CTEC Media Production – Y2

AfL: Unit 10 – Media Adaptations

Task 1: Case Studies

Produce a detailed comparative analysis of a range of media adaptations. You must explore a minimum of three case studies.

Case Study 1: The Walking Dead

Original Text Original Target Adaptation New Target Audience Key Changes in genre, style, form etc. Legal/ethical Issues
Audience
The Walking Dead The original target - The first The original One change they made to the Copyright is an very
first started out as a audience are males show was audience for the series from the comic are the important issue to
comic, the first aged over 18-20 for aired in walking dead are pairing of rick and michonne, the consider when making a
comic was the comics as the America on teenagers and pair hooked up in season 6, programme/film as this
published on comics are largely AMC on 31st young adults, even however this wasn’t in the comic ensures the protection of
October 2003 and is favouried by an October though its 18 age but the directors decided to their material against
still a successfully older audience and 2010 then rating. More change it for the benefit of the other people who may try
running comic to the audience also aired on FOX teenagers watch audience. and use it in their own
this day. They has blood and gore, after on 5th the show now due name.
release these appealing to older November to the characters, Another change they made is to
comics monthly. males more. 2010. storyline and the one of their main characters, There’s many health and
They have released gore. Carol. In the comic Carol is way safety issues regarding The
179 of these more brutal and many issues and Walking dead, one of
comics. problems, however in the tv these are props and
version Carol changes and weaponry, the majority of
becomes more of a loveable the props that are made
character. are usually sharp weapons
like swords, knives, bas
They also even brought in a new and guns. For this reason
character. Beth was not shown health and safety is very
before in the comic but was a nice important thing to
addition to The Walking Dead cast. implement when making
this programme. The cast
One of the best things the and crew will have to be
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AfL: Unit 10 – Media Adaptations
directors did to this series was the
creation of Daryl and Merle Dixon
as both of these characters were
not featured in the comic at all,
however the fans loved the
addition of these two brothers.
Notes on overall success of the transmedia adaptation:
Popularity / Wider audience / New franchise / Financial Success / Reviews etc
aware of the sharp
weaponry and try not to
injure/cut themselves.
One Ethical issue that we
can look at regarding The
Walking Dead would be
the disturbing themes and
storylines, for example in
one scene in the Walking
Dead they showed one
man (rick) biting a part of
another guys neck off
whilst his son was
captured. These themes
may be disturbing to
younger viewers so that’s
why AMC made sure to
make a is claimer before
every episode stating ‘this
show contains violent and
disturbing scenes
throughout, not suitable
for younger viewers.
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AfL: Unit 10 – Media Adaptations

The numbers
Box Office mojo

Case Study 2: The Hunger Games

Original Text Original Target Adaptation New Target Audience Key Changes in genre, style, form etc. Legal/ethical Issues
Audience
Originally, the - Gender The Hunger Games - Audience is There have been a lot of different
Hunger Games was neutral was then adapted still aimed at changes that have been made Copyright is an very
a 3 part novel audience from a novel into a young adults within the film adaptation. important issue to
series, created by but aimed 3 part film and - Majority of alterations that consider when making a
writer, Suzanne more at franchise. The teenagers have been made in the film programme/film as this
Collins. The first males as production over the age changes how the story is ensures the protection of
book ‘Hunger there’s a lot companies of 13. revealed. their material against
Games’ was of violent responsible for the - Rated PG 13 - The book was in a first other people who may try
released in 2008. competition. adaptation are perspective of the main and use it in their own
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Aimed at Lionsgate, Lionsgate character, this name, all the music within
This novel grew in young adults Films and colour differentiates from the the hunger games has
popularity so much 12-18 years force and employed movie as they decide not to been approved and they
that the writer old. Gary Ross to be the do it from a characters have been given
ended up creating director of the perspective, however they permission to use this
two sequel’s for the entire film. The film implemented voice-overs music.
Hunger Games. The production had a to reveal the story.
first book sold more set budget - Cornucopia bloodbath is
than 23 million limitation of $493 shown more in the film tha One thing to do with
copies, print and million. in the book. health and safety is that
digital. Her second - The film features more of there are a lot of violent
book ‘Catching fire’ The first film, the ‘gamemakers’ and scenes within The Hunger
sold more than 14 ‘Hunger was Seneca Crane, shows them Games, this may put
million copies. released into controlling the arena and people at a health and
cinemas on 23rd changing the environment safety risk if these scenes
Lastly, her final March 2012 in the within the games more. are not done properly and
sequel, United Kingdom. - In the film, Panens flag is safely.
‘Mockingjay’ sold on the opening day, described and shown very
more than 13 the film generated heavily within in the film, Age may be an issue as
million copies. approximately however in the book they is well as there are many
around $67.3 no mention or appearance child actors within The
million. On the of a flag. Hunger Games, so before
opening weekend, - In the games, cameras are filming anything the
the film produced placed everywhere in the children must be
$152.5 million arena, in the book they’re protected from the
dollars. not shown or encountered, sensitive media that may
in the film they are affect them.
After a huge encountered Katniss
demand off of the various times and later in Another ethical issue is
audience from this the film, she addresses the that there are disturbing
film, Lionsgate camera with her signature material and
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AfL: Unit 10 – Media Adaptations
decided to create salute. storylines/plot within this
adaptations of all - The main plot to the stories film, as this is the case the
books under the franchise (The rioting and film is not suitable for
Hunger games rebelling) starts when Rue, younger viewers, however
franchise. a contender in the games, on the BBFC they have
The second film, dies after getting hit in the given the film an age
Catching Fire, was stomach by a spear. The rating of 12A, this is
released on 21 difference is what because they want to
November 2013. happened afterwards. In generate as much money
Her last book, the book, Katniss only as they can. The BBFC
‘Mockingjay’ was salutes to Rue and doesn’t states that if it’s been
split into two parts, acknowledge the cameras given a 12A parents are
they were both or the other districts, allowed to take their kids
adapted into films, however in the film Katniss however there must be
the first part was salutes to the camera and parental responsibility if
released on 20th to District 11, this is the key they were to take them to
November 2014 trigger moment for the see the film.
and the second part rioting.
was released in - In the book Katniss is
19th November described to be shorter
2015. than the other contestants
and Peeta is described to
be taller, however in the
film she is the taller one
and peeta is shorter.
- Katniss’s dress is different
to the book, in the book it
is described as various
gems and colours like red
and yellow. However in the
film her dress is red and
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AfL: Unit 10 – Media Adaptations
sets a light.
- The overall outfits for all
characters are different, in
the book, whilst training
and contending in the
games they have the same
coloured outfits and only
having their district name
on their sleeves and backs.
However in the film, each
district has their own colour
scheme and have their
outfits colour based
depending on the
contestants district.
- in the book there are
female and male miners,
however in the film there
are only male miners.
- In the book, after Peeta is
injured, his leg is
amputated and replaced
with a prosthetic, however
in the film he doesn’t lose
his leg and it stays intact.

The main differences that have

been made between the
adaptations is that, the book is
more focused on Katniss and her
mental thoughts with having the
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AfL: Unit 10 – Media Adaptations
book based solely on her first
based perspective. This
differentiates from the film as the
movie focuses more on the control
that panem have over the games
and the people/ districts. This is
done by showing the audience
more of the control room and
game makers moves, and
showcases the interactions
between the contenders and the
cameras. Also there is a flag that
has been implemented into the
film, this show’s more of the
control they have over civilization.

Notes on overall success of the transmedia adaptation:

Popularity / Wider audience / New franchise / Financial Success / Reviews etc
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AfL: Unit 10 – Media Adaptations

Box office success results

On the opening day, the film generated approximately around $67.3 million. On the opening weekend, the film produced $152.5 million dollars. The
overall domestic total gross is $408,010,692. We can tell that this film was very popular by comparing the starting budget to the money generated by the
film. The Hunger Games is obviously a very popular franchise, buy why is that so? Well this film is meant to be a set in a dystopian society,

www.metacritic.com – this lets the students see the review score from multiple sources (and it aggregates it, could be good)
www.the-numbers.com – good for finding out box office success

regarding royalties / intellectual property:

CTEC Media Production – Y2
AfL: Unit 10 – Media Adaptations

http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/stories/ip_and_film.html - this has a PDF download with some information

https://www.royaltyexchange.com/learn/film-and-television-royalties

http://www.intergalacticmedicineshow.com/cgi-bin/mag.cgi?do=columns&vol=carol_pinchefsky&article=016
https://www.quora.com/How-much-do-book-authors-receive-from-film-adaptations-of-their-work

http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-hunger-games
http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-hunger-games-catching-fire
http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-hunger-games-mockingjay---part-1

Case Study 3: Death Note

Original Text Original Target Adaptation New Target Audience Key Changes in genre, style, form etc. Legal/ethical Issues
Audience
- Originally a - ‘Shonen’ is Adapted from a The new target - the majority of changes are Copyright is an very
manga the target manga series, to an audience is a 12A. only minor, the only one important issue to
series, audience. anime then recently extreme change is the consider when making a
written by - Aimed at being adapted into ending to the series. programme/film as this
Tsugumi teenage a live-action film. ensures the protection of
Ohba and males 12-18 - In the manga, Light is in the their material against
illustrated because of Then adapted into warehouse and sees Ryuk, other people who may try
by Takeshi the male an anime (most (Near sees him as well and use it in their own
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Obata. protagonists popular version) because he has the note as name.
Manga and and published from well) Light begs the
series run characters, 3rd October 2006- shinigami to write their The guidelines for Death
August 4, and due to 26 June 2007. names in the book. After Note is a 12A, the BBFC
2003- May the brutal this Ryuk says “Okay Light, say that the 12A is only a
15, 2006. content I’ll write” whilst the guidelines, and that the
within the detectives try to shoot recommended age is a 12,
- mystery, manga. Ryuk, he adds “Your name, however parents can take
supernatural Light”. To begin with Light their children if they like,
and a thriller didn’t believe the shinigami however there must be
until he how’s him the parental responsibility of
- published by death note with his name them taking their kids to
shueisha in written in it. light sees his see this film.
Japan and life flash before his eyes
Viz media in then finally remembering
us/uk. what Ryuk said in the
beginning, that Lights name
would be written in the
death note. Ryuk finally
adds “it would be hard to
see you in prison and your
life is over anyways”.
Resulting in light dying in
front of the two detectives.
However in the anime the
ending differs greatly, as
Light, Near, Matsuda and
all the others from the
squad are in a lookalike
warehouse location, Light
tries to get a piece of paper
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from the book from the
watch, however Light gets
shot by Matsuda in non-
fatal areas of his body.
Near kills himself, whilst
Light runs away to another
building which looks like its
located in the industrial
area. Ryuk is sat on top of a
chimney whilst speaking to
himself, he mutters the
promise that him and light
made (that light’s name
will be written in the book)
and he does so.

https://anime.stackexchange.com/
questions/665/how-different-are-
the-anime-and-manga-versions-of-
death-note
Notes on overall success of the transmedia adaptation:
Popularity / Wider audience / New franchise / Financial Success / Reviews etc
CTEC Media Production – Y2
AfL: Unit 10 – Media Adaptations