Revision Tasks

AS OCR Media Studies Audience and Institutions: Film Production & Film Industry Revision Tasks

Nicole Ponsford | Wednesday March 23, 2011

Associated Resources

• http://media.edusites.co.uk/index.php/article/as-ocr-media-studies-audience-and-institutions-film-industry-revision-advic/
• http://media.edusites.co.uk/index.php/article/as-ocr-media-studies-audience-and-institutions-film-industry-revision-ppt/

TOP TIP: Consider the issues for the studios and audiences at every stage.
When writing the exam essay - you should look for modern examples in the industry and be able to write a paragraph about:

• the processes of production – how the product is created
• the methods of distribution – how does the product reach its audience marketing
• methods, and processes of marketing as they relate to the institutions
• the way audiences consume the product
• the relationships between audiences and institutions
• issues raised by media ownership within your topic
• convergence and new technologies in production, distribution and marketing and its importance for institutions and audiences
• issues raised by global institutions targeting British audiences

Revision Task 1

1. In small groups, or as an individual take one of the above bullet points.
2. Give yourself 3-5 minutes to discuss this.
3. Try to reference as much as you can.
4. Share your ideas. Your audience is to make notes on this.
5. Ask your audience to add anything you have missed out. You make a note of this!

Revision Task 2

Read the extract below:
1. Advice from the exam board (OCR) Section B of the exam: Institutions and Audiences:

“Candidates should be prepared to understand and discuss the processes of production, distribution, marketing and exchange as they relate to contemporary media institutions, as well as the nature of audience consumption and the relationships between audiences and institutions.
In addition, candidates should be familiar with:

• the issues raised by media ownership in contemporary media practice;
• the importance of cross media convergence and synergy in production, distribution and marketing;
• the technologies that have been introduced in recent years at the levels of production, distribution, marketing and exchange;
• the significance of proliferation in hardware and content for institutions and audiences (i.e. digital technology);
• the importance of technological convergence for institutions and audiences: the internet, digital downloads, DVDs, High Definition, CGI, etc.;
• the issues raised in the targeting of national and local audiences (specifically, British) by international or global institutions;
• the ways in which the candidates’ own experiences of media consumption illustrate wider patterns and trends of audience behaviour.

This unit should be approached through contemporary examples in the form of case studies based upon one of the specified media areas”.

This can be done as a group or as a longer revision activity. You could even use the new social network on MediaEdu called ‘Wire’.
1. For each of the bullet points above, write the point in the middle of the piece of paper - or type as a header in a Powerpoint / Word or Pages document.
2. Give yourself 3 minutes on each point. Write down everything you know - don’t worry about sentences or spelling.
3. Go back over them, one by one. Highlight key ideas, and add anything you have forgotten.
4. Write these up as neat notes for your revision closer to the exam - or create a powerpoint for next year’s candidates.
Film A study of a specific studio or production company within a contemporary film industry that targets a British audience (eg Hollywood, Bollywood, UK film), including its patterns of production, distribution, exhibition and consumption by audiences.This should be accompanied by study of contemporary film distribution practices (digital cinemas, DVD, HD-DVD, downloads, etc) and their impact upon production, marketing and consumption.