Ex Machina

Producer:
Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich

Director:
Alex Garland

Distributor:
Universal Pictures

Cast:
Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac and Sonoya Mizuno

Budget:
$15 million

Locations:
UK, Pinewood studios and Norway

Technology:

Special effects, CGI

Number of screens- Opening weekend:
1,255

Number of screens- Peak number:

2004

Box office figures:

$36.9 million
Seven Areas-

The issues raised by media ownership in contemporary media practice; (how

does whoever that owns a media company influence the type of film made
and its potential success? For example, do big companies make BIG films
and therefore make all the money? Is it possible for small companies to
succeed?) Which companies made Ex Machina? How did this impact on the
type of film that was made?
- The people who own the media company influence the type of film by adding
their own personal touches to it and directing it in their own way. Therefore, if
it is a successful company, like Disney, the film may succeed as its being
directed in a way that a lot of audiences like. A lot of big companies create big
films and gain a lot of the money, but there has been times when small
companies have created big films, for example, 'The King's Speech' was
successful yet it was only made by a small company, this will have been
because a lot of Americans like the royal family, therefore, many people will
have watched it and the film will have gained publicity. Film 4 and DNA films

made Ex Machina and this impacted on the films as the production companies
are not that popular therefore, the film did not make a big impact on the film
industry.
The importance of cross media convergence and synergy in production,
distribution and marketing; (how do companies work together to produce,
distribute and publicise a film? How can Disney use their size to promote and
publicise a film? How can small companies work together to promote their
business' when making and promoting a film?) Who publicised and distributed
the film? How did these companies work together? What roles did they
undertake?
- Companies go through a 3 step production system; Pre-production,
Production and Post-production. What happens in Pre-production is all the
planning, so, costume designing, script writing, finding locations and
storyboarding. Production is all of the filming, composing and framing. Finally,
post-production is the editing, after the films has been captured, where the
music, colour-correction and special effects are added. Disney can use their
size to promote a film as many people are interested in Disney films and
therefore trust them that it will be a good film. Small companies can work
together to promote business' by advertising to their specific audiences, this
way, they can get a broader variety of people who see the advertisements and
both the companies may end up becoming larger and gaining other
audiences. Universal pictures had distributed the film and they cooperated by
producing trailers and making posters which helped with the publication of the
film.
The technologies that have been introduced in recent years at the levels of
production, distribution, marketing and exchange; (how has the introduction of
digital film,3D, DVD, Blue Ray, internet streaming, downloadable content and
home cinema influenced the types of films made, the way we watch them and
the way we 'buy' them?) Research the types of technology utilised during
these stages of the film production process of Ex Machina.
- The introduction of digital film has influenced the types of film made because
producers are starting to film movies on IMAX (64MM) as more people prefer
the ultimate cinematic experience, therefore, digital film influences the ways

that producers film. Usually, films are made with a 32mm film, yet IMAX is
64mm. As watching films can be expensive, people like to download them at
home so they can watch them without having to pay. Also, if cinema trips are
too expensive, people quite often buy Blu-ray discs so that it can still be good
quality whilst being at home. Ex Machina had used special effects for Ava's
and all of the artificial intelligent bodies.
The significance of proliferation in hardware and content for institutions and
audiences; (how and why have film companies had to alter the way they work
now everyone has web enabled phones, PC's, consoles etc? How have
audiences changed their viewing habits now we no longer need to go to the
cinema to watch a film) Link this area to Ex Machina.
- Film companies have had to alter the way they work because a lot of people
can access the films on their phones or consoles. There are also sites such as
Netflix or Now TV where you can watch the films a lot cheaper. Therefore, a
lot more people stay at home to watch the movies and so less money goes
towards the cinema industry. Audiences have changed their viewing habits by
watching them on illegal websites or downloading the content. With Ex
Machina, as it was not such a popular film, more people would have waited
until it was available online, or perhaps was scrolling a long lists of films and
found it and then watched it on websites that have full movies.
The importance of technological convergence for institutions and
audiences; (can you think of examples of how different technologies have
come together to help the film industry?) Consider, amongst other things, the
many ways that the film was marketed.
- Rather than keeping the audience together, institutions are trying to 'trigger
engagement' in a variety of ways. They are using a new technique of push
media Vs. Pull Media- they're pushing media towards us and the audience is
choosing what media they want and in what form, hence pulling it in. Different
technological systems evolve which improve the film industry. The ways that
Ex Machina was distributed was by making trailers, posters and putting it over
social media which is the main effective distributive way as there is a massive
audience that use social media, therefore it was easily seen.

The issues raised in the targeting of national and local audiences (specifically,
British) by international or global institutions; (how do film companies try and
attract their audience? Do they do different things in different countries?) How
was the film marketed in the USA, Europe and the rest of the world (particular
focuses here on China).
-Film companies try and attract their audience by using a variety of techniques
such as special effects, action scenes and two protagonists- Good and bad. It
depends on the genre that they are using as some audiences prefer particular
genres whereas bigger audiences prefer another. Producers also create a cliff
hanger when they show the trailers, this brings in the audience as they want
to know more. The film was marketed in the USA, Europe and the rest of the
world by using trailers and posters which are specific to the country. For
example, the posters would have different language to represent the country
and their specific language use.
The ways in which the candidates' own experience of media consumption
illustrate wider patterns and trends of audience behaviour. (what is your
opinion on the above? Do you see the developments as a good or bad
thing?) Link this area to the film. Find figures for audience consumption on the
different platforms for Ex Machina
- I think that the developments of audience behaviour from media
consumption is a good thing as it is letting people be able to watch many
different media perspectives instead of having to go to the cinema each time
or going out to buy a film. The wide variety of media consumption is
decreasing the profit in the film industry, whilst also bringing popularity to it,
therefore, it is neither a good or bad thing.