A film producer acquires the rights to a story and hires writers to develop a screenplay. Production and casting is confirmed and principal photography takes place followed by post-production editing and scoring. Film distributors like Universal and 20th Century Fox then develop a release strategy, marketing the film to exhibitors and audiences to drum up interest and show the film in theaters according to bilateral agreements. After its cinema run, the film is released on home entertainment platforms like DVDs.

1. FILM DISTRIBUTION
By Emma Holmes

2. Producer/company acquires the rights to film a story or treatment
Screenplay is developed by one or more writers
Production finance and Cast & Crew are confirmed
Principal photography takes place, in the right location, and then post
production editing and scoring happens for a few months

3. Distributors like Universal and 20th century fox develop a release strategy, release
date, and a master print of the finished film
The distributor then presents the film to exhibitors/cinemas as to when the film
can be shown. (bilateral agreements are needed)
A ‘Want to See’ buzz is then created by the marketing of the distributor to
interest the target audience
Films will run subject to demand
Following the run in the cinema, it is released in home entertainment, e.g. DVDs

4. WHAT IS A FILM
DISTRIBUTOR?
 A Film Distributor is a company/organisation or even an individual that is
responsible for the marketing/advertising of a film to allow exhibitors to find
out about the film and potentially showcase/the new film.
 They can be the ones to set the release date for the film, and even decide
what the film can then be viewed on. For example; DVD, TV, VoD etc.
 A distributor is important, as they handle things like written contracts and
money to do with the films ticket sales and make sure that the distributor gets
a percentage or share of the ticket sales from the exhibitor.

5.  The most popular distributors being 20th Century Fox, Universal
Pictures, the Warner Bros and Lionsgate Entertainment.