Essay 3 What impact does media ownership have upon the range of products available to audiences in the media area you have studied.

Essay 3 What Impact Does Media Ownership Have Upon the Range of Products Available to Audiences in the Medi... by Charlotte Long on Scribd

DNA TV Limited

DNA TV Limited

DNA FILMS partners with FOX NETWORKS GROUP to create new TV company DNA TV LIMITED.

New Venture to Produce Dramas, Comedies and Limited Series for World-Wide Distribution.

UK-based DNA Films has teamed up with the Fox Networks Group (FNG) to make their first foray into television with a new venture to be known as DNA TV Limited, it was announced by Andrew Macdonald, CEO of DNA Films and Peter Rice, Chairman and CEO, Fox Networks Group.

The new company will call on DNA’s deep relationships with an incredible stable of UK-based writing, producing and directing talent, to create TV dramas, limited-run “event” series and comedies for UK and international broadcasters around the world.  As DNA TV’s partner, FNG will have a “first-look” to provide production co-finance, and access to its unrivaled global distribution network, including US-based Fox Broadcasting, FX Networks and The National Geographic Channels as well as Fox International Channels’ 300+ channels around the world.

DNA TV Limited will be owned and operated as an independent TV production company.  The management and creative decision making of the company will reside in the UK.

“Having worked closely with Peter when he was at Fox Searchlight, we are delighted to have Fox Networks Group in our corner,” said Mr. Macdonald.  “We believe that by utilizing our relationships with British talent and broadcasters, we can produce great television drama that will resonate in the UK as well as with Fox’s audience in the US and around the globe.”

“Over the years the team at DNA has demonstrated a remarkable gift for developing strong, well-written material and managing productions with tremendous production values,” said Mr. Rice.  “This venture will give their talent access to a global audience from a creative base in London and will give our networks group the opportunity to work with them.  We’re delighted to be working with Andrew, Allon and their team again to produce great programmes for the Fox networks.”

Mr. Macdonald, with producing partner Allon Reich, will lead the team as they do for DNA Films which has produced and financed a slate of successful films including Academy Award and BAFTA Award-winning “The Last King of Scotland,” “Notes on a Scandal,” “28 Days Later” and “Sunshine”,. DNA’s current slate includes an adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s “Far From the Madding Crowd” and writer/director Alex Garland’s thriller “Ex Machina”.

Managing Fox Networks Group’s participation will be Eric Schrier, President, Original Programming for FX Networks and FX Productions.

DNA Films is run by Andrew Macdonald and his producing partner Allon Reich and is one of the UK’s most successful film production companies, producing over 20 films since 2000.  Based in London but with close ties to Hollywood, DNA has produced for Twentieth Century Fox, Fox Searchlight, Universal and Entertainment Film Distributors.  Forthcoming releases include Alex Garland's Ex-Machina and Thomas Vinterberg's Thomas Hardy classic, Far From the Madding Crowd.  Previous productions include Sunshine on Leith (2013) Dredd (2012), Never Let Me Go (2010), The Last King of Scotland (2006), Notes on a Scandal (2006), 28 Weeks Later (2007), 28 Days Later (2002), Sunshine (2007), The Beach (2000), Trainspotting (1996) and Shallow Grave (1994).

DNA 20 Questions

DNA Film Questions

1. The co-founders of DNA are Duncan Kenworthy and Andrew McDonald.

2. The company was founded in 1983.

3. DNA is based in London in the United Kingdom.

4. DNA have produced 21 films.

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8. 5 box office hits made by DNA: Love Actually, The Last King Of Scotland, The History Boys, 28 Days Later and Notes On A Scandal.

9. 5 flop films made by DNA: Dredd, Never Let Me Go, Sunshine, Amelia and Shooting Someone.

10. Danny Boyle's relationship to DNA productions is a director for film such as 28 Weeks Later, 28 Days Later and Sunshine.

11. 3 famous directors DNA have worked with include Danny Boyle, Alex Garland and Richard Curtis.

12. 5 famous actors DNA have worked with include: Keira Knighley, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant, James Corden and Judi Dench. 
13. Highest grossing film was Love Actually with a box office of $246.9 million.
14.
15. One big blockbuster is 28 Days Later (2002), with a smaller budget of $8 million, but made $84.7 million in box office. This was followed in a sequel by 28 Weeks Later (2007) with a larger budget of $15 million and made a box office of $64.2 million.
16. DNA Films are most famous for producing and working on Love Actually in 2003. The film has a very well-known and high profile cast and has prompted many films to be made inspired by Love Actually.
17. The genres covered by DNA Films vary from musicals to romance, comedy, crime, drama, science fiction, horror and psychological thrillers.
18. DNA Films have a partnership with Fox Networks Group, which created DNA TV Limited.
19. DNA is run by Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich, which is one of the most successful production companies in the UK. DNA has produced films such as Dredd 3D, Never Let Me Go, Love Actually, The Beach, 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later.
20. The new partnership for television, DNA TV Limited will produce dramas, comedies and limited series to be distributed worldwide.

The Big Six

Major Film Studios

A major film studio is a film producer and production company that releases a substantial number of films annually.

The Big Six film studios are:

1. Warner Bros. Pictures. Comprising a whopping 19.7 percent of the US/Canadian market share (2007 figures), Warner Bros. Pictures is the biggest player in the film industry. Securing the rights to major films like Harry Potter, Superman, Batman, The Matrix and Star Wars have made Warner Bros. the No. 1 name in the business.

2. Paramount Pictures. With 15.5 percent of the US/Canadian market share (2007 figures), Paramount Pictures continues to be one of the most successful film production companies in the world. Star Trek, War of the Worlds, the Mission Impossible series, Transformers and Tropic Thunder are just a few of the popular films produced by Paramount Pictures.

3. Walt Disney. One of the most renowned film production companies in the history of the business, Walt Disney now holds 15.3 percent of the US/Canadian market share (2007 figures). With highly successful movies like Pirates of the Caribbean, National Treasure, Meet the Robinsons and Enchanted, there's no doubt that Disney will continue to play a key role in the industry for years to come.

4. Columbia Pictures. Comprising 12.9 percent of the US/Canadian market share (2007 figures), Columbia Pictures remains a big player in the business. Some of this company's recent successes include Casino Royale, The Da Vinci Code, the Spider-Man series and Step Brothers.

5. Universal Studios. 12.2 percent of the US/Canadian market share (2007 figures) belongs to Universal Studios, which continues to make millions for the film industry. With major hits like the Bourne series (Bourne Identity, Bourne Supremacy and Bourne Ultimatum), The American Pie series, Knocked Up, American Gangster and The Incredible Hulk, it's very clear that Universal Studios knows what it takes to make money in this industry.

6. 20th Century Fox. Also known as "Twentieth Century Fox," this highly successful movie production company makes up 11.9 percent of the US/Canadian market share (2007 figures). Some of the biggest and most successful movies from this empire include the X-Men series, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Star Wars Episodes II and III, and the Fantastic Four.

Roughly 9/10 films in the UK are seen as a result of these distributors

Ex Machina review

Ex_Machina

Ex Machina is an independent, psychological thriller made by DNA, Film4 and Universal Pictures. It was released in January 2015. In this review I will be commenting on the cast, director, writer and producer, budget, production, ethical and moral issues and my own opinion of the film. 

The cast members included Alicia Vikander (Ava), Donhnall Gleeson (Caleb Smith), Oscar Isaac (Nathan Bateman), Sonoya Mizuno (Kyoto), Symara A. Templeman (Jasmine), Elina Alminas (Amber), Gana Bayarsaikhan (Jade), Tiffany Pisano (Katya), Claire Selby (Lily) and Corey Johnson (Jay the helicopter pilot). The cast members are from all areas of the world including Dublin, Ireland,Gothenburg, Sweden, America and Japan and the UK.

The director of Ex_Machina is Alex Garland, who also wrote the film and has written films such as 28 Days Later and Never Let Me Go. Garland had the idea and foundations of the film at age 11 or 12 after he had done some basic coding and felt computers could have a mind of their own.

The producers involved in Ex_Machina were Andrew Macdonald, who has worked on film such as 28 Days Later (which Garland wrote) and Never Let Me Go where Garland wrote the screenplay. The  other producer on the film was Allon Reich who also produced 28 Weeks Later with Macdonald and Never Let Me Go.

The budget of the film was $15 million, which is a small budget compared to blockbuster films like Star Wars, which had a budget of $306 million. In box office, the film made $36.9 million.

Production of the film took place after 4 weeks of filming in Pinewood Studios and 2 weeks filming at Juvet Landscape Hotel in Valldalen, Norway. The film was shot as a live action film, and added special effects in later in the editing stages. The scenes with Ava where filmed twice, with her and without her. This allowed the cameras to pick up the background which could then be edited back in in post-production. Her hands and face were rotoscoped and the rest of her body was digitally painted out, so the background could be seen. Camera and body tracking systems where able to create a CGI version of Ava and the robot's movements could be edited. Overall, there was around 800 VFX shots and 350 of them where shots for the robots. The music was composed by Ben Salisbury who has worked on TV music and films. He was nominated for a BAFTA for working David Attenborough series The Life of Mammals and Life in the Undergrowth. He also composed a score for a documentary film Beyonce: Life Is But A Dream. Geoff Barrow was the other composer for Ex_Machina who has worked with Garland on the 2012 film Dredd.

During this film many ethical and moral questions are raised such as, is the nudity necessary? Why is it only female nudity? Does this represent Hollywood and the film industry well? What do certain cultures and religions think of this?

In my opinion I think this film is good as it grips the audience and you want to find out more and what happens to Caleb at the end. Does he escape? Can he escape? Did Ava really love him, or was it just simulated feelings? This ending is good as it leaves the audience wanting more and talking about it, however I would have liked to know what happens to Caleb. I think if the ending was different it wouldn't have such a good and thrilling impact and the audience wouldn't be as shocked. Although, I don't think the nudity was necessary to the film as this could be offensive to religions or cultures. Also it means the rating of the film is increased so a younger audience can not watch the film. 

Film Production

Film Production:




Key Roles:




Writer- Has a deep understanding of stories, plots and narrative, as well as being able to understand how the audience is affected by the film. They are familiar with current formats for presenting screenplays and are able to demonstrate creative imagination. Screenwriters bring the characters to life. They also provide the blueprint for the creative input of the producer, director, cast and crew, production designer and the composer and editor.





Producer- Has had experience for working in the film industry, a good business sense and a good understanding of finance. The producer must have a good creative vision, who is good at motivating people, negotiating and problem-solving. The producer has most of the control over the whole film, they bring it all together and approve the whole production team. The key responsibility of theirs is to create an environment to show off the cast and crew. They are responsible for the success of the film and take it from beginning to end.
 




Casting Director- Organises the casting of Actors, for all the roles in the film. They arrange and hold interviews/ auditions, negotiate fees and contracts for the Actors who get the role. The casting director must also work with the director and Producer to understand their requirements. The Casting Directors must have a broad knowledge of cinema and Actors, as well as have an interest in the theatre and stage actors. They must also know basic ways to operate a camera, such as focus and framing. They must also be computer literate and good at communicating.





Director- Must be the driving force in a film's production, by visualising and defining the style and structure of the film, and then bring it to life. They do casting, script editing, shot composition and editing. Also, they must remain the key link between the production, technical and creative teams. Directors are responsible for translating the creative side of the film's script into moving images and sounds on screen. They are responsible for the  film's artistic and commercial success or failure.




Financial Controller-Manages all the finances of the company or large production. They prepare budgets, manage cashflows, accounting and taxation and raising finances. They are also the ones who oversee the whole accounting team. This job is challenging and financial controllers usually help producers and Executive producers. Together they prepare budgets and raise finances, remembering Government tax Incentive schemes.




Camera Operator- Prepares and operates the camera, along with all the equipment. They work along side the Director of Photography, so the correct style is achieved. Also, they manage other camera department staff and communicate with actors. Camera operators carry out the director of photography's and the director's instructions for shot composition and the development. Usually, they are the first people to see how the performance, art direction, lighting, composition and the camera movement come together to form the overall film.




Editors- Work very closely to the director to create the finished film, they work in an editing suite, often for a long amount of time. The editor will run a team of assistants and trainees for bigger productions or companies. This role is key in the Head of Department features. The editor will carefully choose and edit shots so the film flows throughout.




Production Designer- Their job is to manage all visual aspects of the film, they work with the director and producer to create a budget and schedule. Production designers also direct the team who is responsible for sets and costume etc. They are part of the main heads of department on film crews, they are also responsible for the entire art department. Their role also includes helping directors, so the look and feel of the film is correct to the director and producer.




Marketing- Their role includes taking care of the planning and marketing campaigns. Their main responsibility is to convince the public that the film is one they want to see. They then target potential audiences whilst the film is being released, this is when the audiences interest will be most high. After it has been released, they increase promotion to gain a larger audience.




Exhibition-Showing films in cinemas is the biggest source of income for a film. Other methods of creating a bigger audience or profit is a premier in the UK or USA. This will draw a wider audience and will increase advertising, meaning more people are likely to hear about the film and want to see it. The film is then given to the cinemas who show the film. The cinemas is given films when it has been decided what is likely to be popular and what people want to see.