Movie DistributionThe World of Motion Pictures

The Power of Film

The motion picture industry is

one of the only industries

that thrives during tough

economic times

• people want to escape real

life

How does it all begin? Old Movie (re-make)Old TV show (re-thought)Current TV showVideo GameBook (Fiction or Non-fiction)Real life eventComic bookOriginal idea

The Development Process1. The pitch (sharing the idea)2. The treatment (developing the general

idea/plot)3. The script (a writer is hired to develop

the script)4. The notes (what does the studio think)5. The re-write (revise the script using

notes)6. The notes (what do they think now?)7. The re-write (revise AGAIN)

The Package

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The Producer The Director The Actors

THE PRODUCER• Oversees and delivers the final film

• May take on financial risk during pre-production

• Many producers may also be talent (director, actor)

• The only career in entertainment that doesn’t require talent, but rather a strong network of allies

George LucasStar Wars

Ron HowardThe Grinch,

Cinderella Man

THE DIRECTORGuides the actors and film crew

Control the dramatic and artistic aspects of the movie

May also be the producer, but if not then they work under the producer

Works with editors during post-production

Michael BayTransformers

M. Night ShyamalanThe Village, Signs, The

Sixth Sense

ACTORS WHO ARE ALSO PRODUCERS/DIRECTORS

Eat, Pray, LoveThe Departed

The Time Travelers Wife

Moneyball

Letters from Iwo Jima

Million Dollar BabyUnforgiven

DodgeballStarsky and Hutch30 Minutes or Less

Blades of Glory

The RestThe music supervisorThe stunt coordinatorThe set designersThe wardrobe designerThe lighting crewThe location scoutStand ins

ProductionWeeks to Months

Production DangersBad weatherPublicity scandalsOn set difficulties - broken equipmentWalk offs - actors and directors leave the setAccidents (someone gets hurt)Management change

Post ProductionEditing EffectsMusicColor correctionTimingContinuity

Continuity

Different parts of a scene

may be filmed at different

times

All the lighting and

surroundings must be

exactly the same

The Test ScreeningDetermine audience (target market)Pick a location (usually near Los Angeles or New York)Audience is recruited to watch the filmThey fill out questionnairesFeedback might used to alter the movie before the actual release

Test Screening DangersNegative On-line reviewsAn “odd” audienceFocus Group misdirection Stolen still shots Video taping (cell phones) posted to YouTube

The Film is Finished

Movie Marketing

The TrailerAn advertisement for a feature film

“Trailer” – used to be shown at the end of a movie, but people started leaving so they were moved to the beginning

Shown in multiple locations:TVInternetBefore feature film in the theaterBefore feature film on DVD

Trailer CuttingCan begin during the very early stages of productionTeasers can be cut from dailies (footage that might not make it to the actual movie)Each trailer cut attempts a different positioning (to attract a larger audience and see which trailers attract more people)

NextFrom the trailer they begin:

Internet marketingTV spotsPublicity strategy (with actors)

Marketing TimelineTeaser Trailer (big movie) 6 to 8 months before openingWebsite – teaser page generally starts 8 months outTeaser Poster (big movie) 6 to 12 months before openingPoster 4 to 5 months prior to openingTrailer 3 to 4 months before openingOutdoor – generally 4 weeksTV Campaign – generally 4 weeks

Other Marketing Special programming Publicity

Print TV

On Line Advertising (biggest one) Print Advertising (not very common)

Newspaper (but no one reads it anymore) Magazines

Marketing DangersPublicity nightmaresTiVo Gossip becomes bigger than the movie