The document discusses distribution companies and techniques for marketing films. It analyzes the pros and cons of major distributors like Warner Bros. and independent distributors like Film 4. It also examines the extensive marketing campaign for The Dark Knight Rises by Warner Bros. as an example, including viral videos, posters, apps, and social media. In the end, the author decides to use Warner Bros. as their distributor to achieve global success and profits due to their large budget and proven ability to widely market and distribute big blockbuster films.

1. By: Eniola Silva
Distribution/
Production Companies

2. Merchandising: in the form Merchandising
of Synergy (when two
institutions work together
for mutually beneficial
purposes.) Screen Plays
Film Life Cycle
Marketing
Cast

3. Distribution and
Marketing Techniques
Advertising Promotion Packaging Branding
TV Trailers Press and Public Reviews
“Augmented Soundtrack Experience” iOS App Synergy
Viral Marketing Campaigns Flash Game
WEBSITE Teaser Trailers Online Marketing
Online Competitions Social Media on Official Website and Blog site
Events TV Spots Vox-Pops
Phone Apps Video Content Marketing
High Concept Film Posters Use of Social Networking Sites
Marketing techniques are the tools used by the marketing department; the marketing
department will set out to identify the most appropriate techniques to engage in
order to make profits.

5. Whether I should use a
Major or an Independent
Distributor…

6. Types of Distributors
When I was considering which distribution company I
wanted to distribute my film “IMPOSTER” I first made
myself aware of the types of distributors available and I
found out that there were two main types- Major and
Independent.
MAJOR Distributor: These operate in a number of
countries world wide.
INDEPENDENT Distributor: These mainly operate in
one country.

7. The Role of a
Distributor
To acquire a film:- They are conscious of a film’s
rating because helps to indicate if they can distribute
to a mass audience, therefore creating more
potential consumer which results in profits for the
company.
Release
Publicity

8. My Unique Selling Point
(USP)
We used a ‘minority ethnic group in society’ as our
main character, which is a subversion of films with
the same genre as ours (usually crime dramas
introduce ‘White Anglo-Saxon males’ as their main
characters).
We also created a narrative that focused on an issue
that not many crime dramas explore in depth-
domestic violence.

9. The Independent
Distributor I am
contemplating using is:

10. Utopian view of an
Independent Distributor
An Independent Distributor would give me more
creative control, which means that my ideas would
be able to be expressed freely without the fear of
them being overly and negatively critisied. As a
result originality would be expressed and unique
creations can be viewed by my target audience.
Film 4 would enable me to be “true to my vision” as
much as possible, because they would not try to
influence, counteract or overpower the decisions I
make .

11. Dystopian view of an
Independent Distributor
An Independent Distributor typically does not have a large
budget and their releases are limited. They usually release
in select theaters before gaining attention, and therefore
being released into the mainstream. On the other hand,
the result of this could be that, I would be able to see the
response of my audience at a small scale; prior to my film
being released into the mainstream, so that I can infer the
response of my potential mainstream audience.
With distribution companies such as Film 4, there is a lack
of upscale production facilities.

12. Major Distributor I am
contemplating using is:

13. Utopian view of a Major
Distributor
I would be provided with a large budget for my film.
Major Distributors such as Warner Bros tend to
generate a lot of revenue which could possibly go
into the creation of more of my films and better
equipment to make my film productions.

14. Dystopian view of a
Major Distributor
Directors usually have less creative control, the film
company has a lot of say and input, due their
involvement in my project. This is currently not a
problem because my film has already been created
but I am aware that during future productions their
excessive “contributions” could be a regular
occurrence.

15. Possible Distribution and
Marketing methods for my
film using the example of
“the Dark Knight Rises”:
A “Warner Bros”
Distributed Film

16. Directly on the website,
the trailer of the film is the
central viewing and
WEBSITE: The website acts as a source of
the other materials that are
through the website the connected to the film such as
audience of the film can “Digital Download.” It easily
access a variety of other presents the the wide range of
distributed products products to the audience that
created by Warner Bros they can easily access.
such as the social
networking sites located at Social media is a major aspect of
the bottom (footer) of all the official website for “The Dark
the pages. Knight Rises,” because it has a
number of social access for
Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus,
and Get Glue.
The appearance of the website and it especial focus on the social aspects of
Also on the official website, Warner the media, as its main format to distribute, as well as its constant aim to
Bros offered an app that lets fans interact their characters with their audience indicates to me the possible ways
design their own Tumbler, which is that my film is going to be majorly distributed and the large focus there is
one of Batman’s vehicles. Fans can going to be on creating a relationship between my audience and my
colorise, customize and “drive” their characters using social networking sites as a marketing format. This is likely to
creations and, share them via social be due to its ‘share’ abilities- which will enable my audience to share my
media channels and rate each other’s product and therefore facilitate a wider target audience as more people can
designs. see my product.

17. High Concept Film
Posters:
This is a great way of advertising that could
be transferred to the marketing of my film-
which could show an extreme close up of
Sarah crying and the title “IMPOSTER” at
the bottom of the mural.
It would help to attract a lot of my audience
and express to them the lengths that have
been taking to get their attention, therefore
identifying the importance of the issue that
we are addressing in our film- domestic
violence.
A 150-foot mural that was hand-
painted by Dan Cohen and the rest of
his team at Art FX Murals.

18. Online Competitions:
“Fans unlock the stunning new trailer for Christopher Nolan's
upcoming blockbuster one frame at a time by spotting
strategically-placed graffiti all over the world”- The WEEK
This is an interesting way of involving the audience with the
film. Warner Bros can also release our trailer in this way as
well, it seems to be a fun way of connecting a world wide
audience and drumming . However, it is less likely that my
film would generate as much interest as “The Dark Knight”
because it is new and unlike “The Dark Knight” it has never
been introduced to our audience before and is does not
include a universal icon- Batman.
I am also aware that online competitions could not really
relate to our film due to the sensitive issue and content
within our film.

19. Video Content Marketing:
Warner Bros released a thirteen-minute viral
video clip on YouTube that contained
fragmented film footage, for free.
This would be a good way for me to attract
more of an audience, especially for a film
like mine; which is new and features topics
that could deter people-due to the severity
of the issue. By enabling our audience to
view a large snippet of our film we could
create intrigue within them and our
enigma codes would draw them to watch
the whole of the film to see how it has
been fully structured.

20. Viral Marketing
Campaigns
Requires participation from the community
Through viral marketing I could give my audience additional insight and
background information about my film’s characters, so that they
participate and interact with the characters in my film.

21. The Distribution Company
I have decided to use is…

22. Why “The Dark Knight
Rises?”
I chose the “The Dark Knight Rises” because of the large
Box Office hit it received, and because this is the results
that I would like for my film.
By researching this film I could see the process taken by
“Warner Bros” and the amount of effort they put in to
market this film- this is the kind of effort I want during the
distribution of my film.
Although it is likely that the distribution methods for my
film by “Warner Bros” would not be as large as with “The
Dark Knight” I am aware that they have a large access to
capital that they are willing to spend to distribute their
films.

23. This is because I want a distribution company that has a large access to capital and would be
able to market and distribute my product at a large scale- preferably on a global dimension.
Warner Bros would be able to help me generate more popularity mostly based to their
availability of large funds. Also they would help continue the impact that I want my film to have
on my audience, which is engagement and from my research on “The Dark Knight” I have been
able to see that they are the company to make my requirements a reality.
Even though I had more utopian views for the independent company “Film 4” I want to make a
profit on my production and reach the widest audience I possibly can; because I have already
created my media product I have no fear of restricted creativity regarding my work (this was
the main negative of choosing a major distribution company). With the established fact of
freedom in terms of creativity, “Warner Bros” seemed to be the best distribution company for
my film production- “The Imposter”
I also want the acclaim that the film “The Dark Knight” received and I know that this is possible
with “Warner Bros” because they have a carefully planned, cohesive media campaign that
included viral and content marketing, as well as mobile and social networking.
I am certain that Warner Bros is the perfect distributor form me- especially in helping me
achieve my aspirations of global success. I am aware that in order for this to become a reality
then I will need a distributor who can reach a worldwide audience, and distribute successfully
and a with diversity to my potential audience.