Hi guys,
Please watch these 2 videos, jam-packed with some great information and research for Black Panther as your case study. This will work for Power and the Media (in terms of representation) but also in Media Ecology as we talk about how audiences engage with media envoronments.
Questions to consider - what audience trends did Disney make use of to market and advertise as well as deliver this film to its audience?
An element of power = the ability to tell the stories we want told
Write some notes on ''The Sound of Freedom' as a case study in relation to how independent filmmakers have more autonomy over what types of movies are being made and what stories are being told.
Why do you personally feel it is important for their to be stories like this told through the film industry, rather than just the usual 'cookie- cutter' movies that the Big 5 seem to be churning out?
Look up some more recent stats in relation to how well this film did. What opposition did it face and how well was it recieved in the end? (You can use numbers from Facebook 'likes' on it's fan page as well as Box Office numbers)
| Sound of Freedom | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Alejandro Monteverde |
| Written by |
|
| Produced by | Eduardo Verástegui |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography |
|
| Edited by | Brian Scofield |
| Music by | Javier Navarrete |
Production company | Santa Fe Films |
| Distributed by | Angel Studios |
Release date |
|
Running time | 131 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Languages |
|
| Budget | $14.5 million[2] |
| Box office | $182.5 million[3][4] |
Sound of Freedom is a 2023 American action film directed and co-written by Alejandro Monteverde, and starring Jim Caviezel,
The film was released on July 4, 2023, by Angel Studios. It was a sleeper hit, becoming one of the most successful independent films in history.[6] It has grossed $182 million against a $14.5 million budget. It received mixed reviews from critics,[7] while audience reception has been highly positive.
In the entertainment industry, sleeper hit refers to a film, television series, music release, video game, or some other entertainment product that was unpromising on release but became a success later on
The film was completed in 2018 and a distribution deal was made with the Latin American subsidiary of 20th Century Fox.[25] When the studio was purchased by the Walt Disney Company, it shelved the film. Subsequently, the filmmakers bought the distribution rights back from the studio.[26]
Verástegui approached Angel Studios with the release rights. Angel presented the film to an online group of 100,000 investors in its past projects called the Angel Guild, which gave it a "yes" vote within days.[2] In 2023, Angel Studios had acquired the worldwide distribution rights, with a planned release during the second half of 2023.[26] In May of the same year, it received a release date of July 4, 2023.[27]
Angel used equity crowdfunding to raise the funds needed to distribute and market the film. Seven thousand people invested, allowing Angel to meet its $5 million goal in two weeks.[2] They also encouraged patrons to "pay it forward" to allow people who might not otherwise see the film to watch it in theaters for free.[28] Sound of Freedom is Angel Studios' second theatrical release after His Only Son.[29]
On July 26, Angel Studios confirmed that Sound of Freedom would be released in 23 international markets throughout 2023. The film was released in UAE on August 17, in South Africa, Iceland and Lithuania on August 18 and Australia and New Zealand on August 24. The film has been released in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Belize, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Croatia[30] on August 31. In addition, the film will be released in the United Kingdom and Ireland on September 1 and Spain on October 11
Check out this article;
Diversify or die: What New Zealand television can learn from our film industry
Questions;
1. What are some of the points this article raises between the difference in how progressive the TV representation of Maori is and the representation of Maori in film?
2. What is an example of the last TV show that really brought Maori representation into the spotlight but that is an older show to reference now?
3. What are some examples of films that have done well and that focus on telling the stories of ethnic minority in NZ?
4. Why are US TV networks scrambling to make their programming more diverse?
5. What, according to the article is one of the biggest challenges for Maori television shows?
Write a few other good points from the article and a quote that sums up one of these points, to be able to contribute to your essay on POWER AND THE MEDIA.
Look at these 2 articles;
More in-depth for examples, this one...
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20190724-did-disney-shape-how-you-see-the-world
just briefly for some historical context, this one...
Write a few paragraphs in response to the following question (using ALL your Disney case study information AND ownership terminology from last year)
Question;
"There is a shift in power from large institutions to audiences." Discuss whether you believe this is completely true
Look particularly at the relationship between power, influence, audience size, fan-base, messaging, stereotypes and cultures represented as well as the idea of hegemony. All these words should pop up in your response.
Discuss how traditional power models are changing with the introduction of new technologies.
Key Concept 1: Representation as Power
One of the most important forms of media power is the power to represent people and social groups.
Media institutions influence:
Representation affects public attitudes towards:
Why is this important?
Because media is consumed daily, repeated representations can shape beliefs and stereotypes over time
Why Representation Matters
Media representations can:
For example:
Traditional Media Power
Historically, media industries were dominated by:
This meant that:
Examples included:
.
The Shift Toward Diverse Representation
In recent years, media industries have attempted to improve diversity and inclusion.
This shift has been influenced by:
Movements such as:
have pressured institutions to reconsider representation.
The University of California, Los Angeles Hollywood Diversity Report is one of the most widely used studies examining representation in film and television.
Recent findings showed:
The report argues that:
audiences support diverse storytelling and industries benefit financially from inclusion.
Media industries have increasingly attempted to represent women in more active, complex, and empowered roles.
Research from USC’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative found that women reached over 50% of leading roles in major films in 2024 for the first time.
However:
A UCLA study found that only around 10% of major theatrical films in 2025 were directed by women.
The film deliberately challenged traditional gender expectations by:
The film became:
This case study shows:
Ethnic minorities have historically been:
Modern media has increasingly attempted to improve representation.
The UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report found that films with diverse casts often perform strongly commercially.
However, the same reports also found:
The film was culturally significant because it:
It became:
This case study demonstrates:
The show deliberately used:
This challenged traditional expectations of period dramas, which have often been overwhelmingly white.
Some audiences praised the inclusivity.
Others criticised it as:
This creates an excellent classroom debate around:
Streaming services often promote themselves as more inclusive than traditional media institutions.
Examples include:
The UCLA Diversity Report found that streaming films generally showed stronger diversity than theatrical releases.
Streaming audiences are also highly diverse:
This means representation is also economically valuable.
Some critics argue streaming companies:
Representation is not only about actors on screen.
Power also exists behind the scenes:
These groups influence:
Studies found:
This theory suggests that groups who are:
are socially marginalised through media representation.
Audiences now challenge representation online through:
Examples:
The campaign criticised the lack of racial diversity in Academy Award nominations.
The controversy pressured institutions such as:
This demonstrates:
Not all audiences support diversity initiatives.
Online debates often include accusations of:
This creates ideological conflict around representation.
The casting of Halle Bailey in:
The Little Mermaid
generated:
Representation debates reveal:
Hi guys, Please watch these 2 videos, jam-packed with some great information and research for Black Panther as your case study. This will...
