How is Media Convergence important for audiences and Institutions?

How is Media Convergence important for audiences and Institutions?

Media Convergence is essential to have when releasing a film; this is because it helps the film become successful when marketing, distributing and exhibiting. It helps the audience to become aware that the film is being made, when it will be released and also which actors/actresses are going to be starring in the film. This helps attract the audience to the film which would then hopefully result in achieving more sales of tickets when the film is released.

Kick -Ass used a lot of media convergence as while they were still making the film posters with the superheroes on were being released so this helped the audience to be able to learn the names of the characters before the film had been released. These posters would appeal to young and old audiences as the posters were colourful yet effective. On another poster there was a URL under each character which directed the audience to that characters own website, this would appeal more to a younger audience as there were games on the websites which would help the audience get to know then characters before the release of the movie.

The Hangover was produced by Green Hat films and Legendary Pictures these are two very big production companies as the latter was valued at $1billion in 2011. The film was advertised on posters, billboards, bus stops, shopping centres and also the trailer this helped the anticipation of the film grow and get more people talking about it. The first teaser trailer was released online in February 2011. The first full trailer was released in April 2011. There were also clothing products related to the movie released to help advertise the Film, an App was released on the App store which people could download, the app consisted of different phrases used by the characters throughout the film. There was also a website dedicated to the film this enabled the audience to gain early access to any recent news regarding the film.

Social media also plays a large part in this as most films have Facebook and twitter accounts along with their actors and directors. They also have things such as blogs where they blog during the production stage of films. This is something we have seen for a long time in things like the added features on our DVDs which show us deleted scenes and things such as how something was done.

All of these things were to try and sell the film, as these are different techniques of media convergence. They try and capture the different types of audience that could be attracted to the film.