Key Terms Task

Convergence:

• In how many different ways/in how many different places can we now watch a film?
• Consider how portable films are now?
• How interactive are film, compared to other media?
• How much can now be taken from a film and used elsewhere, eg. in marketing or spin-off products?
• How effective are websites dedicated to certain films?
• How has technological convergence (the way in which different technologies work together to enable use to do something, eg. digital technology combining with television) benefited film institutions and audiences? (eg. downloading soundtracks, teaser trailers)

Synergy:

• How much does it benefit a large company to be able to integrate its marketing across various media?
• How can synergy develop the relationship between the soundtrack and the film in terms of helping each other's sales?
• Why have all of the major media producers and distributors invested so much time and effort into their use of the internet in marketing films?
• How does synergy increase convenience and reduce cost in marketing and distribution?
• Music, newspapers, radio, television, magazines, video games, internet - in your case studies, how effectively have major Hollywood film studios and independent British studios been able to use and integrate these different platforms to promote their film?

Are convergence and synergy fair on independent film makers?

Task: Production/Exhibition

For each film, note down:

1. What can you tell about the audience?
2. What can you tell about the genre? Write down scenes that fit each genre that the film could fit into.
3. Which characters engage the audience and how?
4. How does the film use music?
5. What is there in the plot to keep our attention?
6. How good is it? What works and what doesn't?

Research task: Box Office

Research audience figures for the UK, US and Internationally:

• Top films at the box office and how much money they made
• How much was spent making them
• Top independent films
• Top foreign films
• Which films had highest DVD sales

Look at the last 2 or 3 years for which you can find the data. Compile data covering the bullet points above and draw a set of conclusions.

Task: Limitless

Create your case study for limitless. As before, use prezi or powerpoint - or another way of putting together a revision case study pack for the film. Ask if you have any problems.

The Boat that Rocked: Case Study Task

Please complete a powerpoint or prezi based on the film. Include the most important research/information you have found out. You can also include information from the questions you have answered. This needs to be completed by Friday 23rd March 2012. This will be a useful revision tool for the exam.