Task 10- Distribution

Distribution-is key

What is film distribution?

Distribution is key. Film distribution is the process of making a movie available for viewing by an audience and is the third part of the supply chain. Distribution is the most important part of the film industry, without it films would not make any profits or been seen by audiences.

What is the role of a film distributor?

A professional 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.

What's a distribution plan?

Usually, a distribution strategy is put together to ensure that the product reaches the intended target audience. This includes how the film is marketed, its merchandise, prices and other such things.

What's a P + A budget?

The P+A budget is the prints and advertising budget for a film. These budgets tend to be 50% of the films full budget, but can sometimes amount to over 125%.

What is the average distribution cost for a big six film?

Budgets for big six films have been growing year on year, as in 2006 the average budget was around $65.8 and reaching the highest of $150 million marketing budget for Avatar.

What does the distribution budget include?

Any  advertisement that requires technology such as printed posters, movie trailers, billboards, websites also including viral videos and merchandising.

Securing actors, slots on TV, advertising in magazines, interviews online, premieres and stories on the news.

Release date: getting the film to cinemas and maintaining its popularity - opening weekend must be a hit - film less likely to do well with a bad opening weekend.

What is a simultaneous release?

Traditionally, movies are released first in cinemas. A DVD release follows some months later along with TV and other streaming services. However simultaneous releasing of a movie removes these windows: the movie is released to cinemas and other channels such as DVD, internet and television, on or around the same date.

What are some main distribution companies?

Top 10 distributors:

1 Warner Bros.

2 Walt Disney

3 Sony Pictures

4 20th Century Fox

5 Paramount Pictures

6 Universal

7 Lionsgate

8 New Line

9 Dreamworks SKG

10 Miramax

What do you think is the link between audiences and distribution?

Distribution is linked with the audiences because without distribution, consumers would not develop a demand to go watch the film. This demand is created through advertising and marketing the films. Moreover if the demand for the film was there but there was no distribution people wouldn't even be able to watch the film. 

Define target market audience?

A target audience is the intended audience or readership of a publication, advertisement, or other message. In marketing and advertising, it is a specific group of people within the target market at which a product or the marketing message of a product is aimed.

What's audience positioning?

Created by Stuart Hall who was a cultural theorist, it has 3 objectives:

1. To understand the relationship between the audience and the media text

2. To understand the position that the audience will take dependent on certain factors

3. To understand how audience are constructed by media producers

Why is the release date crucial?

"This is one of the biggest issues facing Hollywood today," said Rothman, adding that it's just as crucial to pick the right release dates as it is to select the right script and hire the right stars and film makers. "When you're trying to cram too many movies into a finite number of release dates, it's inevitable some will suffer." For example, Spectre came on the Friday before the October half term last year, this strategy is commonly used which gives the film-makers a better advantage for people to go watch their film.

What is self distribution?

You promote your film yourself without a distribution company.