Distribution

By Gemma Freaney

What is distribution?

• A film distributor is often and independent company, who handles the distribution and marketing of the film on DVDs and movies in the cinema, responsible for getting the film to the exhibitor (cinemas).

• They also choose how to distribute the film after a film release, for example; online streaming/downloading, DVDs and Blu-rays, and via TV.

20th Century Fox• They believe in creating moments that enter the collective imagination is built on crafting

great stories, creating indelible characters, and continuing to push the boundaries of film making with technological advances. From their first Cinemascope production The Robe in 1953, which electrified audiences and changed the way movies were shot and shown, to Avatar, the highest-grossing picture of all time, whose use of motion capture and reimagined 3-D are regarded as modern breakthroughs in cinematic technology, Fox has never stopped exploring what movies could be.

• When the world wanted to bury the movie musical, Fox gave it the Academy Award winning Sound of Music, considered by many to be the best musical of all time. Fox showed the world a new vision of Science Fiction with Star Wars and ushered in the modern action hero with the Die Hard series. Comedies like Home Alone and Mrs. Doubtfire became instant classics and brought whole families back to the theater to enjoy watching movies together.

Paramount Pictures • The year 2012 marks an exceptional milestone for Paramount Pictures - their

100th year in show business. Though this extraordinary accomplishment makes Paramount one of America's oldest motion picture companies, there have been no signs of slowing down, and Paramount and its movies are stronger than ever. From visionary epics to heart-wrenching romances to blockbuster franchises, all created by the best talent and filmmakers in the business, Paramount has set the standard in cinema for a century and continues to deliver the highest caliber of entertainment to audiences worldwide.

Sony Pictures Entertainment• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment

Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition and distribution; television production, acquisition and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies.

Universal Pictures • Universal Pictures creates and distributes theatrical and non-theatrical filmed

entertainment. Universal's theatrical slate includes films developed internally, along with co-productions, acquisitions, and films developed by outside partners and distributed by the studio.

• Universal also produces, acquires, and distributes direct-to-DVD titles, classic titles from the Universal library, consumer products (across all traditional categories, as well as interactive and wireless platforms), and specialty motion pictures under Focus Features. Through its international production group, the studio partners with leading international film companies to make and acquire films for wide commercial release or distribution in specific countries. Universal's content is released across traditional and digital distribution channels, including theatrical exhibition, physical and electronic home entertainment, pay and free television, and subscription on-demand services.

Warner Bros. Entertainment• Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. is a fully integrated, broad-based entertainment company

and a global leader in the creation, production, distribution, licensing and marketing of all forms of entertainment and their related businesses. A Time Warner Company, Warner Bros. Entertainment stands at the forefront of every aspect of the entertainment industry from feature films to television, home entertainment/DVD, animation, product and brand licensing and interactive entertainment. The company’s vast library, one of the most prestigious and valuable in the world, consists of more than 61,000 hours of programming, including nearly 6,500 feature films and 3,000 television programs comprised of tens of thousands of individual episodes. Warner Bros. Entertainment’s employee population ranges from 5,000 to 15,000 on any given day in North America (depending on the level of television and movie production) and some 2,000 employees overseas.

Infiltrator • The distribution companies that I feel may best suit our film we are trying to

create would be Paramount Pictures or possibly Sony Pictures UK.

• The reason as to why I have chosen Paramount Pictures is because I feel that they would really suit and understand exactly what we are trying to achieve for our film. When creating any film you want it to be extremely successful and popular with the audience and I believe that Paramount would be an incredible platform for it to stand on. In terms of it being best suited for us; they have recently distributed films such as; Forrest Gump, Iron Man, The Wolf of Wall Street. All three of these examples are extremely successful films, and they are all of diverse genre’s. Now although our film is that of the Spy Thriller sub-genre, I still fill that it is open to any other qualities. This diverse experience could help develop our film into everything we want it to be.

Is your film going to appeal to UK audiences only? Or does it have a wider appeal? Why? Why not?

• I would like to make this film available worldwide. Although it is clear that we are aiming for everybody to know that it is a British film, we would benefit very well from the publicity this could bring us. However, we do have to consider language barriers and whether foreign audiences are going to be interested if they have to watch the whole film with subtitles. Our biggest international audience would probably be from places like America, Australia, New Zealand, all other countries that speak the English language. It may be more popular in these countries than the others but I would hate to restrict the audience from the films they would like to enjoy, and this would be an extremely big hit to our popularity from the audience.

Possible marketing strategies, release strategies and exhibition options

Marketing Strategies:Some ways that I would like to think about our marketing is by reaching the audience that already exists for our film. So those who already enjoy the Spy Thriller genre. Also we need to think creatively as to what audiences might be interested in our film and then respond to this by finding a route on how to get this through to them.

Release Strategies:Try to engage organisations to promote our film to their audience and try to get this to some locations of cinemas to encourage them to show our film. Additionally, we need to make it big and something people will notice, as making films is not a new thing, there are hundreds being made every year and we need to make sure people are aware of ours.

Exhibition Options:Hiring a screen and a projectionist in a local cinema and then sell the tickets ourselves, both to people we know and the public. Whilst trying to gain as much publicity as we can.

Self-distribution• I believe that I would definitely consider distributing our film ourselves

because it is a good thing to do independently without the help of other distribution companies. There are also ways to do this for free and you get to keep all of the box office income. Which if we were looking at making a profit, would be a great oppurtunity. It is almost like there is nothing to lose, our main aim is for the audience to enjoy it, and if we can do that best by distributing the film ourselves then that would be an extremely good chance for us.

• It is also very good to do this if you are a young filmmaker possibly just made their first film and looking for a way to make it known.