Film distribution

1. Task 3Distribution

2. What is Distribution?
Distribution is the promoting and selling of a product. In my case it is the
selling of a film.
Distributors have many ways to gain awareness and hype for a film. These
could include:
• Trailers
• screenings
• publicity
• advertising through social media sites.
Distributing a film can be selling it to the cinema or creating the ‘home
entertainment’ version of the product.

3. What is Distribution?
Selling the film to the cinema depends on the amount of hype
there is for the film as they want to make a profit.
However, ‘home entertainment’ is important for the film
distribution companies as only 5% of films make a profit at the
box office. This an include format’s such as:
• DVD
• Blu-ray
• TV
• Online (Netflix, Love film …)

4. Distribution Companies

5. Distribution Companies
The Big Six
The Big Six are considered as the most successful companies when it
comes to distributing their films. The Big Six includes:
• Warner Brothers
• Sony Pictures
• Disney
• Paramount
• 20th Century Fox
• Universal
These companies are known for producing and distributing their own
films but sometimes they might contribute to distributing a film that
they have not produced.

6. Distribution Companies
However, independent and low budget films are usually not
produced by big conglomerates with their own distribution
company. Therefore, independent films usually have to seek out
distributors to sell their film. This can be done through film
festivals which distributors will attend. These distributors will be
small companies.
• Metrodome
• Optimum Releasing
• Cinema NX
These are some examples of small distribution companies.

7. Who would distribute our film?
Our film (Deprived) is a crime thriller which I think has
a low budget feel to it. This is because in the opening
sequence the setting is small and simple. Also, the
picture quality is not of a ‘high budget’ standard.
Therefore, I think a small distribution company would
distribute our film like ‘Cinema NX’.

8. Who would distribute our film?
I think that Cinema NX would
be interested in our film if we
were to present it to them.
This is because they have
distributed other low budget
crime thriller films such as
‘The Disappearance of Alice
Creed’.
Therefore, if Cinema Nx were
interested in this film, I think
that they would have an
interest in our film.

9. Is our film going to appeal to a UK
audience only?
I think that our film could appeal to a larger audience rather than just a UK
audience. This is because of the relatable characters and the wide range of
plots and themes. However, I think that only a small population of foreign
audiences would go a see this film.
This is due to the lack of ‘big stars’ in the film and it would be difficult for
distribution companies to get the film into a large amount of cinema’s due to
the low amount of budget to gain the film some awareness. It would cost the
distribution company a lot more to market the film in other countries.
Therefore, it would just best to market the film in the UK to try and gain an
audience here.

10. Marketing/Release Strategy’s
• First of all I would set to release this
film in the Spring as in the Summer
many ‘block buster’ films will be
releasing which would then over
shadow our film.
• I would then only distribute this film in
UK cinema’s. This is because marketing
and distributing the film to other
countries would take a lot of money to
do.
• I would then release trailers and
adverts on websites to gain awareness
from our target audience.

11. Marketing/Release Strategy’s
• Near to release I would hold a screening in a major city in the
UK to try and create a positive word of mouth.
• Once the film has been released in cinema’s I would look at
releasing the film for home entertainment. This would include
DVD, showing on TV and streaming on websites such as
Netflix.

12. Self Distribution
Self distribution rarely works but can be great if it
works for a young and independent film maker.
Trying to distribute or get a distribution company
on your side is difficult. The recognition of the
producer and the budget and quality of the film are
normally what distributors are looking for when
they are looking for a film to distribute.
Therefore, for a young film maker with no
experience, it is hard to get your film distributed.

13. Self Distribution
However, young film makers can upload their
video’s online as it is a cheap way to distribute.
However, you will rarely make money off of this
and you rarely gain any attention from film
distributors from this method.