Grand Budapest Hotel Research

1. The issues raised by media ownership in contemporary media practice; (how do who owns a media company influence the type of film made and its potential success? For example do BIG companies make BIG films and therefore make all the money? Is it possible for small companies to succeed?)

Usually the films made by big companies such as Disney and warner brothers are likely to be very successful as they have more money for the cast, production, directors etc. Although the grand Budapest hotel was produced by 3 companies, American Empirical Picture, Indian paintbrush and Babelsberg studio, and directed by Wes Anderson, he has also been in 2 other films that were produced by Indian paintbrush. The 1production of the grand Budapest was very small companies compared to those of Disney. The budget of the film was $31m but at box office it made $172.7m. So yes it is possible for small companies to succeed and they don’t need to be part of the big 6 in order to do so; and no, not all big films make all the money, as it is shown in the grand Budapest due to their box office figure compared to their budget as their overall box office total is almost 6 times more.

2.  The importance of cross media convergence and synergy in production, distribution and marketing; (how do companies work together to produce, distribute and publicize a film? How can Disney use their size to promote and publicise a film? How can small companies work together to promote their business' when making and promoting a film?)

The grand Budapest production company was called Babelsberg studio; this was filmed in the capital city of Germany, Berlin and financed by German film-funding and film funding organisation it is a british-german co-production. The distributed was fox searchlight pictures which is sister of 21 century fox which is part of the big six; which is already an advantage on promoting the film. It helps if they work together as they can put all the money together to make it into a better film as they will be able to afford more expensive things to include in the film such as A-list stars to make the film do better.; and it will also promote the other company in this case Indian paintbrush, American empirical picture and Babelsberg. Disney can help promote as film such as the grand Budapest by advising on their adverts, also the size of Disney could help publicise a film as they may be ask for money of the other disturbed after the film is made so they will still make a huge profit even if they are to give money as, this way of disturbing and marketing has many advantages.

3.  The technologies that have been introduced in recent years at the levels of production, distribution, marketing and exchange; (how has the introduction of digital film, 3D, DVD, Blu Ray, internet streaming, downloadable content, home cinema influenced the types of films made, the way we watch them and the way we 'buy' them?)

A lot of people purchase films on DVD, blu ray, internet streaming etc due to the technology around now days. The grand Budapest hotel is available on DVD and blu ray and online for internet streaming. The grand Budapest was screened in the uk on 284 screens and since then has been available to watch on the internet through the advance in technology, as people can now copy the videos on their laptop and can be views on home TV screens, which creates a different atmosphere, which the viewer may prefer. The increase in technology has also made it easier to watch films online being they don’t need to go to the shop to get a copy. But this can have a major disadvantage on the film as a lot of the film found online and through streaming will mean that they are free to watch therefore the company will be losing out on money. Online the film was available on sites such as Netflix’s which could be named one of the best sites to watch home cinema films as they offer hundreds of films, one of which is the grand Budapest and the audience will have to pay toward this so the film is still making money.

   4. the significance of proliferation in hardware and content for institutions and audiences;(how and why have film companies had to alter the way they work now everyone has web enabled phones, PC's, consoles etc? How have audiences changed  their viewing habits now we no longer need to go to the cinema to watch a film)

films companies have now have to alter the way they work now everyone has web enabled phone, PC etc.; as they now have to be viewed on different websites/technology e.g. flash player as this will change the film into a different view that mobile phones are not able to access, so view the film in a different format. Audience have changed their viewing habits as now we are able to watch films in the comfort of our own homes which also saves time and money as the cinemas are more expensive than buying the filming and viewing it online so they prefer it this way; also this way they can watch it anytime for the same price. So many people waited for the grand Budapest to come out on DV because there was a buzz around the film so would influence people to buy the film.

5.  The importance of technological convergence for institutions and audiences; (can you think of examples of how different technologies have come together to help the film industry?)

The improved technology has allowed filming to improve due to new cameras improving the quality of the filing. In this case in the grand Budapest there is a voice over throughout and also included songs from artist that will then mean that people will be familiar with them and attract them more to it. also during the ski scene the is amazing camera technology used their allowing it to look real when really it is not. As a film industry due to new technologies they have come together to help the importance of technological convergence, for example advertising them on TV which will make and attract a bigger audience to the film.

6. the issues raised in the targeting of national and local audiences (specifically, British) by international or global institutions; (how do film companies try and attract their audience? Do they do different things in different countries?)

Film companies help attract their audience by marketing the film; Wes Anderson did this is a number of different ways, one of them being using a 3D model of the hotel, due to its bright colours and look of the hotel it will attract the audience. Also by having a trailer advertised for the film on TV and through other cinema shows, another way that they attracted their audience was by some of the cast involved as they are fairly well known by people across Europe and worldwide so would put their faces and the hotel on billboard which would make audience check out the film. As grand Budapest hotel was a small budget film the amount of marketing was limited.  

     7. the ways in which the candidates’ own experiences of media consumption illustrate wider patterns and trends of audience behaviour. (what is your opinion on the above? Do you see the developments as a good or bad thing?) Link this area to the film. Use clear examples.

I think that there are some improvements that could be made but also some things that do not need to be changed. For example an improvement could be made to how the company’s link together to make each other films successful, another improvement to the grand Budapest is to but all the money together to make it a better film. But the Grand Budapest did make huge profits so improvements may not be needed as much; as I would keep the same the voice over and the technology used.