AS MEDIA: Key Media Concepts - Section B: Institutions & Audiences
Through analysing the release of 'Avatar' as a case study from 20th century fox we can understand how such a Media conglomerate uses patterns of production, distribution and exhihibition to promote it's various media products. We will also study how contemporary distribution practices have had an impact on production, marketing and audience consumption.
1. HISTORY OF 20th CENTURY FOX
20th century fox film studios is one of the oldest major established studios in Hollywood. Since its infancy it has thrived to make a range of popular genre films and have a successful formula since the 1930's.
2. MEDIA OWNERSHIP IN CONTEMPORARY MEDIA PRACTICE
News Corporation own a great range of cross media institutions. They own various institutions that cover a whole range of mediums from film,tv, cable,music,print and the internet. The following are the most significant media corporations which come under the ownership of News Corp:
20th Century fox film studies
Fox TV
The Sun Newspaper
The Times newspaper
Harper Collins publishers
Fox searchlight pictures
3. CROSS MEDIA CONVERGENCE/SYNERGY IN PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION & MARKETING
Students will analyse promotional material concerning the release of the 'AVATAR' including trailers, viral campaigns, star tv interviews, movie premieres, merchandise, documentaries, fan sites etc
4. TECHNOLOGY USED IN PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION & MARKETING
Modern day technology is changing the manor in which films are exhibited with AVATAR being filmed in true 3D gives it a edge to combat pirate copies and create a cinematic experience to combat that. Digital filmmaking is revolutionising the way films are made and exhibited.