Differences between Mainstream and Independant Cinemas

Juno, Napolean Dynamite and The Mask.




In the film Juno the actors were relatively unknown as it was an indpenedent film which meant that the actors we low paid and cheap. Because the actors were unknown they most likey to accept any job going and were easy to hire. Napolean Dynamite is similar to this film as the actors were unknown but with The Mask it was Jim Carrey who was and still is a very popular actor so would coast a lot.


In the film Juno it was filmed in a low cost shop for only a number of days as this was cheaper than finding a high cost set. This is also similar to Napolean Dynamite which was a hired room but for The Mask was a much larger set with added effects such as when he is bouncing around the set. This represents the difference in budget between a mainstream and independant movie company.

Four Media Concepts

Four Media Concepts


The first media concept is Media Form which involves naming what you are analysing. To name the form you have to describe what you are looking at and explain how and why it fits a specific media form. it could be a movie poster, a music video or a trailer. There are many platforms of media for example films, tv shows or magazines. Genres for forms include action,adventure or comedy. Films are usually analysed by there angles or sound but posters or newspapers can be analysed by colour and font.

The second concept is institutution. Institution is finding out who made the product. It could be a big company or a local production which costs very little. A company such as Disney have produced many high grossing films o you always expect the best from them. Commercial insitutions only make their money from advertising. Different institutution have different aims and opinions which they can reflect in their films that they make.

The third concept is Representation. Representation is about who or what the production is showing. It is about how are the things on the product presented. Whether it is portrayed positively or negatively.

The last media concept is Audience. This is who the film or poster etc is targeted at. Every media text is made for a specific audience. For example a bockbuster film could be aimed at a specific age. Media forms must target a certain audience whether it be youn or old or for rich or poorer people unless the target is a mass audience. Different media companies have their own demographic for example Disney targets young children or families due to the content being usually animated fantasies.