Film Exhibition Danielle Duffy

What is film exhibition?Film exhibition is the process by which a movie is made available for the audience to watch. Exhibition is the final stage of the process of releasing a film, after it has been distributed to the viewing place.

Types of exhibition: Theatrical release Home entertainment release e.g. DVD

video, Blu-ray disc Television Online

How it worksExhibitors and distributors are both concerned with audiences taking interest in the film and so these two will work together to encourage audiences to invest their time and money into going to see it at the cinema.They negotiate how much each cinema will pay the distributor in rental for the film it shows – this is usually a percentage of the box office takings of the film. This percentage depends on a several factors including:

• The size of the film (large/niche audience)• Whether the cinema is showing it on the release date• The location of the cinema (in places like London people are rather affluent and so ticket prices may be higher)

Revenue accumulated from cinema tickets is shared between distributor and producer, particularly the producer who needs to be able to cover the costs of the production and ideally generate some additional surplus that they can then invest in future work. The money taken by the exhibitor goes towards the costs associated with running the cinema e.g. heating or air conditioning to give customers somewhat of a comfortable experience whilst watching the film.

The Rex Cinema (Berkhamsted)It seems to be an art house cinema with rather luxurious taste; describing the venue’s style as a ‘glorious 1938 art-deco proscenium’. It has just a singular screen and showings are usually sold-out, showing that it is rather popular or perhaps a place that the locals are fond-of. Customers are likely to be attracted by the traditional take on viewing films as the cinema is centuries old. Its large screen allows for high-quality viewing, and the venue has a traditional appeal that you won’t find at modernised multiplexes. There are seats on the balcony, downstairs with tables or in ‘royal boxes’; the consecutive two costing several pounds more as these seats more luxurious or high class. They do not sell common snacks such as popcorn, and are concerned with the presentation and condition of their site. However, wine is available for purchase from the bar revealing the appeal of this site towards an adult audience. 2D viewing only as they wouldn’t be able to afford any more technology due to their small scale operation. The Rex Cinema is situated in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire in England.

The Rex Cinema – films currently showing

Distributor Origin: Hollywood conglomerate or independent Audience

The Lady In The Van

Columbia Pictures Produced by BBC Films (one of UK’s mini majors), TriStar Pictures (an American studio owned by Sony)

12+

The Big Short

Paramount Pictures

Produced by Plan B Entertainment (smaller but has connections to many conglomerates), Regency Enterprises (American conglomerate)

15+

Joy 20th Century Fox Produced by Fox 2000 Pictures, Davis Entertainment Company, Annapurna Pictures, TSG Entertainment

12+

The Revenant

20th Century Fox Produced by New Regency Pictures, Anonymous Content, M Productions, Appian Way, Regency Enterprises, RatPac-Dune Entertainment (independent with links to conglomerates)

15+

Capture The Flag

Paramount Pictures

Produced by 4 Cats Pictures, Lightbox Entertainment, Los Rockets La Película, Telecinco Cinema, Telefonica Studios (independent)

PG

A War Nordisk Film Distribution

Produced by AZ Celtic Films, Nordisk Film Production (independent, smaller scale)

15+, niche

Youth StudioCanal (UK), Fox Searchlight Pictures (US)

Produced by Barbary Films, Canal+, Film4, France Télévisions, Indigo Film, Mediaset Premium (smaller/mini-major)

17+, rather niche

The Hateful Eight

The Weinstein Company

Produced by Double Feature Films, FilmColony 18+

Goosebumps Columbia Pictures Produced by Sony Pictures Animation, Village Roadshow Pictures,LStar Capital, Original Film, Scholastic Entertainment

PG

Predominately, conglomerate films are shown as these attract larger audience numbers, allowing locals to enjoy current and popular films at lower prices. It lacks in comparison to multiplex cinemas as it offers more to persuade the mass audience to watch i.e. snacks are not sold and they are concerned with the condition of their site meaning they probably do not favour children despite showing many kids films. Despite the luxury offered, is it probably too formal for the majority of audiences and with just one screen it is usually fully booked. The sound of sitting at a table to view a film lasting several hours doesn’t sound very comfortable. The Rex only allows the purchase of tickets at the physical box office or by phoning, whereas multiplex allowing booking online on the website which is more convenient for customers. Also tickets are non-refundable.

Cineworld (Milton Keynes)

Cineworld is a multiplex structure with multiple other sites across the UK. This particular venue has 16 different screens, each room sitting around 100 people. It offers screenings in 2D, 3D, 4DX, (a sensory experience), autism friendly screenings, movies for juniors, movies with subtitles, Super screen, audio described and disabled access. This particular venue is located in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England; a highly popular and bustling site in the area where people from surrounding towns will come to shop, dine or enjoy a range of activities in the Xscape zone.

Cineworld MK – films currently showing

Film title Distributor Origin: Hollywood conglomerate or independent

Audience

Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice

Warner Bros. Pictures Produced by DC Entertainment, RatPac Entertainment, Atlas Entertainment, Cruel and Unusual Films (conglomerate)

PG-13

Deadpool 20th Century Fox Produced by 20th Century Fox, Marvel Entertainment, Kinberg Genre, The Donners' Company, TSG Entertainment (conglomerate)

15+

Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Road Chip

20th Century Fox Produced by Fox 2000 Pictures, Regency Enterprises, Bagdasarian Company, TSG Entertainment (conglomerate)

PG

The Forest Gramercy Pictures, Icon Film Distribution

Produced by Al-Film, Lava Bear Films (smaller company)

15+

London Has Fallen

Gramercy Pictures (US), Lionsgate Films (non-US)

Produced by G-BASE, Millennium Films, LHF Film (mini-major)

15+

How To Be Single

Warner Bros. Pictures Produced by New Line Cinema, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Flower Films, Wrigley Pictures (mini-major)

15+

Grimsby Columbia Pictures Produced by Big Talk Productions, Four by Two Films,LStar Capital, Village Roadshow Pictures, Working Title Films (mini-major)

15+

The Revenant 20th Century Fox Produced by New Regency Pictures, Anonymous Content, M Productions, Appian Way, Regency Enterprises, RatPac-Dune Entertainment (mini-major)

15+

Zoolander 2 Paramount Pictures Produced by Red Hour Films and Scott Rudin Productions (mini-major)

12+

Most of the films shown at Cineworld are conglomerate, and as a large organisation it wants to provide the mass public with films that appeal to everyone or large audiences. It can’t take a risk with lower, independent productions who people have not heard of as people are less likely to go and see it, and this is wasting screen time when they could be showing something that is guaranteed to be profitable for them. However, the work of mini-majors are sometimes shown due to their collaboration with big distributors. Ticket prices are highly expensive, often charging people sums that could instead be used to purchase the film’s DVD, or a subscription to an digital/online provider with access to much more. Also we often have to travel to the cinema costing petrol or amounts of time. Therefore as times move on and technologies develop, the cinema is likely to become less popular as more convenience and value for money is offered by services like LOVEFiLM.

The BFI (London)The BFI is a charitable company who mostly promote independent films from the UK, with British descent and themes linking to British culture and heritage. It has a total of six auditoriums; more than The Rex as it’s British culture has a larger appeal to aspiring film producers, but inferior to Cineworld’s number of screens as their films do not appeal to a mass audience. Showings are in 2D and 3D to allow viewers to experience and appreciate films. Its facilities include two restaurants on the premises, a shop and a library for people to learn more about the BFI national archive. The BFI is situated in London, of the UK’s most popular and affluent sites.

The BFI – films currently showing

Film title Distributor Origin: Hollywood conglomerate or independent

Audience

Frozen Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Walt Disney Pictures & Animation Studios (conglomerate)

PG

Psycho Paramount Pictures Shamly Productions (mini-major) 15+

The Beautiful Blond from Bashful Bend

20th Century Fox 20th Century Fox (conglomerate) PG

Les Carnets du Major Thompson

Continental Dist. Preston Sturges (somewhat of a conglomerate in its time)

12+

Eloge de l’amour

Independently distributed by producers

Alain Sarde Ruth Walldburger (independent)

PG

Unfaithfully Yours

20th Century Fox Produced by 20th Century Fox (conglomerate)

PG

Goodbye to Language

Wild Bunch Canal+, Centre nation de la cinematographie (mini-major in French film industry)

15+

Big Hero 6 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Walt Disney Pictures & Animation Studios (conglomerate)

PG

Zootopia Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Walt Disney Pictures & Animation Studios (conglomerate)

PG

Many of the films shown at the BFI are independently produced from creative and independent studios within the UK. The BFI strives to showcase this talent and invest in these unique productions. However they do show conglomerate films such as Big Hero 6 and Frozen, to attract a wider audience to their venue. Many of the films they are showing are older such as Hitchcock’s Psycho which was released in 1960, revealing their interest in classic British film and to continue to show appreciation for older, influencing work, unlike exhibitors such as Cineworld who only show the latest releases in order to secure customer interest. This allows the BFI to appeal to those with an interest in the history of film, however this market is rather niche and so they don’t expect to make much of a profit from their business.