Thursday, 27 November 2008

BBFC

1. From where does the BBFC get its funding?
Film industry

2. What types of texts do the BBFC classify?
Video/ FILMS

3. What are the problems / issues that the BBFC must deal with when classifying material? Look at the types of things they classify, ability to account for all types of content, changing context etc.
Violence
Language
Sex
Sexual Violence
Drugs
Horror
Imitable Technique
Racial Issues

4. Note the range of classification categories and what they mean e.g. U, PG, 12A etc.
Universal Children- Suitable for all, but especially made for children under 7 years of age.
Universal- All ages admitted, there is nothing unsuitable for children.

Parental Guidance- All ages admitted, but parents are advised that certain scenes may be unsuitable for children under 13
12 Accompanied- Suitable for those aged 12 and over. Those aged under 12 are only admitted if accompanied by an adult at all times during the performance (replaced the standard 12 certificate for cinema releases only in 2002)
12- Suitable for those aged 12 and over.
No-one younger than 12 may rent or buy a 12 rated VHS, DVD or game (home media only since 2002)
15- Suitable for those aged 15 and over.
Nobody younger than 15 may see a 15 film in a cinema. No-one younger than 15 may rent or buy a 15 rated VHS, DVD or game.
18 -Suitable for those aged 18 and over.
Nobody younger than 18 may see an 18 film in a cinema. No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an 18 rated VHS, DVD or game.
Restricted 18 -Suitable for those aged 18 and over. May only be shown at licensed cinemas or sold at sex shops, and only to people aged 18 or over.

5. Look at how different themes /content within texts are classified. Make notes. Why might a DVD featuring content of skateboarders and BMX bikers performing dangerous stunts be classified as 18 but a film containing a sex scene and use of the ‘f’ word only get a 15 rating?
6. Why might a film be given a rating of 15 upon release at the cinema but 10 years later be classified as a 12?
7. Who is responsible for classifying films in the USA? How has this changed over time? (Look back to the studio system of the 1940’s).8. Research the following case studies exploring why they were brought to the attention of the BBFC:a. Canis Canem Edit (2006, Rockstar)b. Crash (1996, David Cronenberg)c. A Clockwork Orange (1971, Stanley Kubrick)d. Fight Club (1999, David Fincher)e. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001, Simon West)f. Sweet Sixteen (2002, Ken Loach)g. The Last Temptation of Christ (1988, Martin Scorcese)h. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974, Tobe Hooper)

Thursday, 20 November 2008

essay

The representations of females differ between these two magazines, 'Heat' and 'Cosmopolitan.' The colour pink is used on the cover of 'Cosmopolitan' to attract the target audience of females, aged 16-30, of ABC1C2 class. This can connote love, passion, lust and is used as it is stereotyped to be a female colour. This can be contrasted with the cover of 'Heat' as it has limited amount of the colour pink used. The only pink used, in by the actress Sarah Jessica Parker; however is not used specifically by the institution, to appeal to their audience. Therefore, it can suggest the target audience for this magazine is not only females, but males too.

Cosmopolitan have used Beyonce on the front cover of the magazine as the protagonist; this attracts the audience, as they would like her music and her fashion sense. The key lighting on Beyonce's face and torso highlights her key features, portraying her as a sex symbol. This is reinforced by the colour pink, which connotes love. Whereas the cover of ‘Heat’ have used 3 main females, Sarah Jessica Parker, Dido and Halle Berry, all who are famous celebrities in Hollywood. These 3 females are not shown as sex symbols, because the institution is not trying to attract their audience, of females aged 20-35, of C1C2D class, who would read it for escapism, to find out information on the latest new programmes, whereas the main focus is on their hair, as the article is attracting the audience to the featured article about how to get celebrity hair. Even though both institutions have used their picked celebrities for different reasons, they are encouraging and are employing their view on the audience, that they should aspire to be like a celebrity, and they know how to, encouraging and persuading the audience to purchase their magazine.

The genre of both magazines are different, Cosmopolitan features more articles on fashion and celebrities, whereas Heat have the combination of fashion, celebrity gossip, and TV interest. This is presented on Heat, through the various pugs used; for example the two Eastenders exclusives and the Hugh Grant interview. In comparison with Cosmopolitan, that has used a main image of Beyonce, surrounded with many strap lines. The fact that Beyonce is covering the masthead, can suggest she is powerful enough to make the reader look away from the masthead and look towards her. She is also presented as dominant, because of her facial expression, which shows her looking down to the reader, smiling; also reinforcing the Propp narrative, her as the princess, however is shown to be independent. However, she does not need saving because she already is powerful enough, introducing the issue of feminism. It is also suggested by through the colour of her skin and the background colour. The colour of her skin is almost golden, like the background colour, which symbolizes her as a goddess.

The magazine Heat has represented females as superior because there are more on the cover, compared to two males. The fact that there are only two males can oppose the patriarchal society. The males are seen to be not attractive because of the issues surrounding them, such as High Grants issue with the prostitute and in Eastenders the case with Little Moe and her rape case. This can also support Levi Strauss’ binary oppositions theory; representing the male as evil and female as good.

Cosmopolitan has many articles to do with sex, creating a sexual theme. It is reinforced by the colour and how Beyonce is positioned. Her revealing, short, fitted pink dress shows her as beautiful and accentuates her body. Also, the way her hand is positioned, which is moving up her thigh, gives sexual connotations to the reader. As oppose to Heat, where all the females are covered; the strap line is covering their body focusing on their hair rather than their body, therefore opposing the theory of Laura Mulveys, ‘male gaze’ whilst Cosmopolitan reinforces this idea. This opposes the idea that female are stereotyped to be housewives, and should stay in the kitchen, which was the view in the early 19th century.

Beyonce is represented as a curvaceous woman, opposing the issue of the size zero debate. This can give a positive representation of woman, as the institution is trying to convey to the female audience that it is alright to have curves, as it is attractive. It is reinforced because there is a rise of eating disorders found amongst young females; which is the target audience of the magazine. This can also reinforce the hegemonic model (Gramsci) which suggests the audience is passive, and will believe in anything. However, Beyonce may not really look like that, as the photo would be airbrushed, to look attractive, which can then be negative as the audience may interpret it to be unreal, and think the institution is encouraging them to be thin and loose weight.

Heat is presented as an informal magazine; this is shown through the cover layout. There are many pugs and strap lines which can lure their target audience and their secondary audience, of females aged,16-20, with less disposable income, as the magazine is cheaper than Cosmopolitan. Compared with Cosmopolitan, this includes high fashion to attract their target audience, and their secondary audience of females, aged 35 and over, with a higher disposable income, they would read it for personal identity. The layout of Cosmopolitan is minimal, to emphasise the issue, as it has a sexual theme, and also allows the audience to focus on Beyonce, reinforcing the idea, that ‘sex sells.’ Heat, has various stories, to appeal to the audience, however, looks different to Cosmopolitan. The magazine has to look attractive to the audience, as the issue currently surrounding money is the economic crisis, and the ‘credit crunch,’ therefore the price and look of the magazine is important.

Tuesday, 11 November 2008

HEAT MAG/COSMO

M-

There are many images, on this cover, which can suggest to the reader that the magazine would also be filled with many images, to make it look interesting and appealing.The 3 main images on the cover, are seen to be glamorous and slim- the issue that can arise through here is the size zero debate. However the appealing story here is the Hair of these females. They are represented as ‘know it alls’ of fashion. The fact that there are only two males can oppose the patriarchal society. The males are seen to be not attractive because of the issues surrounding them, such as High Grants issue with the prostitute and in eastenders the case with Little Moe and her rape case.
The colour red is used a lot on the cover, this can connote passion, love or danger. It could suggest the magazine is dangerously filled with a lot of issues and articles.

I

The institution is trying to convey that the magazine is filled with gossip and fashion and everything else that females like. This is seen to be stereotyping females as obsessive with their looks and gossip.

G

The genre of the magazine is ‘celebrity news’ the cult of the celeb..
RThe females represented are as ideals to normal everyday females.The males are seen to be ‘bad’ or opposite to the females. There are 7 females to 1 male

A

The audience for this magazine would be C1 C2D class females, aged 21-35. They would enjoy reading about celebs, and wanting to be like them

I

Laura Mulvey/
The fact that there are 7 females on the cover can show how the media has changed; before there used to be males on the cover of magazines.

COSMO:

M
Beyonce is modelling for this cover of Cosmopolitan. The colours on the cover are mostly pink, red or gold. This can connote love, desire and lust- sexual connotations.
The theme of the issue is sexual; all the articles are to do with sexual intercourse.
The way Beyonce is standing, with a revealing deep neck, pink dress, can also highlight the theme. Her hand is coming above her knee, which can also give sexual connotations. Her skin is the same colour of the background-golden.
The fact that she is looking down upon the reader, and is covering the masthead, shows how powerful she is.
I
The Institution is well known for its priority for fashion and beauty as well as celeb gossip. They have used a well known singer/actress and idolistic person – Beyonce, because the TA aspire to be like her, because she is very successful.
G
The genre is fashion/beauty/gossip
R
She is represented to be very sexual, due to her body poisoning.


A
The TA is females aged 16-30, who want to be attractive and appealing like Beyonce.
I
Laura Mulvey= Male Gaze

N

Thursday, 6 November 2008

Vanity Fair, have used Daniel Craig for their main image, to advertise their magazine. Craig is presented as sexy, and attractive, this is through his facial expression and the way he is looking towards the camera, which is eye catching.
The use of an orange background and him wearing black and white, suggests he is well dressed and presents himself nicely. This can therefore appeal to males, as they aspire to be like him, because he is a successful actor; the film advertised on the cover with him is, James Bond. This film is inspiring to males, aged 16-40, as he is a good looking agent; the film follows the proppian theory, making him like the hero, as getting the girl, who is the princess. The institution is therefore, trying to convey to their male audience, that they should be like Craig, to ‘get the girls.’
However, females can be attracted to be buy the magazine, because they find Craig sexy, and want to find someone like him.
The actor, George Clooney is on the cover of Vogue, for men. The glamorous, well known magazine has used a famous actor, like Clooney, to suggest how classy and sophisticated the magazine is. Clooney is presented as casual and relaxed, which is reinforced through his facial expression; his eyes are seen as mysterious, which gives the magazine an ambiguous feeling.
The magazine is targeted towards males, aged 21-35, of ABC1 class, with an interest for fashion, electronics, and the other stories which are advertised on the cover to attract their audience. The male audience would be interested to buy this issue and the magazine itself, because of Clooney. His image is constructed, as if he is looking towards the reader, with an intriguing look, with a headphone in his hand, suggesting he is a director as well as an actor. Therefore, the audience would buy the magazine as they aspire to be like Clooney; because he is successful and attractive.
The colours used on the magazine are contrasting, such as brown, grey and black, which are stereotyped to be male colours. This gives the feeling to the audience that the magazine is just for men, and not for women. This is then reinforced by the main heading, “What they say about us,” the word “they” is used in place of females, or women, suggesting they are “the other.” This can appeal to a male audience, as they would want to find out what females say about males, and how they want them (the males) to look.
The intuition, Vogue, is a stylish, high class magazine, which is popular amongst women who enjoy fashion. By using Clooney as the main ‘face’ for their magazine, they are conveying how males should be. He is presented by the text used by the magazine as a “Mere Mortal,” therefore suggesting he is an everyday, male, which is also represented through his clothing. His laid back attitude, in a jumper and brown coat, presents him as normal; however by placing an image of a TV screen behind him, they are suggesting how normal he is, even though he is connected with the film industry, Hollywood.
Clooney is covering the masthead of the magazine, reinforcing how popular the magazine is, and suggesting how superior Clooney is. This is because he has enough power to cover the title, and is intimidating the reader.

Thursday, 23 October 2008

TIME WARNER INC.


Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX) is one of the world's largest media and entertainment conglomerates, headquartered in New York City. Formerly three separate companies: Warner Communications, Inc. and Time Inc. before the Time-Warner merger in 1990 and America Online, Inc. before its purchase of Time Warner in 2001 has created the current Time Warner , with major operations in film, television, publishing, Internet service and telecommunications. Among its subsidiaries are AOL, New Line Cinema, Time Inc., Time Warner Cable, HBO, Turner Broadcasting System, The CW Television Network, UBU Productions, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Cartoon Network, CNN, and DC Comics.

Type:

Public


Employees: 86,400

Employee growth: (6.8%)

Key numbers for fiscal year ending December, 2007:

Sales: $46,482.0M

One year growth: 5.1%

Net income: $4,387.0M

Income growth: (33.0%)

Officers:

Chairman: Richard D. (Dick)

ParsonsPresident, CEO, and Director: Jeffrey L. (Jeff) BewkesEVP

Corporate Communications: Trading Cards & Comic Books

Competitors:





Brands:

(the ones in red are the ones that we prob know, are are common in the UK)


AOL LLC.


AOL
AOL Radio
AdTech, AG
Advertising.com
AOL By Phone
AOL CallAlert
AOL for Broadband


AOL International
AOL Instant Messenger
AOL Music
AOL Sports
AOL Local
AOL Voicemail
Bebo
CityGuide
CompuServe
Games.com
GameDaily
ICQ by Mirabilis
Kid's AOL (KOL)
LightningCast
MapQuest
Moviefone
MusicNet@AOL
Netscape
RED
Third Screen Media
Truveo
Weblogs, Inc.
Winamp by Nullsoft

AOL Latino


Time Warner Cable:

Time Warner Cable
Road Runner
Road Runner - Business Class
Digital Phone
Joint ventures
Texas and Kansas City Cable Partners, L.P.

Radio stations:



Home Box Office:

HBO
Cinemax
HBO Independent Productions
HBO Multiplexes
HBO on Demand
Cinemax Multiplexes
Cinemax on Demand
HBO HD
Cinemax HD
HBO Video
HBO Domestic and International Program Distribution
HBO Films
Picturehouse (co-owned by New Line Cinema)
Joint Ventures

HBO Asia
HBO Brazil
HBO Czech
HBO Hungary
HBO India
HBO Latin America
HBO Poland
HBO Romania
E! Latin America
Warner Channel Latin America


Turner Broadcasting System:



Radio Services:


CNN Radio
Court TV Radio
Headline News Radio
CNN en Español Radio
Headline News en Español Radio

New Line Productions, Inc.:





Warner Bros. Pictures
Castle Rock Entertainment
Warner Bros. Pictures International
Warner Independent Pictures
Warner Bros. International Cinemas
Warner Bros. Studios
Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Television Group
Warner Bros. Television
Warner Horizon Television
Warner Bros. Television Distribution
Witt/Thomas Productions
QDE Entertainment ( 50%, with Quincy Jones and David Salzman)
Warner Bros. International Television Distribution
Telepictures Productions
The CW Television Network (50% with CBS Corporation)
The CW Daytime
CW Now
Warner Bros. Animation
Hanna Barbera
Looney Tunes
Kids' WB!
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group
Warner Home Video
Warner Premiere
Warner Bros. Family Entertainment
Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution
Warner Bros. Technical Operations
Warner Bros. Anti-Piracy Operations
Warner Bros. Digital Entertainment
Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Games
Eidos (10.3%)
Monolith Productions
Warner Bros. Online


Time Inc:


25 Beautiful Gardens
25 Beautiful Homes
25 Beautiful Kitchens
4x4
Aeroplane
Amateur Gardening
Amateur Photographer
Angler's Mail
Better Digital Photography
Bird Keeper
BMX Business News
Bulfinch Press
Business 2.0
Cage & Aviary Birds
Caravan
Chat
Chat Passion Series
Classic Boat
Coastal Living
Cooking Light
Country Homes & Interiors
Country Life
Cycle Sport
Cycling Weekly
Decanter
Entertainment Weekly
Essentials
European Boat Builder
Eventing
Farm Holiday Guides
First Moments
For the Love of Cross Stitch
For the Love of Quilting
Fortune
Freeze
FSB:
Fortune Small Business
Golf magazine
Golf Monthly
Hair
Health
Hi-Fi News
Homes & Gardens
Horse
Horse & Hound
housetohome.co.uk
Ideal Home
In Style
In Style Australia
In Style Germany
In Style UK
International Boat Industry
Land Rover World
Leisure Arts
Life
Livingetc
Loaded (magazine)
Look Magazine UK
Marie Claire
MBR-Mountain Bike Rider
Media Networks, Inc.
MiniWorld
Mizz
Mizz Specials
Model Collector
Money
Motor Boat & Yachting
Motor Boats Monthly
Motor Caravan
NME
Now

Now Style Series
Nuts magazine
Oxmoor House
Park Home & Holiday Caravan
People
People en Español
Practical Boat Owner
Practical Parenting
Prediction
Progressive Farmer
Racecar Engineering
Real Simple
Rugby World
Ships Monthly
Shoot Monthly
Shooting Gazette
Shooting Times
Ski
Skiing
Skiing Trade News
Soaplife
Southern Accents
Southern Living
Sporting Gun
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated for Kids
Stamp Magazine
Sunset
Superbike
Synapse
Targeted Media, Inc.
The Field
The Golf
The Guitar Magazine
The Railway Magazine
This Old House
This Old House Ventures, Inc.
Time
Time Asia
Time Atlantic
Time Canada
Time Distribution Services
Time Europe
Time for Kids
Time Inc. Custom Publishing
Time Inc. Home Entertainment
Time Latin America
Time South Pacific
TV & Satellite Week
TV Easy
TV Times
Uncut
VolksWorld
Wallpaper Navigator
Wallpaper*
Warner Publishing Services
Webuser
Wedding & Home
What Camera
What Digital Camera
What's On TV
Who Weekly
Woman
Woman & Golf
Woman & Home
Woman's Feelgood Series
Woman's Own
Woman's Own Lifestyle Series
Woman's Weekly
Woman's Weekly Fiction Series
Woman's Weekly Fiction Special
Woman's Weekly Home Series
World Soccer
Yachting Monthly
Yachting World
UBU Productions
UBU Productions


articles on Time Warner:



Monday, 22 September 2008

DISNEY CHANNEL -UK








Who owns it?
- The Disney channel is owned by the ABC Television Group
- The group includes the ABC Television Network, Disney Channel’s worldwide portfolio of kid’s channels (including Toon Disney, Jetix, Playhouse Disney, ABC Kids etc.), ABC Family, SOAPnet and the ESPN channels.


History of Institution:
- Disney Channel in the UK and Ireland does not broadcast commercial advertisements, relying instead on revenue from the subscription fees that the viewer must pay in order to view Disney Cinemagic and its time shift. Despite the lack of commercials, most non-movie programming is broken up by non-commercial breaks, during which trailers for Disney's programming and specially-commissioned short programmes are usually shown.
- Disney Channel UK and Ireland was originally planned to launch in 1989 on the newly launched Sky satellite service, but due to an apparent dispute the launch was cancelled, and the channel did not appear until 1 October 1995. Disney Channel UK and Ireland +1, Playhouse Disney and the now-defunct 24-hour cartoon channel Toon Disney launched on 29 September 2000, available only to Sky Digital subscribers. NTL and Telewest customers could only receive the main Disney Channel UK and Ireland.

The texts it produces:

-List of programmes broadcast by Disney Channel in the UK & Ireland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_programmes_broadcast_by_Disney_Channel_in_the_UK_%26_Ireland


Finance and Income:
- NO FINACNE INFO
Audience share- 0.5% (0.3% for +1)(February 2008,

Sunday, 21 September 2008

SIMON COWELL

SIMON COWELL

Early Life
Cowell was born in Brighton, East Sussex, England and brought up in Elstree, Hertfordshire.
His father, Eric Philip Cowell, was an estate agent developer and music industry executive, and his mother, Julie Brett, is a former ballet dancer and socialite.[
Cowell attended Dover College as did his brother, but left early before sixth form. He took a few unskilled jobs, but did not get along well with co-workers and bosses, until his father who was executive at the recording giant at EMI Music Publishing, managed to get him a job in the mail room.


Professional career
His father's connections originally got him rehired as the assistant to an A&R man. From there onwards, Simon worked his way up and eventually got promoted to a music publishing position but left during the early 1980s to form E&S Music with his boss at EMI, Ellis Rich, now Chairman of the Performing Right Society.


The company had several hit records at one point with five singles in the UK top 40. The offices were in a converted gentleman's washroom in the NCP car park on Brewer Street in London's Soho district. Simon left by mutual agreement a few years later.


One year later, Cowell went to work for Iain Burton, manager of choreographer Arlene Phillips, co-founder of dance group Hot Gossip and of nascent independent record label Fanfare Records. Cowell worked with Burton for eight years at Fanfare where he achieved his first real success in the music industry, becoming a partner and building Fanfare into a highly successful 'indie' pop label.


In 1984, Cowell and Burton met up with Pete Waterman for the first time. Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman together formed the songwriting and record producing trio known as Stock Aitken Waterman. Stock Aitken Waterman helped Fanfare during the second half of the 1980s producing several smash hit singles for Sinitta and licensing The Hit Factory SAW Compilation Albums to Fanfare.
continued…
In 1989, Fanfare's parent-company, Public Company, got into difficulties, forcing Fanfare into the hands of BMG, and Cowell, in debt, to move back in with his parents. Later that year, he became an A&R consultant for BMG.

Subsequently, Cowell signed up a number of acts to S-Records that made a mark in the pop music world, including Curiosity Killed the Cat, Sonia Evans, Five, Westlife, Robson & Jerome, and Ultimate Kaos. He also released several novelty recordings featuring the likes of wrestlers of the World Wrestling Federation, Teletubbies, Zig and Zag and the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, that were huge successes.

Cowell set up another label, Syco Records, in 2002 which later became part of Columbia Records and Sony BMG Music Entertainment. Artists such as Leona Lewis, Il Divo and contestants from The X Factor and America's Got Talent are released on Syco.

In 2006, Cowell signed to two more record-breaking deals. In the USA, he agreed to remain as a judge on American Idol, earning £20 million ($40 million) per season for another 5 years. He also has a deal with FOX which allows his production company to broadcast Got Talent and American Inventor on other networks, but he may not appear on them. In the UK, he signed a "golden handcuffs" deal with ITV, worth approximately £6.5 million a year for 3 years, which gave ITV rights to his hit talent show The X Factor, a British singing talent show, and Grease Is The Word, a musical talent show to find the stars of a Grease production in London's West End. In late 2005, he signed a new contract to remain working for Sony BMG.


What he has worked on:

Pop Idol- both UK/US
X Factor- both UK
American Inventor- both US
Got Talent- franchise- both UK/US
Celebrity Duets- executive producer US
Grease in the world- executive producer UK
Rock Rivals- executive producer UK


Miscellaneous
Dropped out of school at 16
His girlfriend is Terri Seymour
Is a vegetarian
In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated his earnings at $45 million for the year.
Ranked #6 in the 2008 Telegraph's list "the 100 most powerful people in British culture".
In 2007, he earned an estimated $72 million in income from his various projects. $45 million from American Idol, $15 million from Britain's Got Talent and X Factor, and $12 million from his record label.
Salary$50 million (2008)
Net worth▲US$200 million (£112 million)