Video on Demand (VoD)

Video on demand is a term used to describe shows that are available whenever the viewer chooses to watch them. There is no need to wait until a show is on, it can be played whenever you like. Vod (Video on Demand) can be delivered over the Internet to home computers and even high tec mobile phones. Also with IPTV technology it can be brought to home televisions.

In order for VOD to be developed, it required extensive negotiations between content creators and cable providers. Cable providers offered VOD as part of digital subscription packages, which by 2005, primarily allowed cable subscribers to only access an on-demand version of content that was already provided in linear distribution. Included in these packages were "extras" and "bonus footage" rather than full episodes of television shows.

The British Video Association (BVA) for the year 2003 to 2004 showed that the number of illegal downloads of films and television programmes may have increased to 1.67 million, three times the number estimated to have taken place the year before. This was estimated by the BVA to have cost the DVD industry in the UK £45 million in lost revenue. The DVD industry was worth around £2.42 billion to the British economy in 2003 .
It is estimated that the UK film industry was worth around £4.3 billion to the UK's economy, but that in 2007, illegal copying and sharing of films may have cost the economy up to £404 million.

The UK Film Council believes that the digital distribution of films to the home and to mobile devices presents an opportunity to increase significantly access to independently produced and distributed UK films and specialised film within the UK.

Q7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feeling you have learnt In the progression from It to the full product?

4 Frames from my Prelim Task:

4 Frames from the opening of my film "The UnDead Soul":

The top image has 4 frames from my Prelim Task that I did. It shows a split screen shot, over the shoulder shot, a meduim shot and a low camera angle shot. The bottom image shows 4 frames from my final prject which was to create an opening for my horror film. Its shows and over the shoulder shot, long shot, close up and part of a match on action shot.

Looking back at my prelim task I have used simple shots such as close up and over the shoulder however in my film opening I have tried to use a variety of camera angle and shots to emphasise the atmosphere and to create the tension needed. Also in my film opening I have used more effects and added credits to make it look professional whereas in my prelim I hardly used any effects indicating that I have progressed my abilities in using PremierePro.

Q6 What have you learnt about techologies from the prcess of constructing this product?

Throughout the process of constructing my coursework I have learnt how to handle a camera; using it in different ways and angles to make the camera shot look more professional. I have also learnt how to use Adobe PremeirePro. This software has helped me to edit my film opening, making it look and sound more professional by adding effects and sounds. Another thing I have learnt to use well is my blog. This helped me show everyone my progress throughout the coursework and allowed other people to comment and give me advice to improve.

Q5. How did you attract/address your audience?

My unique selling point for my film is the way I have used sound/music to make my film more effective. The use of sound really emphasises the genre of horror and really accentuates the film making it more 'jumpy'. People would go see my film because of the scare factor and adrenaline rush from the sound/music effects and this relates very well to my target audience as they love to go watch movies that give them a fright.

I think a really good example of a film that uses sound effectively is the film 'The Ring'. In the final scene this film uses really good music and sound effects to lead up to the climax of the clip.  

Watching this clip you can see the tension created in the atmosphere. This is what i have tried to do with my film, creating a tensed atmosphere, leaving the audience waiting for the big jump in the end.

In my film the sounds lead up to the big finish at the end where the audience will jump, whereas in this film the tensed and scary music is used throughout the movie however it still has the same effect.

Q4. Who Would Be The Audience For Your Media Product?

This is Lilly Smith, she is a typical member of my target audience that I'm aiming for. She is 16 years old and is a very creative person. Lilly would be the perfect person for my film, this is because she loves the way horror makes her scared and heart pump fast and my film does all of that.

Lilly loves to watch comedy or action films such as Big Momma or Rush Hour with her friends or family. She also loves to watch horror films because of the adrenaline rush she gets when getting scared and also the sound effects they use in the horror film to create the intense and scary atmosphere; therefore I think that Lilly would love to see my film because I have added scary sound effects & other sounds such as scary music to make my film more scary.  Her favourite films are the Harry Potter series because she likes the action adventures that goes on and she also loves the horror film The Ring. This makes my film ideal for her because it has both adventure & good sound effects to heighten the tension to create the scary atmosphere of the movie.

Lilly lives in Croydon in a big house with 7 bedrooms, this is because she has got 5 little siblings and one older one living in the same house. Indicating furthermore she loves adventure because of the many siblings she has, she is used to having lots of adventures and drama in her family.

 Her mode of transport would be going by air plane because she realised when your in an air plane you see the world in a completely different view.

Lilly's ideal holiday place would be the Maldives or Egypt because she likes the scenery the places offer and it also has tropical things such as fruit and different types of food.

When she goes out in the weekends she likes to hang out with her friends or family. She is quite an outgoing person and likes doing adventurous things. Sometimes Lilly likes to stay at home to play some video games because its something different to do. Also she likes to play sports with her friends such as Basketball to keep herself fit and healthy. This also shows that she will be the ideal person for my film because my film is adventurous as well as scary which fits her personality.

 Lilly's favourite food is Chinese and loves going to Chinese restaurants because she likes their culture and thinks the way Chinese people make their food very interesting.  

Also the fact that she goes out a lot is an advantage to me and my film because I know she will go out to watch my film in the cinema's when it comes out.

Q3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

"The UnDead Soul" is a low budget U.K film that I hope gets the audiences heart beating fast with fright. I am looking for a distributor well known by other people and can be used to distribute my film using a variety of marketing so it can be seen by a wide range of people. I think the internet is the best way to distribute the film because it allows people to visit websites gaining moreinfomation about the film and they can decide if they want to watch the film and weather they would like it or not. The company i would like to use is '20th Century Fox Film. Ltd' it is a independant Hollywood picture motion production company and distributor.

Link to official website to 20th Century Fox

20th Century Fox is a worldwide known company that has distributed many successfully films, one of them being Aliens vs Predator and Big Momma; this film had a trilogy furthermore emphasising the success of the film.They distribute a variety of genre's of film indicating their success in distributing. This also shows that they will be able to distribute my horror film very well due to the success.

This year there will roughly be around 77 horror films being released, there is an increasingly high demand for horror/thriller films, and my film has a higher chance of being watched due to this sudden demand. Cinemas such as VUE, ODEON, and IMAX are popular cinema all around London, which are cheap and affordable ticket prices. When 20th Century Distributes my film I would like it to be shown in cinemas like; CineWorld, Odeon, Vue and IMAX because they are all well known cinema's where people would mostly go to.

From statistics the best films are shown in IMAX to get the full effect of the film that is shown. 20th Century Fox films mostly go to distribute their films in IMAX to show their audience the full effect on things because IMAX specialises in special surround sound system which gives the audience a heightened amount of sound causing a more good effect on them. 

Q2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?

I think the character Liana played by Laksmi Biswas represents the typical "teen" social group. Specifically aimed for the younger audience (ages 15-18). This is mainly shown through the character by the clothes she is wearing, a hoody and jeans, potratying the typical teen clothing.

The character Liana is the type of teenager who has a wise mind in a young body, she has a lot of reposibilities on her hands, one of  them being to look after her brother.

I would compare Liana to the character Sarah from the movie Spiderwick Chronicles. As you can see in the picture although she is a young person she still has a responsibility in looking after her brothers from danger. Sarah and Liana are both wise and very mature people for thier age therefore indicating they are characters that like to take charge in everything.

Q1: In what ways does my media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Above are 9 frames of my film "The UnDead Soul" in which I'm going to evaluate the conventions of media in each frame. In frame 1 its a panning shot of the forest. I wanted to add a panning shot to show the audience where the location of the film would take place. Frame 2 is a close up on the characters feet showing that, the character is travelling thought the forest, however as a audience we aren't seeing the location because that adds more tension. Frame 3 is a simple shot with the title in it to show that the actual movie is going to start and it is the end of the opening sequence. Frame 4 shows the character Max looking for his sister in the forest.This shot mainly focuses on his face and surrounding to emphasise the fact that he is worried.

Frame 5 shows a close up on the character Liana's face showing how scared and frightened she is. Frame 6 shows the two main characters playing in the field; this shot indicates that they are just normal siblings plain football emphasising the realness of the film. Frame 7 & 8 is two shots taken like a match on action shot, showing that Liana is entering the forest to look for the ball. The last Frame shows a close up on "the undead soul", this gives the audience a showing of what the "villain" of the film looks like and gives them a shock from the beginning.