- A production company is responsible for organizing and distributing a film through tasks like scheduling, budgeting, scripting, and casting. They work with a distributor to market and promote the film.
- Possible distributors for the film include Film4, Lionsgate UK, and StudioCanal as they distribute smaller, UK-based films and have experience with the horror genre.
- Film4 would be the best choice as a distributor since they support emerging talent through lower-budget films and have successfully distributed independent horror films in the past.
3. WHAT DOES A PRODUCTION
COMPANY DO?
A production company plays an essential role in the organisation and
distribution of a film. They are directly responsible for finding a
suitable director and handling the talent within the film. The
production company also assists in:
o Scheduling
o Budgeting
o Scripting
o Casting
4. ORDER OF OPENING
CREDITS
Traditionally, the main credits are shown at the beginning of the film. The
usual order is as follows:
- Director
- Writer(s)
- Screenplay and Story
- Produced by
- Music by
- Cinematography by
During the opening credits of a film,
the names of the main actors are
usually shown.
5. DISTRIBUTION OF OUR FILM
o The distributor of a film is a company that is responsible for advertising a
media product to the public. This is an essential part of post production. The
company which distributes your film is responsible for the marketing and
promotion of the film.
oThe distributor decides how many copies of the film will be made and then
shows it to prospective buyers (eg: cinema owners).
o It could be said that a distributer directly influences the success of a film.
o To distribute our film, we will need a company that are based in the UK,
who distribute lower budget, horror films.
7. oThese are all well know, leading film distributors. They all distribute
high budget films and some are based in the US, so wouldn’t be
suitable to distribute our production.
o However, they are all very experienced in the horror genre, which is
an essential factor to consider.
(2011)
(1996 - 2011)
(2009)
8. POSSIBLE DISTRIBUTORS
FOR OUR PRODUCTION:
o Film4
o Lionsgate UK
All of these
companies could
possibly be
suitable to
distribute our
production as
they distribute
smaller films, are
based in the UK
and have
experience in the
horror genre.
StudioCanal
9. FILM4
o www.film4.com
o The Film4 Website has links which you can
click on to see the films that they have made
and are in the process of making. They also
back short films and support ‘emerging talent’.
This means that they would be an appropriate
choice for distributing our film, as they are a British
company which backs lower budget films and who
are experienced in the horror genre.
10. Film4 is experienced in making horror
films such as the one shown to the right,
‘Kill List’.
We would also like them to distribute our
film because they are well known for
making independent films successful. Kill
List, for example, was nominated for six
British Independent Film Awards and won
an Empire Award for ‘Best Horror’.
These factors prove that Film4 would make a perfect distributor for our film. They are
based in Britain, distribute independent films and are experienced in the horror
genre.
11. LIONSGATE UK
o www.lionsgatefilms.co.uk
The Lionsgate
website has
details about
which films it
has distributed
and some
general
information
about the
media
institution as a
whole.
12. We would like Lionsgate UK to distribute our
film because not only are they experienced
in the horror genre, having distributed
‘Texas Chainsaw 3D’ a widely known horror
film, but they have a wide social media
network on which to advertise. This would
help to promote our film if we were able to
distribute it at a global level.
In addition, Lionsgate UK (and as a global
corporate) specialise in films aimed at a
young adult market, having been successful
with films such as The Hunger Games and
Twilight.
13. STUDIOCANAL UK
StudioCanal UK would be a good choice to
distribute our media product because they are
widely known for distributing horror films
within the UK. For example, the popular horror
‘Evil Dead’.
Similar to Lionsgate UK and Film4, StudioCanal
are a successful distribution company who are
experienced in the horror genre.
However, Lionsgate UK and StudioCanal both
specialise in higher budget films, so may not be
suitable to distribute our production.
14. GLOBAL OR NATIONAL?
As our media product is a low budget horror film, we may only have
the opportunity to distribute our film nationally. Therefore, a
distribution company such as Film4 would be ideal as they can cross
media promote on other UK networks such as: Channel 4 and E4. E4
is a channel targeted at young adults, therefore would be appropriate
when advertising our media product. In addition, if we were to have
the opportunity to distribute our product globally, Film4 would be the
ideal distributor in this situation. This is because they are widely
known for working with major US companies such as Fox Searchlight
to distribute successful films at a global level (such as Slumdog
Millionaire).