterisation.

Gender revision

Past papers, answers, mark schemes!

Section A: Representation of...

Jan 13: Age
Jun 12: Disability
Jan 12: Sexuality
Jun 11: Status and class
Jan 11: Gender
June 10: Gender
Jan 10: Ethnicity (race)
June 09: Gender
Jan 09: Age

Section B:

Jan 13: Impact of media ownership on range of products
Jun 12: Convergence, synergy, and marketing
Jan 12: Digital distribution
June 11: Marketing, distribution, production.
Jan 11: Media ownserhip and production
June 10: Impact of digital technology on film industry.

Much more detailed links to past papers, answers and mark schemes here:
http://mediachs.edublogs.org/film-industry/as-exam-past-papers-answers/
 

Monday, 29 April 2013

Wednesday, 17 April 2013

YOUR PASSWORDS

Apparently you can't remember your passwords for the media edusites website. This is terrifying, because this website should be part of your daily life. Sigh.

Pick any of these usernames (left) and passwords (right).

THEY GO ALL THE WAY UP TO THIRTY.

moss01
bourne01
moss02
bourne02
moss03
bourne03
moss04
bourne04
moss05
bourne05
moss06
bourne06
moss07
bourne07
moss08
bourne08
moss09
bourne09
moss10
bourne10
moss11
bourne11

Homework - the state of film

YOU MUST CREATE:

1 POSTER

WITH FIVE IMPORTANT BULLET POINTS THAT EVERYONE MUST LEARN

AND 2-3 RECENT EXAMPLES TO ILLUSTRATE YOUR POINTS.



Ella
Brolin
Topic: The effect of convergence British film industry
Link: What the BFI thinks



Charlie
Chante
Topic: The effect of convergence British film industry
Link: http://heworthmediastudies.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/convergence-and-british-film-industry-i.html



Daniel
Ava
Topic: The effect of globalisation on the British film industry
 Search: globalisation British film / globalisation UK film effects

Mica
Nile
Topic: Horizontal and vertical integration and its effect on the British film industry
Link:    http://media.edusites.co.uk/article/vertical-horizontal-integration/

Nga
Nasmine
Topic: The effect of convergence on the American film industry
Google: converge US film industry


Kayla
Nathan
Topic: The effect of convergence on the American film industry
Google: converge US film industry

Yusuf
George
Topic: The effect of piracy on the UK film industry

Jodie
Reanne
Topic: The future of British film