Distribution questions

Distribution question

1. What is meant by the term film distribution?

The term film distribution means that the film is made for the viewing of the audience.

2. What does a film distributor do? 

A film distributor is responsible for identifying and delivering the film to the audience. The film distributor organizes a distribution plan based upon the target audience and other Market research.  The distributor works alongside with the producers of the film in order to gain the film’s full potential upon its release. They also make an educated prediction of what the film will make and prepare an overall budget. The film distributor will represent the film at different events including festivals. They will also attempt to sell the film to television companies and other companies that show short films. They also look at the circulation and marketing of the film itself including viewing the film on the television or on DVD.

3. How does reach relate to film distribution?

This is the amount of people that the franchise is able to reach and how often people are exposed to the products (trailers, posters etc.…); the cost however can be very expensive as the price of the advertisement materials means that the more you invest the more pressure for the film to do well.

Reach- the reach of a film is the potential number of people targeted. this is referring to the primary target audience of the film. In order to reach as many members of their primary target audience as they can they will advertise on the television between shows that their research show their target audience likes such as 'X Factor'.   

Frequency- this is the bigger reach of a film involving a secondary audience.The secondary audience of the film is people that the film may appeal to outside of the primary target audience. In order to reach the secondary audience the film distribution team will advertise on brands that their research suggests the secondary audience likes. 

Formula - this is the media platforms that the film will be advertised on. The films will be advertised on different media platforms in order to reach a larger audience. These platforms include social media, television and magazines.  

4. What is meant by the distribution plan?

A distribution plan is a tailor made plan that is put in place by the distributor and the producers of the film. This plan details when the film will be released in order to optimise the success of the film. This plan also details how the film will be released to the general public. This is a combination of market knowledge, commercial experience, statistical research and professional judgement. The point of the distribution plan is to find the costs and turn a profit. However releasing a film can be risky and can be very expensive to do and in theory most of the films released do not make a profit.

To make the film successful then it must not solely rely upon the conventional wisdom; every film that is made is individual so adaptions to the distribution plan must be made in order to reach the film’s full potential.

5. What is meant by the marketing plan? 

A marketing plan is a plan that is dedicated to the marketing aspects of a film’s release. This is a precise plan outlining the release of promotion and advertisement materials for the film. Often the first part of the marketing plan is dedicated to releasing a teaser trailer for the film. This is the first change that the marketing team will get to advertise their film to the primary target audience. The teaser trailer will be shown on television and before other movies of a similar target audience. As soon as the teaser trailer is released then an official website for the film will be unveiled giving the important information out about the film such as the release date. The Audience will be able to view variations of the trailer on the website itself. They will also be able to see many features such as wallpapers, links to social media pages, interviews, behind the scenes and merchandise. This will also give the audience a link to Pre-order their tickets to watch the film.

When the date of the film release draws closer the marketing team will start to involve other media institutions such as newspapers, magazines, Television shows and radio. For many films journalists, reporters and movie critics will go to a location in order to interview the stars of the film.

Then there is a media blitz where the film and the official trailer are everywhere. Often being described as ‘a must see’ film. Posters and images of the film will dominate the scenery especially in the city that the films premier will take place. The films name and release date will be plastered everywhere and broadcast to reach as many potential audience members as they can. This is usually the week before the film is released. There will also be cooperate tie-ins with big companies such as fast food chains in order to get the films name everywhere. 

6. What is the difference between advertising, publicity and promotion?

·         Advertising

·         Publicity

·         Promotion

The term advertising means to publicly promoting a product or service. The advertising for a film is usually done through film trailers in between television shows and at the beginning of other films. Advertising is paid for by the company promoting the film this means paying to show the trailer during advert breaks. The term promotion means the publicizing of the product itself including using the trailer, exclusive interviews and posters.  Whereas the term publicity is giving out more information about the product itself. Publicity is designed to attract the media attention with the focus on getting as much coverage as possible. Publicity can involve the actors that are in the film doing stunts in order to get the word out about the film. 

7. Find a teaser poster, teaser trailer, main poster and main trailer for a horror film and put them on your Blog – who was the distributor and in how many countries was it released? Can you find how many screens it was shown in on the opening weekend 

The film Zombieland was released in 2009. The distributor of the film is Columbia pictures and was released in 21 different countries. On the opening weekend of the film Zombieland was shown in 3036 screens a crossed the USA.

Film poster

Teaser poster