Film Distribution and Marketing

1. What is meant by the term film distribution?

Film distribution is the process of putting finished films out for the public to view via major distributors. The UK has half a dozen major distributors which are closely affiliated with Hollywood studios. This has the ability to distribute high quality films and that is what gets the audience interested in their product.

2. What does a film distributor do?

Distributors have the responsibility to pick out and decide what is worth distributing and to also find  USPs (Unique Selling Points). When considering acquiring a new film, distributors need to have these things in mind, but also understand the importance of local product.
Distributors also need to discuss their release plans with filmmakers and producers before the product can be distributed to the audience.

3. How does reach relate to film distribution?

Reach relates to both the frequency of product advertising and also the geographical distant to which the advertising would reach. Both of these combined can determine how much advertising the product would attract attention to the product, and works well with film distribution as it can outline how much demand there is for that particular film. Based on the 'reach', film distribution can be shaped to target the correct audience. Although, a point to add would be the question of why all films wouldn't just plaster their product on every board, bus, shelter-revolver or advertise an advert on television on every channel. This would be because of the costs, and only high-budget films can really afford such a widespread campaign.

4. What is meant by the distribution plan?

The distribution plan focuses on when and where the film will be released. This plan includes additions such as competition bonuses and posters and where they will go, and also the target audience has to be considered throughout this process. The distribution plan also affects the budget of the film, as the more geographical space the distribution will cover, the more it will cost.

5. What is meant by the marketing plan?

The marketing plan looks at the project more as a whole rather than just focusing on who will see it. This plan looks further into costumes and props for the posters as well as locations to shoot, and also to advertise available merchandise in accordance with the film being distributed. Along with looking at all the other aspects, the marketing plan is also responsible for creating a budget for the film which will determine how the distribution plan will go ahead.

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

Advertising - This focuses on introducing the audience to the media product through teaser trailers, posters, main trailers, adverts etc. This is all done based around the film's budget which was determined through the marketing plan.
Publicity - This focuses more on the response for the film. This addresses the audience's reaction to the advertising, and gets a picture of the reaction to the film as a whole from the perspective of someone not involved with the making/producing of the film, including audience discusions, critics' reviews and news articles.
Promotion - Promotion is done through advertising in places that will stand out in terms of not many adverts will have been placed there before. This could possibly be restaurants, shops or even on boards in the park. This also includes the distribution of merchandise associated with the film, as it is used to promote the upcoming release of the product.

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?