1. What kind of media institution
might distribute your media
product and why?
Nicole Herring

2. What is a institution?
• An institution is a company that disperses a media product for
audience consumption.
• The media product , in this case a film, would normally go to a
cinema either nationally or globally which would then come
out on DVD and be sold in shops/online.
• A Production company is involved in producing the physical
production of the film. The production company can be
responsible for raising funding or may have a link with a
larger company who funds the film. Our film, Flash has been
made by me and my group; EPILSON Productions - a
production company.
• If we were to distribute our film we would need to create a
link with a distribution company who will help release our film
to the public.

3. Working Title
• Working Title Films is a British film production
company which is based in London.
• The company was founded by Tim
Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe in 1983.
• It produces feature films and several television
productions including films starring comic
actor Rowan Atkinson.

4. Working Title
• In 2004 the company made a profit of
£17.8 million. Universal Studios owns
67% of the company.
• Here is a list of films produced by
Working Title:
• Bridget Jones Diary and Four Weddings
and A Funeral are two of the most
popular successes of the company.

5. Working Title
• Working Title has promoted many
actors/actresses that were born in England
such as Keira Knightley, Simon Pegg, Hugh
Grant, Colin Firth.
• Also films like Bridget Jones Diary have been
filmed in locations in England such as London.

6. Paramount Pictures
Corporation
• Paramount Pictures Corporation is a film and
television production/distribution company.
• It is ranked as one of the largest movie studios.
• Paramount is the fifth oldest existing film studio
in the world.
• The head quarters are in Hollywood but it serves
world wide.
• Paramount Pictures is a member of the Motion
Picture Association of America.

7. Paramount Pictures Corporation
• Some of Paramount’s greatest films
are Titanic, Forrest Gump, Iron Man,
Shrek and Paranormal Activity.
• Shrek has led to more Shrek films as
well as Paranormal Activity and the
Transformers Trilogy.
• Titanic was the 2nd high grossing
film of all time.

8. Paramount Pictures
Corporation
• Paramount has joined with many companies
over the years such as, Marvel, Nickelodeon
and DreamWorks.
• For example they joined with Marvel to
produce Iron man and other superhero
movies.

9. Working Title & Paramount
• Out of these two companies Working Title is more likely to be interested in
distributing our film. The reasons I believe this, is our film has British
actors/actresses and is filmed in England which many films in Working Title were
created in England with British actors/actresses. This would keep them interested
as this is what their company is mostly known for and what has made it successful.
• Working Title is a small but successful distribution company that works with many
other companies (big and small) to distribute/produce films, which means they will
have many links to get the product out. However smaller distribution companies
tend to be unable to provide the huge cash return which is why the film is given
small or no budgets.
• Working Title has produced hardly any thriller films. This is a great advantage for
our film as there is a huge market gap for a thriller film. Explaining this to the
company could potentially interest them even more into distributing our film as it
could increase their brand identity. Where as if we tried to interest Paramount it
would be much harder as it’s a huge distribution company that will have very
many links to other companies such as large cinema groups, distributing on TV
and DVD. Also Paramount would be unsuitable to distribute our film Flash as we
have a zero budget and Paramount distribute high scale films such as Paranormal
Activity .

10. Is your film going to appeal to UK audiences only? Or
does it have a wider appeal? Why? Why not?
• The film is set in the UK and has British characters in.
This allows the UK audience to be able to relate to
them and the situation.
• However our film can appeal to a wider audience as
any country/culture can enjoy and understand it. The
film is in English so any countries who speak English
will be able to watch it. The thriller genre is very
popular worldwide which suggests that it will appeal
to anyone globally. Thriller films such as Taken have
been very successful in other countries like USA. Our
film doesn’t have much culture in it so other cultures
will be able to understand what's going on.

11. Possible marketing strategies, release strategies and
exhibition options.
• Working Title has links to big major companies that all have a good
reputation.
• Huge companies would be more likely to create a trailer and place on TV
or YouTube to give the audience to grab their attention and draw them in
to come and see the film. Advertising on the most popular channels on
TV is also a very good way of letting people know about the film and will
reach a wider range of ages, cultures and personalities. Billboards are
quite a popular choice to let people know about the film as they can be
placed all around the UK from the sides of buses and bus stops to
shopping centres. Another marketing strategy is magazines. Adverts can
take up a full A4 page or even possibly two. The advert can be placed in
all different types of magazines to attract certain ages/people. Overall
huge companies advertise hugely so people will know about the film and
to get a good rating in the public eye to attract them.
• Our target audience has a high consumption of Internet and TV. We could
use this to our advantage by producing a trailer and using information to
sell our film. Advertising on sports channel and gaming sites would be a
good way to target our audience and attract them.

12. Pros and Cons of self distribution
• Cons: • Pros:
• Can be a full time job in itself • Can retain full control and
as it can be very time rights over your film which will
consuming chasing buyers allow you to chose where you
and sales and filling in film will be shown
paperwork • You don't have to give a cut of
• Difficult for people to see the the money made from any
film sales of your film to a
distributor
• Not as big audience
• Guaranteed opening
• Need to be very legally savvy
and make sure you're not • Simplicity
signing away rights to your • 100% of box office income
film that'll prevent you from • No need to hire expensive
showing it elsewhere publicists