Class notes

five sectors; 

moving image (youtube, games, films), 

audio (everything we hear, radio programs, podcasts),

gaming (playing games, what it says on the tin, console, apps on your phone),

publishing (books, magazines, comics, posters, adverts, something that can be printed on paper)

websites (this includes all websites).

A sector is a different part of the media. They make up what media is.

Product is what the media sectors create for the audience to consume; play the game, watch the movies, or listen to the program via radio, etc.

Movies: Star Wars, Harry Potter.

Games: Call of Duty, Medal of Honour, Minecraft.

TV Shows: Friends, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead.

Audio: Podcasts, Radio, eBooks, etc.

Websites: Coulsdon College website, Amazon, Blogger, Facebook, Instagram.

Platform

A platform is where the audience goes to find the products, or where they access the product.

Spotify, Audible, Netflix, Steam, App Store are all platforms for the audience to access media products, including games, TV Shows, movies, e-books and music.

Devices

What the audience uses to access the product. The physical device used to play, watch or listen to the actual product. Computers, phones, TV, games consoles, are all devices used to access and interact with media products.

Link to collage


Topic 2 - Analogue vs. Digital

Analogue is a device which record data linearly from one point to another. Analogue devices read the media, such as tapes or records, by scanning the physical data of the media.

Digital are devices which perform all calculations using ones and zeros. This method of computing is referred to as the "binary system". Digitised information is recorded in binary code of combinations 0 and 1, also called bits, which represent words and images.

Digital devices around the classroom:
Mac
Macbook
Projector
Interactive whiteboard

Analogue devices around the classroom:
Clock


What I have learnt
I have learnt over the course of Monday and Tuesday's lessons in media, the different sectors in media, which includes moving image, audio, gaming, publishing, and websites. I have also learnt about platforms and devices which may be used to consume different media products or content. In Tuesday's lesson, I have learnt about what makes analogue different to digital, which is for example, analogue transmits recorded data linearly from one point to another, and digital devices perform all calculations using ones and zeros; the binary system. 

Topic 3 - Synergy and technological converegence
Synergy in the media industry is the collaboration of the different sectors. For example, when a movie is made, the publishing sector will make posters, and then if the movie is really good and they want to make a game out of it, the gaming sector will make a game of it.

Star Wars has made a lot of movies. Star Wars also has a lot of games, which would have been a collaboration between the gaming sector and the moving images sector. To announce the game via trailers and posters, the publishing sector must have been involved with the distribution of advertisements for the products - be it the games or the movies.

Technological convergence
Media technological convergence is the tendency that as technology changes, different technological systems sometimes evolve toward performing similar tasks.

For example: a mobile phone can now do more than just call and text, it has a number of other functions, reducing the need for a bunch of other devices.

Immediacy - instant. an advantage for technological convergence. if you're lost, Google Maps.
Access - access to everything in a device like a phone. Camera, movies, internet.
Convenience - a lot more convenient to have everything on a device that fits in your pocket.
Portability - it fits into your pocket. You can carry it around anywhere. The internet is in your pocket.
Connectivity - we are so easily connected to everyone from anywhere in the world. 
Interactivity - we interact. You can vote on TV shows like X-Factor, or interact with your friends.
Personalisation - we can make it our own. Everyones phone is different. Their layout is theirs.

The advantages and disadvantages of technological convergence in creative media.

Pros:
Immediacy - instant access to information.
Access - access to a very extensive network of information

Cons:
Connectivity - if you don't have an internet connection, you will not be able to access information.
Portability - limited battery life. If the battery goes flat, you will have no access to information.


There are countless different both advantages and disadvantages when we discuss technological convergence. I have a few examples of general advantages and disadvantages regarding technological convergence. 

First, we will start with the pros:

Immediacy. Immediacy is a massive advantage for technological convergence. The immediate access we have to any information we wish to search for using modern technology is always going to be a massive advantage, simply because of the amount information accessible via the internet. Wikipedia, for example, is likely to have a page on anything you can think of. From theories about the start of the universe, to famous celebrities. Wikipedia, however, is barely scratching the surface when it comes to immediacy. We can change subjects here, and mention how we can check train timetables, bus times, and even the weather, simply by pulling out our phones and making a quick search on the internet... instantly.

Another pro, which ties in nicely with immediacy, is the access we have to information through our devices. Information is easily accessed on the internet, and most of the time, it's free. This makes it extremely easy not just to find the facts, but also to educate yourself. It is entirely possible to teach yourself how to build something from scratch, by browsing the internet for information. Let's say we want to learn how to put an engine together at home. A quick search on an internet search engine, like Google, for example, will provide us information about how to put all sorts of engines together. We can be more specific, and search the engine type we are building, and then look for some kind of tutorial or step-by-step guide, and before you know it, we would have put together our own engine, from home.

Now that we have covered the pros, we now, have to cover the cons. With every pro, of course, there is always a con to counter it. Here are a couple of my examples for the cons of technological convergence.

The first con, in my opinion, may quite easily be one of the largest, and that would be connectivity. As mentioned before, all information we could possibly want is available on the internet. However, here is the con. All the information we could possibly want is available on the internet. Which, if you haven't guessed already, would mean we have to have an internet connection to access it. Without an internet connection, we have no way of easily accessing the information we desire. Libraries may be a substitute, but you might not find exactly what you need. Without an internet connection, you cannot browse the internet, and your easiest and biggest source of information would be unaccessible. 

A second con, which has some similarities between the last con, would be the portability of some devices. For example, a smart phone, or a laptop. They are great devices, of course, but they come with limited battery life, and they require a power source to charge them in order to keep them working. If your device runs out of battery, you will have no means of accessing anything. No battery is worse than no internet, because you have no access to any information, at all, and if you wake up one morning and forgot to charge your phone during the night... then, well, you may be in for some trouble if your train or bus is delayed or cancelled and you have to find an alternative route.

Another device, with many pros and cons, for example, could be Xbox. Xbox has been a gaming console for a very long time, and it has rivalled Playstation since its original launch, on November 15th, 2001. Games have been easily accessible through game shops, providing people of all ages a great, fun way to kill time, and have fun with friends. Beating high scores, playing through long story modes, and even playing through entire video game series, such as Halo. 

However, with the advancement of technology, it is becoming increasingly harder to have access to these video games without an internet connection. Before 2015, before the "next gen" gaming consoles came out, such as Xbox 1 and Playstation 4, you could put your video game disk into the Xbox, and you were away. Instant access to your game. Now, however, things have changed. It is a requirement to have an internet connection now. Why? Because, you have to be able to download the game, from the disk, after you have bought it. Games are no longer plug and play, and depending on your internet connection, you could be waiting anywhere from hours to days to download these new, big title releases. An example of the wait time, could be Red Dead Redemption 2, launched in 2018. Many people were excited for Rockstar Games' prequel to the original Red Dead Redemption, however, upon buying the game, they were met with a download of 100+ gigabytes. Some players had to wait days, due to a slower internet connection. 


Topic 4 - Creating meaning

Denotations and connotations. 
A denotation, is what we actually see. 
A connotation, is what we associate, with the image.

Colours in the media room:

Mac. The Mac is both black, and a silverfish white, which could represent how MacOS is an easy operating system to use - its black and white. Very straight forward.

Green walls. Green, is a sort of creative colour, and in media, can help with creativity.

Symbols in the media room:

Apple logo on the Macs. Everyone knows what the Apple logo is, and we associate it with technology. 

Posters advertising movies. One of the posters in the media room is advertising a horror movie, which connotes fear.


Written codes
The study of written codes includes:
Slogans
Typeface/font
Headlines
Captions
Style
Choice of words
Emphasis of words



The Mr. Robot, final season poster advertisement, is minimalistic, with bright colours to contrast with the darker clothes of Elliot, or Mr. Robot, the TV Shows main character. The font is the classic Mr. Robot font, seen used through the series for the Title of the show, and in previous advertisements. Also, the slogan "goodbye, friend" is a subtle nod, to the opening line of Mr. Robot's season one, episode one, "hello, friend". The poster grabs the attention of people viewing it because of its bright colours, but minimalistic design, and any fans of Mr. Robot would recognise the font anywhere. The contrast between red and black portray what the TV Show could have in store for viewers. Anger, surprise, a twist, something dark? Also, the way Mr. Robot's elbow sticks out from his body, with the phrase "goodbye, friend" written, draws the attention to the smaller text, and down to the "Mr. Robot" followed by the air date, in a reverse C shape motion.


Mise en scene
Mise en scene: the use the costume, hair, make-up, props, setting and figure expressions. 
In media, everything is constructed for a reason. Every shot type, every font choice, every colour has been chosen, for a particular effect.

Camera angles

Extreme long shot - Used in scene setting, establishing shots. They normally show an exterior, and are meant to give a general impression rather than specific information.

Ultimate Guide To Camera Shots - Extreme Long Shot High Angle In The  Revenant | Long shot, Movie shots, Camera shots




Long shot - Shows the image as approximately "life" size (corresponding to the real distance between the audience and the screen in a cinema). Includes the full shot showing the entire human body, with the head near the top of the frame and the feet near the bottom.

Graphic Novel Rubric Expectations Defined - Mrs. A's Art Room



Medium or mid shot - Shows a figure from the knees/waist up and is normally used for dialogue scenes, or to show some detail of action. Background detail is minimal. 

Medium Shots: Creative Examples of Camera Movements & Angles


Close up shot - Shows very little background, and concentrates on either a face, or a specific detail of mise en scene. Everything else is just a blur in the background. This shot magnifies the object and shot the importance of things, be it words written on paper, or the expression on someone's face.
What is the Close-Up Shot? Examples of Camera Angle & Movement

Extreme close up - An extreme version of the close up, generally magnifying beyond what the human eye would experience in reality. An extreme close up of a face, for instance, would show only the mouth of eyes, with no background detail whatsoever. This is a very artificial shot, and can be used for dramatic effect.
Extreme Close-Up Shots: Creative Examples That Work


Birds eye view - The camera is directly above the action. 


The bird's eye view of M&A - EN

High angle - The camera is above the action, looking down at it.

High Angle Shots: Creative Examples of Camera Movements & Angles

Eye level - The camera is at eye level with the action.

Eye Level Shots: Creative Examples of Camera Angles & Shots

Low angle - The camera is blow the action, looking up at it.

Low Angle Shot Definition and Usage with Excellent Examples

Oblique/Canted angle - The camera is tilted

What is a Dutch Angle? Creative Examples of Camera Shots and Movement

Worms eye view - the camera is directly below the action.
Eiffel Tower, Paris, Worms eye view, Architecture HD Wallpapers / Desktop  and Mobile Images & Photos



Movements:

Handheld - where the camera is handheld by the character.

Crane - Refers to a dolly shot taken in the air using a heavy piece of equipment that the camera is mounted to.

Panning - A camera movement that goes from left to right

Slow motion - Showing a moving image more slowly than it was filmed.

Speed - Suggests how fast or slow the movement is.

Tilting - A vertical camera movement that pints up or down while the camera is stationary. 

Tracking - when a camera is mounted on a car which travels along tracks, creating a very smooth movement. Also known as a 'dolly shot'.

Zoom in/zoom out - A change in the camera lens' focal length will give the illusion that the camera is moving close or further away from the subject.


The Conjuring3 3, the third instalment of the horror movie series, the conjuring, has a trailer which really sets the tone for what we expect the movie to be. The connotations from watching the trailer, shows the movie will be dark, and scary, just like the other conjuring movies. The dark colours, shadows, and occasional bright colours, like at the very beginning where the silhouette of someone is cast in a red light, really give a spooky insight as to how scary this movie might really be. The costumes, which the actors are wearing to portray ghosts and demons, really do send a shiver down the viewers spine, and helps the viewer feel how they would imagine the characters to feel throughout the movie. Close ups, long shots, and especially panning camera angles seen throughout the trailer, help portray the creepiness the movie should contain. The trailer in itself, is scary, which is the main goal of a horror movie. The Conjuring 3's camera movements are harsh, fast, and snappy, which adds to the fear factor of the trailer, and would contribute throughout the movie as well. 



The trailer for season one, of Mr. Robot, really shows how the main character, Elliot, sees the world compared to your everyday citizen. The contrast between the bright, daylight city scape shots, and the chrome E-Corp logo, the way the world is so... "perfect". But, as the trailer progresses, we see things from Elliots perspective. Darker colours, night time shots, company executives looking menacing, wit their silhouettes portrayed against the evening skyline. The connotation of the colours, show at first, a happy, perfect world, but we learn soon, it is just a show, and something more menacing and evil is lurking just below the surface of society. Lots of close ups, extreme long shots, and mid shots are seen throughout this trailer. Everything somewhat revolves around the main character, Elliot, and his view of society. Mr Robot's camera shots, and movements, both create curiosity among  the viewer, which is what Mr. Robot is. Mr. Robot is full of twists and turns, throughout the story. 




Black Hawk Down, is a war movie based in 1993, during the United Nations peace operation in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu. A failed operation to capture a Somali warlord, Mohammed Farrah Aidid, resulted in intense urban combat, costing the lives of over 20 U.S Soldiers, and two Black Hawk helicopters being shot down. The combat was so close quarters and intense, the Somali militias working for Warlord Mohammed Farrah Aidid, were seen merely metres away from American soldiers throughout the conflict. The trailer for Black Hawk Down really shows how action packed the operation was, and how catastrophic the deaths of the American soldiers involved was. With explosions, intense  combat scenes. Long shots are used commonly throughout this movies trailer, and really help to put into perspective the entirety of the action seen through out. Close up shots for the characters when they are speaking are seen in the trailer, but for the most part, mid shots and long shots are used frequently. Black Hawk Down, connotes that Somalia is in a state of turmoil, due to the militias that are controlling the capital, limiting the food supply to the general population, arms dealing, and drug smuggling. Somalia is not a good place to be living in, and the UN involvement is there to make a change to this way of life, portraying the Somali militia as bad, and the Americans as good.


Topic 4 - Part 1, revision

What is a media sector?
A media sector is a part of media, like a segment, dedicated to a specific task or group of tasks under a specific genre. For example, gaming, is a media sector which will focus on all things gaming related. Video games, game production, etc.

What is a media platform?
A media platform is where media is consumed by an audience. For example, Netflix, is where people go to watch movies and TV series.

Name the 5 media sectors.
Moving image
Gaming
Publishing
Websites
Audio

What is a media device?
A device is something which is used to access a platform. A smartphone, computer, or gaming console are all devices where you can consume media.

What is a media product?
Something media products create for an audience to consume.

Give an example of at least two products from each of the five sectors.
Gaming - video games, video game trailers
Moving image - TV Shows, movies
Publishing - Books, comics
Websites - Interactive websites, online advertising

On what platforms would you find the following products:
Fifa 20 - Xbox, Playstation
Tenet - Cinema
A David Attenborough Documentary - BBC iPlayer
The Big Bang Theory - Netflix
The Argos Catalogue - In a shop
The Sun Newspaper - In a shop
A Harry Potter book - In a shop

What is the definition of analogue? Give two examples of analogue devices.

Analogue is a device that records data linearly from one point to another. Analogue reads the media by scanning the physical data of the media, such tapes and records.

What is the definition of digital? Give two examples of digital devices.

Digital media reads data using 1's and 0's, also known as the binary system. iPhones and Computers use the binary system.

What is synergy in media? Give an example.
Synergy is the collaboration of two different sectors working together to make a product. An example of this would be gaming working with moving image to create a movie adaptation of a video game.

What is technological convergence? Give an example of a device (other than a mobile phone) that uses technological convergence. 
Technological convergence is the tendency for technology to advance, and perform similar tasks to other devices. For example, a computer now, has email, a calculator, weather, and social media.

What is the difference between a connotation and a denotation?
A connotation is an idea which makes us see meaning behind an image, and a denotation is a literal primary of the image or word.

The images connote in order:

Rainbow - children
Scream - scared
Scale - justice 
Heart - love
Shadow - mystery
Knife - violence

Write a short paragraph analysing the written codes and mise en scene on this newspaper front cover:

This newspapers front cover, like many newspaper front covers, uses big bold text to catch the attention of the reader, as well as a political statement taking a shot at non-native English citizens, talking about loaded foreign elite will defy the will of British voters. This could spark contempt, or anger, and attract someone to read more into the article, or even buy the paper. Also, using royal family photos wearing a nice white dress, catches peoples eye.

What is mise en scene? 
Mise en scene, is lighting, costume, characters, props, settings, and camera shots

What is a stylistic code?
A stylistic code creates meaning I think.

Identify the following camera shots and angles:
1: close up
2: extreme close up
3: long shot
4: oblique angle
5: birds eye view
6: over the shoulder
7: low angle

Write an explanation of the following camera movements:
Panning - where the camera moves either left or right
tilting - where the camera tilts, giving an oblique shot
zoom in/zoom out - where the camera gives more detail either by zooming in or out
Tracking - where the camera tracks a specific object or person
Dolly - where the camera will run alongside a fast moving object
Crane - often used for high angles or birds eye view shots, very similar to dolly's

Explain how a film director might use different camera shots, angles and movement to create meaning for the audience. Give examples.
A film director might use different camera shots to express different emotion, or feelings, and to add tension to a scene, or to give information about the scenery to the audience.


Topic 4, Part 2 - Sound

Ambient sound

The sounds of everything going on around the person who is speaking. For example, the sound of waves and wind on a beach scene.

Synchronised sound

The words are spoken to match the lip movements of the speaker. Often used in music videos or musical programs.

Voice-over sound

Sound that is dubbed onto any picture sequences. Documentaries and advertisements often use a lot of voice-over.

Sound effects

Usually added to the soundtrack at the dubbing stage. Sound effects can be sub-divided into two types:
Sounds to match actions of events on the screen (for example a door slamming, or glass breaking)
Sounds that are about a scene but do not match anything actually shown (for example, the sounds of birds singing might accompany a scene in the countryside).

Music

Music is the final sound added to film/television shows in post-production. Music is used to make the audience feel certain emotions as they watch the action on screen. In high-budget film or television productions, specially composed music will be commissioned for the soundtrack. 

Diegetic sound

Sound whose source is visible on screen, or whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film.
Voices of characters, sounds made by objects in the story, music represented as coming from instruments in the story space (= source music)

Non-Diegetic sound

Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied to be present in the action:
Narrators commentary, sound effects which is added for the dramatic effect, and mood music.
Non-diegetic sound is represented as coming from a source outside the story space.

The advert for perfume

The advert for perfume used a number of sounds throughout the advert, such as voice-over, narration, and non-diegetic sounds, as well as music, containing violins and pianos. This made the audience understand it was somewhat romantic based, between a man and a woman, and that the man, who was narrating, was just reliving fond memories he had spent with a woman.

Fifa Advert

Ronaldo scored a goal, and when he does, we hear the crowd cheer. Their cheering, is a diegetic sound, and throughout the movie we hear music, and a lot of ambient sound based on the different locations. Throughout the advert, we see a runner, a commuter on a bus, and an outdoor chef, cooking food. We also see Ronaldo himself, score the same goal that was scored in the video game, hearing him kicking the ball as a sound effect. The music is also quite exciting.

Proairetic code or action code
Action codes builds interest for the viewer.


Jurassic park - proarietic
glass breaks
surrounded by angry dinosaurs
trailer door won't open


Enigma codes
Refers to any element in a story that is not explained, and, therefore, exists in an enigma for the reader or viewer, raising questions that demand explanation.

Fleabag - Enigma
why does she have a bloody nose?
who is the man at the door
who was the man referring to as 'they'

Binary opposites
Binary opposites could be for example, Star Wars, Jedi vs. Sith, or Batman vs Joker throughout the batman universe.


Describing V for Vendetta
V for Vendetta has a lot of Enigma codes. For starters, who is V, and why does he dislike his government so much more than any regular citizen? Why does he commit such atrocities, such as blowing up government buildings, or killing and harming government officials or police officers, and most importantly, whats with the mask? These are the largest enigma codes within the story.

The proairetic codes within the movie V for Vendetta are the explosions, the way events unfold throughout the story to bring about the ending. How the people of the United Kingdom eventually realise that V was right, and the government is doing wrong. How all of the events, from start to finish, essentially bring about a revolution. Blowing up Big Ben and Saint Pauls Cathedral are both major events within the movie, showing the viewer how anarchical V really is, and how far he is willing to go to get justice for his country.

Binary opposites within the movie is the dictatorship, neo-fascist totalitarian regime which is in control of the United Kingdom, and V - someone who opposes the government directly, but not on a political level, rather, on an anarchic based one. Using propaganda to belittle the governments authority, violence, and winning over the peoples opinion to begin a revolution within the country to eventually overthrow the government.



Auteur Theory

The Auteur Theory is a media theory, in which the movie is credited to the director, and no one else. This sounds plain and simple, and for some, maybe it is. But the Auteur theory is the analysis of reoccurring themes throughout a directors previous movies. For example, we can use Tim Burton. Tim Burton has a very gothic, but pastel coloured show, followed by a quirky, misunderstood character, or characters, like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, or Batman.

The Auteur Theory rose from France, during the 1940s. The term was coined by American film critic, Andrew Sarris, who took the dub Auteur from the French definition, developed by Andre Bazin. Film critics would identify reoccurring themes throughout different directors movies. It could be argued, this theory breaks down why some people enjoy watching movies made by specific directors. 

in-concert and as live footage for a music video
Arguably used more in music videos for indie and rock bands.

Animation (can be stop motion or digital cell)
Usually used as a story telling technique.

Interpretative
A visual interpretation of the lyrics.

Narrative
In media, narrative refers to the way a story is told. In this case, we are talking about how a music video communicates a story to its audience.

Impressionist
An impressionist music video is a music video which rather than focusing on small details of the picture it instead focuses on mood and atmospheres. 

Surrealist
Dream-like quality, usually very memorable to the audience.

Pastiche/Homage 
When one media text refers to another in an affectionate way.


Parody
Parody, like pastiche, is where one media text imitates another. The key difference is that parody will do this mockingly, whereas pastiche does this in tribute to the original.

Referencing
A music video in the style of referencing, references something else, for example a film.

Influence of commercial
A music video which has influence of commercials which tailors the song around an advert so that it essentially becomes a music video.

Conventions of music video

Lyric interpretation

This is when the music video relates or follows the lyrics of the song. This helps the viewer to understand what the artist is saying and what point they want to get across.

Allusion

An allusion music video gives reference of another thing sometimes directly and sometimes indirectly.

Extending or consolidating meaning

Extending or consolidating song's meaning is when the music video gives the lyrics a deeper meaning. This means that the audience will be watching something that relates to the lyrics, but shows a stronger meaning.

Lighting for mood

This is when the lighting suites the mood of the lyrics. For example, if the song is happy, then the lighting should be bright. This gives the video more effect for the audience and video.


R.A The Rugged Man - Look What You Made Me Do

In R.A The Rugged Man's music video for Look What You Made Me Do, which is a comedic parody of Taylor Swifts song of the same name, the music video provides comedic value to the audience, with R.A The Rugged Man's face being poorly edited - purposefully poorly edited - over cringeworthy and controversial moments over the past decade. Ranging from far-left anti-capitalism footage and referencing in lyrics, to Kanye West being cringe at the global awards ceremony, to even the cast of the Ellen Show dancing to Gangnam Style, Look What You Made Me Do holds no actual meaning behind the music video and is done strictly for the laughs. The lyrics of the song have the same meaning. They don't mean a lot, and are mostly just words that rhyme well together. 

The music video itself has triggered controversy, however. Accompanied by it's lyrics, the music video appears to show some kind of distaste to the left-wing agenda politically. Making digs at Antifa, and even the Kremlin itself, R.A The Rugged Man makes it clear if the music video is aimed at anything, it's aimed at controversy, if not to cause controversy. 

The music video follows the lyrics with consolidating meaning, and everything R.A The Rugged Man raps about throughout the song is also shown in the video, with exception to a few things throughout to keep the music video entertaining. For example, the lyric "Gun in the window, like I'm Malcolm" shows a scene where R.A The Rugged Man's face, like in every other shot is poorly edited onto a picture relevant to what he's talking about - in this case, Malcolm X's famous picture of him photographed by a window with a rifle. 


R.A The rugged man's music video also entails the following 



What changed in film?

Film and cinema has been a thing for over one hundred years now, and so obviously, through that time, it must have changed dramatically. Well, cinema is a massive part of modern society... but our question is why? How did people live for thousands of years without movies, and how comes can't imagine a life without them?

Well, let us begin at the very beginning. The first ever movie of sort, or rather in this case, just a collection of moving images, was in 1878 by Eadweard Muybridge, and was a 24-frame study of a galloping horse. Almost like stop motion. The concept of showing images so quickly they look like they have come to life was born, and from here, over a century's worth of inventions and adaptations of this concept would come about.

One of the biggest changes in how films were made, was the invention of celluloid. Celluloid originated in 1856, when a man by the name of Alexander Parkes created Parkesine, which was generally considered as the first thermoplastic. This would later be used in photography, in around 1879 to create gelatine dry plates, which became something many photographers liked to frequent during that time period. As a side note, when I say "many" photographers, we must remember that not everyone had a camera or accessibility to equipment used in photography of that time period, and so there were far less photographers and the industry was dramatically smaller in comparison to what it is today. 


Independent Vs. Studio films

Studio film
These are mainstream films with big budgets made by major Hollywood studios. They are produced by studio companies, such as Disney or Warner Brothers. They are multinational media conglomerates that own companies across a range of various media platforms. This means that these conglomerates can use all the companies they own to promote and market a film. This use of all a media conglomerates companies to produce, promote, market, and distribute a film and its official merchandise is called vertical integration. 

For example, a James Bond film, such as spectre had money invested into it for a specific website, adverts, trailers on TV, and they even sent the film stars around the world for talk show interviews to get as much publicity and attention toward the film as they could. 

Independent films
Smaller budgets, and sometimes as a result, lower production values. They are less likely to have so called A-list actors. Examples might be Juno, Birdman or Brooklyn. Independent film productions raise money from a variety of sources. Independent production companies can secure funding from private investors but usually they are funded by arts agencies, such as the British Film Council or the British Film Institute. Some television broadcasters, like BBC films and film four, also fund independent films.

If we have vertical integration for studio companies, then we have horizontal integration for independent films. This is when a conglomerate uses smaller independent companies to help with marketing, distribution or even the exhibition of a film.

The promotion for these films rely heavily on critics reviews in newspapers, magazines or online publications that specialise in independent film. Prizes from film festivals help attract potential audiences and can increase the amount of cross-platform media coverage a film can achieve. Like studio films, most independent films have official websites, press releases, trailers and teasers. 





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