An independent distributor would distribute my film, our group has chosen Verve because it is a smaller distributor that mainly uses small independent films which is what our group is making.
Distribution is the process of making sure the film is in the hands of the theatre chains, broadcasters, video stores and video on demand operators. The companies that do this are called the distributors. A producer gets a sales agent to license a film to distributors outside the producers own country. Distributors acquire films via deals with studios, and production companies. Any distributor may compete for the rights to release a film, whether for cinema,satellite/terrestrial television and DVD. Distribution deals cover the overall rights to a film for a set period of time, this usually includes the release plan, media promotion and what edits and changes are allowed. Distributors must create an entirely new film release plan for each project to identify the unique selling points and attract the widest audience for the film. They also oversee the marketing plans, expenditure evaluations, forecasts and revenue breakdowns.
I researched distribution on the FDA website as well as the FutureLearn course titles The Business of Film and at an A level study day at the BFI delivered by Rob Miller. I also looked at case studies. Overall distributors are creating plans for film release to ensure they reach big audiences and make a profit. Sell and publise films to the media, marketing partners and cinemas for the public. And deal with filmmakers and producers, sales agents, publicists and advertising agencies.
After watching this video many time, Stuart Williams who is a deputy managing and marketing director, discusses the unique ways a film can become well known. He mentions that the 'word of mouth' technique is the strongest because people trust what other people say. We will listen to a film critic and decide whether or not we will go see a film if they say its good or bad. We will also listen to friends and family and decide to see a film dependent on what they say about it. Another way is by social media, people will set up websites and pages on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook etc on a a movie and the more followers or likes it gets the more its spreads around the world and the more people see it.From my research into the Hollywood Big 6 and other big studios, I learned that big budget films have a wide range of distribution strategies at their disposal. I had already noticed from my own interest in film how distribution strategies at their disposal, such as London has Fallen , as I had seen billboards and a trailer. Then I did a case study on the distribution of Jurassic Park. However, low budget films, like mine, can struggle to find any distributor at all. I did a case study on the distribution of Tortoise in Love , have discovered that the BFI's P&A fund stepped in to help them distribute their film.
Gareth Lowrie from NBC Universal explained to us at the BFI study day how he worked on the marketing for Jurassic World. He explained how at Waterloo Station they set up a dinosaur cage, this interesting people what is was. The next day they had made it look like the dinosaurs had escaped as they had made life like art pieces, the had members of staff dressed like zookeepers and advertisement for the film on the screen around the station. They also allowed people to take photos with the dinosaurs and had a hashtag to spread it around the world on social media. This made the film attractive as they had to think of something unique because the movie is a franchise and had to tell viewers it was going to be different from the other films. This was successful as it was one of the highest top 10 grossing films in 2015.
