This document discusses the differences between mainstream and niche media productions. It provides examples of mainstream movie studios like 20th Century Fox and blockbuster franchises. Niche productions are defined as targeting specific audiences through independent companies like Blumhouse Productions, which makes low-budget horror films. The document analyzes how Blumhouse relies on partnerships with larger studios for distribution. It determines that the horror film "Beelzebub" presented would be best distributed by a niche company like Blumhouse due to its limited appeal but conventional genre elements.

1. By Matthew
Higgins

2. OUTLINE
• This ppt will explore what the difference is between
mainstream and niche in terms of media productions
• It will look at different case studies of movie distributors
• It will come to a conclusion about who may distribute our
movie production, ‘Beelzebub’

3. WHAT IS MAINSTREAM?
• Mainstream is a style of movie that caters to every demographic and
has a wide appeal.
• A typical mainstream movie is a Hollywood blockbuster such as
transformers, or the Marvel cinematic universe.
• They tend to follow lucrative trends of the movie industry, for example
the Marvel cinematic universe was a success, so now lots of film
studios such as paramount with their transformers series, or universal
with the upcoming ‘Universal Monsters’ series of interconnected
movies following suit
• The production of mainstream movies are likely to be for financial
reasons, due to the continued success of mainstream movies
• Often mainstream movies are criticized by critics for being too cliched,
however they still make considerable amounts of money, e.g batman vs
superman has a 27% rotten tomatoes rating but made $872 million at
the worldwide box office

4. WHAT IS NICHE
• Niche is a media product focused on a specific audience e.g. Saw is a series
of horror films within the ‘torture porn’ genre and inspired movies like Hostel
and it is catered towards those adults who enjoy such films rather than a
mainstream audience which would include all ages and aspects to interest
everyone.
• Niche movies are mostly independent productions, made by companies such
as Blumhouse productions for the horror genre, Fox searchlight pictures,
and Annapurna pictures which has produced many critically acclaimed films
such as Zero dark Thirty
• Niche movies are often more critic friendly, with many in recent years
becoming Oscar winners such as Moonlight and Zero Dark Thirty.
• They often explore topics that mainstream movies don’t due to a lack of
mainstream appeal and a perceived loss of box office revenue, for example
Behind the candelabra, about the gay composer Liberace was produced and
distributed by HBO due to its controversial subject matter
• Niche films are more of a commercial risk, due to their restricted audience
appeal, which is why they are not produced by major mainstream production
companies

5. MAINSTREAM PRODUCTION COMPANY
• 20th Century Fox is one of the ‘big six’ Hollywood movie studios
• It produces around 20 movies per year
• It distributes its own movies under 20th century fox home entertainment
• Has had the two highest grossing movies of all time with Titanic and
Avatar
• Major franchises include, the Alien franchise, Avatar, Planet of the Apes,
and the X men franchise
• Example of a movie : The Maze Runner
• There was a lot of synergy for this movie, which is common with many
mainstream movies, with an app made, a website, and book tie ins
• It was distributed globally
• The difference between mainstream distribution and niche is that
mainstream mvoies are distributed globally, with lots of synergy ( most
of the time) and marketing, whereas niche movies can be straight to dvd
and have little marketing power

6. NICHE PRODUCTION COMPANY
• Blumhouse productions is an American production company founded in 2004
by Jason Blum, that makes low budget ‘niche’ movies
• It is mainly known for its horror films, however it has also produced critically
acclaimed movies such as Whiplash
• Their model is to produce niche movies on a low budget, but release them
through a studio distributor to reach a wider audience
• This is a perfect example of a niche company, as it has produced movies that
may not appeal to a wide audience demographic, and requires another
company to help fund and distribute their movie.
• Their most famous franchises are the Insidious, Paranormal activity, sinister,
and the purge franchises, all of which are horror due to Blumhouse
productions being very horror orientated.
• They have a ‘first look’ deal with Universal who distribute many of their movies
• Paranormal Activity made over $193 million on a $15,000 budget
• In September 2014 they created ‘Blumhouse Tilt’ a part of the company that
releases their movies via multiple platforms
• This is an interesting example as it defies the idea of niche films, which are
only appealing to a specfic audience, not being financially lucrative, although
it does rely upon studio distribution
• Other companies such as A24, a very successful niche distributor of films such
as ‘The Witch’ do not rely on a studio distributor

7. FEATURES OF A MAINSTREAM AND NICHE
PRODUCTION
• Mainstream
• Large budget
• Star Personality
• Mass audience appeal
• Lots of synergy in promotion
• Niche
• Low budget
• Lesser known actors and directors
• Can be financed via a variety of companies
• Usually doesn’t get a wide global release in the same way a mainstream film
would, although it may be released globally
• Subject matter which will appeal to a smaller demographic than mainstream
films

8. ‘BEELZEBUB’ FEATURES
• Made on zero budget, using props and cameras and editing software
given to us
• It is within the horror genre so won’t have as wide appeal as a
superhero or comedy movie
• However, within the horror genre, it is more conventional and
mainstream due its use of genre tropes
• It tackles controversial issues such as mental illness and troubled
youth
• Wouldn’t be suitable for young children and families, but perfect for
teens and adults
• Doesn’t have any well known actors, directors, or producers

9. THE CHOSEN DISTRIBUTOR
• Beelzebub is a niche movie due to its subject matter and genre
• I would suggest it would be a 15 rating in the UK due to its use of blood,
satanic imagery, and psychological style of horror making it unsuitable
for children
• However within the horror genre it is a ‘mainstream’ horror such as The
Conjuring or insidious as it deals with the conventions of horror.
• Therefore it is perfect for a distributor such as Blumhouse Productions
which produces low budget movies and distributes the movies via
multiple platforms, and through their deal with universal, to a wider
audience in cinemas