Digital distribution & D.S.N

Digital distribution

Digital distribution (also known as digital delivery or electronic software distribution) is the practice of providing content in a purely digital format, which is downloaded via the internet straight to a consumer's home. Digital distribution bypasses conventional physical distribution media, such as paper or DVDs. The term digital distribution is typically applied to freestanding products; digital add-ons for other products are more commonly known as downloadable content.
Digitally distributed content may be streamed or downloaded. Streaming involves downloading and using content "on-demand" as it is needed. Meanwhile, fully downloading the content to a hard drive or other form of storage media allows for quick access in the future.

D.S.N Digital Screen Network

The average Hollywood blockbuster opens on 300-plus screens across the UK; most independent films, restored classics, documentaries and foreign language films still struggle to reach over ten per cent of those screens.
Digital screening cuts the cost of releasing films (a digital copy costs around one tenth of a 35mm print). That's why UK Film Council and the Arts Council England have created the Digital Screen Network – a £12 million investment to equip 240 screens in 210 cinemas across the UK with digital projection technology to give UK audiences much greater choice.
Cinemas in the network have already screened non-mainstream films including Control, This is England, Good Night and Good Luck and the Oscar®-winning The Lives of Others, as well as classics like ‘meet me in St Louis’, ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and ‘Casablanca’.
Digital Screen Network cinemas hosted the UK Film Council and BBC Two's Summer of British Films season - a sell out tour running from July to September 2007 featuring British classics such as ‘Goldfinger’, ‘Brief Encounter’, ‘Billy Liar’, ‘Henry V’, ‘The Wicker Man’ and The ‘Dam Busters’

shots and transitions work

Shots

long shot

This category includes the FULL SHOT showing the entire human body, with the head near the top of the frame and the feet near the bottom. While the focus is on characters, plenty of background detail still emerges: we can tell the coffins on the right are in a Western-style setting, for instance.

medium shot
Contains a figure from the knees/waist up and is normally used for dialogue scenes, or to show some detail of action. Variations on this include the TWO SHOT (containing two figures from the waist up) and the THREE SHOT (contains 3 figures...). NB. Any more than three figures and the shot tends to become a long shot. Background detail is minimal, probably because location has been established earlier in the scene - the audience already know where they are and now want to focus on dialogue and character interation. Another variation in this category is the OVER-THE-SHOULDER-SHOT, which positions the camera behind one figure, revealing the other figure, and part of the first figure's back, head and shoulder.

close up
This shows very little background, and concentrates on either a face, or a specific detail of mise en scène. Everything else is just a blur in the background. This shot magnifies the object (think of how big it looks on a cinema screen) and shows the importance of things, be it words written on paper, or the expression on someone's face. The close-up takes us into the mind of a character. In reality, we only let people that we really trust get THAT close to our face - mothers, children and lovers, usually - so a close up of a face is a very intimate shot. A film-maker may use this to make us feel extra comfortable or extremely uncomfortable about a character, and usually uses a zoom lens in order to get the required framing.

shot reverse shot
Shot reverse shot (or shot/countershot) is a film technique where one character is shown looking at another character (often off-screen), and then the other character is shown looking "back" at the first character. Since the characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the viewer assumes that they are looking at each other.

high angle shots
In film, a high angle shot is usually when the camera is located high.
With this type of angle, the camera looks down on the subject and the point of focus often get "swallowed up" by the setting.
High angle shots also make the figure or object seem vulnerable or powerless.

low angle shots
In cinematography, a low-angle shot, is a shot from a camera positioned low on the vertical axis, often at knee height, looking up.

tracking shot
a tracking shot (also known as a dolly shot or trucking shot) is a segment in which the camera is mounted on a wheeled platform that is pushed on rails while the picture is being taken. One may dolly in on a stationary subject for emphasis, or dolly out, or dolly beside a moving subject (an action known as "dollying with").

pan
A movement which scans a scene horizontally. The camera is placed on a tripod, which operates as a stationary axis point as the camera is turned, often to follow a moving object which is kept in the middle of the frame.

tilt
A movement which scans a scene vertically, otherwise similar to a pan.


Editing

continuity
is the predominant style of editing in narrative cinema and television. The purpose of continuity editing is to smooth over the inherent discontinuity of the editing process and to establish a logical coherence between shots.

montage
In motion picture terminology, a montage (from the French for "putting together" or "assembly") is a film editing technique.
There are at least three senses of the term:
1. In French film practice, "montage" has its literal French meaning and simply identifies editing.
2. In Soviet filmmaking of the 1920s, "montage" was a method of juxtaposing shots to derive new meaning that did not exist in either shot alone.
3. In classical Hollywood cinema, a "montage sequence" is a short segment in a film in which narrative information is presented in a condensed fashion. This is the most common meaning among laymen.

montage Hollywood
a short segment in a film in which narrative information is presented in a condensed fashion.

transitions
Transitions are authoring tools a video editor can insert between two video clips or still images to create an artistic, professional effect. There are a multitude of transitional effects available, the two most common being the crossfade and dissolve.

cross cutting/parallel editing
The most common transition — an instant change from one shot to the next. The raw footage from your camera contains cuts between shots where you stop and start recording (unless of course you use built-in camera transitions).
In film and television production, the vast majority of transitions are cuts.

dissolve
In film editing, a dissolve is a gradual transition from one image to another. In film, this effect is created by controlled double exposure from frame to frame; transiting from the end of one clip to the beginning of another.

wipes
In film editing, a wipe is a gradual spatial transition from one image to another. One image is replaced by another with a distinct edge that forms a shape. A simple edge, an expanding circle, or the turning of a page are all examples.


Film Clip ' Saving Private Ryan'




the use of camera shots in the clip I have chosen to analyse (Saving Private Ryan) are extremely effective, for starters, the clip uses a tilt technique to take in the full effect of the skies and sea to set the scene, which then cross cuts into a tracking shot of the boats with soldiers on them heading for the shore, which is setting the time and place as this is meant to be an old war film, this emphasises the equipment and vehicles the soldiers use in war also the camera moves very freehand, to give the audience the feel that they are on a boat in the vicious sea much like the soldiers, drawing the audience in to connect with the film so they believe they are part of the storyline, the camera then cross cuts to a close up of a hand shaking making the audience feel the fear and tension that is among these soldiers, and as the camera again uses the tilt technique to follow the soldiers hand up to show him take a drink, this connects the audience to one of the main characters introducing him to the scene, with a close up of the face to emphasize who the character is and to show the look of fear in his face, slowly panning out to show the boats full inhabitance of soldiers, waiting nervously for the battle much like the calm before the storm this is shown by the stern faces of soldiers and how some vomit out of pure fear. The camera changes to a low angled mid shot of the soldier driving the oat, emphasizing his position of power as he commands the other soldiers what to do, with a close up of the main character giving orders to the other soldiers, which also emphasizes the position of power to the audience, then cross cuts to another soldier giving commands, with a freehand camera with a low angle shot to show he is a position of power, whilst also keeping the realism aspect to the film to connect the audience. The camera then moves freehand along the boat looking all of the soldiers in the face connecting the audience to the whole unit, and also cross cutting to the most important characters in the film. The silence used is to portray the ‘calm before the storm’ effect that Steven Spielberg has used to emphasise the following battle scene. A close up of the man lowering the bridge is used to show that the wait is over and the battle is going to begin, cross cutting to the first soldier in a low angle shot getting shot dead, then cross cutting to a high angle shot showing the loss of power as the soldiers are mown down by gunfire, the freehand camera emphasises the tragedy as it puts the audience again in the shoes of the soldiers. This cross cuts to another low angle shot which is freehand showing the soldiers getting shot dead, cross cutting again to an over the shoulder freehand shot of an enemy soldier firing the machine gun at the soldiers on the boat, and as the clip is ending, we see a high angle shot to the main character giving commands again, and then a tracking shot that is free hand showing the cameraman who the audience are now connected to as a soldier, jumps in the sea with the rest of the soldiers.

New Technologies, Questions

New Technologies
iPhone
Blu-ray
Game Consoles
Streaming
Blogs
Mobiles
Podcasts
Plasma TV
Blackberry
Websites
Email
Camera
HD
Youtube
iTunes
iPod
IM
Social Networking
Downloads
Netbook
Laptop
Sky+HD
Online Shopping
RSS Feeds

How have new technologies allowed film institutions to target audiences?
Consider:- Production, Marketing, Exhibition & Distribution

Production
New technologies can affect the production in a variety of ways, from the more realistic special effects that can be used to the very simple 'Green Screen' which helps to dramatically improve the films, also the use of High Definition benefits the production quality of the film so that the cinema/film experience can be enhanced for the audience.

Marketing
New technologies also have effected the way films can be marketed, as old films would use things such as billboards and bus sides to help advertise their films, by the use of new technologies and social networking, the very cheap in comparison adverts on social networks appeal to a larger audience for less money, saving the film producer more money to spend on the film and less is needed to advertise it effectively.

Exhibition
New technologies effect the audiences experience due to the use of better quality HD filming and more technology to improve the special effects in the film in comparison to the older films which use worse quality filming and less realistic special effects, making the audience not able to relate to the film as much as modern day films, making it more realistic and therefore improving the audiences overall experience.

Distribution
New technologies have enabled film producers to use digital distribution in comparison to the old method of using 35mm prints that cost £1000 each, sometimes more, they can just send files and use files on computers to distribute their films faster and cheaper to a larger target area of the world.

How have the new technologies affected the position of the consumer?
the new technologies have affected the position of the consumer dramatically, allowing the consumer to take control of how much the advertisements can influence their decision to watch the films as they can choose not to click links that are advertisements on websites, however the new technologies can also give the producers a position of power while the audience is watching the films as they can use special effects and better quality production to make people feel certain feelings according to what the producers whant them to feel.






To evaluate
New technologies such as HD and advances in camera technology have allowed the film industry to film in more detail than ever before as they can shoot all Films in High Definition to make the cinema experience more realistic than ever for example, A Serious Man and Avatar has advertisements in high definition which can help convey the quality of the film to give the audience a snippet of how good the film truly is. thanks to the advances in technology, many films can be digitally distributed which can save companies thousands of pounds as it can be sent via the internet and easily copied, making the expense of distribution obsolete as companies won’t have to buy expensive 35mm prints so that the film budget can be used more on the film and less on advertising improving the film as the spare money can be used to improve the quality of the film.



Here is the ‘A Serious Man’ & ‘Avatar’ trailer in HD showing just how advanced technology can affect the quality of filming

Film Distribution Powerpoint

Film Distributions

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The Male Gaze

Merchandise

Merchandise

Is one way that films promote themselves through selling commercial products in collaboration with the film such as toys, books, posters etc.

Viral Marketing

Use pre-existing social networks to produce increases in brand awareness or to achieve other marketing objectives (such as product sales) through self-replicating viral processes. It can be word-of-mouth delivered or enhanced by the network effects of the Internet.

Synergy Marketing

Is a type of marketing that uses the success of existing companies to promote theirs for example James Bond film and Sony’s marketing collaboration.




Product placement

Product placement is a form of advertisement, where branded goods or services are placed in movies, the story line of television shows, or news programs to promote their products for example the Aston Martin and Rolex that James Bond Wears/Uses in the films.



Bridget Jones’ Diary





This film used synergy marketing from The Body Shop, MSN.com, Virgin Megastore and Virgin Atlantic to help promote the film, it also released t-shirts and DVD's to promote the product. some product placement was used to help promote their partners that promote them such as virgin and the body shop.



The Boat That Rocked

The film used product placement to promote itself such as Typhoo Tea, which was one of many things used in the film along with a 60 song soundtrack to promote itself before it was released, as the film was based on old music and the music that was on the soundtrack, that was promoted through playing music from the soundtrack during trailers.

How are the characters of Steve, Fiona, Lip and Ian represented in episode one of Shameless?

How are the characters of Steve, Fiona, Lip and Ian represented in episode one of Shameless?

The character Steve is at first perceived to be heroic at the start as he tries to stop the man who has stolen Fiona’s handbag, and hits the clubs bouncer when he disrespects Fiona and Veronica rich because he buys the family a new washing machine and drives flashy cars which gives the impression he has plenty of money. Later in the episode we find out that Steve in fact is a criminal, who dresses as a waiter at a restaurant to fool rich people into giving him their car keys and then stealing the cars for his own personal use and when he’s done, he sells the cars on to make some money.

Fiona is viewed as a slightly stereotypical northern girl, but her friend veronica is the typical stereotype and they contrast sometimes, where Fiona likes to go clubbing and get drunk like veronica, veronica has aspects such as her crudity and roughness that Fiona lacks to fit the stereotype portrayed at the start of the episode in the club and talking to the bouncer. Fiona also later that night has sex with Steve on the kitchen floor portraying a very crude and slaggy side to her, although when her Frank comes back, she turns into a mother figure in the household that looks out for the children and looks after Frank.

Lip is shown to be extremely clever as at the start of the episode, we see him going to help a girl do their homework for money, however he is also shown to be a typical teenage boy as when the girl offers a blowjob because she has no money to pay for his help, he accepts. Lip also is conveyed as a loving brother, as when he finds out Ian is gay, he is upset because Ian never told him and devises a test to see if an is gay, he gets the girl he helps with homework to give him a blowjob, to see if he enjoys it, and when Lip finds out that his brother is having an affair with an older married man, he is worried for his brother as the married man could just be using him for presents whilst Ian loves him.

Ian is a homosexual boy who is the brother of Lip and who works in a shop with his gay lover, who is also a married man. Ian is seen as a average boy apart from his homosexuality, he likes football, works for his money and is happy with being gay. When his brother finds out, he seems ashamed of himself whilst Lip gives him “tough love” to try help him, Ian doesn’t want to hear it as he is blinded by love for his workmate, he also seems very uncomfortable with getting a blowjob from a girl which shows that he is very certain about his homosexuality.

Advertising

Above The Line Advertising

Above the line advertising uses media to promote the films in many ways such as TV, cinema, radio, print, banners and search engines to promote brands. Major uses include television and radio advertising and also internet banners and Ads.

Below The Line Advertising

Below the line advertising, uses different brand-building strategies to promote the film, such as direct mail and printed media that usually involve no motion graphics.

2012

Sony Pictures are going to run a television campaign to promote 2012 that will receive an audience four times larger than the Super Bowl.
The plan is to air a two minute scene from 2012 on nearly every major TV and Cable network in North America. By doing this, the studio expects to reach 110 million viewers. by knowing this we can establish that 2012 used many above the line advertising conventions to market the film throughout the world, as it has a huge budget of $200 million.

A Serious Man

used a below the line promotion scheme as they premiered their film in an independant cinema and therefore shows that this film was not a wide scale venture like 2012 and had a substantially lower budget.

Bunny & The Bull

Bunny & The Bull has the lowest budget out of the three films, resulting in their promotional advertising techniques being below the line, using only their website and trailers in non mainstream cinema's to premote their film, but also uses the above the line technique starring British comedian and esablished actor Noel Fielding, cast as one of the main characters, attracting fans of his previous work to watching the film.

Four Weddings & A Funeral

produced in 1994, this film could not have some of the marketing scemes used today due to the advance in technology but, some of the old techniques used to promote this film are still being used, they have just become more established.in 1994 posters, trailers and merchandise were the key techniques used to promote a new film before it was released, and also still used today, is starring a famous actor to attract the attention of fans of the actors previous works, for example in "Four Weddings" Hugh Grant played the lead role of Charles which attracted a very large audience due to his incredible acting status. since the 90's advertising campaigns have gained many advantages through usage of technology for example, nearly every film imaginable will have some sort of website or page on a social networking site helping to advertise it, using the internet as a key tool to promote films 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Defining British Film (Categories)

A- British Money, Personnel and Resources
B- Co funded = Britian and Foreign investment (majority of finance, cultural content and personnel are british)
C- Mostly foreign (but not USA) investment small british input (financially / Creativity)
D- Films made in UK with (usually) British cultural content but financed fully or partly by American companies
E- American film with British involvement

The Male Gaze - Superbad

This video clip from the film superbad, conveys a stereotypical view of 'The Male Gaze' showing how men percieve women in films and adverts, these conventions are used by the film producer to attract a male audience to make their films a hit, much like adverts use this technique to sell their products.

Dead Man's Shoes, Hot Fuzz & This is England

Dead Man’s Shoes

Budget £723,000

Starring/ celebrities in film
Paddy Considine
Toby Kebbell
Gary Stretch

Directors Aim
the Directors were trying to create a horror movie, filled with revenge at a reasonable budget.

Hot Fuzz

Budget £8 million

Starring/ celebrities in film
Simon Pegg
Nick Frost
Jim Broadbent
Timothy Dalton
Paddy Considine
Edward Woodward
Billie Whitelaw

Directors Aim
The directors were trying to create an action/comedy that used conventional british stereotyping to make an impressive statement, creating a first for making a traditional english cop film like other countries in the world already have

This is England

Budget £1,500,000

Starring/ celebrities in film
Thomas Turgoose
Joe Gilgun
Andrew Shim
Vicky McClure
Stephen Graham
Rosamund Hanson

Directors aim
the Directors were trying to convey a sense of the harsh reality amongst working class british people.

Teenage Stereotyping

Teenage Stereotyping

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