The Grand Budapest Hotel Research

1. the issues raised by media ownership in contemporary media practice; (how does 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?) The production companies who made The Grand Budapest Hotel were American Empirical Pictures, Indian Paintbrush and Babelsberg Studio. American Empirical pictures is a production company created by Wes Anderson the director of the Grand Budapest Hotel and has made other films such as Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaum. Steven M. Rales, an American business man owns Indian Paintbrush, which is responsible for funding films such as The Fantastic Mr Fox, another Wes Anderson Film. Babelsberg studio is the oldest and largest production company in Europe (based just outside of Berlin, Germany). Films such as inglorious basterds, the Bourne Ultimatum and The Hunger Games were all filmed at Babelsberg studios. None of the film companies used for the production of this film were classified as the big six and were all relatively small companies. This film was very successful with the budget that it had and was not produced by big companies. The production had a budget of $31 million and made a profit of $172.7 million. This shows that small production companies can make films that are successful as there budget was easily doubled in their profits. It is possible for companies to succeed however not on as large a scale as production companies within the big six who still dominate the global film market/industry.  Indian paintbrush is owned by Wes Anderson, who produces a specific type of film which often appears quite old fashioned and different to the conventional styles of modern films. This type of film wouldn't appeal to the wide general public, like the majority of films produced by the big six but perhaps more to fans of Wes Andersons previous work. It is true to say that big companies make the majority of money in contemporary media practise but it is still possible for small films to succeed and make money based on their budget, like the Grand Budapest Hotel.
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?) There were several production companies involved in the making of The Grand Budapest Hotel. The film was funded by German financial companies and film-funding organisations. It is a British-German co-production.  The film was mainly funded by the German Federal Film Fund. The film was distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures which is a sister company of one the big six, the twentieth century fox studio. It has distributed films such as Juno, 28 days later and (500) days of summer. The three production companies along with the funding worked together to produce this film. It is often more helpful for production companies to work together so that they can afford the costs to produce a better film which will gain a better reputation for them all. The overall effect of these companies working together to produce the film is advantageous outcome, where a better film is produced and a larger profit is made which promotes their business.
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?) More people now buy films through the internet, downloadable content and home cinema than in the past meaning that films need not only to be available in cinemas but in other forms of media to usually be successful. The Grand Budapest was released on 284 screens in the UK. The film was also available on DVD and Blue ray after its release in cinemas. The film was/is also available for internet streaming, on sites such as Netflix which opens up its audience significantly as the majority of people chose to watch films over the internet rather than visit cinema screens these days. More people will now buy films through the internet which means that films need to be made so that they can be shown through the internet and multiple different ways.   
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?) More people now view films through internet streaming, downloadable content, home cinema and blue rays and DVD than visiting a traditional cinema. This means that films need to be available in this form of media. For example on online stores where films can be viewed such as Netflix. The Grand Budapest hotel was released on Netflix and similar sites. Film companies need to be able to distribute their films to a wider range of media forms. This means more money in distribution costs as films have to be formatted to fit each type of media form. This may both be a disadvantage and advantage to small films such as the grand Budapest Hotel as they need to be able to distribute their film on a wider scale to be successful which takes a chunk out of the money they have for distribution costs but at the same time allows them to present and market it to a larger audience.
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?) Different technologies have allowed us to improve the quality of the films we produce. For example editing is more advanced, and the use of special effects can add to the overall effect of a production. For example, in The Grand Budapest Hotel special effects are used in part of an action shot in the film, which add to its general appeal. Furthermore it allows institutions to cut costs during production. For example special effects can be used to create scenes which would otherwise increase costs in other areas of artistic production (EG: green screens can be used). Furthermore the increasing use of internet streaming etc. to view films has meant that films can be marketed at a wider audience. For example, the Grand Budapest is available on Netflix which is available to a worldwide audience, however it was only shown on 4 cinema screens in the USA and even less in other countries worldwide.
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?) Wes Anderson used several different techniques in his marketing of the Grand Budapest Hotel which helped with its overall success. For example he used ideas from a novel which linked into his film, something that those who are familiar with the book could've seen as a reason to see the film. A 3D model of the hotel was also toured in cinemas from Hollywood to Berlin. This shows that some marketing techniques are similar in different countries. Furthermore instructional featurettes were included with Andersons film which adds something extra to the film. Some larger scale productions may alter the way they try to attract their audience. For example by using different trailers, and posters etc, depending on the cultural tastes and varieties within a country. Smaller productions will be limited to do this with the budget they have but may still try and vary their marketing techniques to appeal to different cultures in different countries.
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 the developments are both good and bad. For example, a film like the Grand Budapest Hotel, which has a £30 million budget may have been more limited in the past when marketing films, as they would be restricted to the screens the film could be shown on. Where as with internet streaming etc become more widely available the film can be targeted at a worldwide audience.