Evaluation : Question 5

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why ?

In my opinion I think that a more independent film company would produce my opening sequence/film. Independent companies, mainly have a lower scale budget, but stick to it well, creating effective films that are more precise. This is exactly what my opening sequence would need if it was published into a film, as it generally doesn't need many special effects, and wouldn't need high budget or well-known actors either. An independent film company would be more likely to produce my opening sequence into a film rather than a major company due to the crime that I have represented.

Domestic violence is quite a sensitive topic to talk about, with the chance that it could affect many people. If an independent company produced it, it would be able to target that niche audience of people that are into crime dramas, but have also been affected by this sort of crime. If a major company was to produce such a high class film from my opening sequence, more than likely would it get bad reviews, because as a wide audience people wouldn't really want to see a film about domestic violence in the cinema as it would be too sensitive?

Major film companies usually team up with other companies to help produce merchandise such as toys and film posters etc. to help them gain money, as they would have spent a big budget on the film. For my opening sequence, merchandise couldn't really be produced due to the crime it's self being very sensitive, and it may be seen as rather demeaning to put merchandise about domestic violence in shops. With the rating for my film also being a 12, it wouldn't be effective if 12+ year olds bought merchandise about that topic, it would probably cause a lot of harm.

Looking at some independent film companies, I decided to choose two that could possibly produce my opening sequence, one of which was Film4. From looking at the Film4 website I could see that they distributed their films in many ways, for example, some would go straight to DVD or Blue ray in the shops to be bought, targeting their specific audience directly, as only they would buy it directly, Or through putting it onto the television, on the Film4 or sometimes Channel4 channels, This would mean that the film would be regulated, to be shown at specific times i.e. after the watershed, as well as the channels showing the independent films, they could target their audience at home, so they could see the film without paying for it.

Both of these would be effective ways to show my opening sequence to my target audience, as possibly young girls may have protective parents who check what they watch, so by having the DVD they can watch it in their own free time, or even round a friend’s house, especially if it was for a personal identity reason, possibly they would want to watch it by themselves to think through things or through a personal relationships reason, possibly wanting to watch it because a friend does, or to support a friend through a tough time. This is an effective way, but some 12+ year olds may not have enough money to buy the DVD, so buy showing it on Film4 or Channel4 the target audience can watch it for free again in their own time, and with technology advancement today, they could record it and watch it at a later date. Watershed times wouldn't really matter. It would be reasonable to show my opening sequence/film after 9 o'clock because of the crimes involved but following the BBFC rating of 12, it doesn't show graphic scenes of violence, they're only hinted and used in context, so the viewer would have to think more about what's being shown rather than seeing the crimes graphically, so my product could be shown before 9 o'clock. These ways of distributing would also be effective toward a male audience as well, possibly for personal identity or surveillance reason. A male may not want to be seen watching a film about domestic violence in front of his friends or partner, but may still want to watch it possibly if he's committed such a crime, or is just interested in the topic, He would also be able to buy the DVD and watch it at his own accord or if he's at home watching TV possibly record it and watch it at a later date, or watch it on his own.

Another independent film company that I decided to look at was Lions gate. LionsGate follows the same sort of distribution methods as Film4, but also have the option to watch the full film on the website. This is effective as if my target audience weren't able to buy the DVD they would be able to see the film online, and with technology advancing most young females from 12+ do have the internet at home, so could watch the film on their own if nobody was at home as well as because it's online, my target audience would be able to watch my product through their android or IPhone, either through YouTube, on the LionsGate website, or if they downloaded the film or app. If Lions gate were to produce my product, I would be able to target my audience through technology more, which would mean I would target them personally as in today's society most people are technologically advanced.

 

Overall I think that an Independent film company such as Film4 or LionsGate, would be more suited to produce my product than a major company such as Universal or Warner Brothers as it would be suited more to a niche audience, for people who specifically like crime dramas or psychological crime dramas, rather than being shown as a box office film, targeting anyone, especially with the crime in my product being predominantly domestic violence, some people may see this as too sensitive to show publicly, as well as if a major film company was to produce my product to box office level, they wouldn't gain as much money back as merchandise wouldn't be produced again because my product would be too sensitive. If an independent company was to produce my film, I could target my audience more specifically, either through a certain channel on TV like Film4 or Channel4, or if it was put online through LionsGate, with today's society being very technologically based my audience would be able to view it on their phones, computers or tablets etc. being more accessible.