TASK 2

Where are they – How will they find me?

Based on the principles that have been introduced in lecture 2 of the Enterprise module, investigate where your potential clients are located.

Where are my potential clients located?

Or

What media do my potential clients use?

What do you need to communicate and how does it match what your clients need?

It is essential that you make references to ‘PEST analysis’ and ‘Segmentation analysis’ which formed the core learning of your second Enterprise Lecture.

ANSWER 2

My major UK clients are the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and British Sky Broadcasting and my major European clients are MTV Networks Europe & Discovery Networks Europe but many of the UK networks also supply to Europe. The majority of these networks are based in London but have regional offices in major cities close to me such as Leeds and Manchester. The BBC is also relocating many of its departments to Salford in Manchester which will make communication with them even easier.
Other non TV network clients include schools that require educational documentaries such as sex education, drug and alcohol awareness. Government awareness campaigns and Police campaigns e.g drink and drive etc

P.E.S.T analysis -

Political -

Political governments and laws in different countries will have an affect on the success of documentary film as the subjects I choose may not be relevant, appropriate or even legal in some countries.

When I'm shooting film I need to take into consideration that different locations will have different Health & Safety laws that may restrict what and how I can film.

By being a resident in the UK and producing feature length documentary film I'm eligible to receive funding from the The British Film Council but I will also need a UK distributor and international sales agent.

Economics -
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/its-credit-crunch-time-for-the-film-industry-1027850.html


http://www.darden.virginia.edu/html/news_article.aspx?id=20589

The current economic decline or 'credit crunch' has had an effect on the film industry and even more so the independent film industry. This is due to the fact that people aren't willing to spend as much on entertainment such as film and are choosing to switch to digital means and find it for free online. This digital age of media being readily available on the internet is fighting a battle with film as people's attention spans and patience get shorter so the future for film seems unsure if people aren't willing to watch a 120min film no more.

For independent film makers they have to prove themselves far more as they haven't got the distribution, cast and reputation power of big production companies so distributors may choose not to produce them as they will cost sometimes just as much in marketing as a big budget film but without the assurance of success. However the economy being tight leads to the good stuff rising to the top which could lead to a need for higher quality programming in the future.

Sociological -

Ethically my audience expects from my documentary film truthfulness, not lies or distortion, even when the film is committed to high ideals and values. Propaganda is over the line. The documentary may be engaged and enthusiastic, but should be open about its preferences, sympathies and presuppositions. "Neutrality" or "objectivity" should be understood as problematic, but a well-balanced view is welcomed. The film may reflect its own intervening and perhaps ethically problematic role in relation to participants and general context. Carefulness, but also boldness in addressing tabooed subjects. (Henrik Juel)

Technological -


http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/content_provider/film/disopwhitepaper.aspx

New media's such as Windows Media 9 are opening up new distribution opportunities for the film industry. In order to take advantage of these new opportunities the film industry requires the ability to secure valuable assets, deliver them to customers and ensure a high quality playback experience on par with other playback options such as watching a DVD in a home theater or a pay-per-view movie on cable. Technology such as Windows Media 9 Series is being developed to meet those requirements and open up new distribution options.

One interesting development in technology was an ability for the audience to censor a film that they are watching in their own home. Two companies based in the US called Trilogy Studios and ClearPlay allow this software to be downloadable from the internet and then when the user connects their computer to their DVD player, the software skips over scenes of graphic sex and violence and mutes obscenities during playback.

This could be of great use in documentary film, as when you are documenting reality, scenes of violence and obscenities can sometimes be unavoidable and sometimes the most compelling part of a documentary but some parents believe that this is not always suitable for younger eyes and ears to listen to or see yet they may feel that their children will still benefit from watching the film as they may believe they can be educated by documentary film. Then of course there is the argument that you are no longer representing reality and telling a truthful story but at least this allows documentary film to reach a wider audience and spread its message.


By embracing new digital technology the film industry can reduce distribution costs and make films more readily available to a forward moving digital audience.
http://www.cass.city.ac.uk/media/stories/story_43_45816_36139.html