a) What is meant by a mainstream film ? [2]
A mainstream film is a film which is made by a major film company and costs a lot.
b) Briefly explain what a media conglomerate is. [2]
A company that owns numerous companies involved in mass media enterprises.
c) Explain two features of independent film production. Refer briefly to I, Daniel Blake to support your points. [6]
One feature of an independent film is that they have a low budget and aren't supported by any major film studios for funding, their production value is low like the least amount locations and not expensive actors. Another feature is that they get many small film studios to help fund for the film because they are small studios that don't have much money so they have to ask multiple studios until they get their budget, using other small studios to fund keeps the film independent as its not helped by a major film studio.
In Question 3(d) you will be rewarded for drawing together knowledge and understanding from across your full course of study, including different areas of the theoretical framework and media contexts.
d) Explain how economic contexts shape mainstream films. Refer to Black Panther to support your points. [15]
Economic contexts will always shape mainstream films and these are a few points on why. First of all, funding is one of the economic contexts that will change any film as if an independent industry was making a film, it is harder for them to be funded as they don have a good reputation or popular enough to be funded. On the other hand, Black Panther is made from a major film industry so it is easier to be funded as Marvel is known for successful films and are very popular for their superhero franchise compared to other independent industries and its a problem in the film industry where Marvel are dominating the industry with all these successful films whereas independent industries struggle to be funded. This is linking to ownership, how a film is good or not depending on who made it, usually mainstream industries are more successful on their films as there more popular. Just like Black Panther, it was successful mostly because of the reason it was made by Marvel however, Marvel's reputation has gone up as they are owned by Disney who are also very popular. Disney are really trying to maximise their audience with using vertical and horizontal integration meaning that they own similar companies like Disney but they also own other variety of companies that aren't so similar but is a very good way at becoming very popular, this helped Black Panther on its success as it expanded the variety of viewers of the film. This is supported by David Hesmondhalgh's theory that the largest companies or conglomerates now operate across a number of different cultural industries to maximise their audience.
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