Question Number 3

Research how people are consuming films. Are many audiences going to the cinema? Have ticket sales in general increased or declined in the enconomic downturn? Are audiences waiting until films are available to stream on-line or on Sky/Cable TV? Or do they prefer the cinematic experience? What about DVD sales? 


Fewer people are going to the cinemas than 10 years ago, as people are able to watch it on-line, films coming out in cinemas will be affected as many people will be allowed to watch latest released films in their homes. Therefore the film industry is really worried as fewer people are going to the cinemas.  Since 2002 when 1.58 billion tickets were sold, numbers have fallen to 1.22 billion for 2011, a drop which is 20%.

Avatar alone sold four million DVDs in the first four days of its release. Before the digital transition, VHS provided healthy incomes, but streaming services seem to be changing everything.Electronics retailer Pixmania said that DVD players are at the top of its 2010 most endangered technologies. DVD's have been very popular in the US, Avatar sold more than 4 million DVD's in the first four days when it's released. However, streaming services such as downloading films on-line have impacted various amounts of people. Electronics retailer 'Pixmania' states that DVD players are at the top of its "2010's most endangered technologies" list, ahead of TV.

DVD's haven't gone smoothly as even though DVD's are taking around 75% of the market share, figures for DVDs have been in decline for the last four years. In the first quarter of 2011, physical sales in the DVD market dropped by 19%, and high-street rental fell by 36% year-on-year. This is a huge disadvantage as for example, Skyfall spent $150 million - 200 million on the whole film, this included promotional techniques for example  on the London buses Daniel Craig's poster was up there in character promoting the blue-ray DVD. However, as many people are not buying DVDs and can download films on-line they'd be wasting some of there money which is a downside and drawback. 

The price of on-line content has fallen dramatically for consumers as they've seen and identified how popular it is. As Netflix subscription allows unlimited streaming for only £5.00 a month and this is watching latest releases of films! sitting at home on a computer or even phone! Lovefilm, offers a similar service for £10.00. With more than 23.5 million subscribed to Netflix, and 1.5 million to LoveFilm, this is a sign that many more people will turn to on streaming services.

Final front cover and double page spread

MEST 1: Easter revision list

Go over the fundamental key words for media terminology.
Go over and revise my case study have I used things like: synergy.
Go over the mark scheme and do exam questions to MEST 1.
Have a look at different theories e.g: Barthes, Todorov etc and link it to justify my example.

WORK ON: Blumar and Katz: gratification 

Analysis of double page spread

The two pages are A4 sized each, which allows enough significant space for the contents of each page. The main image on the left hand side takes up most of the page, which only focuses on the singer. This is advantageous as the audience are engaging with the singer effectively, as this is a great close-up of Jessie J it looks like as they took the shot specifically for the magazine. It's a close-up shot which is useful as it links to the masthead itself because it says: 'Superstar Rising'. So the audience therefore are enticed to look at the singers make up and pose. In addition the colour scheme I feel is all linked as the colour of her lipstick is very similar or is the same colour of the masthead and interview questions. This is effective as it all blends in very nicely together making it look more so attractive and 'professional'.

On the top right hand corner it says 'Fun Fearless Female' this basically sums it up in a whole of the pose Jessie J is doing in the left hand side, as it's connoting to the audience and informing the audience about her confidence. And perhaps is tagging the right audience because for example, there are many insecure girls out there who would want inspiration and love Jessie J so reading just three words would encourage them to read the issue. Plus it looks like the font is in Arial and it's in black and is simple which shows it just wants to share the message to the audience. At the top it introduces the singer effectively stating her name in italics bold 'Jessie J' then having a few full stops and saying 'Superstar Rising'. This is useful as it's in different font which makes it effective and readable, but not only that it also stands out which is a key element. Having the 'Superstar Rising' in big and bold shows what position the current singer is in now and why it'd interest the audience to read it.

Underneath the masthead it describes Jessie J and her current position not only that, it sums up the magazine so to say synopsis in full. This is in italics which again stands out and attains the audience's attention. The drop down letter starts of with 'S'this font is in italics, which is useful because there proves to be a pattern. As we've already seen some words, sentences are in italics so this connotes continuity which is effective. The interview is in collums this is good as it's not only easier to read it, but looks very professional and real which would attain the audience's clear attention. In between the collums there are also lines which is effective because it builds the pattern more so. At the end of the interview there is a picture this links in with everything because as a rising star she's won an award which shows her hard work. This picture is bordered in white which makes it stand out and is effective.

Second print draft magazine

For my front cover I have used a lot of different things to make it stand it out and effective. Firstly at the top hand of my magazine I have typed up 'Brand new Teen drama coming to a TV near you' this is effective as it's not only informing the audience but grabbing their attention so to say. As I'm making them aware that it's a brand new show but that it's soon coming out so they shouldn't miss out. To make my heading short and snappy I have but the 'step' in a form of steps, this is effective as it's visually grab holds of the audience's attention which would in turn make them buy it. Next to the heading I have put the institution which is 'E4' this is sufficient as it informs the audience what channel the show is on, without having a specific heading. What I think stands out is the image I've added in a circle, it's a message on the phone from a suspicious person named 'A'. To make the audience curious and excited I felt it'd be good to add this in 'Who is A? we have all the clues you need to know' because I assumed as I'm a teenager, I always want to know the latest clues to a cliff hanger it's just what everyone likes! At the bottom I've added the website and twitter page, as I'm connoting and showing it's a brand new show and they (the audience) can keep up-to-date with the show on social networking sites (word of mouth).

This is my double page spread I've been inspired by not just only one magazine but a variety of magazines, so what I've done is captured so many different ideas and created my original one. I added two different shots on one page as firstly I stated in my bold heading 'On set with Rashmi Sharma' this means that it's an exclusive, live interview and I'm backing my point up by having these two images which I think is effective because for the audience it makes it more believable when they're reading. I chose to do interview because I saw this happening consistently in a few magazines, and it's effective I asked a wide range of questions which would specifically target teens as they'd be interested in a few things about actors/tress. My layout is done simply on one magazine but I've done small paragraphs and made it brief to encourage the audience. Adding the quote 'I want to be a truly inspiring role model for my fans' really brings out the true personality of the actress which probably would entice the audience to read the magazine. I did a similar thing underneath the first picture outlining what's on her mind while posing for the camera.

Print magazine: shots

Group progress report

04/03/2013: we are on the verge of nearly finishing all of our 2-minute opening production, having finished most of the editing we are looking back on what areas we can improve on which would make it more curious.
For example, in our video lily (Rashmi/protagonist) is walking into the alley way and is held up by the mystery man however he only questions her saying "where have you been?" then the scene sways to an extreme-close-up of her eye. This doesn't pace and make as much sense as we want the guy to do something which would make it more realistic, scary and frightening. Allowing to the audience to feel shocked and curious this will result only when we create the specific enigma code.

ACTION: to re-shoot the alley way scene, perhaps adding a headlock or something exciting/frightened which would leave the audience shocked and entice them to wanting to watch more.