Research into what distributor will be appropriate for my Horror trailer.

1. Distribution Research
By Nicole Simmonds
“A film distributor is responsible for the marketing of a film. The distribution
company is usually different from the production company. Distribution deals are an
important part of financing a film.”

2. It is really important that I choose the right distributor for my movie trailer. Each
distributor promote different types of films for example Marvel only support comic
books being made into a movie. Picking the most suitable distributor will show the
audience what type of film my trailer is, I am going to research into:
• Paramount
• Columbia
• Lionsgate
• Universal
• 20th Century Fox
• Walt Disney
• Warner Brothers

3. Paramount
• Some of the most successful films were distributed by Paramount including The
Titanic.
• In 2014, Paramount Pictures became the first major Hollywood studio to distribute
all of its films in digital-form only.
• It was founded in 1912 and is the fifth oldest surviving film studio in the world.
• Most of the films that Paramount have produced are Action and family films.
• This would not be suitable for the makings of my horror trailer. However they have
made films like World War Z, which is a zombie thriller film.
• Most of Paramount's films were produced and owned by DreamWorks. In 2006,
Paramount became the parent of DreamWorks SKG.

4. Columbia
• Columbia is an American film production and distribution studio of the Sony
Pictures Motion Picture Group.
• Was founded in 1918, they realised there first feature film in August 1922.
• The Columbia Pictures empire was sold on September 28, 1989 to electronics
giant Sony for the amount of $3.4 billion.
• I do not think that Columbia is appropriate for my horror trailer because the films
that Columbia distribute are more comedy and family orientated films.
• If I chose Columbia as my trailer distributor it may give the audience the impression
that it is a parody which is the wrong image I want to portray.

5. Lionsgate
• It is a Canadian-American film production, it is the largest and most successful mini-
major film studio in North America.
• Hunger Games was their highest grossed film making $152.5 million in just three
days.
• Lionsgate distributes action/ thriller and horrors. Most of their films are intense and
involve a lot of jump scares.
• Lionsgate could be a really good distributor for my trailer as most of their films are
horror including Saw therefore it would be suitable.
• They also have a really good reputation and are known for making extremely intense
films. For example one of their logos are red clouds which shows that it looks sinister
therefore is appropriate for a horror film/trailer.

6. Universal
• Universal was founded in 1912, it is the worlds fourth oldest major film studio
therefore is extremely popular.
• It is known for its diverse slate of films including Jaws, ET and the Jurassic Park
series. Comedies such as The 40 Year-old Virgin and Knocked Up.
• Most of Universals films are family and comedy genres this means that it will not be
appropriate for my horror trailer.
• If I chose Universal as my trailer distributor then it may give the wrong impression to
my target audience suggesting that it is more of a comedy which would not be
successful.

7. 20th Century Fox
• Founded in 1935 and has become one of the most recognised film distributor in the
world.
• It is on of the six major American film studio and distributor located in the century
city area of Los Angeles.
• Fox have made films that are Science Fiction like Star Wars and action films like Die
Hard. They have also made comedies like Home Alone and Mrs’s Doubtfire.
• Most of their films are family based movies therefore they are well known as PG rated
films.
• I do not think 20th Century Fox will be appropriate for my horror trailer because they
mostly distribute family films.

8. Walt Disney
• Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures is an American motion picture distribution
owned by The Walt Disney Company.
• Established in 1953 the unit handles distribution, marketing and promotion for films
produced by Walt Disney Studios.
• Released the most films that have crossed $1 billion amount major Hollywood
studios.
• The first of only three studios that have released at lease two billion dollar films in
the same year.
• Walt Disney make family and children movies that are rated U and PG therefore my
horror trailer would be not appropriate because they do not distribute horror films.

9. Warner Bros
• Founded in 1989 and is one of the worlds largest distributors of feature films,
television programmes and animation.
• Warner Brothers is definitely a distributor that I should consider for my trailer, after
a lot of research I have noticed that they distribute a lot of dark and sinister movies
which would be suitable for my horror trailer.
• I also think that a lot of horror films are distributed by Lionsgate therefore Warner
Brothers could be more different and interesting combined with my trailer.
• Warner Brothers distribute serious films that have become extremely famous
worldwide. Harry Potter is distributed by Warner Brothers which is a English film
therefore would suit my trailer very well.

10. More on Warner Brothers….
• After researching about the company as a distributor I started to investigate into
more specifically the genre horror. I have discovered that Warner Bros have
distributed a lot of horror films including The Exorcist and Friday the 13th.
• I have noticed that most of the films are a paranormal subgenre, this suits my trailer
perfectly as I want my trailer to be based on paranormal events.
• After researching the horror films distributed by Warner Brothers I noticed that the
list was a lot larger than other distribution companies like 20th Century Fox. This will
mean that if I choose Warner Bros my film may be more popular and successful due
to picking the most suitable distributor.
• I have chosen Warner Brothers as my distributor because they have made successful
horror films and have a good reputation therefore can make my trailer iconic.