This document considers options for distributing a new thriller film. It discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using large Hollywood studios or independent film companies. While studios offer name recognition and distribution networks, they demand a large share of profits and may not appreciate the film's identity. Independent UK company Warp Films is proposed as a good choice since it has successfully distributed identity-focused films before and would preserve the thriller's British character while still gaining cinema exposure. Overall Warp Films is judged to best balance the risks and rewards of distribution.

1. W H A T K I N D O F M E D I A I N S T I T U T I O N S
M I G H T D I S T R I B U T E Y O U R M E D I A P R O D U C T
A N D W H Y ?
Evaluation Question Three

2. The Institutions
In this question I will explore
the ways that the thriller film
could be distributed and the
companies we could use.
There are several choices
when deciding how to
distribute a film. The main
choice is whether to use a big
conglomerate film company
or a independent film
company.

3. Advantages Of Using A Big Conglomerate
Most importantly the bigger film companies are well known. By
having their name associated with our film audiences may be
more incline to watch the film, therefore giving us a wider
audience for the film.
There is also an assumed security in using a conglomerate as
they can generally guarantee a films success with there
industrial dominance.
The connection the conglomerate has with different companies
can also help in distributing the film, as some companies own or
have partnerships with cinemas which. This secures that our
film will make it to cinemas and we can push it for more
cinemas nationally and globally.

4. Disadvantage of Using Big Conglomerates
Firstly the issue will be persuading the company to distribute
the film. Most companies only distribute films that follow
certain conventions and characteristics, as they can almost
guarantee success from the film. Anything that breaks these may
not be taken on by the company.
However after putting in so much effort for getting the film
recognised by the public and distributing the film, the company
will want to take a large share of the profit made.
As the company has also got its experts in distributing, they are
unlikely to listen to any of our own ideas on distribution. There
for the film will lose some of its identity.

5. Which Conglomerate?
If we did decide to go with a conglomerate it would be
out of Paramount Pictures, New Line Cinema and
Lionsgate.
These are well known companies that have previously
distributed successful thriller films, Paramount Pictures
– Shutters Island, New Line Cinema – Se7en, and
Lionsgate – Inception.
These are all US companies and have a have a lot of
money and influence which would benefit distributing
our film. The types of films the companies take on have
a much bigger production budget than our own thriller
film so they are unlikely to take it on, and distribute a
niche audience film.

6. UK Companies
Using a UK Film Company would be an alternative way of getting our film distributed and still
holding on to its British Identity, which could have been lost using a US conglomerate.
Warp Films is a small British company and has previously produced ‘This is England’ and ‘Four
Lions’, both are strong identity films that target a niche market.
Although Warp Film have had success producing films since the early 2000’d, they have not had
much experience distributing films. Therefore it may be a bit of a risk to use them to distribute our
thriller.
But if the risk pays of, as they are a smaller company, it can be assumed that they will want less of
the share then a big US company. Therefore leaving us with a greater profit from the thriller film.

7. Independent Companies
The two main ways to distribute a film independently in the UK is through either the
British Film Industry or the Microwave Scheme.
The British Film Industry is funded by the lottery and offers £17 million for the
production and development of UK films. Due to the limited amount of funding they can
give to films each year, film must meet certain criteria to be classed as a British film in
order to get any funding.
The BFI also offer help to independent film makers, short films, script writers and
distribution and exhibition needs. Our thriller film has many feature that the BFI require,
therefore it would be easy for the film to meet the necessary criteria to get the grant.
The Microwave Scheme is another non-profitable organisation that gives £100,000 to
film makers and then the producers and directors can use the money wherever its
needed.
Both these companies will be supportive of the British identity that the film will be
promoting and allow us to target the niche target audience, as well as a national audience.
A disadvantage to using independent film companies to fund the film project is that the
film will not have the same level of accessibility to cinemas as a film funded and
distributed by a bigger US or UK company. Therefore it may not reach the same level of
exposure yet can still be quite successful.

8. Alternative Methods
Youtube –
Youtube would be a good way to distribute a film as it costs
nothing to upload a video and huge amount of people have access
to it and wouldn’t have to pay to watch the film. People would also
be able to share the video to there friends, increasing our
audience.
Although we would be able to reach a lot of people this way as
watching videos on Youtube has increased recently. We would not
make a profit from the film this way. Also the method make the
video seem very amature, which may deter some people from
watching it.
MySpace –
Sites like MySpace allow users to upload videos to shear with
followers. Beyond the Rave is a 20 part series, uploaded to
MySpace and shows how effective social network sites can be.
However this has a similar issue as Youtube and can come across
as amateurish.

9. Conclusion
Considering all of the options, UK company Warp
Films would be best for distributing our film.
The company has had previous success and is starting
to build a name for it self, therefore it is likely to be
worth the risk of going with them. Due to these
previous successes it has enough influence to get the
film recognised in UK cinemas. Also being a British
company and considering its previous work, Four
Lions, it will also keep the identity of the film, to which
will attract some audiences and connect with others.