Creative Critical Reflection 3

1. HOW DOYOUR PRODUCTS ENGAGEWITHTHE
AUDIENCE AND HOW WOULDTHEY BE
DISTRIBUTED AS REAL MEDIATEXTS?

2. At the beginning of my research stage I decide to
focus on identifying my target audience, I
researched into the different factors I was looking
for such as gender, ethnicity, age and social class.
I also decided to investigate how major brands were
targeting their audiences such as Sky and
NME.
My first step in the research stage was to create an
audience questionnaire to find out the
demographics.
Demographics

3. As I learned from Lionsgate’s Matt
Smith, the spend on digital has
increased massively, therefore I have
created a Facebook, Twitter and
Instagram to expand over all the
platforms and reach as many potential
viewers.
He explains there are two types
promotion, marketing which is paid and
publicity which is free.
With the help of new technology and the internet it has allowed
distributors to attract potential viewers at a large scale and has
become more important than print and advertising in the current
world.
One example of this is the addition of websites and the
interactive features that comes with it which all helps attract the
target audience.

4. Distribution
Distribution allows theatre chains, video
stores and broadcasters to be able to
get their hands-on new films.
For my film I had to choose an independent
distributor and We chose Warp as our
independent distributer, this is because they
specialise in the release of independent
films in cinemas and on DVD.
They focus on distinctive and thought-
provoking content. I also chose Warp
films as my distributor because they tend
to distribute films which are nominated
for awards and critically acclaimed which
is what I believe will happen to ‘Conned’.
For example, '71 got nominated for 8
British Independent Film Awards and won
for Best Director.

5. As a group we also researched into different
distribution companies so we could choose the
correct one, the other two companies we looked at
was Verve Pictures and Vertigo. Verve pictures
specialises in in the release of independent films in
cinemas allowing the audience the chance view
independent films from the UK. They have a great
list of their titles which have won Baftas which
include the film ‘My Brother the Devil’.
Most Promising Newcomer at Evening Standard Film Awards (Sally El
Hosaini, My Brother The Devil in 2013).

7. Audience Profile
After doing research into my target audience I used it to create an audience profile for the target audience.
Through my research I found out certain trends that corresponds to the target audience which is new
technology and intricate plots.

8. Distribution from the
FDA
The role of the distributor is get the
film out to the paying audience.
After researching into Matt Smiths
video I found out that it is important to
firstly identify and market the film to
the correct audience.
After establishing the audience the
question is asked how do you best sell
this product to the audience?
Estimating the revenue that the film
will produce is also important for
establishing marketing costs.

9. Who are the FDA?
The FDA is a trade body for theatrical film
distributors in the UK, FDA stands for the
Films Distributor’s Association.
The distributor has many different important
roles which have to be completed to ensure
success for a film.
This include:
- Identifying the audience
- Considering why they’d go see the film
- Estimating the revenue
- Ensuring exhibitors screen the film in
cinemas
- Ddeveloping partnerships
- Building hype for the film (social
influencers)
Distribution

10. Distribution
In the UK there is a range of distributors
and the major ones are affiliated with
the six major Hollywood studios
- Disney
- Universal
- 20th Century Fox
- Paramount
- Sony
- Warner Brothers
However there are also distributors for independent films which
is more relevant for my production.
Companies such as Warp and Vertigo distribute films which
tend to have low budgets with a British cast.
This is contrasted to the Big 6 Which has a cast of A-list
Hollywood actors and actresses and large sums of money
invested into the production of the film.

11. Distributors will screen the film to
exhibitors, influencers and critics.
The exhibitors are hugely important
as their response will be taken into
consideration and they will decide
the date of release and other factors.
The date can be influenced by
external factors that may cause less
people to watch the film on certain
dates due to larger events.
Matt explains there are 3 elements to a
successful screening
- Film
- Venue
- Audience

12. Large amount of marketing advertising can now be online
which shows how trends have impacted the film industry as
well as new technology.
Film influencers such as vloggers have become extremely
important for the distribution and promotion of the film.
Distributors such as Matt Smith give vloggers set visits
during the filming stage of the film allowing hype to be
created for the film and establish that audience base which
is key.
Distributors engage with film influencers with their film so
they can engage the audience and also allows a buzz to be
created for the film.
Film Influencers

13. With Web 2.0 there are now many
more distribution methods for indie
films, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime,
iTunes and BBC iPlayer. My own film
viewing as well as my target
audiences is done online.
The FDA handbook reports people
who visit the cinema throughout the
year and shows British box office is
on course for its best year since
1971 and filmgoers have expected
to have clocked up 176 million visits
for this year.
The industry is facing
many challenges with
Web 2.0, viewing online,
privacy and future of
online distribution. The
industry is experiencing a
large amount of rapid
changes from the
traditional ways in which
films were distributed
through to the
advancement in
technology and new
distribution methods
used today.