16.09.2014 RESEARCH: DISTRIBUTION

I firstly consulted the website http://www.launchingfilms.com and watched various presentations to help me learn about film distribution. 


Distribution Companies- Top American Film Studios (Big Six) have a Vertical Distribution System
Warner Brothers


Disney
Universal Studios

Paramount Pictures


20^th Century 

Fox 


Sony 


Independent film distributors 


Lionsgate


Momentum Pictures

Metrodome

The first point distributors assess when they are deciding whether a film is worthy of distributing:  

Define the audience, attracting and addressing the audience. 


1. Who will want to see it

2. Why will they want to see it

3. How will they be persuaded and to deliver the audience to the fill

4. (Is it a 'Niche' film – small, specialised audiences such as French films, Scandi-noir, Art House Cinema
)

Mark Batey: the Chief executive of the FDA


“Launching them (films) to audiences” is “Highly competitive”. He describes the Market place as "highly strategic”


Film Festivals to advertise and distribute films to audiences 


Sundance


Toronto


London


SXSW


Cannes


Most successful way of attracting audiences is the in-cinema trailer giving the audiences a realistic view of the film. 


1. Establish the Genre

2. Find its USP – UNIQUE SELLING POINT (hook, one line to describe and understand the film) such as the actor, cast, director, location, genre, theme

3. Target Audience - Frequent cinema goers are often in 15 to 24 age group or families (defined in age groups). 
4. Distributors to attract as many people to watch audience – who will see the film, why and when to release the film at the best time, how can you put it into the market place with the best possible chance of succeeding such as in the school holidays or before Christmas in different territories such as USA, China, England (trying to prevent piracy)

5. Research – research audiences (someone who they may think would watch the film – target audience), questionnaire, what appeals to the audience, asks personal questions about whether they would watch a film like this (projects a section of the film) and then get feedback via questionnaires online or on paper