Film poster- my example

Questionnaire about film classification

1. Have you ever watched a film when you were younger than the classification age?

2. Have you ever been let into a film at the cinema when you were below the classification age?

3. Have you ever been allowed to buy a film (in a shop) when you were below the classification age?

4. How much do your parents monitor what films you watch?


5. Do you think they should monitor it more, less or the same?

6. Do you think that classification serves an important purpose? Or do you feel it just prevents yo from watching what you want?

7. Would you agree that now that it is so easy to download films or buy them on the internet (legally or illegally) classification has become irrelevant?

8. What sort of attitude do you think shops and cinemas have towards classification?

9. Have you ever been asked to produce ID to prove that you can purchase/ be admitted into a film? Do you think asking for ID is necessary?

10. Are you ever put off seeing films due to their classification? (the classification suggests it is for younger viewers, it was a higher classification therefore you could not go and see it etc)

How does Disney represent reality?

Some would argue that Disney films give an unrealistic view of reality. Most Disney films follow the classic love story formula, when a man and a woman meet, fall in love and often get married. It is presented as the 'norm' when in real life this does not always happen. Not every couple gets married and very few 'love stories' are ever as straight forward as presented in Disney films. The difficulties the couples in Disney films have to overcome are more likely to be scenarios like waking up a cursed princess rather than a massive row about where their 'relationship is going.' People might say that this is misrepresented relationships to children, that they will have an unrealistic view of their future. In Disney films, like all children's films, good always triumphs over evil, which is unfortunately not the case in real life. I don't think it would be an unfair generalisation to say that most Disney films are very unrealistic, most are fantasy films. But then again, are Disney films trying to give an accurate portrayal of real life? Or are they their to offer escapism, to entertain and stimulate children's imagination? There is a fine line between teaching children about the 'real world' and scaring them unnecessarily. If evil won sometimes or the princess didn't always get her Prince, what sort of hope would that give children? One of the big messages in Disney films is to follow your dreams, try your best, believe that you can succeed. If these typical plot lines were reversed, the stories would show children a world without hope, encouraging them to just give up. In some ways that is a more unrealistic viewpoint of the world than everyone living happily ever after. Certainly a more depressing one anyway, definitely not one fit for children's films. Disney films may seem unrealistic, but they are unrealistic for a reason. They're certainly not doing children any harm.

How Disney uses synergy

The diagram above was produced by the Disney corporation in 1967 to show their various ventures or 'synergies.' The diagram shows that the studios were central to the Disney operation. The studios command the largest amount of real estate on the diagram and have more links than any of the others. In 1967, the company was still in touch with its studio beginnings, and it was this that formed the centre of all the company's activities.

Other divisions included in the diagram are Disney World Florida which was in its early stages (had not even been built yet), the Mineral King ski resort which never materialised, and the Celebrity Sports Center which did but was short-lived.

Some of the more interesting synergies:

•Disneyland plugs motion pictures and keeps characters before the public - The characters are arguably the most important part of the Disney theme parks. This was a planned strategy from forty years ago; Sleeping Beauty Castle was named while the film was still in production as a means of building interest in the character and story. Disney often regularly teams up with McDonalds to give away free toys in their trademark 'Happy Meals' during or sometimes before a new films general release.

•Disneyland and Disney World Florida provide a major sales outlet for merchandise licensing - The company has always carried various souvenirs for sale in the parks, including ones branded with characters from television and film.

•TV promotes the theme parks - Walt Disney viewed television as a great promotional tool. This is still the case, Disney has television advertisements for its holiday parks, channels and shows, plus any toys of characters etc.

What does the Disney brand mean?

Competition

Scope of operations/ key areas of business/turnover/profits

The company is best known for the products of its film studio, the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, today one of the largest and best-known studios in Hollywood. Disney also owns and operates the ABC broadcast television network; cable television networks such as Disney Channel, ESPN, and ABC Family; publishing, merchandising, and theatre divisions; and owns and licenses eleven theme parks around the world. The company has been a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average since May 6, 1991. An early and well-known cartoon creation of the company, Mickey Mouse, is the official mascot of The Walt Disney Company.

The Walt Disney Company operates as four primary divisions: The Walt Disney Studios or Studio Entertainment, which includes the company's film, recording label, and theatrical divisions; Parks and Resorts, featuring the company's theme parks, cruise line, and other travel-related assets; Disney Consumer Products, which produces toys, clothing, and other merchandising based upon Disney-owned properties, and Media Networks, which includes the company's television and internet operations.

Its main entertainment features and holdings include Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, Disney Music Group, Walt Disney Theatrical, Disney-ABC Television Group, Radio Disney, ESPN Inc., Disney Interactive Media Group, Disney Consumer Products, and Marvel Entertainment. Its resorts and diversified holdings include Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort, Disneyland Resort Paris, Euro Disney S.C.A., Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Disney Vacation Club, and Disney Cruise Line.