Film Distribution & Marketing

 What is meant by the term film distribution?
Film distribution is the term used to describe the way that the movie is made to be seen, for example, cinema, TV, movie, or straight to DVD

 What does a film distributor do?
The film distributor has the responsibility for deciding how the movie is released. There challenge is to identify the audience and to consider why they will go and watch the film. They have to estimate the revenue potential across all formats of the release.
It is important to develop partnerships to build an awareness of the film before its big release. They are aiming to convert as much interest as possible.

 How does reach relate to film distribution?
Reach relates to the film distribution, for instance the size of the reach can depend on how much profit each film has made, making it easy to recognise the areas of which the audience have interests in. If film distributors had the aim of reaching out to a wider target audience instead of a niche target, the expense can expand considerably, however the success of this film will gain them more money than spent. If this occurs, distributors may expand their advertisement in order to reach this number of viewers, however this risk of losing money is possible. Feedback is a key part in a films success and popularity, for example 'The Women in Black' this film boomed and had extremely good feedback from critics, this allowed the film to be so popular a second film was later released.

 What is meant by the distribution plan?
The producer acquires rights to film a story, write the screenplay and then finance and make the film. At this point, distributors make a strategy, release date and presents the film to exhibitors and negotiates agreements to have it shown in cinemas. The marketing campaign create a target audience and a few days before release it is given a classification by the British Board of Film Classification. The film is shown for a number of weeks and is released in many formats; such as on TV and on DVD.

 What is meant by the marketing plan?
A marketing plan is designed to help companies/film producers to plan on how they will achieve their certain marketing objectives within a particular amount of time. Firstly, a company identifies a target audience in order to decide the route which will be taken in marketing to target a consumer. Their plan will consider current market situations allowing them to discover which films are doing well and others not so well and the reasoning for this. The company will have to discuss whether the film is suitable for their particular target audience and whether the film is worthy for the cost of display to the cinemas. Distributors have to then deal with paperwork in order to receive financial backup in order for the film to be produced at the highest standard. At this time the advertising will be a main focus and will invite critics to watch the film, allowing it to increase in popularity before launching to already catalyse the films success.

 What is the difference between advertising, publicity and promotion?
Advertisement is the way in which distributors decide to present their film to attract a particular audience, to spread the word that a new film is being released.
Publicity, however is in many formats such as posters, commercials, social media, magazines and many more, these are used to gain publicity and acknowledgment towards the films out coming. A great way to attract an audience is through interviews and these are used in many advertising techniques. Interviewing the cast, gives social media the allowance to spread the films arrival, creating positive feedback from the film going on to promote it.
Lastly, promotion is used to ensure awareness for the film, this is shown through merchandise such as t-shirts, blankets or mugs and many more. Many films also promote with free items, this attracts and audience to watch a film they may not be too keen or worried to watch, this gives them an incentive to give it a go.

SAW 5
The films distributors is Lionsgate
The film was released in 4 different countries (United kingdom, North America, New Zealand and Australia)
Saw V grossed $30,053,954 in 3,060 theaters in the United States and Canada, ranking number two in the box office.

Teaser Trailer