Film Distribution

Film Distributors: §A film distributor is a company/ individual who is accountable for the advertising of a film. The distributor may set the release date of a film and the way in which a film shall be displayed/ made available for viewing. The best examples of this are: video on demand (VoD), DVD/Blu-ray, TV and download. A distributor may well do this independently, but this is only if they own theatres to do so otherwise it will be done through other theatrical exhibitors.

What are the film distributors main objectives?: The main objective of a distributor is to persuade the exhibitor to essentially ‘buy’ a film. With this in mind, a distributor will often organize industry screenings for exhibitors, and will use other marketing techniques that will make the exhibitor a) want to show the film and b) make a profit from the film

What else do film distributors do?: After this, the distributor will:

-Secure a written contract, which specifies the amount of the gross ticket sales to be paid to the distributor

-Collect the money

-Review the exhibitor's ticket sales (this is to ensure the gross informed by the exhibitor is precise)

-Secure the distributor's share, and diffuse the remaining money to the production company/others

-In most cases this is a set amount but may be varied depending on the film.

Distributing for everyone to see: -The Film distributor must therefore create enough advertising for their film. They may do this such as advertising on media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, etc Thet may also put adverts on buses, at bus stops, hand out leaflets, packages, merchandise and more. 

Here are some adverts on the way Harry Potter has distributed their movie: 

Film Premiers are also a great way to promote the movie because it brings together all the fans and if they enjoyed this event then they can pass it on their friends and other people, creating interest in a larger number of people, thus spreading the word of the film.

What must a film distributor think about?:  §A film’s first weekend in cinemas is vital for further success; most films gain 30% or more of its entire box office during the first three days, which is why it is important to get the marketing correct.

§Film distributors must think about:

§Who is the audience?

§Who does the film speak to?

§Do the story, characters and situation attract the audience?

§Does the film make up for the cost (risk) of a theatrical release?

§What sort of audiences have similar films attracted recently?

§These are all very important and explains why many distributors may only release  1-2 a year and others may release 20-30.

The different scenes and settings of distribution:§Different releases are accomplished in diverse ways. A blockbuster release may open simultaneously on 1000 screens UK-wide playing at two or more screens per multiplex: this includes large scale sequels or star led holiday releases  and therefore helps to accommodate mass audiences eager to see a film at the earliest opportunity. Sometimes, a single print can service multiple screens if they are ‘interlocked’.