1. Independent Case Study
L.O. – How can we demonstrate our understanding of how an independent company operates in comparison to a conglomerate?

2. Your findings should be based on:
In pairs or groups of three, research an independent company in a chosen sector
Your findings should be based on:
Examples of products the company has made
How the company produces, distributes and exchanges its products
Examples of joint ventures
Target audience
Genre of products that the company specialises in
How is new media used to promote its products?
What are the main differences between your independent company and the conglomerate you previously researched?
Televisual ( production-companies_bid- 380.html) has a breakdown of the top 100 independent TV production companies in the UK that may be useful as a starting point for this task

3. Job roles in the media – what they do for each stage
L.O. – How can we learn more about the job roles within the media industry?

4. Types of questions related to media job roles:
Explain how two job roles in a media sector you have studied contribute to the production phase of a media product or brand? [4]

5. Choose a media industry and research five jobs roles within the sector and briefly summarise what the job involves. Use the table below to tick which area of production they work in.
Job role
Pre-production
Production
Post-production

6. Research
What jobs are related to the following stages of the production of a media text: pre- production, production and post-production?
Choose a role that interests you for each of the stages of production
Use the Prospects website ( to further investigate the requirements and responsibilities of the job roles

7. Distribution channels (ways to get texts to audience)
L.O. – How can we strengthen our understanding of distribution within the media industry?

8. Reminder:
Distribution: This involves the marketing and advertising of the product (TV interviews by cast, billboard adverts etc) and the distribution of the physical product (cinemas, online etc).

9. Question: Identify four distribution channels that are used by media companies to reach audiences.
Can be TV, radio, cinema, video on demand (VOD), online streaming, websites etc.
You might be asked to give examples as to how digital media has changed the way these distribution channels operate
What examples could we give for each?

10. Distribution exchange
this is the stage when the audience consume and engage with the product (download, stream, etc.)
how might the way we distribute products affect our consumption of them? (instant access etc.) Give examples to support your ideas

11. Textual analysis of an audio visual product
L.O. – How do audio visual texts create meaning for an audience?

12. Detailed textual analysis of a media text might be the focus in the exam. You may need to include/focus on elements of genre conventions, representational issues, and technical elements.

13. Possible questions:
Analyse how production techniques have been used to create meaning in a media product you have studied. [12]
Analyse the concepts of ‘genre’ and ‘representation’ in a media product you have studied. [12]
What theories could we include in our answer?

14. Film trailers
You could focus on any media text (Clips: ‘The Dark Knight’, ‘Hollyoaks’, ‘Suicide Squad’ etc.), but we will focus on film trailers as case studies to help in the examination.

15. Codes and conventions include:
Title graphics
Non-diegetic music
Non-linear narrative structure Transitions
Creating spectacle and enigma (e.g. SFX)
Use of close-ups
Any others?

16. Genre conventions What is genre? What is sub-genre?
What is a hybrid genre?

17. Theory Alert: Media Language Genre – Steve Neale
Key ideas:
‘Genres are instances of repetition and difference’
Genres may be dominated by repetition, but are also marked by difference, variation and change.
Genres change, develop and vary as they borrow from and overlap with one another
Genres exist within specific economic, institutional and industrial context

18. What is the genre of the following trailers. How do we know
What is the genre of the following trailers? How do we know? Any hybrid genres/sub-genres?
Make detailed notes (as you may need to use these ideas in the examination) on the genre and how they conform and/or subvert their genre conventions:

19. How can we analyse the micro elements within a film trailer?
micro elements (mise en scene, camerawork, editing and sound) are used to create meanings (representation, genre etc.)
Which ones are technical elements/codes?
How do these technical conventions link to genre?

20. What representational issues could we focus on when textually analysing trailers?
Gender
Age
Race
Disability
Class
Sexuality
What else?

21. How could we link these things to theories we have learned about?
These type of questions are usually the longer 12 or 20 mark questions
The examiner wants you to link what we see on screen to the intended effect on the audience (connotations) and then see if there is some theory you can link it to (media effects, uses and gratifications, genre etc.)
This will give you the higher marks

22. Exam feedback
Look at the figures in the insert and look at patterns, as you will need to discuss these in the first few questions – use data findings from the infographics (look at gender and age patterns if relevant, ensure getting numbers right)
How might data be used/interpreted by the industry (Q3 patterns in audience, genre, etc. and how it will influence their ideas to shape their own products)
It asks you to use examples, so use them!
If it wants you to write about a specific audience then state which audience you are focusing one (age, gender etc.)
Read the question carefully and highlight the key words – answer the question
Know your case studies (incl. how digital media has helped to advertise them: viral campaigns, social media, YouTube etc.)
Know your media terminology (including the acronyms and what they stand for)
Know your theories and how to link them to your points

23. Case Studies
The Dark Knight – regulation, representation, genre, digital advertising (viral campaigns etc), technical conventions
Carrie – Viral campaign to attract young, year old audience
The Conjuring / Avengers Assemble – genre, representation, digital advertising, technical conventions
Suicide Squad clip - genre, representation, digital advertising, technical conventions
Disney – how a conglomerate works – vertical and horizontal integration, synergy, must make profit
Independent company – your own choice – how different to a conglomerate and needs to use joint ventures for synergy
Public service broadcaster – BBC – ethos/remit to educate, entertain, inform. Must appeal to all types of audiences as it is a public broadcaster. Doesn't rely on making profit, as profit gets put back into company rather than money to shareholders