MARKETING, EXHIBITION AND DISTRIBUTION

By Hassan Elahi

Distribution

A distribution company is a middleman between the theatre and producer/director/filmmamker. At least that is how it should be. Sometimes a distribution company has their own theatre and completley does not do business with an unknown producer/director. This is called a restraint of trade. As you may know, it was illegal in the 1950′s and completely weakened hollywood. Now it is not so and not so illegal anymore. A distribution company acts as a middleman between the theatre and the producer/director. You do not need a distribution company for your film and can choose to “self distribute” it to the theatre. This is all you need, a “theatre”. However, it is not so easy to distribute all over the world, so you most likely will have to use a distribution comany

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 throughbroadcast syndication etc.). A distributor may do this directly, if the distributor owns the theaters 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.

Distribution of Oblivion

Oblivion was released on April 19th 2013 in the start of the summer. Oblivion was first presented in Buenos Aires on March 26, 2013, Dublin on April 3, 2013 and in Hollywood on April 10 at the Dolby Theatre where Thomas Cruise himself announced before the screening that the film was actually the first feature to be mixed completely "from start to finish" in the latest state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos surround sound.

The DVD and Blu-ray for Oblivion became available online for pre-order in North America on April 24, 2013, just five days after its initial release in the region. One month later it was announced that the United Kingdom branch of Universal Studios would be releasing the film on home video in its region on August 6, 2013 with the on-demand version on August 18, 2013. The release is scheduled to be in both a standard and a SteelBook Limited Edition form.In June 2013, it was announced that the film would be released on home video in America also on August 6, 2013. The Blu-ray releases will feature commentary with Tom Cruise and director Joseph Kosinski, deleted scenes, M83's isolated score, and a series of making-of featurettes. The Blu-ray debuted at number 1 in sales for its opening week.

Marketing

Film promotion is the practice of promotion specifically in the film industry, and usually occurs in coordination with the process of film distribution. Sometimes called the press junket or film junket, film promotion generally includes press releases, advertising campaigns, merchandising and media, and interviews with the key people involved with the making of the film, like actors and directors.As with all business it is an important part of any release because of the inherent high financial risk; film studios will invest in expensive marketing campaigns to maximize revenue early in the release cycle. Marketing budgets tend to equal about half the production budget. Publicity is generally handled by the distributor and exhibitors.

Marketing of Oblivion

Details about Oblivion were kept secret, though the studio was said to have been "very excited" about the film. Promotions began April 2012, with a part of the footage being screened at the 2012 CinemaCon despite the fact that filming had begun just one month prior to the event. The footage was described as "a combination of early concept art, rough animation, and unfinished dailies," showcasing a glimpse of the film's landscapes. Many posters of oblivion were printed through out the cinema’s. It was a world wide release on the 19th April.