Diversity vs Choice

The range of movies that are being shown are little compared to the amount of show rooms. Example. There may be 12 show rooms, but they'll only play 6 and they'd usually be blockbusters or films that are generally the same. Mostly CGI, special effects, visual effects films. People like the idea of a massive event so they go and see the film, no matter what it is because of the high use of technology.

Connect answers to the questions...

1. When was the first Multiplex in the UK?
-1985

2. What was the cinema attendance like in this time?
-The venue was an instant success, the increased choice of films, state of the art tech', free parking space and different varieties of snacks on sale, made an immediate impact on the fallen British Cinema Market. The point sold 2m tickets in its first two years, a miracle.

3. What films were being played in the new Multiplexes? (Name and year)
-The Breakfast Club 1985
-Jaws 1975
-The Godfather 1972
-Whos that girl 1987
-Godzilla 1985

4. How were these Multiplexes encouraging audiences to go to the cinema?
-Newly converted multiplexes were big. Spacious and had new screens which delivered films with a high quality compared to the flea pits. Multiplexes main audience were teenagers. Most likely age group to go and visit the cinema. They are attracted by their fast food, free parking and they made the films looks interesting Visual effects.

5. Where are these Multiplexes built instead of the High Street and why?
-They are built in shopping centers around restaurants arcades and other things people can spend money on, also they are always in a big area so they can fit in as Many screens as they can.

6. What happened to audience leisure patterns that meant 'Fleapit' cinemas lost popularity?
-The reason why the fleapits were losing popularity is because the audiences and people saw the poor cinema sounds and picture quality they had, had run down and were increasingly bad compared to the multiplex.

7. What advantages did Multiplexes offer cinema audiences and film distributors over Fleapits?
-Multiplexes had good and arcade places which meant they could spend loads of time there and social and multiple screens to maximise profits

8. What reasons was cinema attendance low? (Technologies and Audience Leisure Patterns)
-People got VCR players which meant the stayed at home: it was seen as a new trend. Piracy came into effect.

Fleapit and Multiplexes

Technology:
several-screens-in-a-shed phenomenon
the point - with ten screens, the UK's first true multiplex- had arrived
start-of-the-art technology (made an impact on british market)



Economic:
copious free parking space
a vast array of snacks on sale (made an impact on the british market)
The point sold 2m tickets in its first two years



Social:
Mid-80s - cinema attendance was in the doldrums
The impact the Point had: "You couldn't move in the foyer on a Saturday night. There were so many people there waiting for shows to start."
increased choice of films (impact on british market)
a miracle in a climate that had seen the national cinema attendance drop to just 55m by 1984 (the peak had been 1.6bn in 1946)

Why did the 1980s see the decline of Fleapit cinemas and emergence of the Multiplex? Give reasons linking to the Production, Distribution & Exhibition of Blockbusters and their popularity.

In the 1980's they saw a major decline of Fleapit cinemas and the emergence of the multiplex because a lot more people enjoyed spending their time in a cinema, where you can waste the time before the film in either the food courts or the arcades. This made it far more enjoyable for the children and this brought many parents in to see films as well, spending more money, getting more profit on the films as children need parental guidance. Also the distribution of the films began to change as more multiplex cinemas emerged, as they cannot afford to send around roll after roll of film, instead they began to email and send their films via internet which was far more easier, however, this didn't happen until around the 1990's. They definitely contemplated on new ways in the 1980's on how they can send around the films and make it easier and far more efficient and cheaper. The exhibition side of the rise of multiplexes is where they have a certain amount of showcases, such as 12 show rooms which only show 6 movies. The 6 key blockbusters that everyone would be raving about and wanting to see. 

3 Contexts:

Star Wars: Economic:
-Merchandise such as, m&m chocolates 'the rise of the dark chocolate' and 'the empire'.
-Special Effects
-Empire strikes back figurines
-20 billions dollars received from merchandise
-Video games
-Star Wars Christmas Album
-Scarfs
-Perfumes and Orlando cologne
-Costumes: Jar Jar Binks face/mask and tongue

Jaws: Social:
-Every film has the same formula, several or more films are seen as the same, only character names, locations and small details are changed.
-Marketability: soundtracks, tie-ins pop music, star vehicles and franchises and consumer goods.
-Good versus evil.
-Lost love, war, fear, life and death, family and honour.

Global appeal:
-Weather, global warming, love story 'the perfect story'.
-Brokeback mountain: gay cowboys don't fill cinemas.

Good vs Evil: Terroists etc.

Culture nature:
-Offends nobody, avatar!
-Love interest: sex sells, romeo and juliet.
-Simple characteristics: stereotypes, straightforward.
-The star: Tom Hank - Toy Story
-E.T. Director: Spielberg for instance, known to have ace films, appeals.

Blockbuster: Key: Profit and box office receipts, sales.

Technology: Star Wars:
LUCASARTS - Bioware - Finite Arts - GAMES
SKYWALKER SOUND - Fight Club - Finding Nemo - SOUNDS
GEOGE LUCAS (lucasfilms) - Empire Strikes back - Return of the Jedi - Episode I: The Phantom Menace - Episode II: The Phantom Menace - Episode III - FILMS
INDUSTRIAL LIGHT AND MAGIC - Alien, Avid, Pixar, Terminator 2, Harry Potter, Forrest Gump, Spiderman 2 - EFFECTS

Comprehension Task

Question 8: Describe the rise of Cineplex and the resulting changes to film distribution:
The rise of cineplex started out with previous trends such as 'buddy film', 'the vigilante film,' and 'the disaster film', these were then late driven out and replaced with slapstick comedies, space operas, slasher films, remakes and youth films. Later on in the 21st Century, we began to lose touch of these types of films and now we tend to just watch films for their CGI and special effects as they appeal to a wider audience. However, this has caused the rise in cineplex to become more popular and films have become more popular over the recent years. Although, with this happening and with the film companies getting their money back through profits from 3D movies, etc. Film piracy is becoming a major problem for these companies and the online businesses such as 'lovefilm' are causing money sells to drop in cinemas as they are taking in the money because their movies are cheaper than the cinema. So instead of splashing out at the cinema and seeing a movie that they think is going to be amazing and is rather shocking, they don't pay for anything and pirate DVDs.

Question 9: Discuss the phenomenon as a contributing factor in the rise of the blockbuster:
A contributing factor to the rise of the blockbuster has to be CGI or special effects, the reason for this is because the amount of CGI that is put into movies nowadays tends to be the reason why people want to see them in the cinema. The reason for that is because it is appealing to the audiences, it is known for us to like guns, bombs, car racing, all these special effects and CGI are aesthetically pleasing. Also another contributing factor that has caused the rise in the blockbuster movies is the stars that are seen in them, such as Bruce Willis in Die Hard. Without having Willis in that movie there sure wouldn't be anyone going to see it, because he is known as an action hero and action hero's are what most girls love about these CGI action movies. Die Hard is known as a geri-action movie because he should have retired a long time ago and hasn't. The only reason why he hasn't been shot down is for his credibility!

2012 SUMMER BLOCKBUSTERS

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