Film Distribution

Today’s Lesson

• To understand the distribution process

• To watch and take notes on the ‘Marketing’ DVD

• To conduct a research task on Trainspotting and Slumdog Millionaire

What is Distribution?

Task

• Watch the ‘Distribution’ DVD

• Take notes using the questions as support either on paper or word

Who is the Distributor?

Licensing

• Distributor acquires right to ‘exploit’ film

• Distributors job to launch film – where?

• Large studios will have offices in all countries (territories)

• What do independent productions do?

Marketing

• Set release date – drive to market film before this date

• Ways of marketing?• Synergy – tie-ins with other

companies• Task – in 2 minutes think of as many

examples of synergy as you can…

Film Festivals

• Showcase to find a distributor• Why else are they important?• Word-of-Mouth

Task

• Watch the ‘Distribution’ DVD

• Take notes using the questions as support either on paper or word

Activity

• http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/distribution/distribution1.html (on LR)

• Read the information on distribution and the case study on Bullet Boy

• Conduct research and write a similar case study on Trainspotting or Slumdog Millionaire

• Use imdb.com, wikipedia.org, film websites, BBC.co.uk, Film4 (channel4.com/film)

• Write in word for your revision pack

• Answer the following:• Who are the distributors (company

info.)• How was the film marketed? (show

examples – posters, webpages, etc.)• Did the film show at festivals? (what

was the impact of this?)• Who were the target audience?• Are there any examples of synergy?

Summery…

• Do you know understand the distribution process?

• Can you see the different approaches a major studio and an independent studio might take to distribute a film?

• Remember to finish the task for H/W