"Successful media products dpened as much upon marketing and distribution to a specific audience as they do upon good production practices." To what extent would you agree with this statement within the media area you have studied? (NOTES)

Introduction:

• Successful media products
• Marketing and distribution
• Good production practices

Paragraph One:

• Marketing and distribution - Case Study - Rebecca Black - bad production practice but clever marketing - Viral/trend (Gangnam Style)

Paragraph Two:

• Wiz Khalifa - good production - he became popular - Atlantic Records (Black & Yellow) - many songs in Independent Record Labels - Tyler Gang
• Independent Labels vs Major Labels
• Auto - tune - more money spent - not own songs just face and voice
• Real talent - gigs - instruments - built their talent (Ed Sheeran)

Paragraph Three: TV Reality

• X - Factor -successful and unsuccessful
• One Direction put together
• Olly Murs 2009 - money from his songs - Runner - up against Joe McEldery - popular vote of 9.8% while Jedward with 10.75% - Bottom two - Olly was saved - He missed his brother's wedding during the semi - finals because Simon wouldn't let him go - media speculation - clever marketing - major label success - Epic, Syco and Columbia Records - 4 number ones (Please Don't Let Me Go, Thinking of Me, Heart Skips a Beat and Dance with Me Tonight) - to date 4 million records sold worldwide - Xtra Factor host with Caroline Flack
• Jedward - "Not very good and very annoying." Simon Cowell - popular because of personality - voted off against Olly Murs, but if it came to deadlock, they would have stayed (popular vote - Olly Murs = 9.8% while Jedward with 10.75%) January 2010 - £90,000 contract with Sony Music after debut single "Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby) with Vanilla Ice - number one in Irish Charts - number two in the UK - culminated but following day Universal Music Ireland signed them on a three album contract - these 'personalities' steal other people's opportunity to follow their dream of becoming a singer
• Britain's Got Talent 2009 - Susan Boyle - product of clever marketing - details about her life 'sob story' - picking people out who are ugly, wacky, weird, attractiveness, arrogance - she broke this mould of process - she was expected to be terrible because she's weird and ugly - as an audience we assume this - unexpected talent shock - footage to build up the story - manufacut

Is digital media technology always a good thing?

(image source: http://www.simpsonscreative.co.uk/services/digital-media/)

As technology is improving throughout the years, we are able to access audio and video in a few seconds in our mobile phones, iPods, laptops or computers.

Digital media does have its advantages. One advantage is that it is quick and convenient to the public; it saves a lot of time compared to traditional technology and in our time today, the public want something quick and easy. Digital media has a higher quality of audio and video as they have been taken by newly enhanced cameras and recorders. People are now able to buy music from online music stores for example iTunes from the comfort of their own home or whereabouts and the music is directly put into an iPod or a mobile phone. It is a whole lot easier than buying a physical CD and, exporting and importing the music onto a device. Before online music stores became popular, people had to get a physical CD, Tape and/or Vinyl copy in order to listen to their music in either a CD player, stereo and/or a cassette player. With the invention of iPods and mobile phones it is a lot easier for people to listen to their music from one device, instead of carrying the player and the different tapes/CDs.

Digital media has helped a lot of artists who have emerged from the internet scene.  Upcoming and thriving new artists are able to create a fan base online before becoming successful in that industry. They do their promotions on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter; here they announce their new gigs, release new songs, short-films etc. An example of a successful artist is Justin Bieber. He was entered in a talent show and his mum put the video up on YouTube for family members to see but without knowing the video has reached a lot of views. After that he started making Covers on YouTube with his guitar. In 2008, he was discovered by a talent manager Scooter Braun who later became his manager. Braun agreed for him to meet with Usher Raymond, who then signed Justin Bieber to Raymond Braun Media Group (RBMG) and record executive L.A. Reid offered him a contract to Island Records. From his YouTube videos he already had a fan base and also he has Usher’s fans to support him. He currently has under 30 million followers on Twitter, just over 1.6 million subscribers on YouTube and over 46 million likes on Facebook. The band Radiohead promoted their ‘In Rainbow ‘album by putting up the album online and people had the freedom to chose how much they would like to pay for the album either none at all or thousands. This promotion was successful as they gained popularity and a lot of money from it.

However, digital media does have its disadvantages. As people are buying audio and videos online, there is a decrease in sales in physical copies. Some people also get audio and videos from illegal online websites for free and therefore, artists do not gain any profits from their work. There are also different types of promotions that are still convincing to the public like music press, advertising stunts etc.

Overall, digital media technology is good for our society as it a whole quicker and convenient for the fast paced society. However, it does have it consequences for artists who do not get profit form their music and films. 

EastEnders Textual Analysis

EastEnders is a British Television soap opera first broadcast on 19 February 1985. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End of London. The series primarily centres on the residents of Albert Square, a Victorian square of terraced houses, and its neighbouring streets, namely Bridge Street, Turpin Road and George Street, and which encompasses a pub, street market, night club, community centre, charity shop, cafe and various small businesses, in addition to a park and allotments. 
(text and image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EastEnders)

Episode 09/10/12

The police are amused when Derek calls them about Alice’s mugging. Derek blames Tanya for the attack and thinks she should apologise. Dennis tells Jack his dad died saving his comrades. At Abi’s party, Max gives Derek a bottle of whisky, supposedly an apology from Tanya. Tanya then hands the whisky to Alice suggesting she give it to Ray as a thank you. Alice asks Ray if he’ll teach her self-defence. Derek overreacts when he realises Alice has left the party. Furious when Sharon offers her opinion, Derek brings up Dennis’ father’s murder in front of him. Jack backs Tanya up when she tells Derek to stay away from her family.

The Brannings belatedly celebrate Abi’s 16th birthday with a party. They’re excited at the thought of meeting Abi’s new boyfriend and are shocked when a defiant Abi introduces Jay. Lola’s hurt when she sees Abi and Jay kissing. Whitney’s angry when Joey kisses her.

Billy and Lola attend court; it’s decided Lexi will stay in care with another hearing in eight weeks. Lola’s devastated. Billy asks Phil for help but Phil refuses. Abi consoles Lola. Sharon reminds Phil Lexi and Lola are currently the only family he’s got. Jay bolsters a defeated Billy’s confidence. Lola’s thrilled when Billy reveals Lexi’s coming for a visit tomorrow. When Phil arrives and offers help, Billy shuts the door on him – it’s his family, they’ll do it his way.

Masood’s excited about his honeymoon plan and Zainab agrees to withdraw £500 from the Tamwar and Kamil account. After trying to extract money from Kim, Zainab goes to Syed - Masood can’t know the account’s empty. Syed borrows the £500 from Danny.

Ray’s got the official nod for his ‘Fighting Fit’ scheme. He wants to celebrate and is annoyed when Kim’s underwhelmed by his news.                                                                                                

(source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01nb0jd/EastEnders_09_10_2012/)

Characters:

• Jack Branning
• Phil Mitchell
• Abi Branning
• Max Branning
• Billy Mitchell
• Whitney Dean
• Masood Ahmed
• Christian Clarke
• Syed Masood
• Kim Fox
• Sharon Rickman
• Lauren Branning
• Jay Mitchell
• Cora Cross
• Lola Pearce
• Derek Branning
• Zainab Khan
• Ray Dixon
• Alice Branning
• Joey Branning
• Tanya Cross
• Dennis Rickman
• Sgt Heatcote
• Danny Pennant

Conventions: 

• Family
• Friends
• Relationship
• Problems
• Real life family situations
• Aimed at teens, adults and families

Analysis:

• Aerial shot of the East End with 'EastEnders' written in white across the top with 'BBC' beneath it, the theme tune is also playing.
• Wide shot to show where they are 
• Mid shot to show how the character feels
• Over the shoulder, side shot to show that the other character is watching them from a far
• Diegetic sound on the stereo
• Close up to show how she feels towards what he is saying
• Over the shoulder to show how each other is reacting towards the words the other say
• Pan and tilt going down the stairs which moves the audience along with the actors
• Two shot, over the shoulder to show what their relationship mainly consists of which are arguments
• Medium, three shot to show family bonding time
• Master shot to show where he is. A dark office space with dimmed lighting to show that he's the type of person who is powerful but doesn't help anyone. 
• Diegetic sound of the kettle
• Three shot, one person blurred and close up. The two people on medium shot having a conversation about a family situation of his
• Close up on the bottle of wine that was slammed on the edge of the boxing ring to emphasise his anger
• Diegetic sound on the stereo
• Two shot to a close up to show how they feel towards the news
• Over the shoulder shot staying on one character's level for the audience to be on her side
• Close up to show her anger
• Aerial image of the East End with the theme tune

Sound

There are mainly diegetic sounds from household appliances, motor vehicles and the stereo.

Mis en scene

The props used are everyday life objects that relate to the scene. For example a bottle of wine for celebrating good news.

Their costumes are basic; they are what people would normally wear on a daily basis.

The Middle Episode Analysis

• It is an American sitcom television series
• Comedy
• 22 minutes

Season 4 episode 3 - "The Second Act" 

When Frankie is suddenly fired from Ehlert Motors, she embarks on a quest not to repeat mistakes from the past by taking any crummy job that comes her way, deciding to go instead to tech school to secure a real career. Meanwhile, school has begun and Axl is starting his Senior year in high school, Sophomore Sue takes on the task of mentoring new freshman Jenna Taylor (Bailey Buntain), and Mike is upset with Brick when he can't be bothered to put his book down to meet some of Mike's friends after a softball game. (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Middle_(season_4) )


Characters:
• Frankie Heck – the wife and mother, an underperforming salesperson in a car dealership
• Mike Heck – the husband and father, manages a local quarry
• Axl Heck – oldest, a cynical teenager who does well in sports but not school
• Sue Heck – middle child, who is enthusiastic and socially awkward
• Brick Heck – youngest, intelligent, loves to read with socialisation problems


Conventions:
• Family
• Real life family situations
• School
• Jobs
• Status
• Relationships (family, friendships)
• Primary, Secondary and Tertiary characters
• Aimed at families


Analysis:
• 1st shot – establishing shot of ‘The Middle’ with the name of the series meeting in the middle of the shot with the diegetic sound of birds and the wind
• Non – diegetic sound into a voice over to lead on the story
• Panning left to right
• Montage of different scenarios from the past (flashback), all medium shots
• Over the shoulder shot, looking down to show status a scene from the episode: the camera is looking down at Brick (the son) while the camera is looking up at the dad to show who has power over who
• A dolly shot, the camera moving backwards
• Non-diagetic sounds
• Over the shoulder shot switching from two different characters to see the emotion on the person receiving and giving
• Wideshot
• Panning left to right
• Voice over
• Medium shot
• Camera angle switches between looking up over the shoulder and looking down over the shoulder to show status in the scene, in this case, the dad telling his son off
• Non-diegetic sound


Camera
They use the same camera angles, movement and shot sizes for every single episode same.The director and producer decided to use a single-camera set up to take each scene individually, so that the final product will be simple. They kept the camera shot and angle eye level, so that the audience will be able to engage with the scene as if the audience was there talking and listening to the actors.

Sound
For every single episode the non-diegetic sound which is a little tune that is heard in some scenes and at the end is the same with a voice over at the beginning, some scenes and the end, telling the audience what they have learnt as a family.

Editing
They have kept the editing simple with continuity throughout and there is always a montage of flash backs with a voice over.

Mise en scene
The props used are related to the scene and the environment they are in. Their costume and make-up are basic as it is an interpretation of everyday life. They also use costumes if necessary meaning that some episode are done during the holidays and different seasons for example Halloween costumes during the halloween episodes. It is situated in the middle, Orson Indiana. The main locations are the family home, school and Ehlert’s Motors. The lighting is kept simple for the programme to be easy to watch.

Rupert Murdoch (unfinished presentation)

Rupert Murdoch on Prezi