Task 10

Intro what is film distribution?

Film distribution is the process of making a movie available for viewing by an audience. This is normally the task of a professional film distributor, who would determine the marketing strategy for the film, the media by which a film is to be exhibited or made available for viewing, and who may set the release date and other matters. Distribution involves advertising.

What is the distributor's role?

A distributor will work out who will want to see a film, how it should be distributed and why.

What's a distribution plan?

The plan a distributor would make when considering how to market the film. They would consider audience and genre along with marketing techniques.

What's a P + A budget?

This is called a print and advertising budget. It is the budget a distribution company would use for marketing.

What is the average distribution cost for a big six film?

The average cost is around $50 million.

What does the distribution budget include?

Advertisements, commercials, radio adverts, posters, billboards, press release, online adds,

What is a simultaneous release?

This is a new method of releasing films. Some companies have decided to release there film on DVD and in Cinemas at the same time. Or online and in Cinemas ect.

What are some main distribution companies?

20th Century Fox Film Co. Ltd.

Aardman Animations

Artificial Eye

Axiom Films

Ayngaran International (Tamil films only)

Buena Vista International

Cinema International Corporation (CIC)

Columbia Pictures

What do you think is the link between audiences and distribution?

A distributor has to highly consider audience when marketing the film. If the advertisements aren't going to reach the target audience then no one will be able to see the film.

Define target market audience? What's audience positioning?

A target audience is the intended audience or readership of a publication, advertisement, or other message. In marketing and advertising, it is a specific group of people within the target market at which a product or the marketing message of a product is aimed. With audience positioning - Created by Stuart Hall who was a cultural theorist, it has 3 objectives:

1. To understand the relationship between the audience and the media text

2. To understand the position that the audience will take dependent on certain factors

3. To understand how audience are constructed by media producers

Why is the release date crucial?

People want to release films around the same time as holidays and school breaks so that children will go and see there film in this period. Batman Vs Superman was released on Good Friday which is good as it allowed people to go and watch the film throughout the Easter holidays.

What is self distribution?

People who distribute film themselves by handing out leaflets and advertising online for free by themselves.