Distribution of FilmBy Ashleigh Precious

What is film distribution? Film distribution is the process of anything that happens

between production until it’s released and exhibited on various platforms.

This includes researching Gaining legal rights to release a film Making sure the movie will be sustainable in the

marketplace, correctly marketing a film to sell it to the correct audience, distribution of files to cinemas and DVD’s or Blu-Ray stores.

 The action of getting all films to cinemas, DVD and Blu-Ray stores.

I got this definition from a video featuring interviews with multiple distributors.

Distribution Companies

Warner Bros. Walt Disney Pictures Sony Pictures

Below I have included examples of three of the main film distributors:

We took inspiration from the Sony Pictures when creating our logo because it’s black and white and we liked how that looked as it gave our film a more serious tone.

Big distribution companies(Warner Bros., Disney, Sony) They get a steady, reliable flow of

potentially big films to process and distribute

Often produce the big Hollywood films They often make their own films

themselves in studio as they are very rich and can afford to produce the big Hollywood movies.

Self Distribution:In order to self distribute you could Sell the video on iTunes- This is expensive and is not usually a popular

option. They could start a campaign to crowd fund the film, once raising enough

they can go on to produce the trailers and posters. Theatres expect distributors to support films with promotion and

advertising. They need to place features in newspapers, magazines, buses, television

adverts and radio broadcasts. They also run their own distribution accounts on social media in order to

reach a wide audience. They need to set the date that they believe is best to release their movie. They have to create the film trailers so to attract their target audience and

people outside the target. Theatrical bookers program the film with theatre buyers, facilitate one

sheets, prints and trailers, collects receipts and helps place ads.

Smaller distribution companies

They tend to not make their own films as they do not have the big studios or enough money

They are dependent on other film makers

They usually go to film festivals and watch new films

During the time of the film they decide whether to choose it to distribute.

What a distributor does Their responsibility is to do market research into the typical target audience for

their genre, bearing the representation in the film in mind They also go and collect primary research for themselves. This involves going

out into the street, selecting who looks like they may be a member of their target audience and inviting them to watch the film and fill out a survey at the end. This way they gather an accurate idea of what kind of people will be impressed or not with the film and where they went wrong.

They have to find the best part of the film that will best communicate with their target audience during advertising. 

The distributer must find the films unique selling point of the film; it may be a line, a star cast or the plot itself to use when advertising.

They have to pinpoint the part of the film that will hook people in, depending on the genre, often it is a single action or line which they must then use in advertising as part of a trailer or advert.

A distributor also decides when the best time to release a film is, this could mean choosing to release a kids film during the school summer holiday months, or releasing a romance movie around valentines day for example.

Difficulties a distributor may face They have to work out the time of year

when the film will have the best chance. A similar film belonging to a similar

genre may be released at the same time.

The distributor then may have to decide whether to change the date or compete for the same audience.

What a distributor is Essentially, a distributor is a person who gets films onto

the market. They are the people who work out who their audience

will be, how to get them to see it and why they would want to see it.

They have to come up with a release plan to know when the best time for their movie would be to release it and how to do it.

Their job is essentially to have the movie seen by as many people as possible.

They are the people who ensure their film makes maximum profit make maximum profit off the film.