AS Media Evaluation, Question 3: What kind of media institution might distribute

your media product and why?

Owen Howard

Basic InformationA media institution is an established, often-profit based organization, that deal in the creation and distribution of advertising, entertainment and information services.

A film distributor is a company or individual responsible for the marketing of 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 (DVD, video-on-demand, download, television programs through broadcast syndication etc.). A distributor may do this directly, if the distributor owns the theaters or film distribution networks, or through theatrical exhibitors and other sub-distributors. A limited distributor may deal only with particular products, such as DVDs or Blu-ray, or may act in a particular country or market.

A production company essentially helps to create the film- its assists in the budgeting, scheduling, scripting, casting and more. The company usually looks over the film from when its just an idea to completion. They are responsible for finding a director and the majority of acting talent required. However they are also responsible if any thing were to go wrong on the film, for example an actor being injured or property being damaged.

What We Decided To Choose...

After thinking about what would be the best for our opening sequence, we decided to choose Film4 Productions as well as vertigo films as our media distribution industry as we think that it would benefit us the most. As a low-budget British film co-funded by Film4 and vertigo films with a target audience of 15 to 25 and a genre of ‘football hooliganism’, our media product would be best suited for Film4 Productions and vertigo films.

Film4 Productions is a British film production company owned by Channel Four Television Corporation. The company has been responsible for backing a large number of films made in the United Kingdom.

Vertigo Films is a British film production and film distribution company based in London, England.

Why We Chose Film4 Productions...

Film4 Productions (owned by channel 4) has occupied a situation in the UK film industry since it originally started in 1982, therefore gaining a trusted and successful reputation with audiences. It is a television channel available with certain providers, which screens films for ‘free’. Film4 is available to Virgin Media customers, Sky TV customers, and Freeview and Freesat customers, therefore boosting the accessibility to the channel. Film 4 has also been accountable for making a large number of UK films successful. Film4 productions also distributed the football factory which was shown on channel 4, this has the same genre as our opening sequence and is popular with our target audience.

We have chosen Film4 because we found that this channel is more associated with the type of genre and audience that we have related our product with. As film4 can advertise throughout the day, televised through channel 4 it means we have a greater chance of increased profit. Film4 is also a british production company which is what attracted us to it compared to the something like the ‘warner bros’. Our opening sequence is based on football hooliganism which involves the subculture of British heritage and a sense of traditionalism. We felt that a British production company would suit our needs the best because it matches the message and history of our opening sequence. Also, with the past experiences of Film4 distributing ‘Green Street‘ and showing it televised on channel 4 it means that they know how to acquire for our type of genre and as ‘Green Street‘ came a success it means they can target our similar target audiences easily which hopefully means our opening sequence also becomes successful.

Why We Chose Vertigo Films Also...

Vertigo Films is a UK Film and Distribution company founded in 2002 by Allan Niblo and James Richardson. The following year Rupert Preston and Nick Love joined and became partners. The company’s mission is to create and distribute commercially driven independent cinema and since inception it has produced 28 films and distributed a further 35. The Films span a range of genres and audience taste and include the box office smash hit Streetdance 3D, the biggest independent UK DVD of all time The Football Factory and the multi award winning Monsters.

We chose vertigo films because this channel is even more associated with the type of genre and audience than Film4 productions are. They have previously distributed and produced the football factory which is the same genre as our opening sequence and the target audience will be very similar. This means they have a good reputation in distributing and producing British films which is the type of opening sequence i have created. ‘The firm‘ is a strong comparison that i researched in the planning stages of production and i found out that vertigo films distributed for them as well as ‘The football factory‘. This made up my mind in choosing these along with film4 productions because they are obviously comfortable in football hooliganism films and have a great marketing strategy for British films as well.

Summary Of Why I Chose Film4 and Vertigo

Films...

Both are associated with the type of genre and audience that we have related our product with

Both have been successful producing/distributing a football hooligan film

Film4 is owned by channel 4 so a lot of their films are televised on channel 4 (guaranteed to be shown on TV = guaranteed profit

Film4 is also a television channel available with certain providers

Audiences connotations with this industry would be thought of as successful