Q: How is Media Convergence important for audiences and Institutions?

Media Convergence Is important for audiences and Institutions because not only does it help make the film and the production of it more popular, it helps grow the awareness of the film too. The Media Convergence helps the film industry when marketing, distributing and exhibiting any film. A film wouldnt make any success without a Media Convergence, so the film industry always depends on the Media Convergence, to help them make the success they need. For the making of the film The Kings Speech the marketing would of needed a big impact on the audience, as the name isnt a big eye catcher, but when people know what the story is about it brings more of an audience in. The Weinstein company set up an official website for the film, having the trailer on their, photos, and interviews from the cast about their views and thoughts on the story line and the film altogether. There was background view of what the film was about, and photos of the cast and crew. There were links to buy cinema tickets to view the film, and links to the official twitter and face book which had photos and tweets on about the making of the film and the release dates, so people wouldnt forget about it. Also on the website, is now links to by the DVD, and the DVD in blue-ray which helps with the sales of it, also when its on things like social networking websites as well. Another big thing, the Media Convergence would of done, would be for posters and the official trailer. The posters which were made, had the two leading roles on either of them, both well known actors, which obviously would of been a could eye catching trick for people who love Colin firth and Geoffrey Rush. The way in which the posters have been designed, is very clever, having things like Its simply fills you with joy which would obviously big an audience in. This shows that the marketing had been thought about well, this would of been because the name, The Kings Speech isnt at all exciting, and also because it isnt a blockbuster. Things like Social Networking, can play a big part in the Media Convergence of the film. It helps distributing and exhibiting the film as things like twitter, can help, as fan bases would be interest in what the stars have to tweet, and as the actors tweet things about the set, photos of set and about the film itll being not only the fan base in, but other people who have seen it as well. As Collin Firth has played in Bridget Jones, which is a well known film, the fan base from that would watch, as his character in that film is played well. The soundtrack for The Kings Speech, was released a couple of days before the film was released in the cinemas. This would have been to help market and advertise the film. If the soundtrack was popular then theyd know that the film would be a great success. The people who composed the music, are known for doing work in the film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which would help advertise the film and bring a bigger audience and their fan base along. This would encourage people to buy the soundtrack, as if they like his music in Harry Potter, then theyd know theyd like it, in The Kings Speech.

The film Kick Ass, contrasts wildly compared to The Kings Speech. This is because firstly they had a bigger budget, which would off allowed them to do more Marketing, and then distributing and exhibiting of the film. Also would of allowed them to have more effects, camera shots, etc. Due to the film not having any main stars in the film, the Media Convergence would have to rely on the Marketing of the film to get its views. The reason for this was because of the budget which they were given. The comics of Kick Ass would already have a fan base, which would off bought in a bigger audience for the film, and the fact that some were released 6 weeks before, would of got the audience interested and knowing theres going to be a film, theyd go and see it. However, the Media Convergence would have a problem here, as the comics are aimed for younger children, whereas the film is an R rated, where theyll need adults to go see it with them. This is where the marketing side would have to have a big impact, to catch the audiences eye, theyd have to appeal to the four quadrant. The trailer would have to appeal to a wider range of audience, and be shown on TVs and other cinema viewings for the 12A viewings. The marketing would have to right, and appear on the right things, and posters and billboards would have to eye catching for adults to want to see it as well. I think the Comic played a big part in the marketing, as theyd be released before the film, people would know about it, and be taking about it. Also thatd be the time the trailer would start coming out, so it would keep people knowing about it. Also things like Social Networking sites, also helped as the leading roles would tweet photos about the set and things about the film, and usually when the trailers out, or the release date people often hear about it from Social Networking sites. As well, YouTube is helpful for marketing the both film, as usually it would have upcoming events at the side, and if the trailer is good, the views would be high, which would make people want to watch the trailer then watch the film. The soundtrack for Kick Ass was released a couple of days after the release of the film in the UK, and a couple of weeks later in the US. The sound track; Kick Ass: Music from the Motion Picture was sung by Mika. It was released straight on to ITunes. It would of helped with views at the cinema, releasing it a couple of days later to make sure the audience didnt forget about it. Also the target audience would have ITunes, and would see it, marketing the release of the soundtrack correctly. Batman is well known, for its films, comics, games, toys etc. Batman first started off as comics, which progressively became more and more popular when batman proved to be a hit character and received a solo title in 1940. Batman stared in Detective Comics which was top selling and most influential publisher in the country. It then became a TV series, giving batman a new look to keep the audience and fan base still interested. The becoming a film, and now theyre recent films which are being bought out today The Dark Knight Rises. The Media Convergence did well

with the marketing off batman, but because of the comics, which are well known now, and were very popular of the time of the release, the fan base and audience are still wanting more films from Batman. As the writer and director know that each time a new film is released from batman that itll make a lot of money in the box office, and itll be given a bigger budget, no matter what the film is like people will still go and view the film, because It will be marketed well and the film industry will help massively in distributing and exhibiting the film, because they know itll do well. The warner brothers studios, which make the film Batman, cover everything with batman. Things like DVD/Blue-Ray, computer games, x-box games, and toys. They make and create them, so its only the warner brothers who have to advertise it, but because its already popular and well known, they know itll do well. Because the film and comics are so well known, they can sell things like x-box games and toys for people because they have such a big fan base thatll buy it. So not only does batman do well in the film industry but also in other areas as well. If the Media Convergence market it well, then itll be easy for them to distributing and exhibit them. This is England, would need the Media Convergence massively to help them promote and sell the film. The trailer doesnt really sell the film, and you can see that the film doesnt have that much of a budget. The film has a 18 rating, so the marketing would have to be aimed at older people, and put the film trailer on at night time on the TV, and being shown during breaks for things like skins. To help distribute the film, they set up an official website which shows all the cast and characters. The website shows clips from behind the scenes and interviews with the cast. This would have to be broadcasted widely, to help market the film. Overall I think Media Convergence is important for a film to succeed in the industry as without good marketing of the film, it will go on to not be a success. Once the target audience is set, then its usually easy to sell the film to them. Having things like trailers and posters help advertise the film, I also think social networking sites can have a big impact on advertising a film, especially things like twitter and Facebook. From looking at The Kings Speech and Kick Ass, you can see how they market each film, and because they have different target audiences theyd have to market the films differently to ensure that the film would be a success. However for films like Batman, they Media Convergence dont really need to do a great deal of marketing for the film, as they already have a fan base and its already well known and most places would advertise for it anyway. Media Convergence plays a big part in the release of the film, because without it, the film wouldnt go on.