Task 10: Distribution

What is film distribution?
Film distribution is the process of making a movie available for viewing by an audience. 

What is the distributors role?
A film distributor is responsible for the marketing of a film. The distributor company is usually different from the production company. Distribution deals are an important part of financing a film.
The distributor may set the release date of a film and the method by which a film is to be exhibited or made available for viewing: for example, directly to the public either theatrically or for home viewing (e.g. DVD and video-on demand). A limited distributor may deal only with particular products, such as DVDs or Blu-ray, or may act in a particular country or market. 

Some roles a distributor may face:
- Sends trailers to cinemas
- Attends film festivals
- Negotiates film release date and exhibition of film
- Decides how many prints and will pay for these

What's a distributors plan?
A distributor plan is created by the management of manufacturing business that specifies how the company intends to distribute its products to retailers, consumers etc. Larger companies involved in making products will usually also put together a detailed production distribution strategy to guide its entry into its intended market.


What's a P + A Budget?
Prints are... the physical films that are shown in theaters and cinemas, which are very expensive to actually make and distribute to cinemas ($2000 per print).Every cinema showing the film needs at least one print. 
Advertising is... making target audiences aware of the films, through TV adverts, radio, posters, leaflets, socially media etc. 

Usually on average one film has a P+A budget of $35 million that is produced in the big six.
All films need a budget for Prints and Advertising.


What is the average distribution cost for a big six film?

What does the distribution budget include?
Cost or expense incurred in moving goods from the point of production to the point of consumption. Also can be called distribution expenses. included in the budget is: transport costs, delivery costs and tracking distribution costs.

What is a simultaneous release?
A simultaneous release is the name given to an experimental new method of making movies available to consumers. Traditionally. movies are released first to cinemas but in simultaneous release the movie is released to cinemas and on DVD, internet and television on the same date.

What are some main distribution companies?
The main distribution companies in the film industry, include:
- Sony Pictures
- Warner bros
- Paramount pictures 
- Lionsgate
- Columbia pictures
- 20th Century Fox
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Phase 4 Films
- E1 Entertainment
- Walt Disney 
- Tartan Films

What do you think is the link between audiences and distribution?
The audience of film and the products of film are affected by distribution because it determines where and when the audience can view the film. If the film is distributed to DVD, the internet and Television (over 75% of films are new prefer ed to be viewed online or on TV) the easier and cheaper it is for the viewer to watch the film and watch it multiple times. But some audiences still enjoy going to the cinema and watching the film the 'traditional' way. 

Target market audience is... 
The target audience is a particular group at which a product such a film or advertisement is aimed. There is a different target audience according to the genre or story of the film. (e.g. The target audience for romance films are usually young females).
and audience positioning is...
All media text have a series of encoded signs and messages, the audiences then decode these messages. The different audiences then will decode these messages differently. media texts and the film industries are aware of their audiences they are trying to reach out to.

Why is release date crucial?
Release date is crucial for a film because it is key to ensure that the target audience for the film is available to be able to view the film. There are dump months which is two periods of the year that audiences for film are smaller and films released in these time periods do not usually as successful. These times of the year are January and September. Hollywood has uses the colder months for more sobre themes, just before award season. Summer is always the time of release for the big blockbuster films and films produced from the big six because it is the school holidays and people take their holiday in the summer so are more likely to watch films at the cinema. 

What is self distribution?
Self distribution is an option for filmmakers seeking an audience and financial return. It is when filmmakers decide to distribute the film without a distribution company.