INSTITUTIONS AND AUDIENCES

FILM INDUSTRY
LESSON 16
DISTRIBUTION ii
 TODAY
TIME: 3.45PM
PLACE: ROOM 63
FANTASY FILM-MAKING
PART 2 DUE ON THE
BLOG – SUNDAY 8PM
 TODAY
• Receive feedback on half term essay

• Understand the what is meant by the term film

distribution.

• Understand the role of distribution companies in

the film industry.

• Understand how film distribution works differently

for independent and Hollywood companies.
 GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS
• ESSAY IS ON INSTITUTION – YOU CANNOT GET
MARKS WITHOUT FREQUENTLY EXPLAINING HOW
POINTS RELATE TO FILM PRODUCTION
COMPANIES
• ESTABLISH A CLEAR ARGUMENT IN THE
INTRODUCTION
• LESS POINTS/MORE EXPLANATION & ANALYSIS
• MORE FOCUS ON AUDIENCE
• VERY DETAILED, SPECIFIC EXAMPLES FROM FILMS
• REFERENCE WIDER RANGE OF TEXTS
• INCLUDE MORE PERSONAL RESPONSE,
ESPECIALLY IN CONCLUSION
Level 1 (
Explanation/analysis/argument (0-7 marks)
• Shows minimal understanding of the task
• Minimal knowledge and understanding of institutional/audience practices –
general opinions or assertions predominate
• Minimal argument evident, with little reference to case study material or focus
films
• Of minimal relevance to set question or a brief response
• Under 1000 words
Use of examples (0-7 marks)
• Offers minimal use of case study material or focus films
• Offers a limited range of or inappropriate examples
• Offers examples of minimal relevance to set question
Use of terminology (0-3 marks)
• Minimal or frequently inaccurate use of appropriate terminology
Some simple ideas have been expressed. There will be some errors of
spelling, punctuation and grammar which will be noticeable and intrusive.
Writing may also lack legibility.
Level 4

Explanation/analysis/argument (16-20 marks)

• Shows excellent understanding of the task
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of institutional/audience practices – factual
knowledge is relevant and accurate
• A clear and developed argument, substantiated by detailed reference to case study
material or focus films
• Clearly relevant to set question

Use of examples (16-20 marks)

• Offers frequent evidence from case study material or focus films award marks to reflect
the range and appropriateness of examples
• Offers a full range of examples from case study and own experience
• Offers examples which are clearly relevant to the set question

Use of terminology (8-10 marks)

• Use of terminology is relevant and accurate

Complex issues have been expressed clearly and fluently using a style of
writing appropriate to the complex subject matter. Sentences and
paragraphs, consistently relevant, have been well structured, using appropriate technical
terminology. There may be few, if any, errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar.
POSSIBLE FILM 4 FILMS TO VIEW:
-DEAD MAN’S SHOES (SHANE MEADOWS, 2006)
-HALLAM FOE (DAVID MCKENZIE, 2007)
-THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND (KEVIN MCDONALD, 2006)
-24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE (MICHAEL WINTERBOTTOM, 2002)
-FEVER PITCH (DAVID EVANS, 1997)
-BRASSED OFF (MARK HERMAN, 1996)

YOU MAY ALSO PICK AN EXAMPLE OF YOUR OWN AS LONG AS IT IS A FILM

4 OR CHANNEL 4 FILM LISTED ON IMDB.

YOU MUST WATCH THE FILM AND ALSO DO INDEPENDENT RESEARCH

using sites like imdb.com.
 DISTRIBUTION?
• In the film business, the term "distribution"
refers to the marketing and circulation of
movies in theatres, and for home viewing
(DVD, Video-On-Demand, Download,
Television etc).

• This will usually be through a cinema first

and then onto DVD, although some films
are released straight to DVD.
 FILM DISTRIBUTORS
•A film distributor is an independent company, a subsidiary company or occasionally an
individual, which acts as the final agent between a film production company and a film
exhibitor,
exhibitor to secure the placement of the producer's film on the exhibitor's screen.

•The Distributor is responsible for:

-Finding exhibitors to screen the film
-Ensuring there are enough copies of the film produced for the cinema release and that
all the cinemas have them
-Providing (and often producing) the advertising material to ensure the film receives the
highest audience possible and making sure they are with the exhibitors in time for the
release date.
-A film will usually have a different distributor for DVD releases, who will be responsible
for the marketing and production of the home release.

•A film will usually have a different distributor for each country or group of countries.

-Why would there be different distributors for different countries?

-How important do you think the role of distributor is in the film industry?
HOLLYWOOD V INDEPENDENT?
• How would you expect the process of
distribution for Hollywood and
Independent films to be different?
 HOLLYWOOD
Hollywood companies tend
to be vertically integrated.
integrated HOLLYWOOD STUDIO

This means they will usually

own a number a of stages
involved in getting a film to
an audience.
For example, a studio may
own the production company
(the production stage),
stage the Production
Company
Distributor Cinema

distributor (distribution and

marketing stage)
stage and
sometimes even the cinema
(the exhibition stage).
stage

What would be the advantage of vertical integration for a Hollywood Studio?

 A HOLLYWOD EXAMPLE OF
DISTRIBUTION
LOVE ACTUALLY
How many different
distributors would you
expect to be involved
with this film?
There are 21 in total if you include
both cinema and home video
distributors.
14 of these companies are owned by
Universal (or part owned as UIP is
joint owned with Paramount) – a
great example of vertical integration!
Universal Pictures (2003) (USA) (theatrical)
Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
Filmes Lusomundo (2003) (Portugal) (theatrical)
Mars Distribution (2003) (France) (theatrical)
RTL Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national
airing) (RTL5)
Studio Canal (2003) (France) (theatrical)
United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (Argentina)
(theatrical)
United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (Switzerland)
(theatrical)
United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (Germany)
(theatrical)
United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (Spain) (theatrical)
United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (UK) (theatrical)
United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (Italy) (theatrical)
United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (Netherlands)
(theatrical)
United International Pictures (UIP) (2003) (Singapore)
(theatrical)
United International Pictures (2004) (Japan) (theatrical)
Universal Home Video (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
Universal Home Video (2004) (Brazil) (VHS)
Universal Pictures (Spain) (2004) (Spain) (DVD)
Universal Pictures Benelux (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
Universal Pictures Canada (2004) (Canada) (DVD) (as
Universal Studios Canada)
 INDEPENDENT
•Independent companies often find it difficult to find a distributor.

•Unlike movies made by Hollywood Studios or their subsidiaries, who already

have a distributor in place before production even begins, many independent
films are completed and then must find a distribution deal.

•Distributors will buy an independent film, either for a set fee (after which the
producers receive none of the profits) or offer the film-makers a cut of the film’s
profits.

•The process of a distributor buying a film is called acquisition.

How would you expect an independent producer to find a distributor once

their film is finished?
What advantages would a film produced by Film 4 have over most other
independent films when trying to secure a distributor?
 A FILM 4 EXAMPLE
THIS IS ENGLAND
How many different IFC Films (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
distributors would you expect IFC First Take (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
Madman Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (all media)
to be involved with this film? NetFlix (2007) (USA) (DVD)
NonStop Entertainment (2007) (Sweden) (theatrical)
Optimum Releasing (2006) (UK) (theatrical)
Red Envelope Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2008) (Finland) (DVD)

The film has only 8 distribution deals

– one of which partly financed the
film (Optimum Releasing).

How could you relate the concept of audience to the number of distributors a
film has?
 THE SNOWBALL EFFECT

What difficulties did

the film-makers face in
getting a distribution
deal?

What is the worst case

scenario for an
independent film-
maker in terms of
distribution?
 RECAP
• What is film distribution?

• What is the difference between a film distributor

and production company?

• How do Hollywood Studios use vertical

integration?

• Why is it so much more difficult for an

independent film to get distributed than a
Hollywood film?