the http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/comedy/index.html part of the site sets out a main list of what the site offers, with drop down lists of channel four's various comedy programme. It also amkes the most of advertising with a L'Oreal pop up as well as a 'Comfort' advert. This is an example of how the web is now being used more and more for advertising. This part of the site would appeal to fans of channel four comedy, and the technology here seems to be replacing TV listing supplements like the Radio Times as the site contains listings ffor the shows as well. The site also works to advertise other channel 4 shows and DVDs, offering videos and articles.
A link from here follows onto the 'My Name Is Earl', part of the site (http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/E/earl/). This is clearly made for fans of the show, offering interviews, character lists, an episode guide, an online shop as well as a promo for the sponsors (Tic Tacs). The show also seems to be set out for anyone who has just started to watvh the series offering summaries of what has happened so far. The site also features novelty games such as 'Earl's list' Tying in with the show.
This part of the Radio 1 website is dedicated to providing extra information regarding Tim Westwoods show and clearly there to replace other music media such as printed materials (magazines etc). The site is clearly aimed at fans of the show as well as fans of Hip Hop and Rap. People visiting the site can listen to his show, watch music videos, view pictures of tours and guests, as well as join in the online forums (democratisation). The site also encourages interactivity with the audience being offered the chance to Email the show and thus promotes loyalty. The institutions involved are BBC Radio 1.
Myspace is an example of social networking and this Myspace page was made by Hip Hop artist, The RZA, in order to promote his music. On the page you can listen to some of his music, watch videos, check tour dates as well as details as his latest album. The page is a good ploy at advertising and is a cheap form as well. The page also lets The RZA contact his fans especially the youngergeneration of fans, who use social networking more. This kind of advertising is replacing more traditional form such as radio, and is better as it is more personalised. Other institutions involved are of course his record company who will profit from the free advertising for his latest single. This is a good example of democratisation and of convergence of the music industry and social networking.
This is a martial arts music video by 'TPRoach', a youtube user who has put a number of self made martial arts on Youtube as well as edited together montages from existing films such as 'Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai'. from the looks of it 'TPRoach' used a digital camera and used simple editing equipment, maybe moviemaker.
Tproach has seemed to get a huge fanbase mainly from the martial arts community as well as people who attempt to make similar videos on youtube, judging from his website. The opportunity Youtube offers people like TPRoach is to attempt editing and get a response as well as share his hobby with people who will appreciate it and the world. The downside on the use of Youtube is of course the copright. For exmple someone could come up with a concept for a film on youtube, and then it could be taked by a film conpany and they would not see a penny.
Now I believe that TPRoach is trying to sell DVD's on self help in martials arts after his success and is working on a number of projects. As well as this there is a chance he may be paid for his efforts, as youtube begin to pay video uploaders as they discussed a couple of years ago.
This case study is a good example of Democratisation as Youtube.com allows anyone to showcase their abilities and share videos with the world.
Movie Rush by Film Four podcast is a 10 minute summary of the latest films out each week and also out on DVD. It is a free podcast, and is also shown on TV as well on Film Four on Thursdays. It is relevant as it is replacing normal film review programmes such as film with Johnathan Ross, as it is easily acessible and they can watch it when they want. The podcast itself is very brief just giving about a minute or two to each film, ensuring the audience does not get bored and does not have a presenter. Perhaps this is a bad thing as some people probably enjoy more details on the films, as well as the critcal approach a film reviewer like Johnathan Ross has. Film Four also gets to promote itself through it, making sure that special attention is drawn to any Film Four releases. The main subscriber's of this podcast are mainly young film lovers, especially as the percentage of people that own an I-Pod are under the age of 30. The institutions involved are obviously Channel 4 broadcasters and Apple, so this 'product' is the result of a combination of their efforts, and is a convergence of mediums
Zoebell.com is an amateur fansite for stuntwoman and actress who has starred in films such as Tarantino's 'DeathProof' and been a stunt double for Uma Thurman amongst others. The website is significant as it has been made by fans for fans and would not be possible without the current democratisation on the web.
The site offers video clips, audio clips, forums, pictures, as well as links to other sites. The film mainly appeals to cult film fans as well as people who take a special interest in action films. Web users might use the site to keep tabs on what Zoe is starring in next as well as discussing things about Zoe in the forums with other fans.
The site also has links to more major websites such as Amazon where you can buy films relating to Zoe such as 'Double Dare' a documentary in which she stars, showing a use of convergence. Websites like this are important as it means that certain actors and artists, can be promoted, even though they are not 'big stars'.
Film making used to be very difficult for amateur film makers but now with the inroduction of digital cameras it has all become much easier. For one buying film stock is no longer necessary so the cost of film making has decreased greatly. As well as this editing systems like Moviemaker means that editing can be learnt by just about anyone whose willing to learn. As editing has advanced, it is now easier to deal with lighting elements that previously would have been an issue. Another benefit that the user has now is the ability to view what they have filmed on the camera due to the implementing of LCD screens. Some camera's now even have the ability to transfer footage straight to DVD making life even easier for the user. This kind of technology is relevant to film makers as well as anyone wanting to get into the business. As well as this it could even be used by families for home videos. Even Hollywood directors are using this technology, inclluding Danny Boyle who used this technology when making '28 Days Later' as he said it meant he could have more camera's onset, because they were cheaper. Technology has alos had an effect on distribution, as it is now easy for people to make home video's and then give them to whom they want. It has also meant that amateur film directors have been able to creat DVD's and sell them. this is a good example of democratisation as now film making is open to anyone.
The Nokia 5610 Xpress Music Mobile Phone is the latest Music Xpress phone in their range and is a convergence of several technologies. These include:
1) The ability to play MP3, MP4, AAC, eAAc+ and WMA music files due to it's audio chip.
2) Music can be transferred easily from your PC either by USB or by the 3G connection.
3) A 3.2 Megapixel camera with 8x digital zoom
4) A 2.2" front screen to view your shots in 16 million colours
5) A secondary camera for video calling in the front of the phone
6) 3G allows the phone to take video calls in QCIF (Quarter Common Intermediate Format, a videoconferencing format that specifies data rates of 30 frames per second ) 7) 3G also allows fast browsing and downloads
This is all relevant as Nokia has converged a number of technologies in order to make the mobile phone more useful and more versatile for the audience in order to compete with other phone companies. This follows the trend for new technology products (eg Xbox 360, PSP, I-POD etc) to try and facilitate as many technologies as possible. However in the mobilise phone market it only takes a few years for a phone to be bettered, and this phone seems to be Nokia's answer to the I-Phone, although apart from it's price, it will probably fail to compete. Its relevant to the audience of teenagers as it allows them to keep in contact with friends more easily with the video calling as well as also being a MP3 player. Teenagers seem to be the target audience due to their expenditure on technology and the fact that they are normally more adept at using new technology.
The lastest in the GTA series GTA 4 will offer gamers a gaming experience like never before, both being more 'realistic' as well as offering a number of additional features making use of new technologies. This game is relevant as it has alot of features that mhas not been used in any other game yet. Features including theuses of other technologies include: 1) Players will be able to purchase real world MP3 tracks through GTA IV's in-game mobile phone, Following a partnership between Rockstar Games and Amazon.com (convergence). However, this service will only be available in the US for now. 2)Rockstar Games Social Club is a web site that will display the gameplay statistics of registered users and feature competitions and awards based on player activity within the game. The Social Club web site was announced on the twenty seventh of March this year and launched on the seventeenth of April at http://socialclub.rockstargames.com/. This makes more of a community for the customers and works to advertise to the audience. 3)GTA IV will be the first game in the GTA series to include online multiplayer on a console, allowing upto 16 players to explore the city at once.
Why this game is revolutionary in gaming and animation: 1) 'The game uses Rockstar's own RAGE game engine in combination with the Euphoria game animation engine. Instead of pre-written animations, Euphoria controls the way the player moves, enabling character movements to be more realistic. The Euphoria engine also enables Computer generated pedestrians etc to react in a realistic way to the player's actions. The game also uses middleware from Image metrics to facilitate intricate facial expressions and ease the process of incorporating lip-synching.'
This new technology should evolve console games to the next level making them more realistic. However this does have it's pitfalls as the game series is already deemed contreversial, and has been accussed as the source of some youth crime.Therefopre as the game becomes more realistc it may pehaps be banned like another Rockstar game, 'Manhunt', which was dubbed a murder simulation. As well as this it may well encourage more examples of convergence between games and websites such as Amazon.com has with GTA 4 to mutually benefit both parties. The game is now also alot more interactive than ever before and may encourage other game to use the same new technology to acheive similar results.
'Sin City' was the second US film to use real actors but creating the settings and props through green screen techniques and CGI. It is however the first hit film using the technology and the first film, was a flop at the box office. This technology allows the unfilmable to be filmable, as producing a real set and/or producing canvas backgounds would not have produced the same effect. As well as this the director of the film, Robert Rodrigues could only have the rights to the comic book if the writer, Frank Miller, thought that it truly represented what he had written. It is alos significant as now the same technology is beng used for other hit films such as '300' that was a summer hit in 2007. For the director it is also much easier to film. Not having to worry about matters like weather, renting sets as well as other simple problems that film makers using traditional methods would be concerned about. As well as this special effects are now alot simpler, meaning that the days of squibs and artificial blood maybe over. For consumer it will mainly affect 18-25 year old males (the percentage of people who go to the cinema), and so the technology can be used to cater for their entertainment. It is clear that the type of movie that use this kind of technology is action films and it seems that it has got through the BBFC, perhaps as violent scenes in these film tend to look less realistic and so many have become very gory. For instance there is a scene in 'Sin City' where one of the charcters has the barrel of a gun stuck in his head, that I doubt would be allowed by the BBFC if it was done without using the technology and style. The main benefit to the audience is that action films can now include sequences that were previously seen as unfilmable, so the film industry is clearly evolving. The Technology mainly affects big studios as well as the independant film makers. This is because it means that companies no longer need to build big sets for epics, no need stuntmen etc, as set design and special effects can be added in post production. Fo0r independant film makers it means that they can create films for a fraction of the price, relying more on their editing wares than the resources they need for filming. This I think is a good example of democratisation as the technology will perhaps allow for anyone to make films more easily on less of a budget. However that does not mean to say that the quality of film making by any means will improve and may even mean that they decrease, as they rely more on special effects rather than scripts or performances.
