Case studies in Film Distribution

By Lucy Brownnutt

Technical Convergence

How technology allows media texts to be produced and distributed on multiple media devices. The move from film to digital means phones/ipads etc. can be used to show and market film, specifically because film takes up too much space but digital storage can be tiny.

Media Convergence

How media production companies use a variety of media to display their product. A magazine company has a print version, a website and a Facebook page. Cross media convergence is usually possible because of technological convergence.

What is a film distributor?A film distributor is a company or individual responsible for the marketing of a film. The distributor may set the release date of a film and the method by which a film is to be exhibited or made available for viewing: for example, directly to the public either theatrically or for home viewing (dvd, video on demand, download, television programs through broadcast syndication etc.) A distributor may do directly, if the distributor owns the theatres or film distribution networks, or through theatrical exhibitors and other sub-distributors. A limited distributor may deal only with particular products, such as DVDs or Blu-ray, or may act in a particular country or market.

What is film distribution?Film distributor is the process of making a movie available for viewing by an audience. This is normally the task of a professional film distributor who would determine the marketing strategy for the film, the media by which a film is to be exhibited or made available for viewing, and who may set the release date and other matters as I said in the last slide. The film may be exhibited directly to the public either through a movie theatre or television or personal home viewing (including dvd - video or blu ray dvd, video-on-demand, download, television programs through broadcast syndication etc.). For commercial projects, film distribution is usually accompanied by film promotion.When a film is initially produced, a feature film is often shown to audiences in a movie theatre. Typically, one film is the featured presentation (or feature film). Before the 1970s, there were "double features"; typically, a high quality "A picture" rented by an independent theater for a lump sum, and a "B picture" of lower quality rented for a percentage of the gross receipts. Today, the bulk of the material shown before the feature film consists of previews for upcoming movies (also known as trailers) and paid advertisements.

What is Synergy?

Two or more companies working together. For example Working titles worked with Universal on more than one film.

‘Synergy, an abstract concept, is the combination of multiple ingredients producing a result greater than the simple arithmetic summation of the individual components.’