Wednesday 12 February 2014

Section B Homework

"Successful media products depend as much on marketing and distribution to a specific audience as they do upon good production practices" To what extent do you agree with this statement within the film area. You may make reference to other areas in your answer:

  • Film
  • Music
  • Newspapers
  • Radio
  • Magazines 
  • Video Games 
When creating a film the producers are aware of the target audience so when it comes to the marketing and distribution of a film, the producers must appeal to converge their film in other areas of the media to make the film successful when it is released. This results also in bigger profits also as the media product is now subjected to different media areas. So I agree with this statement as with a specific audience is as important as 

Disney is a prime example of a film company that has made a lot of money through many media products, not just limiting itself to film. Disney's target audience is children so not only through the context of their film do they specify their company to target children, but through alternate media products. 

One alternate media product Disney use is soundtracks, most Disney films contains songs and these songs are formulated into cds where they are then sold of separate to the film. Frozen is Disney's most recent film which is still being shown in cinema, however the CD has already been released. The Frozen soundtrack has already sold over 86000 copies. When topping the charts, this soundtrack not only boosts profits for the production companies, but it alerts more of the general public to what is showing in the cinema and boosts the film sales in the cinema and when on DVD as albums can be viewed both physically in person or via the internet (itunes). Also, the tracks can be mentioned via radios if it chart tops, therefore advertising the film simultaneously, this markets the film more so. Disney also use media products such as video games, toys, costumes etc. 

Disney has evolved from just using cartoon characters and has used humans, for example, Pirates of the Caribbean. Pirates of the Caribbean cast Johnny Depp, a well known actor by all, as the main character. In this film Johnny Depp was used as a unique selling point and a key factor in the marketing sector as he expanded the target audience as adults who like him were persuaded to watch the film due to the fact that he was in it. This increased the profits. The production budget for this film was $125,000,000. The film grossed an income of $654,264,015. This means the film had a profit of $529,264,015. All statistics have been gathered from the-numbers website. 

Disney is a production company that spends a lot of money to make a lot of money, however not all films have to do this. Haxan films was the production company for The Blair Witch Project which has a budget of $60,000. The Blair Witch Project grossed with $140,539,099, therefore this film profited with $140,579,099. (All statistics have been collected off of imdb.com). In comparison to Disney, Haxan films is a very small production company and the profit of The Blair With Project was very surprising, especially due to the fact that Haxam films didn't have the opportunity to converge with as many products, especially with such a low budget.  The marketing for this film was very little in contrast to Disney, therefore they benefited through the quality of production practice. Disney benefit more so from their marketing and distribution to a specific audience. 

However, Haxan films would of profited more with the use of marketing and distribution however it was hard to target to a specific audience as it as not as specific as those who watch Disney. Overall, I think quality of production practice is important and helps create an income for the film, but I think without the marketing and distribution to a specific audience it is unlikely you will have as big a profit. I believe in the term "you have to spend money to make money", therefore you are most likely granted to profit more money if you start of with a large budget. 


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