Distribution and marketing

1. DISTRIBUTION
AND MARKETING

2. What is distribution
Distribution is the method of providing the audience with a
product, in this case a film, and making it known to them. It is the
process of releasing and making the film sustainable in the market.

3. Some examples of
distribution companies
- Fox
- Universal/Vivendi
- Walt Disney
- Sony
- TimeWarner
- Viacom
Universal andWalt Disney both have production companies so it
keeps the production and distribution ‘in house’.

4. Marketing
Marketing is part of distribution, this is the way the film advertised.
Common marketing techniques are;
- TeaserTrailer
- TheatricalTrailer
- OfficialWebsite
- Press Junket
- Publicity Blitz
- Product tie-ins and corporate partnerships
- Publicity Stunt

5. TeaserTrailer
Teaser trailers are short, usually ‘action’ packed. Showing the key
bits of the narrative.As they are so short they do not give much
away which intrigues the audience, building a hype around the
film.

6. TheatricalTrailer
Theatrical trailers are longer than teasers.They give more
information and sort of have their own narrative.They show the
best scenes but without giving too much away, hinting at the
narrative to intrigue the audience more

7. OfficialWebsite
Websites are good for advertising films as they usually include the
trailer.They give information on characters, so audiences can start
to relate to them and build a relationship, which links to the Uses
and Gratification theory.They also can contain the release date
which builds hype, people start booking tickets to see the film at
the cinema.

8. Press Junket
A press junket, also know as a film junket, is formed of press
releases, advertising campaigns, merchandising, franchising.This
can be interviews with actors, producers or directors.

9. Publicity Blitz
A publicity blitz happens few weeks before the release. It is a
bombardment of publicity/ advertising making sure the campaign
has had maximum impact and exposure.

10. Product tie-ins and corporate
partnerships
Film production companies and distributers work with brands to
work together to advertise both the film and whatever product is
being endorsed. For example in James Bond films they have always
used Aston Martin’s or even something as simple as in Suits, theTV
series, they use Dell computers. Although the company may not
advertise the film, they would give funding to the production and
distribution company, which will allow them to advertise the film.
Also films work with fast food companies like McDonalds or Burger
King. McDonalds Happy Meals usually advertise the latest
children's film

11. Publicity Stunt
A publicity stunt is a planned ‘stunt’ usually in public places to
attract the public and make them aware of a product, in this case a
film.
For example Sony Pictures had a publicity stunt inWaterloo station
to advertise the new Ghostbusters film:
http://londonist.com/2016/07/ghostbusters-invade-waterloo-station

12. Distributing and marketing my
own production
When looking at marketing and distributing my own production I
need to consider the fact that I would have a much lower budget
than most films.
■ Marketing – to market I would need to consider the cheaper
options that are available for a independent filmmaker.The
most suitable means of doing so is to produce trailers and a
website which can be shared across social media.