Discuss The Ways In Which Media Products Are Produced And Distributed To Audiences Relating To The British Film Industry

The issues with film production in relation to the audience is whether the audience will like the film or not, as such the two film types mainstream and independent have different hooks for the British audience to ensure that the production of the film is not a bust. For mainstream films the genre is very generic because it is a safe topic for the institution and is popular for the audience, mainstream films often use technological advances to help in the distribution of their film, as audiences like technologies that enhance their experience of the film such as HD and 3D. Independent films are the complete opposite of mainstream films, the film genres are usually controversial and challenge normal genre conventions, independent films do not use as many technological developments to enhance the audience experience of the film but rather to make showing films cheaper while still having good quality. Independent and mainstream films such as Cinema City and Vue have a rivalry with each other but not serious competition because of how their films differ so they do not compete over audience as their audience niche is quite different.

Distributing films to audience depends on if the film is mainstream or independent. Mainstream films from companies such as Vivendi (a part of the Universal company) are vertically integrated and can therefore advertise to audiences through lot of different means, internet is one of the main advertising strategies for the younger audiences. Facebook is an excellent place for viral advertising as fan pages can be made which passes the information about films and their actors, the pages can also show trailers and pre-release pictures to interest audiences. Youtube and review sites such as “Rotten Tomatoes” give the audience a chance to discuss newly released films by commenting on reviews and trailers which can create a wider audience. Independent films often distribute films using other means as the films sometimes have selective target audiences, one such method of selective distribution is via Film Festivals and trailers at the beginning of other independent films.

To conclude I believe that the production and distribution of audiences depends on whether the film is mainstream or independent. Mainstream films often use technological advantages to aid in production and to help draw audiences, while independent films tend to use digital technology to make the films cheaper so they can spend the extra money on increasing the quality of the viewing for the audience. Independent film companies that work in distribution try to make the whole cinematic experience more enjoyable for the British audience with entertainment for before the film and restaurant for after in most of the independent cinemas so the audience comes for a day out. Mainstream films working in distribution tend to have the film alone as the hook for British audiences as they are well advertised by normal and viral advertising and so can easily target their audience.