Let's look at a good example of Power + the Media.
As a result of celebrity culture, celebrities who were once just storytellers, acting out the stories based on ideologies of script-writers and movie-makers, now are powerful enough and have enough of a following that they are creating movies with powerful messages.
Write a paragraph in response to the question below, using the 'Don't Look UP' move as a case study. Find out when it was released, name the director and a few of the A-list actors involved.
Question;
"The power balance is shifting from institutions to audiences. How far do you agree with this statement?"
Have a look at these 2 short videos and widen your understanding of citizen journalism.
Have a look at the comments at old/ new media. How have some examples of old media, digitised ? Have a look at the NZ Herald - when did they go online? How many subscribers do they currently have? How many people follow their FB or Instagram pages?
What is the problem or challenge that comes with citizen journalism? Explore this with some of your personal thoughts about this.
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
