LO2: Professional Etiquette

Professional etiquette is the way in which you present yourself to the workforce, and for a producer this is a very important thing. Leading a team of people means first of all you must set an example and show you can integrate with those you are working alongside, making sure you adhere to the structure of the etiquette within your job role will result in a productive , grievance free working environment. Etiquette covers a vast area of conduct, for a producer this means addressing all of these areas whilst continuing to complete tasks as part of the job, time keeping is a prime example as your tardiness could result in others finding this behaviour appropriate which ultimately leads to a less productive team and potential delay on milestone achievements which would not be deemed acceptable in high end anticipated production. 

Even within media production, it is important to lead by example with personal appearance - as one of the most senior roles within the production process, personnel on set will follow rules laid out in terms of work wear if those higher up the hierarchy are presenting a standard. As a producer, not only do you lead a team, but you have to regularly keep in contact with high end clients which makes it all the more important to maintain a formal and tidy appearance, doing so will make others aware of your position within the team and make you look appropriate for the business work that comes as part of the job. Although on set it is unlikely for workers to have to wear a uniform, comfortable and practical clothing would be expected from everybody as to not hinder the working day.

Etiquette does not only cover time keeping and appearance however, the way in which you conduct yourself to your peers within the working environment is also of major importance. Being in a Job Role at the top of its hierarchical structure means you have to liaise with every other person within the project, for this to happen effectively it is key that relationships within the team are professional and are not disruptive to the progression of work. Integrating with all of the members of your workforce allows you to understand their job roles which in turn targets what information and guidance you can give to them as to be a supportive leader . This process will increase productivity and allow producers to hone in on areas on set which need improvement and guidance so that each milestone can be reached.

Annotations:

As a producer, it is your job to guide those you are working with on a production to ensure maximum success and ultimately to impress your clientele. When sitting in a top position on the hierarchical diagram all of your actions in some way are going to effect those around you - the decisions you are to make regarding a production are going to require intervention from the technical personnel on the team. For example should a location designer find an appropriate location for a film and have ideas regarding how it should look to fit the script, a producer would then provide them with a budget and timescale within which everything should be complete by so that you can instruct others such as camera and sound technicians to set up so that filming can take place as soon as possible which will get the ball rolling. As said before part of professional etiquette, timekeeping plays a big role - when working on large production time keeping Is essential for scheduling when other job roles begin to contribute , should the producer not be persistent with time management others on set will not know when their own jobs need to be completed by , presuming it is possible at all .

LO2: Career Pathways

Independent (freelance, self employment)
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/450249253?trkInfo=searchKeywordString%3AFreelance%2BProducer%2CsearchLocationString%3A%252C%2B%2Cvertical%3Ajobs%2CpageNum%3A1%2Cposition%3A2%2CMSRPsearchId%3A97bb3d46-4384-40ee-b8d6-6f39d7e5df3b&refId=97bb3d46-4384-40ee-b8d6-6f39d7e5df3b&trk=jobs_jserp_job_listing_text



Being independent or Freelance relies up being as self sufficient as possible when it comes to procuring work, effectively you need to demonstrate your ability to source projects to work on, which will give you the extensive portfolio needed to find bigger and better jobs. When being contracted in to do projects/productions with a large company, it would be important as a Freelance producer to demonstrate early on your ability to work across a variety of sectors to prove your position within the team - this can be done via communication with other personnel on set and learning more how your actions are going to benefit those on the production team.

When working in a creative industry, there is never a shortage of people who you need to communicate with to make a product as effective as it possibly can be under the constraints. Due to being general manager of the set, producers will come into contact with various suppliers and agencies which will need some levels of negotiation. It is important to be clear and consice with every level of contact with a client as to ensure they are aware of the progress of their product, not only will this please the client, but it will make clear to the producer and production team if any amendments need to be made - this can then be done without complication via addressing the client directly and will not further impede on deadlines and milestones.

The majority of a Producers job relies upon planning and scheduling so that others are able to carry out their roles with the aim of completing the production on time, when being contracted in to do work whether it be short or long term, it is important to show your ability to manage time effectively as to not impede on other jobs and time constraints. If I was to be aiming to gain freelance work in this area time management would be key for example showing up on time, having clear plans for the week in terms of production schedules and then looking how you can assist others on set to meet their own deadlines by setting realistic milestones.

Voluntary sector 
http://www.tigeraspect.co.uk/recruitment/work-experience/

In order to procure work experience within this industry you have to demonstrate  the skills and qualities it takes to be a producer as to show willing to learn about the industry, it is key that you show knowledge about other aspects of a working set. The majority of a producers job is based around scheduling, as a volunteer in this particular job role it is important to ensure you're demonstrating the time keeping and planning skills whilst also showing your ability to work as a wider unit to get each milestone complete for the deadline date. A producer relies upon creative vision to be able to show others how they envisage the project looking post production, Whilst learning the trade and looking in to how the producer works with the team, it would be important to show your own creative flair as this showcases your in depth interest into the job role.

Working up the hierarchy to become a producer is a lengthy task as it is based on a solid foundation of all of the on set components, when entering this industry with a view to becoming a producer you must first begin to learn all of the production skills such as camera and sound work so that you have the knowledge to direct large groups of people on set , aiding where possible - When looking at voluntary work, you are likely to be producing as a favour for a small production for free simply to gain the experience of what it is like to hold the lead role regardless of the size of the project. This gives ample opportunity show your capability, especially with small productions as it is likely you are looking at a low/no budget which can sometimes cause creative constraints - It is about how you handle these issues which gives you the knowhow for when you apply for paid work.

Work Experience in the job role as a producer can be hard to come by with companies such as Tiger Aspect, to be able to gain as much as possible from your experience, it is important you first research how your skills are going to benefit the team and how you can best showcase them. Communicating with the company to first find the placement will show if done correctly your ability to do so effectively which is a quality much desired by those looking to employ a producer.

Employment
https://www.glassdoor.co.uk/Job/tv-producer-jobs-SRCH_KO0,11.htm



























To apply for a job as a producer,  it is important that you have sufficient knowledge of the industry you are working within to create the most visually appealing and technically appropriate product possible. You must be willing to adapt to fit the type of production you are going in to and be able to lead a large group of people whilst maintaining to the schedule put in place to secure the success of the production. Producers will come into contact with various suppliers and agencies which will need some levels of negotiation, therefore to apply for a job in this sector you would have to demonstrate that your written and communication skills were of professional level appropriate for the amount of work that comes alongside your role.

Because of the hierarchical structure that forms underneath the role of a producer, it is important that you are able to demonstrate both practical and technical skills ( video production, sound production and editing)  which will show the progression you have made throughout the other job roles - this is key when leading large groups of people as they are likely to come from a variety of creative fields. To fill such an important job role it is most important of all to have confidence in your own ability, other on set personnel are likely to come to you for advice which you must be able to respond to giving a valid opinion hence why knowledge of all on set components is so vital. Not only are skills to do with physical production important, being able to plan ahead and budget for the benefit of the project will be favoured by employers hence why it is so important to complete some sort of work based training or voluntary placement so that you have experience to show upon application.

Work Based Training
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/work-in-broadcast/trainee-schemes/production-apprenticeships

An apprenticeship gives you the opportunity to experience how a career within your chosen job sector would progress whilst being paid as part of a profesional working environment. With apprenticeships, there is a strong possibility that post finishing your placement, the company could offer you further work within the company which begins the journey towards a producer role within the industry. This being said, it makes it all the more important to show your skills and personal attributions to the team as a way of proving your position with the company and early on the qualities which would be seen within a team leader.

Having a creative mind is one of the most important qualities for a producer to possess as it is their job to envisage what everything will appear once it all comes together. In order to create on screen something which has been outlined in a script, a producer must be able to recognise how certain creative aspects will work in order to give the desired effect on screen, this means having background knowledge in other job roles such as camera directing as this will allow them to give feedback on how different shots can convey meanings etc. Demonstrating knowledge within these areas from an apprentice position will show your employers your commitment to the role from an early stage meaning they can work and build upon strengthneing that know how so that it is beneficial within the project environment.

Being successful within your apprenticeship especially with companies such as the BBC relies not only on the technical skills you possess, but most importantly the qualities which will make you stand out from the crowd.

A producer primarily needs to guide their fellow creatives to produce a quality product for a client based on a brief, however, for this to work, it is important that they themselves are a part of that team. The majority of work done on set will require more than one team of people, for example, makeup stylists and costume designers to work together - it is the job of a producer to oversee these crossovers between sectors, this requires a certain element of background knowledge so that they're able to converse freely amongst the team members, using specific jargon where necessary to convey a real sense of understanding on and off set. When in an apprentice position it is key that you are showing both the skills to work as part of the production team which shows you are willing to learn and progress with the help of others, and be able to work independently and show leadership qualities where necessary - This will be beneficial when placement comes to an end as ultimately they will be looking for someone to hire, if you have shown the desirable qualities from the offset, you will be considered thoroughly for the position.

Further Education
http://confetti.ac.uk/college-courses-nottingham/tv-film-production-btec-level-3/


In order to pursue a higher education course in audio visual production requires you to be a creative, driven person with an eye for perfection, Producing any kind of product can be difficult however when you are learning to be the leader of the team rather than being led, it is important that you are demonstrating the correct attributes from the start. To get onto this further educational course you need to have the practical skills which are defined in GCSE grades of 5 A*-C including English and maths - English skills , whether they be written or spoken are key when pursuing this type of course as the majority of it will be based around written communication and media production (filming/acting require excellent written communication skills), not only is this beneficial for the course, but it helps in future employment when you are able to demonstrate these skills - it will set you apart from those who's communication/written skills are less developed.

The practical skills which can be learnt from a production course such as the one shown above are those which will provide you with the foundations to base a career upon, Producers have to have in-depth knowledge on all areas on set , therefore learning at a young age different areas of practical production will give valuable knowledge for later on in your career which again sets you apart from others in selection processes for commissioned work or even higher eduction courses. Higher education courses within the media sector when you apply are likely to rely upon theoretical knowledge, this course is based around not only the practical production skills but the theory too - already being capable of using theory successfully will again put you at an advantage in later life.

Creative courses like this one will put you alongside likeminded people with a passion for filmmaking , this in turn mimics the scenario which would happen in the working environment - from  being post 16 you begin to adapt to work with a team and in some areas lead that team through a production - from early on you are learning the personal attributes which are most sought after within the sector. It is unlikely during secondary education that you would be offered to do a production course therefore when reaching further education it is important to be eager and willing to learn and adapt your skills/knowledge base - as mentioned before this is likely to lead into higher education where those who have a vast skills base will be highly valued , this also gives you the step up you would need to set you apart from other applicants.


Higher Education 
http://www.uca.ac.uk/study/courses/ba-film-production/

When looking to enroll on a degree level course in film production, there are certain things that will be rewarded and lead to you becoming a desirable candidate for a highly regarded subject. Although not essential, a further education qualification which demonstrates your technical and theoretical knowhow will set you apart from the rest and help you progress quickly in a course such as this one that relies upon the two - having these skills already post 16 essentially makes you highly qualified when looking at this kind of production course. A degree is ultimately what leads you into the world of work in such a qualified field therefore experience is key, having the interpersonal skills and academic rigour needed to procure work experience alongside learning about a trade will show the kind of independence and confidence needed to become a producer.

Producers generally have to work under a variety of time constraints and deadlines, this can mean the difference between loosing clients/funding for a project or success therefore ideally you would need to be able to showcase your ability to first of all manage yourself. This can be done through as mentioned before , work experience or simply showing the leaders of this course your ability to meet key dates and times - At the end of your higher education course, in order to get into the world of work - it is important to have a solid referee behind you to vouch for your personal/academic skills . Showing from an early stage your ability to comply with all professional etiquette will make the difference when applying for a job (or the original higher education course).


In order to become a producer, there is a certain element of the role which relies upon contingency. In pre-production stages, milestones are set to ensure the smooth running of a project, however, factors which contribute to this are subject to change, meaning that other elements have to provide leeway. It is a producers job to manage the changes on set and to arrange alternatives where necessary. The same applies to still being in education particularly at university - when working as a team for example, certain scenarios may arise which make the production of a practical element all the more difficult - it is how you deal with this that will make you stand out from your peers.

LO2: Job Role In Chosen Sector task 2

JOB ROLE IN A CHOSEN SECTOR

THE JOB I HAVE CHOSEN TO INVESTIGATE FOR THIS PART OF THE UNIT IS THE ROLE OF THE PRODUCER, I HAVE TAKEN PARTICULAR INTEREST IN THIS ROLE AS IT FITS INTO THE CAREER I WANT TO PURSUE IN EVENTS MANAGEMENT (ENTERTAINMENTS SECTOR. A PRODUCERS JOB IS TO OVERSEE ALL COMMUNICATIONS AND BUSINESS ON AND OFF SET TO ENSURE SMOOTH RUNNING OF THE PRODUCTION - ESPECIALLY WHEN KEEPING TO THE TIGHT PRODUCTION SCHEDULE OF A HIGH GROSSING FILM. IN THIS POST I WILL TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT QUALITIES NEEDED AS A PART OF THIS JOB ROLE AND WHICH RESPONSIBILITIES YOU ARE GIVEN AS A RESULT.

PRACTICAL AND TECHNICAL SKILLS:

Effectively a producer needs to have knowledge of all of the job roles on set, making them one of the members of important personnel - in order to do this they need to obtain both the practical and technical skills of these roles also. To be able to order and find reasonable prices for kit, it is important for a producer to know enough about the equipment needed on set to be able to determine a solid deal with external suppliers. To be able to accurately analyse work done by those on set and assist in creative happenings on set, it is imperative for in some way the producer is able to use both hardwares and softwares - this input often comes from years of technical experience, therefore, will be very valued on a working film set. To keep a production to a specific schedule can be a challenging task especially on large sets with a high number of personnel therefore it is always important to be flexible and allow some deviation from the plan (however this deviation needs to be planned for in contingencies), not everything on set can be accounted for therefore being able to change things at the last minute having planned ahead is a key quality to possess.

SPECIFIC INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE:

In order to work and produce on sets of films or other such productions, it is important that you have sufficient knowledge of the industry you are working within to create the most visually appealing and technically appropriate product possible. Primarily it is key for a producer to know considerable amounts about the history of filmmaking and how successful other productions have become - if looking at genre-specific history, this allows them to look at how other products have worked with audiences and henceforth build upon these ideas to ensure a blueprint for success.

It is not only these creative aspects which need coordinating by the producer but the admin based roles which give films the budget needed to take them forward into the production stages. This means looking at certain jobs and giving pricing structures based on the amount of work which needs doing and the time of which it is going to take - this comes with knowledge of the industry and having experience working alonside other successful producers.   

COMMUNICATION + WRITTEN SKILLS:

When working in a creative industry, there is never a shortage of people who you need to communicate with to make a product as effective as it possibly can be under the constraints.Due to being general manager of the set, producers will come into contact with various suppliers and agencies which will need some levels of negotiation. It is important to be clear and consice with every level of contact with a client as to ensure they are aware of the progress of their product, not only will this please the client, but it will make clear to the producer and production team if any amendments need to be made - this can then be done without complication via addressing the client directly and will not further impede on deadlines and milestones.

ORGANISATION:

A producer essentially has control over everything that happens on and off set to ensure the smooth running of production, this means organising large groups of people and communicate with others so that every aspect of production is in line ready for its usage. A producer must be precise with the organisation so that as a team, they are able to work toward a final product, however, this does not happen if certain pre-production aspects are missing. During pre-production stages, the organisation and delivery of paperwork to all those involved is key to ensure all legal and ethical aspects of production are accounted for before any creative material gets underway - this includes but is not limited to release and consent forms, location Recces and risk assessments. With these things being taken into consideration before any official filming, for example, it helps the producer and creative team progress with the project according to the outlined Gantt chart. Overall, a producer should be able to plan accordingly to the needs of the project to predict how it will run during production stages. Good organisational skills possessed by the producer minimise risk and portray a sense of professionalism amongst the team and clientele. 

CREATIVITY:

Having a creative mind is one of the most important qualities for a producer to possess as it is their job to envisage what everything will appear once it all comes together. In order to create on screen something which has been outlined in a script, a producer must be able to recognise how certain creative aspects will work in order to give the desired effect on screen, this means having background knowledge in other job roles such as camera directing as this will allow them to give feedback on how different shots can convey meanings etc- the producer and director will then work together to achieve a final product which is presentable to the client and meets their needs (a producer will be the first point of contact for the client). To be able to understand the wants and needs of a client, a producer must be able to give opinion on and have relevant knowledge on a variety of different production styles - this will from first encounter with the client, show how you and your production team are equipped for the task in hand - in addition to this the producer will know first hand how the proposed ideas from the client will appear once on screen, this will further help the clients get exactly what they want from the production as it will be made clear what any weaknesses could be based on the experience of the producer.

PROBLEM SOLVING:

In order to become a producer, there is a certain element of the role which relies upon contingency. In pre-proctuion stages, milestones are set to ensure the smooth running of a project, however, factors which contribute to this are subject to change, meaning that other elements have to provide leeway. It is a producers job to manage the changes on set and to arrange alternatives where necessary. This means that the fluctuation of events on set does not negatively impact the production as a whole and will still be available to the client when first arranged. It is important for a producer to develop an environment where the talents of both cast and crew can flourish which can provide multiple issues - as mentioned before it is key for the producer to be able to deal with the stresses of finding alternative routes throughout the production process without impeding the progression on set. The scheduling of a project is essential to a project with a large crew and cast, the producer has to account for this in order for production to run as efficiently as possible, aspects of this include providing realistic time slots for meetings, rehearsals that don't coincide with other on set requirements. 

WORKING AS A PART OF A TEAM: 

A producer primarily needs to guide their fellow creatives to produce a quality product for a client based on a brief, however, for this to work, it is important that they themselves are a part of that team. The majority of work done on set will require more than one team of people, for example, makeup stylists and costume designers to work together - it is the job of a producer to oversee these crossovers between sectors, this requires a certain element of background knowledge so that the producer is able to converse freely amongst the team members, using specific jargon where necessary to convey a real sense of understanding on and off set. For particularly large-scale productions to be executed with ease, many different production aspects have to happen simultaneously - specifically in post production, producers are expected to liaise with the director and executive members of the post-production team. During these meetings, it is key for the producer to learn from the other creatives and begin to identify potential drawbacks when it comes to marketing and distributing the product and henceforth work to resolve this before the release date.

In addition to the roles and responsibilities stated above / there are other wider responsibilities which develop alongside the practical skills of being a producer. With managing the entirety of a production naturally comes responsibility/ however it isn't as simple as making sure the project is on track - as the producer you are the main point of contact for all personnel on and off set/ to ensure the wellbeing of those taking part it is important for you to tackle any grievances and manage any issues professional or personal. This keeps the team happy and productive for the duration of the project. People rely upon you as the producer to provide the scheduling for each working day/ therefore being prompt and ready to work from early in the day enables others to be as productive as possible - in effect you are there to set the standard as one of the more senior members of personell.

LO2: Job Roles And Skills

http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles/281_actor
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles/294_director_tv
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles/305_tv_presenter
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles/298_lighting_director
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles/3077_casting_director
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles/757_producer
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles/1756_costume_designer
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles/287_tv_broadcast_journalist
http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles/313_sound_supervisor_tv

LO1 Task 4: Cross media product case study

The Simpsons has been a huge success for 21st century fox over the past twenty eight years and continues to thrive to this day, this brand is an exemplary case on how cross media promotion can lead to appealing to a mass audience. Subsidiaries of 21st  Century Fox such as sky have for years been promoting the programme in different ways, one of the most prominent being large decals for The Simpsons being printed onto the side of sky engineering vans - This helps us the audience associate the brand with sky and in turn the original conglomerate company . Since starting the original programme in 1989, The Simpsons has grown to become one of the world most popular family compatible programmes on the market, with some episodes raking in over 28 million views, it only seemed right to divert over time to the cinematic pathway. Because of 21st Century Fox's ability to be  horizontally and vertically integrated:  creating, marketing and distributing a film was much easier than maybe anticipated  and as expected was a big hit at the box office what with over 500 million USD made from their 75 million USD budget.

The Simpsons franchise itself is aimed at families, the screenplay shows a form of dysfunctional American family life which has proven to resonate with families not only in America, but all over the world. The characters in the programme are intended to be the same age as those watching, so ideally children aged 8 or over, the creators of the episodes and indeed films/other content have made it so that it appeals to everybody watching in terms of humour.  The uses and gratifications of this product are simply to provide some form of temporary escapism for those watching and in a sense of reassurance that not every family is perfect - this particularly helps the older range of the target audience who are likely to have children the same age as 'Bart', 'Lisa' and ‘Maggie’ as it gives the ability to see what life could be like alternatively. The Simpsons appeals to this mass target audience quite easily due to the format it is shown in and the intertextuality which is used throughout – the cartoon animation look in a way distracts children from the more developed inferences that are intentionally for the more mature audience. In recent episodes, a more political stance has been taken on some episodes which comment on the current presidential situation in America. This is an example of how the show appeals to the older family members whilst still maintaining its original family friendly format.

The interesting thing about The Simpsons Movie is that it was certificated a 15 which is far from the PG rating the regular prime time show was awarded - this shows how the Simpsons have restricted their audience by including sexual innuendos , violence and strong language making it more than just the cartoon show we all are familiar with - this was done to have the reverse effect and as a result has made the target audience larger as those who already watch the show would be able to understand and appreciate the subtle changes that made it into the 15 certificate , however it is likely that those under 15 will have watched the movie having grown up with and appreciated the prime time show.

During the year that The Simpsons Movie was released, a new game ‘The Simpsons Game’ was brought out which somewhat supplement the events shown in cinema, this in turn became a massive hit with console owners with sales spanning across a variety of countries around the world. At current the game retails at around £40 proving that there is still a market for the product 10 years later. When the film was first advertised, it was done so alongside other films of the same age rating in cinemas, 21^st century fox produced a variety of different films around the time of The Simpsons Movie release and therefore was frequently showing the trailer before the showings.

Technological convergence has made it all the more easier for us as audiences to access media products, and The Simpsons is no exception- We are able to stream full episodes of The Simpsons from the Fox (subsidiary of 21^st Century Fox) website which allows users to access it any time anywhere whereas when the first episodes were aired, it was only a possibility to watch when broadcasted. This fits in with the hectic lives of people in the 21^st century and shows how the brand has adapted to consumer needs, those who have grown up with the programme and still watch it to date are highly likely to have jobs which prevent them from watching Tv as it is broadcasted. The Simpsons although available in the UK on Channel 4 is more readily available on channels which have to be paid for by subscription from sky, this gives us an indication of the social grading of the consumers of the programme and their spending power as some of the packages which include Fox and MTV (which also shows the programme), come at a high price. The Simpsons Movie itself can be streamed from Netflix , which much like Fox allows users to watch the film any time anywhere – Web 2.0 has made this a possibility as we as consumers are now able to use interactive interfaces which allow us to perform operations such as streaming at a minimal cost.

Over the past ten years ecommerce has become a big part of day to day life of people all over the globe, and again as part of this we are able to access more and more media products at the click of a button. Today, Amazon (unrelated to the conglomerate 21^st Century Fox) gives the opportunity to its users to buy or rent The Simpsons Movie which can be stored on Amazon Video as well as the ability to order other related merchandise. This is further proof of how effective 21^st century fox has worked as a conglomerate company as they earn commission from every sale of their media products whilst also being paid for the right to resell the product under the Fox Home Entertainment name.

In conclusion, it has been made very clear through the success of the brand how well 21^st century fox has marketed and distributed the products and its capacity to be horizontally and vertically integrated. The popularity of The Simpsons franchise comes down solely to the means in which it has been adapted to the needs of the audience, and how this has followed the consumers as they change their uses for media products. Their ability to work cross media has meant that consumers are constantly exposed to the brand which has ultimately transferred into viewing figures hence the demand from 1989 to present day.

LO1 Task 2 : Technological Convergence and production techniques (improve)

The convergence of technologies overtime has allowed media producers to become more efficient in the ways in which they deal with pre production, production and post production of a media product. The developments made have allowed multiple providers of media outlets to become more versatile during these processes making work generally more collaborative and effectively planned. Behind the majority of these advances lies Web 2.0 which essentially allows more user based content onto our screens hence aiding the surge in technology over the recent years. There are numerous pieces of software now available which allow the following stages of producing a media product to be done with ease.

Pre Production:

Pre Production generally orbits around the planning of the proposed media product for example an advertisement, this means there are a multitude of different processes which require collaborative work to be done. Due to web 2.0 and technological convergence this has become all the more easier what with softwares such as Google Docs and MindMup. Google Docs in particular allows more than one user to edit a document or file, allowing the process of planning an AVP to be shared amongst the production team. When planning products of any type, initially there will be a time for all involved in the project to give insight into what they believe the final edit should look like - this can also be known as Blue Sky Thinking. Google Docs in particular allows this to take place without all of the personnel present and can also be edited at any opportunity. The development of Web 2.0 has allowed its next generation of users to become in touch with each other through the interactivity of websites in this way which further impacts positively on the development of media. In addition to this online sites such as MindMup allow users to create maps and brainstorm ideas which could potentially be the making of a media success - Although this software is not as cross compatible with other web users, it offers contingency to other planning materials and allows creators to be more creative with their ideas given the highly interactive interface given by the latest phase of the internet.

Production:

Technological convergence has made significant ground over the past 17 years in the production of media, Web 2.0 has impacted the way we are able to produce products making us the ultimate prosumers. We are now able to collaborate during the production stages of an Audio Visual Product using softwares such as Soundcloud which allow artists from all over the world to work together to create a sound - in previous years this would rely upon all involved being a part of a specialist company however now it has become simplified so that people are able to work online to achieve an end product. The interactive new era of the Web allows all creators to store their content online and specifically with sites such as Soundcloud, then distribute them online using social media links from the interface. Garage band shows how products that stem from black box devices can aid the production of media products, this pre installed software allows its users to compose music through their apple mac which can then be recalled on other apple hardware such as a macbook - This again shows how this convergence has allowed production to become less of a specialised subject.


Post Production:

Prior to having softwares that aid post production, amending raw footage or audio could be a lengthy and unsuccessful process leading to more care and attention being required when capturing the raw imagery. Due to technological advances, producers now have the capability to use powerful editing suites such as Premiere Pro, After Effects and more, to enhance their work further and apply additional effects. These two Adobe softwares enable producers to not only colour grade their raw footage, but challenge the creative industry by optimising the use of post processing techniques. The whole idea behind this is to make the end product suitable for the prosumers at the best quality available, through the use of creative cloud (again  a feature of the recently appointed Web 2.0) producers can have access to these types of industry standard softwares which will be highly recognised amongst the trade and in years to come prosumers when they are able to see clearly the effects of technological convergence.


Technologies in films:

There has been a considerable hike over the years in creative animations which involve the use of motion capture technology and CGI - one of the films which I am familiar with this happening in would be The Life of Pi as to where the production team mapped the movements of a real tiger and then incorporated a computer generated one into the entirety of the film. They did this by placing a real tiger and noting its reactions , movements and muscles it used to navigate around the boat which was then simulated by another actor to help the main character himself develop a sense of what it would be like to have the actual tiger present - this was then brushed over in post production and replaced with the computer generated image of a tiger who's movements were based on that of the real thing.

LO1 Task 3 : Technological Convergence, Advertising and distribution (improve)

In early March 2017, the trailer for 'Get Out' a psychological horror was released and soon became a big hit on social media. It has been said to be one of the best trailers of its time and due to this gained a mass following due to the enticing nature of the Audio Visual Promo. What with the film containing some graphic content, it was classified by the BBFC as a 15 which meant that the target audience were mainly digital natives who presumably would have access to some form of social media account. The original promotional trailer for the film featured the hashtag '#GETOUT' which was used all over the world to spark a conversation about the film, Twitter users in particular used the hastag as a way to express their views across a multitude of other social media outlets. With thanks to technological convergence it has become all the more possible for audiences to access social media through smartphones and other devices making this form of marketing one of the most successful in the 21st century. Alongside the actual audio visual promotion video itself came an online craze recreating some of the footage from the trailer which then meant spanning onto other online streaming sites such as YouTube - this helped promote the original film as to understand the reasoning behind the recreative piece you must first have seen the video trailer.

Online content is highly regarded by young people in particular which means that when marketing a film aimed at this age range, it is important for it to be distributed heavily where the captive audience would be exposed. It is firmly believed that the success of the film is down to how it has been promoted online , the  435,815 Facebook likes have translated to 252.2 million at the box office.

The new and interactive phase of the internet has been so popular with media consumers for a variety of reasons, the most prominent of these being that it makes media consumption free , easy and fats. The majority of the target audience for the film 'Get Out' mentioned beforehand will have access to a piece of black box technology which we have Web 2.0 and the age of technological convergence to thank for - this makes it all the more possible for them to interact with media products , advertising and video on demand services - this means that media producers find it much easier to reach their intended audience through strategic advertising techniques such as the 'get out challenge' which involved fans recreating a popular scene from the film using their phones and creating viral videos with the relate hashtag which drew further attention to the advertising and release of the film.

Video on demand services such as netflix have made it all the more easier for audiences to consume media products which alonside other technological convergence has changed the way we enjoy media products, it has been said by theorists , in particular Sonia Livingstone (1999) that because of the multitude of media we now have access to on demand we are failing to watch broadcasted content which could lead to 'the death of the schedule'. VOD means that now multiple users within one household , using black box devices can access a variety of shows at the click of a button - this has led to fragmented viewing with houses and a loss of the social element of evening viewing. The advantages of these services are that they are accessible on almost every device available on the market at present and can be used at any time to either download or stream content- Downloading content means that viewers have unrestricted access to that media without internet connection, making it possible to watch missed shows on the go. Web 2.0 has made this a possibility as the new phase of the internet allows users to tune into what they have missed and even set online scheduels for the recording of programmes.

Black box devices have made a great impact on how we in society view media products, which in turn means that TV has become less of a sociable affair. Almost everybody we know has access to some form of smart device whether that be phone, TV or smart watch which has revolutionised the way we work , this also has had an effect on how we access media products as they are simply at our fingertips at any given point. Web 2.0 has also made it a possibility to access the same type of media on two different platforms , also known as simulcasting - an example of this would be the ability to watch a radio presenter online whilst also listening to them on the radio . This adds extra interaction with audience from content creators whilst also providing the listener with a visual aid, not long ago was this not a possibility. Although some on demand softwares such as Netflix and Now Tv are membership only, we as audiences are willing to pay fees to have access to content that would otherwise be restricted such as Netflix original series 'Orange Is The New Black' , these any time access episodes fit perfectly into a modern lifestyle as there is no requirement to watch them when they are aired as they are archived.