Institutions And Audiences: Film Industry

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

HOLLYWOOD STUDIO

Production Company

Distributor

Cinema

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 distributors would you expect to be involved with this film?

IFC Films (2007) (USA) (theatrical) IFC First Take (2007) (USA) (theatrical) Madman Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (all media) 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 filmmaker 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?