Part 1 - General Introduction Questions

Q1) Why is convergence both a blessing and a curse for the UK film industry?

Convergence in the UK film industry can lead to greater and more broad opportunities for UK film makers to have their work seen, e.g. by uploading them onto websites such as YouTube. Convergence can also help film companies have greater control over the marketing, as film producers and audiences can become associated through the Internet. The internet and convergence can offer consumers more ways to view media, which leads to some diversity within media and the film industry. However, it can also mean that traditional methods of marketing have been made redundant - independent projects with less money behind them can become more successful than films produced on a larger scale, due to the fact that the a film's success is, due to convergence, determined by how it is consumed by viewers.

Q2) How has the Internet allowed film makers to find and attract audiences in different ways?

The Internet has meant that all works of media and data can be viewed worldwide - importantly, they can now be consumed in different formats by different consumers. Social networking groups based around the media creates awareness and support from the general public, while trailers can be viewed on a number of different websites including YouTube and Apple Trailers. The producers can also have websites created on the Internet which promote the film and provide information about it.