+

Issued raised by media ownershipIll Manors and Skyfall

+Issued raised by media ownership Debate and Explore the advantages and disadvantages of large conglomerates

and smaller independent companies.

For example: Film London Microwave, Film London's Micro-budget feature film & BBC Film produced Ill Manors (All independent companies). Whereas Sony & MGM produced Skyfall(Both large international conglomerate companies). 

+Major Companies

Production

Will be able to take risks when making the film

Wont need to collaborate to secure funding

Can be more ambitious with the film for example have bigger stars, more special effects and travels to better locations

They are able to shut down public places

They are able to have extras

Distribution

More money therefore they have better links to other companies

They can use synergy and cross media convergence to promote the film for example games, music and toys

Exhibition

The film has to do well as the companies involved would have spent a lot of money and they need to get the money back from consumers of the film

Advantages Disadvantages

+Independent Company

Production and Exhibition

They are able to take risks due to the fact that there is less money involved within the making of the film

Production

Smaller budget so the film will be less ambitious

Often has to secure the extra funding and finance

Distribution

Has to be targeted as there is less money to spend on marketing the film

The film is expected to make less revenue at the Box Office

Cant withstand losses with Box Office returns

Advantages Disadvantages

+Skyfall

The success of Skyfall was ensured when the film achieved critical acclaim, since it had backing of a company that was able to use cross media convergence as it owns companies within a range of industries.

For Sony’s Skyfall it resulted in a huge amount of ‘word-of-mouth’ for a big budget film and helped the film become a blockbuster. Such are the benefits of cross media ownership by these giant institutions.

Sony were able to shut down public places to shoot the film

Stunt men were hired

+Ill Manors

There are difficulties faced by smaller companies with relatively small marketing budgets and few easy opportunities for synergy

Ill Manors has received largely positive reviews from critics

Its budget was £100,000 and it was able to make £453,570 at the UK Box Office

Ill Manors is an example of a film that tried to push the boundaries through and received a relative success compared to it budget.

Due to it not being part of a conglomerate it was able to take more risks in terms of subject matter. A bigger company would not be able to do this.

+How do independent companies compete with major companies? Viral marketing helped Ill Manors make money whilst

overcoming the mass American film industry. For example their website gave the audience easy access to information about the film, video clips, trailers, pictures and downloads which make the audience feel more involved.

The downloads were a way of free advertising for example of someone has the background on their phone or a ringtone, their friends may ask where it was from and it would help spread information about the film through word-of-mouth.

+Ill Manors and Media Ownership

The challenge was to attract a core niche audience, with a low budget, unknown cast and low production values

It is not a conglomerate so it cannot withstand losses

It had to be financed by ‘Film London’, ‘BBC Films’ and was supported by ‘Skillset’, ‘ UK Film Council’ and the Mayor of London

Its advertising campaign had to be targeted at a specific audience.

+Skyfall and Media Ownership

Sony and MGM produced Skyfall

With distribution Sony is able to use it status as a conglomerate. It had a very broad appeal and blanket advertising and publicity were used.

They have much more power than small independent companies and it is able to use viral marketing in a bigger way. For example they had their own website which contained story plots, videos, extended clip, exclusive videos, wallpapers, Facebook cover photos, Twitter skins and stills from the film which could be found in the gallery section of the website.

They were able to shut down public places to get the best locations for the shooting of the film.

+Facts about Skyfall

Sony worked alongside Skyfall to produce a special edition Skyfall phone which is known as the ‘Bond Phone’. This was one of their ways of using synergy to increase the profit of the film.

Skyfall uses synergy by release Bond Lifestyle clothing, accessories, gadgets etc.

Cross media convergence is also used by them having a website which contains a magazine which again is cross media convergence.

By filming in different countries, this allowed the film to attract a international audience. This included 40 different locations.

+Comparison between Ill Manors and Skyfall

They are both British film however Ill Manors can be seen as more British than Skyfall as it deals with social issues and common themes related to British society

They were both filmed prominently in Britain

Both enjoyed strong opening weekends at the Box Office

Large British casts in both

They both have a high profile musician linked with the film whose music was released close to the film’s release.

+Comparison between Ill Manors and Skyfall

Different genres- Skyfall is an Action/Adventure and Ill Manors is a gritty social realistic drama

Bond is a part of a long running franchise. Ill Manors isn't

+Comparison between Ill Manors and Skyfall

Budget- Ill Manors £100,000 Skyfall $200,000,000

BBC Films and Microwave films are low budget independent film making companies.