The document discusses potential options for distributing a micro-budget film produced in London. It considers several film studios and schemes, ultimately identifying the Film London Microwave scheme as the best option. The Microwave scheme supports micro-budget films developed in London through funding from the BFI. It also discusses the benefits of a simultaneous release strategy for the film across cinema, DVD, video on demand to reduce marketing costs and maximize revenue from various sales channels. The marketing campaign would focus on releasing the film to 30 independent cinemas across the UK, each with 50 prints, to target a smaller, local audience.

1. What kind of media institution
might distribute your media
product and why?

2. In order to make decisions on the distribution of my
film I researched into various different film studios
(both independent and mini-major) that could
potentially distribute my film. My film would have
to be either an independent film or a mini-major.
On a small budget I would need the help of a film
and media agency to help budget my film. My film
will be London based so financial help from a
company within London would be most suited. In
this case I could possibly make use of the
Microwave scheme.
I also looked at various film studios in the UK.

3. Film Studios: Film London Microwave
scheme
Film London’s Microwave is supported by
the BFI, the scheme sustains micro-budget
films developed in London. Collecting an
appropriate budget from this company will
help me to develop my to develop my film in
a short amount of time and on a small
budget so we will have the opportunity to
gain profit.

4. Film Studios: Hammer Films
Hammer Films is based within the UK within
London and has been around since the 1930’s
and only recently returned, as a well known
company it would be desirable as a company
for my film. Hammer Films is known for
producing science fiction, horror and thrillers
which would make it appropriate for my film as
a thriller. Although recently they’ve produced
films like The Woman In Black and Let Me In
which are rather large and well-known films
that are made on a much larger budget than I
intended.

5. Film Studios: Lions Gate Entertainment
Lions Gate is also another potential distribution
company although it is an American company it
serves in the United Kingdom and is a large
company that produces successful mini-major
films. Lionsgate brought us films such as the
‘Saw’ films, ‘The Last Exorcism’, ‘Silent Hill’ and
such. Although the company produce a lot of
movies and so our film would be in competition
with various other films also.
Lionsgate was also the successor to the
company that distributed the low-budget
American horror film ‘The Blair Witch Project’
which created a great success

6. Simultaneous release or otherwise?
It is also a priority that I decide whether I release my film
chronologically through large periods of time or whether I
simultaneously release my film, releasing the film both theatrically and
on DVD, on demand and such within a small or no period of time
between each other.
Traditionally movies are released first in the cinema and the onto DVD
some months later, and then even more months after that onto
Demand on TV and such. This method works in giving a period of time
where I could earn profit from the movie from it’s current release.

7. Simultaneous release or otherwise?
However due to the fact most profit from films comes from DVD sales and as
my film is a small film a simultaneous released might be deemed more
appropriate. Giving me the chance to earn all the profit from my film from
the various different sales. It would also mean, due to a small budget, we
would only require spending money on a single marketing campaign rather
than several.
Due to the small budget of my film I believe it should be released
simultaneously. I would suggest the DVD be released shortly after the
theatrical and then the rest shortly after that. I would want a short space of
time in which it was available only within the cinema to give the film a
chance to be seen at the cinema before it’s DVD release but to also keep the
fact that we would only require one marketing campaign.

8. Cinemas
The marketing campaign will aim to grasp the attention of the audience
within the UK as it is a British film so the cinemas it will be released to
will be within the UK.
There are quite a large number of indie cinemas throughout the United
Kingdom and I intend to distribute my film to at least 30 of these
cinemas with the hope of each cinema having 50 prints of the film.
I’ve chosen small, local cinemas to appeal to focus upon a smaller
audience so the majority will wish to purchase the film.