2. THE JOB OF DISTRIBUTORS
Film distributors jobs are to deliver a film to the largest possible.
Having the rights to distribute a film is no small task and is a lot of
responsibility as there are other options for distributing films but doing it
through film distributors to get the film into cinemas or on DVD normally
generates the most revenue.
A distributor has to have a good strategy as 30% of a films revenue can come
from the first few days of cinema viewing.
Distributors have the films audience as top priority when it comes to
marketing. Promotion of a film must interest the audience to make them
want to see the film. The marketing strategy must also appeal to other
outside the audience who may just have an interest from the trailer or
posters all part of the marketing strategy.
3. DIFFERENCE IN DISTRIBUTORS
Distributors may release 1-2 films a year and will really focus on the
marketing of the film for example multiple trailers, posters, merchandise like
t-shirts, toys, mobile or video games, comics and such to further promote
and generate interest in the film.
Other distributors may release 20-35 films a year with little consideration in
the marketing strategy with maybe a trailer and a poster a few weeks before
the cinema release and nothing more. Keeping the strategy simple so they
can quickly get through distributing more films.
4. THE DISTRIBUTION PROCESS
The first part of the process will be a producer or company acquiring the
rights to a story, treatment or idea for a film. This may be because the
producer/company wants to turn a book, comic or some kind of written
material into a film.
The next step in the process is to get a writer or team of writers to construct
a screenplay this will either be to build on the idea the company have for the
film or to turn the written material the film company has bought the rights to
into a feature film keeping to the story but adding in some movie twists.
5. THR PROCESS CONTINUED
The next step in the process is finding money and finance to make the film
and pay for all its costs. This may be through investors or certain film
organisations.
Cast and crew for the film are also hired as their pay must be sorted to
Once all the costs are worked out and the company has a cast and crew
filming begins in agreed locations or studios.
This is followed by months of post-production editing turning all the raw film
and multiple takes into the final feature film its planned to be.
6. THE DISTRIBUTION PART OF THE PROCESS
This is the part in the process where the distributor comes up with a release
and marketing strategy.
A release date is considered and final copies of the film are made.
The film is then presented to exhibitors who will negotiate the date and
length of the films cinema release.
The marketing strategy is put into action creating buzz and hype in the target
audience but also among people who like films.
7. THE FINAL STAGES OF THE PROCESS
The film is printed/disked and given a British Board of Film Classification for
example 12, 12A, 15, 18, PG.
The film is then sent and distributed across cinemas a few days before the
cinema screen release.
The film has a viewing for a certain number of weeks that may be extended
by popular demand or extra marketing strategies.
After its cinema viewing, normally a couple of months, the film is released on
DVD, Blu-ray and home entertainment services.
