Media Reflection #3: Consumption of Movies

Prompt: Think of the last two movies you have watched. For each of the two films, research into how they were made (specifically, what companies made them). Give explanations of the companies behind those films you watched. Then look at your own consumption habits, do you tend to interact more with media that is created by larger companies? Or do you tend to look for more independent content? Write about your own habits with this then discuss if this is something you are aware of when choosing content to consume. Finally, discuss whether you will be more conscious of who makes the content you consume in the future. 

The last two films that I know I have watched are Top Gun: Maverick, and 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi. TG Maverick was made by Paramount and Skydance (at the time, these were separate companies, but as of November 2025 the corporation is now called Paramount Skydance after the merger), big media corporations and major players in the media industry with support from the US Navy with real fighter aircraft, real fighter pilots and training, naval ships, and expertise to enhance the film's authenticity and realism. 13 Hours was made by a company called Bay Films (I believe it would be owned by producer Michael Bay) and another company by 3 Arts Entertainment. It was distributed by Paramount Pictures. Paramount is a media conglomerate offering and operating services such as streaming (Paramount+), live television (CBS), along with entertainment such as owning Nickelodeon and their sports divisions, along with production with their ownership of Skydance and producing TV shows, motion pictures, movies, etc. Effectively, it is a giant corporation operating services that are essential to the media industry from production, filming, and distribution of movies and shows to the company behind CBS and live television. 

In general, I feel that I interact more with media by major companies such as Paramount, Amazon MGM, Universal, Warner Bros., etc. than more independent and niche content creators. Most of my media consumption is from Amazon Prime Video, along with some shows I like such as Chicago P.D. (made by Dick Wolf and his company Wolf Productions) and Blue Lights (a drama that is broadcast and made by BBC Studios). However, sometimes I do watch some "films" on Youtube that are short films or are of to my niche interest or following, such as a recent short film by Julie Nolke, a Youtube content creator who mainly focuses on comedy sketches, so it is not entirely exclusive that I consume media from only bigger corporations that are well known and promoted. It isn't like I purposefully go out on Youtube to find short films by independent content creators, but more of watching the short films from those I am interested in following and watch their content of. 

Usually I do not feel very conscious of the production companies behind a film/show, since when I go to a service like Prime Video I am there to watch something of my interest that would most likely not consider a production company's flaws and shortcomings in the interest of not ruining a consumption experience and to enjoy the movie/show I plan to watch. I do not feel this will make this more conscious of the media that I consume since I seem to stick to viewing movies and TV shows that are within my interests. However, if there are events that occur that are within the public interest such as extremely controversial stances, views, and messages being expressed by a production studio/production entities, then there might be consideration of discontinuing to watch a company's produced and distributed content (such as if I had some interest in maybe watching it, but deciding not to due to such push factor). Given my lower consumption of media (such as movies and TV shows) because I don't have much time nor as much interest compared to my peers, this could also influence how I am less critical or purposefully conscious of my consumption of media being made by mostly larger corporations and companies, as I look toward such forms of media as entertainment for a little while before getting back to doing work or to destress before continuing the next day.