Film Distribution

Summary

A film distributor is the link between film producers and exhibitors, the aim is to get as many people as they can to see the film at as many different cinemas as possible. The distributor markets the film and develops an appropriate advertising campaign. To market successfully, the distributor has to target the appropriate audience. The distributor needs to create an interest in films, this can be easy if there is a clear and key selling point such as a famous actor or well known story, but this becomes harder for lower budget films. Distributors employ researchers to track the recognition of the film with the target audience during the campaign. The UK has major distributors and independent ones, such as Working Title.




Low Budget Film Distributors

http://www.leftfilms.com
http://www.workingtitlefilms.com




High Budget Film Distributors

http://www.lionsgate.com/
http://www.fox.co.uk/
http://www.sonypictures.com/




Different types of film distribution;

- Wide Release (Most Common)
- The Modified Wide Release
- Exclusive and Limited Runs
- Territorial Saturation

Creating a Film

- Having an idea for a film and creating and outline to promote the interest in the idea.

 

- Have a studio or independent investor decides the purchase rights to the film.

 

- People are brought together to make the film, such as a screenwriter, producer, director, cast and crew.

 

- The film is completed and sent to the studio.

 

- The studio makes a licencing agreement with a distribution company

 

- The company decides how many copies of the film to make

 

- The distribution company shows the movie to prospective buyers representing the theaters.

 

- The buyes negitiate with the distribution company on which movies they wish to lease and the terms of the lease agreement.

 

- The prints are sent to the theatres for a few days before the opening day.

 

- The theatre shows the movie for a specified number of weeks (engagement)

 

- You buy a ticket and watch the movie

 

- At the end of the engagement, the theater sends the print back to the distribution company and makes payment on the lease agreement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These steps are often combined, more so in small independent companies.