Avengers

• the issues raised by media ownership in contemporary media practice; (how does who owns a media company influence the type of film made and its potential success? For example do BIG companies make BIG films and therefore make all the money? Is it possible for small companies to succeed?) 

Big film companies generally create blockbusters which are produced to gross large amounts of money, to be a blockbuster films have to fit a certain criteria which is: A level star, a newsworthy budget, spectacular visual effects and not be a comedy. Marvel Entertainment owns the Marvel studios and as they are well known for owning Marvel comics they are always creating superhero films from the original comic books.  

• the importance of cross media convergence and synergy in production, distribution and marketing; (how do companies work together to produce, distribute and publicize a film? How can Disney use their size to promote and publicise a film? How can small companies work together to promote their business' when making and promoting a film?)  

In the Avengers film the convergence and synergy in production is very important. This is because characters in the Avengers come from other films such as Captain America, The Hulk, Thor ect. All these characters help to publicize Disney along with media marketing such as links to YouTube releasing trailers and marketing on social media to get audiences excited.  

• the technologies that have been introduced in recent years at the levels of production, distribution, marketing and exchange; (how has the introduction of digital film, 3D, DVD, Blue Ray, internet streaming, downloadable content, home cinema influenced the types of films made, the way we watch them and the way we 'buy' them?)

By introducing 3D into films this has added excitement about watching films from a different outlook making people want to go watch and experience films in 3D. However recently 3D films have became less popular due to the price of tickets increasing, therefore some audiences would rather just watch in 2D. As for DVDs this allows people to enjoy films in their own homes and watch them over and over again, Blue ray also allows people to enjoy HD films within their own homes, this attracts people as they then don't have to go and pay for the cinema for the whole family. As for internet streaming and downloadable content, this saves people a lot of  money as they can enjoy the films in their households without having to pay, it is easy to access and watch films. These all affect the influence on films at the box office due to it leading to a lower gross as people would rather turn to another option than going to the cinema but it means the overall gross for films will then increase. 

• the significance of proliferation in hardware and content for institutions and audiences; (how and why have film companies had to alter the way they work now everyone has web enabled phones, PC's, consoles etc? How have audiences changed their viewing habits now we no longer need to go to the cinema to watch a film)

From advances in technology films are now available to view on smart phones, PC's and consoles, from this people are more likely to stay at home and use websites such as Netflix to watch films rather than going out to cinema and paying money. It is easier to access and works out a lot cheaper.

• 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?)

Because of YouTube, twitter and Facebook these advertise the films making audiences produce hype and get excited about new films being produced. YouTube releasing trailers and social media such as twitter and Facebook release web adverts.

• the issues raised in the targeting of national and local audiences (specifically, British) by international or global institutions; (how do film companies try and attract their audience? Do they do different things in different countries?)

• the ways in which the candidates’ own experiences of media consumption illustrate wider patterns and trends of audience behaviour. (what is your opinion on the above? Do you see the developments as a good or bad thing?)