Film:Film: DistributionDistribution

1.The Majors1.The MajorsFilm:Film:

2.Independents2.Independents

3. Selling A Film3. Selling A Film

5. Logistics5. Logistics

4. Launching A Film

4. Launching A Film

Film:Film: Distribution

Distribution

1. It has been said that making a movie, is not nearly as difficult as getting it distributed.

1. When investing in a film, an enormous amount of cost in time & money is required to fund the separate stages.

2. For distributing a movie, a distributor must feel confident that they can make a sufficient return on their original investment.

3. Being backed by a Major Studio/Actor/Director, can improve the chances of securing a good distribution deal (As the film has a larger chance of success)

Film:Film: Distribution

Distribution

A Film Distributor can either be:

a) An independent company b) A subsidiary company of a ‘Major’c) A private individual investor.

• They act as an agent between a film production company & film exhibitor, by securing placement of the producer's film on the exhibitor's screen.

• Independent filmmakers often use film festivals as an opportunity to attract distributors.

Film:Film: DistributionDistribution

Film:Film: The ‘Majors’

The ‘Majors’

• Distribution is about releasing & sustaining films in the market place.

• For Hollywood ‘Majors’, the phases of production,

distribution & exhibition are often 'vertically integrated’.

• Vertical integration is a term used when production, distribution and exhibition are all part of the same larger process, under the control of one individual company.

For Example:• Warner Bros is vertically integrated as they not

only develop & produce films, they also have their own distribution systems that sell their films worldwide:

Film:Film: The ‘Majors’

The ‘Majors’

• Most of major studios have their own distribution companies. For example, Disney owns Buena Vista, a major distributor.

Advantages:• It is very simple to set up a distribution deal• The parent company does not have to share

the profits with another company.

Disadvantages:• When an expensive movie is a flop - there's no

one else to share the costs.

• This is the reason why several studios partner on major movies. For example, "Star Wars: Episode One" was produced entirely by Lucasfilm but distributed by Fox.

Film:Film: IndependentIndependent

Film:Film: Independents

Independents

• International distribution requires films finding their way to the 90+ market 'territories' around the world.

• The major US studios generally have their own distribution offices in all the major territories.

• By contrast, independent producers have to sell their films to different distributors in each territory.

• Therefore in the independent film sector, vertical integration does not operate. Producers tend not to have long-term economic links with distributors, who likewise have no formal connections with exhibitors.

• With no worldwide distribution offices (like the majors), independents have to sell the legal right to exploit their film to a distributor. This process is called licensing.

Film:Film: Selling A FilmSelling A Film

Film:Film: Selling A Film

Selling A Film

• Distributors must have knowledge of the marketplace & costs involved in releasing a film in that territory: – Which cinemas/video outlets/broadcasters will draw an audience?

• Factors that help sell a film:

• These factors help a distributor determine:

– The number of prints to make. Each print costs about £1000, so they must consider which cinemas a movie can successfully open in.

– Which cinemas. Many screens in the UK are in urban areas. A popular movie might fill seats in several cinemas in the same city.

– Opening a movie on 3,000 screens can cost £3m in prints alone! The distributor must be sure it can draw crowds to justify the costs .

Film:Film: Launching A Film

Launching A Film

Film:Film: Launching A Film

Launching A Film

• In the UK, films are released theatrically (in cinemas).

• The schedule for releases is coordinated by the Film Distributors Association. A distributor will assess this schedule & identify a release date.

• The Distributor will:• Look for a 'light' week that will ensure both screen

space & adequate review column inches in the press.

• Consider the seasonality of the film if necessary.• Try to avoid a release date occupied by other films

with similar traits (story, subject, country of origin).

• This release planning has become increasingly difficult in the UK as up to 10 new features are released each week.

Film:Film: LogisticsLogistics

Film:Film: LogisticsLogistics

• The distributor is responsible for supplying and circulating copies of the film to cinemas (reels).

• Individual films are distributed to projectionists on separate reels on separate days for security.– Specialised films will often be released with fewer than 10

prints. – Commercial mainstream films will often open on over 200

prints.– Film popularity determines how many screens it will be

shown on

• The distributor is also responsible for managing the effectiveness of supply to all Retail & Rental companies.

• 18 weeks after its theatrical release, the film is packaged & released on many different formats:

• DVD• Blu-Ray• Download• Pay TV• Free-to-Air TV

Film:Film: DistributionDistribution