Media convergence

•The term Media convergence refers to the idea that because of the improvement in  technology as the years have gone by, various different types of media (e.g. Computer, Television, Radio and Newspaper) are combining into a single media.

•For example, television and computer technology are increasingly becoming the same thing; there many websites where you are able to watch TV on. Similarly, Movies are now broadcasted on the internet not just the TV.

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Advertising is another big thing, advertising can easily be done on the internet now even on social chat websites such as facebook, myspace etc this helps them appeal to a much wider audience.

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Furthermore, the improvements in mobile technology has also allowed a lot of these services to be delivered to mobile devices as well bringing the operators of mobile networks into this convergence. This is very convenient for  busy people who do not have time to log onto there computers to check their emails etc.

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•An good example of a film that has used media convergence very successful is ‘Batman’ along with the film, it has video games, online games, cartoons, merchandise, uploads on Youtube etc.

•Batman has been going on for decades and because of this long stretch it has been able to use the recent updates in technology's to help it carry on being a success.

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The Expendables 2010

The Expendables was such a huge film that had more then just one distribution company 

Distribution companies
Lionsgate
California filmes
Odeon S.A
Dutch film works

The Expendables was budgeted;
$80,000,000 (estimated).

Opening Weekend
$34,825,135 (USA) (15 August 2010) (3,270 Screens)

On just there first opening weekend they made almost half of that as can be seen below. I think this was due to the 'star power'. This film contained a huge number of stars, probably the most ever seen in an movie. And because of this fame, it caused people to go watch it because of their idols and reliability of the stars making it a good movie.


Release Dates
The film had an original scheduled release date set at April 23, 2010, but was later pushed back four months until August 13, to extend production time. On March 17, 2010, the official international poster for the film was released
A promo trailer (aimed at industry professionals) was leaked online in August 2009. Sometime in October, nearly two months after the promo trailer was leaked, it was officially released online. The promo trailer was edited by Stallone and it was shown at the Venice Film Festival. On April 1, 2010, the official theatrical trailer for the film was released. The film had its red carpet Hollywood premiere on August 3, 2010. The grand premiere of the film was held at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on August 10, 2010.

DVD Release
The theatrical cut of The Expendables was released on DVD/Blu-ray Disc on November 23, 2010. The Blu-ray Disc is a 3-disc combo pack.^{[citation needed]}
A director's cut of the film will be due out for an early 2011 DVD/Blu-ray Disc release. To be released soon is a documentary called Inferno: The Making of The Expendables which will provide more insight on Stallone's injury while filming a fight scene with Steve Austin.


Merchandise
Lots of posters of the movie was made because of all the famous Actors in one.

After doing some research i found that they were selling models of the throwing knifes that were used in the movie.













The poster is very cleverly done, it shows Stallone who is the main actor and also directed the film holding a gun and then all of the other actors inside him. By showing the other actors too it helps raise the fame of the film as they are all extremely famous.
This is an unofficial poster, (says at bottom) so it must have been made to raise awareness of the film before it was released by emphasising the famous actors.

Understanding Film Industry

1) The Idea

• Real Life Events: surprising amount of films based on real life events, which are read in newspapers, magazines, personal experience etc.

• Original Ideas: moment of inspiration from a conversation, a dream, seeing something etc. Protecting idea very important, film producers often take out errors and omissions insurance.

2) Development finance

• Pitching Project; Turning idea into finished script take time and money called development funding; producer pitches project to potential funders and hope they like their idea and are interested in movie.
• Similarly pitch to production companies for development money. If agree, ask for rights to take outcome of development process and involved in making of film
• Sales Companies - Provide development money in return for right to sell film to distribution companies and also take % of revenue
• Broadcaster - give development money in return for rights to broadcast on their certain TV channels. Good way to get attraction from audience
• Distribution Companies - In return for development money ask for right to distribute film also take % of revenue
• Also supply for public investment bonding e.g Film Council
• Pitch idea to private investor - usually ask for a lot in return
• Hires writing agent - who represents writer to help get people to invest in film

3) Script Development

• Writer Producers a synopsis and he and producer agree on key scenes and producers makes sure ideas will fit budget and movie can be filmed etc.
• Step outline - short description all of scenes, includes important plot events, developments to main characters. Usually 10 page long.
• Drafts Make drafts up till final draft. Even 1st draft must contain; events that can be seen on screen, not just dialogue
• Revisions - Draft shown to financiers and they say what like/dislike and make changes
• Final draft - when everyone happy with it. Writer finally gets paid
• Sales Treatment - Synopsis designed to sell film (as if an advert) 

4) Packaging

• So far in package just; final draft, sales treatment and rough budget price
• Stars - bigger the star, more attraction of audience. These attached to script
• Financiers find, correct main heads of departments, includes editor, production designer, director of photography
• Detailed budgets - actually find out how much film will cost to make, using production schedule
• Finance plan- Shows how will raise finance for film 
• Recoupment schedule - shows how the film will make money after

5) Financing

• Market - producers must travel to find investors
• Investors - private finance, co productions, public investment
• Pre sales - Sell rights to them in return for money
• Banker - Some banks specialise in film finance
• Completion bond - insurance of producer, if not enough money to complete film making then investors must give money to complete.

6) Pre production

• Kick of meeting- once call HOD's hired then go through what to do 
• Casting - casting director finds a cast through past experience or adverts and then auditions them
• Storyboarding - every show storyboard by the director, storyboard artist, and d.o.p
• Production design  - plans how all the production will look, art designer construction manager, location manager all help too.

7) The Shoot

• Chain of demand - Runners range from making tea to delivery film to lab 
• Special effects - stunt people used to make film read as possible

8) Post production; Rough cut,sound,effects and titles, grade and colour, final mix, final cut

9) Sales

• Sales agent - negotiates deals, estimating value, knows types of buyers and good at selling them 
• Trailer - Show key aspects of film to attract audience
• Sales pack - Key apparatus needed to sell
• Screenings - Should be screened at famous place, by screening many people and see producer make more deals with people

10) Marketing -

• Marketing team go see what audience think of trailer and if filmed is talked about etc.
• Distributor negotiate deal with (ehibitors) to be shown in cinema
• Advertise film; Newspapers, Internet, buses etc
• Sell to exhibitors in order to play films in cinemas 

11)   Exhibition

• High profile premiere launched with stars, walking down carpet before film starts to add more audience. 'STar power' is reason why some people watch the film, because their favourite actor/tress is in it. 
• UK cinema's ; film should be played in large famous places
• Hundreds of copies of film distributed, then prints given to exhibitors to rent and screen. DHL example of film transport company. Making prints are expensive; so sometimes played in one cinema and then another one after as cant afford to make so many prints.
• Box office performances means how much income film making, if under performing exhibitor chooses to stop showing it as some end up doing better on DVD
• Exhibitor takes share of box office receipts and distributors take large amount
• even if does well, unlikely to make profits as large some paid to distributor and exhibitor. Profit usually made from DVD's and Broadcasting

12) Other Windows (Sales)

• Hospitably 0 sales for hotel channels, in flight entertainment can bring alot of revenue. DVD and Video similarly, does this.
• Broadcasting on TV - Final source; includes subscription channels or pay per view. Broadcast company that gave development money get first priority.
• Once everyone paid profit got, mos times very low. 
• By making film gets big name of producer and director therefore this helps in the sucess of further films as there more likely to be a hit. Similarly, sometimes computer games are made of film or re shown in cinema after.