Film Distribution

What is a Film Distributor ?

A film distributor is a company or individual responsible for releasing films to the public either theatrically or for home viewing

Examples of Film Distributors:

o Warner Broso Columbia Pictureso 20th Century Fox

o Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictureso Paramount Pictures/Universal Studioso Summit Entertainment

Release of the film …3 Questions the distributor asks themselves:1. What the movie is?2. Who is it going to appeal to? 3. Who is its audience?

Distributors sign a formal agreement with the producer, sales agent or studio, specifying the

rights they hold in respect of the title. These normally include the right to release it in UK

cinemas and promote it in all media before and during its release. They also budget the films

release taking into consideration the money for potential of 3rd parties, also looking at

publicity methods, working with cast members, directors, producers etc …

An example of this is Beyonce who starred in her first real acting role ‘Obsessed’ did an interview with Glamour magazine on her new actress job

Prints and Advertising (P&A Budget)

Prints: the copies and making of the movie. It also includes the shipping and renting to cinemas.

The advertising is the most important!

• showcases the product to the audience• Designing posters and press ads• Prepping the TV trailer for the cinemas

Target Audience?

This reaches a HUGE audience and a much cheaper way of advertising a film across thousands

Marketing PlanExample: Will Smith – Seven Pounds. Distributors discussed advertising and came up with methods such as, trailers, online and mobile advertising, also using Will Smith on website background as the main image.

This example of expensive media advertising demonstrates how much money is spent on one film. On this particular film £170million made up 70% of the P&A Budget.

Other forms of marketing were distributed to magazines and newspapers.

Marketing Plan …

Outdoor advertising plan

• Billboards• Bus adverts

• ‘word of mouth’• Focus groups

• Email• Viral campaigns