Thursday 25 May 2023

Revising the film industry

Black Panther

Context



  • What is the historic contexts the poster borrows from (aesthetically)?
  • What is the relevance of the Harlem Renaissance, Afrofuturism, and the Black Panther Party on the poster?
  • How does Black Panther move the Marvel film franchise forward?
  • What is the impact of Obama’s time as president of the USA on the success of the Black Panther film?
  • What is the impact of Trump’s time as president of the USA on the success of the Black Panther film?
  • What is the impact of Black Lives Matter on the Black Panther film?

Consider the significance of patterns of ownership and control, including conglomerate ownership, vertical integration and diversification



  • What owns the rights to the Black Panther films? Find out as much detail as possible.

Consider how media organisations maintain, including through marketing, varieties of audiences nationally and globally


  • Who was in charge of marketing and what approach did they take? Find out as much as possible.

Consider the regulatory framework of contemporary media in the UK and the role of regulation in global production, distribution and circulation


  • What is the name of the regulatory body? 
  • What ratings did they give the film?
  • Did it differ in different countries? What impacts those differences?

Consider how film/film marketing is circulated and distributed:


  • Where and how is film/film marketing most likely to be consumed by audiences?
  • How has this consumption changed/been impacted by the internet, including YouTube and smartphones?
  • Are audiences now more likely to seek out, for example, new trailers online as active consumers? (Think about ‘reaction’ videos of people watching trailers!)
  • Consider the way people share trailers or movie gossip (casting decisions, plot elements etc.) especially those with a strong fan community. How is this is an example of ‘word-of- mouth’ marketing?
  • How does this impact the relationship between audience and product?
  • How did Black Panther harness other, more political social media campaigns to create a ‘cultural event’ rather than just another summer blockbuster?


Theoretical perspectives


  • Cultural industries – David Hesmondhalgh
  • Curran and Seaton ‐ Media and power



I, Daniel Blake


I, Daniel Blake theatrical trailer


Context

  • What type of film is I, Daniel Blake?
  • Who produced it? 
  • What awards was it nominated for and won?
  • What is the political and social context for the film?

Consider the significance of economic factors, including commercial and not-for-profit public funding, to media industries and their products

  • How was it funded? In what ways is this typical of an independent film? 
  • Why might producers of independent cinema care less about financial returns?

Consider processes of production, distribution and circulation and the impact of digitally convergent platforms: Use the website and social media hashtag #idanielblake to help you answer these questions

  • How does an independent film like I, Daniel Blake save money on production costs?
  • How was the film marketed?
  • How was the film circulated?
  • How was the film distributed?


Consider the effect of individual producers on media industries

What do we learn about Ken Loach’s catalogue as a director?


Consider how media organisations maintain, including through marketing, varieties of audiences nationally and globally: (using the trailer to support your answer)

  • What role did film festivals play in marketing the film to a national and global audience? (How is this evidenced in the trailer.) 
  • How does the trailer target people that might be interested in in the topic of the film?


Consider theoretical perspectives: Power and media industries – Curran and Seaton


Thank you Rachel for this wonderful post!