Film Industries

Film distribution definition

The process of making a film available for an audience.

vested interest definition

personal stake or financial benefit in the success of a product

Order of film distribution

1. filmmaker

2. producer

3. distributor

4. exhibitor

What is a filmmaker?

The person or organisation involved in the creative craft of putting the film together 

What is the vested interest of a filmmaker?

A filmmaker wants to make a film that is watched and enjoyed by audiences  

What is a producer?

The person who finances the film and initializes manufacture overseeing the production often hiring a film crew and actors.

What is the vested interest of a Producer?

A producer will want a return on their initial investment this means minimizing risks by keeping costs low and funding films which could be profitable 

What is a distributor?

A person or company film who purchases the rights for a film then searching for an exhibitor to exhibit the film to ensure it is released in cinemas or other platforms. 

What is the vested interest of a distributor?

This person will want to purchase the rights for films that will find an audience and be easy to market.

Examples of distributors

• Universal 

• Warner's brothers 

• Paramount  

• The Weinstein company 

• Buena Vista Pictures Distribution 

what is an exhibitor?

The organization that screens the film for public consumption

What is the vested interest for an exhibitor?

This organization will want to show films that people will purchase tickets for to see in cinema and make gross in the box office

what is gross?

total amount of revenue of income generated

what are co productions?

collaborations between multiple production companies sometimes from different countries to reach international audiences.

what are the benefits of coproductions?

• brings in more funding

• reaches a wider audience

• allows more/ global talent to be showcased

• more resources

• helps cultural promotion (Wales)

• building relationships within the industry

what marketing strategies are used to attract / reach an audience?

• trailers

• posters

• social media campaigns

• cast promotion

• merch

• official websites

• film festivals

• premieres

• brand partnerships

• cross media collaborations

• co productions

• targeting a specific audience

• word of mouth

• streaming platforms

What factors do films contain that appeal to an audience?

• genre codes and conventions

• binary opposites

• narrative

• soundtrack

• casting

• mise-en-scene

• cinematography

• editing

what is film funding?

the financial resources required to produce a film.

Sources of film funding?

• private investors

• crowdfunding

• coproductions

• film festivals

• pre- sales

• independent companies

• production companies

what are private investors?

Wealthy individuals who help to fund films and are not associated with a company. often fund smaller films.

what is crowdfunding?

Platforms like kickstarter where the public each donate a small amount to contribute to the film funds.

what are film festivals?

where films are premiered or screened and filmmakers have the opportunity to pitch ideas and meet with investors.

examples of film festivals

• cannes

• Sundance

• BFI London

what are public funding bodies?

art councils and independent/ smaller companies which provide grants

examples of public funding bodies

• BFI

• national lottery

• FHW

advantages of film funding

• reduces filmmakers financial risk

• increases opportunities within the industry

• increased production quality

• enables production

• helps within marketing

disadvantages of funding

• domestic production

• toxic behaviour

• capacity

• investment loss

• unreasonable working practices

what is a film franchise?

A series of films that are all part of the same cinematic universe

Why are film franchises most popular?

• establishes a fan base

• familiarity

• merch and brand partnership opportunities

• continuity

• credibility through awards and reviews

what is convergence?

When media is shared across multiple different platforms and devices for example Disney plus can be accessed from TVs, laptops or phones.

what is global conglomerate?

when one company owns a number of smaller companies and has multiple headquarters

what are the smaller companies called?

subsidiaries

what are film regulations?

Film regulations are a set of rules and guidelines governing the content, distribution, and exhibition of films.

examples of film regulations

• classification and rating systems

• censorship

• copyright laws

• health and safety regulations during production

• content restrictions on violence, language and sex.

what is censorship?

removing or altering content to make it less offensive and more appropriate yet this sometimes leads to content being too less sanitised and less impactful.

what are classification and rating systems?

age ratings which are decided by the film regulation bodies such as the BBFC in the UK and the MPA in the US and help to protect a younger audience.

advantages of film regulations

• protection of audiences

• creates a target audience

• protection over minority groups

• protection of actors and workers

• protection over creative rights

• fair distribution

disadvantages of film regulations

• creative limitations

• censorship

• inconsistent standards across countries

• limits global reach

• economic impact

• subjective ratings that people disagree with

what is the economic impact of film regulations?

• increased production costs for editing to comply with regulations

• limited global reach affects gross in box office

• tax incentives