Further notes on distribution

• Distribution describes everything that happens between production (the making of the film) and the exhibition (the watching of the film through cinema, media and television etc).

• Distribution involves deals being made in order to get films shown and promoted.

• Promotion: involves paid for 'above the line' advertising - funded as part of the project through things like trailers, posters, billboards etc. 'Below the line' publicity is not paid for but generates mutual interest i.e. an interview with a newspaper where a review is completed.

• Film distribution isn't seen as a 'helpful' stage within a film where distributors treat all films equally and ensure fair play in the film's attention with the public.

• Films: loaned out to cinemas for a certain time period  + release deals are completed so that the film is screened securely in a certain number of screen at any one time. In the UK market, an increase in the number of screens showing films has not ensured an increase in the number of films shown.

• Five major distributors dominate the UK film industry. These 5 distributors are: United International Picture (Universal is included in this company), Warner Brothers, Buena Vista, Twentieth Century Fox and also Sony. Approximately 9/10 films seen in the UK are watched as a result of these 5 distributors. 

• Most cases: these distributors - linked to the HollyWood production companies who actually make the films. Usually the blockbuster films we are familiar with are distributed via 'blanket release'.

• If a small UK independent company manages to get its product into the cinemas, it is usually competing for attention with one or more films. One of the outcomes of the distribution arrangement outlined above is that half of the films released in Britain do not reach the whole country.

• Film distributors are responsible for prints and marketing. 
• Prints: producing physical copies of a film for both cinema and home release + exhibitors/retailers to sell the film.
• Marketing: Raising audience awareness and anticipation of a new release.

• A distributor may:
• Be a part of the same parent company as the production company.
• Have a long term arrangement and provide financial assistance for many of their productions.
• Provide financial assistance for a single film by a production company.
• Acquire a film after it has completed production.

• A film is likely have different distributors for:
• Releases in different countries.
• Cinema releases.
• Home-video releases.

360-degrees branding

- Film promotion seeks to surround us with their brand, multi platform, converged media forms.

- Trigger engagement in audiences.

- Communicates with your prospects and customers from all directions.