Film distributors play an important role in distributing films to various markets and platforms. For short films, distributors represent the film at festivals and markets worldwide to sell it to companies that screen shorts. For feature films, distributors handle theatrical releases in specific countries as well as marketing and home video/streaming distribution. Distributors will source new films at festivals like Cannes and Sundance. For a horror film, an independent distributor would be suitable as horror films tend not to get major releases but are well advertised. Independent distributors like Icon Film Distribution and Vertigo Films have experience with successful horror films and could benefit from a hit. Bigger companies also provide experience distributing a wide variety of films. Specialist horror dist

1. Question 3
What kind of media institution might distribute
your media product and why?

2. Film Distributers: What Are They?
Film distributers play different roles for different films and equally, different
distributers specialise in different films. Whether the film is a short film or
feature film will vary what a distributer does.
• In terms of short films a distributor is an individual or organisation who
will represent your film at festivals and markets around the world and who
will attempt to sell it to companies and services that show short films. The
major short film distributors in the UK are; Dazzle, Futureshorts, Network
Ireland TV and Shorts International.
• In terms of feature films a distributor is generally an organisation who
handles the theatrical release of a film in a particular country as well as
the marketing and circulation of films for home viewing (DVD, Video-On-
Demand, Download, Television etc). Often feature films have different
distributors representing them in different territories and different
distributors handling the home-viewing circulation. Independent film
distribution in the UK is generally managed by indie distributors such as
Metrodome, Optimum Releasing and Momentum.
• Distributors will source new films to represent in their distribution
catalogue at film festivals and markets around the world such as Cannes,
Rotterdam, Berlinale, AFM and Sundance festivals (features) for example.

3. Film Distributers: Who and Why
There is mainly two types of distributer, major and independent. The
genre in which I chose to make my film was horror and horror films
generally speaking tend not to be major releases however are always
well advertised. Seeing as I have previously stated my film would be
released in more independent cinemas and a select few major chains
across the UK such as Vue Cinemas, I would largely say that my film in
particular would require a less major distributer and so would need an
independent film distributer. I think with an independent distributer if
the film became a success it would benefit both the organisation and
those involved with the production of the film therefore making
independent film distributers more of a common thing. However on
the other hand using a larger more known film distributer would
(theoretically) gain more interest from the public and not just from the
target audience. Though if I used a film distributer that had previously
done a very good horror film then the target audience would associate
my film as being of good quality as it has backing from a big,
recognisable corporation.

4. Film Distributers: Who and Why
To distribute my film I would have a relatively recognisable distributer that
has had experience with distributing other horror films and films alike. There
are many distributers within the UK however a few I would narrow down to
would be are;
• Icon Film Distribution
• Paramount Pictures UK
• Sony Pictures Entertainment
• Universal Pictures UK
• Vertigo Films
I have chosen these as the majority are well know however the two indie
companies – Icon Film Distribution and Vertigo Films, are less known though
they have done a series of horror films in which have or will become very
popular. For example Icon Film have assisted with the original Paranormal
Activity whereas Vertigo Films are releasing ‘Goodnight Mommy’ which is a
very disturbing horror film. Therefore these two sound perfect for my film
although they are not as recognisable. Also the bigger more corporate
companies have had more experience and cater for a wider range of films.
Therefore for those reasons, these distributers would be the short-listed 5
that I would choose from.

5. Examples of Low Budget Horror Successes
Horror movies have a lot to be said about them and no two are the
same (usually). The budgets of films within the genre vary from very
little to quite large. However some horror films defy all odds by simply
having a rule of ‘less is more’. By this it means there is a small budget -
minimalising locations, actors and props, however the lack of all this
does not mean the film will be bad. For example two films in particular
that stand out are Paranormal Activity and Sinister. Paranormal Activity
had a budget of only $15,000 however generated $193.3 million at the
box office. It also used an unusual market strategy, with screenings at
college campuses (America) to generate more interest and hype and a
trailer that showed audience reactions during the film. Whereas
Sinister had a significantly higher, but still small budget of $3 million
and managed to return a healthy $87.7 million at the box office. A
perfect example of keeping it simple, with mostly one location and a
half-dozen characters, relying on atmosphere and tension for top-
notch scares.

6. Film Distributers: The Horror Genre
There is a huge range of film distributers worldwide and even
certain distributers that specialise in one type of genre.
Specialising in one genre allows the distributer to focus solely on
the same elements of advertising and distribution as although
there are different sub-genres within horror, they all try and
follow similar concepts and have similar elements within them.
Good examples of this include;
• Blumhouse Productions
• GhostHouse Pictures
• Platinum Dunes
• Twisted Pictures
These studio companies are all notable for horror masterpieces
both past and present and have generated millions in the box
office from a wide variety of horror films.

7. Film Distributers: The Horror Genre
• Blumhouse Productions has produced horror masterpieces
such as; Paranormal Activity, Insidious, Sinister and The Purge.
• GhostHouse Pictures has worked on films including; The
Boogeyman, 30 Days of Night, Drag Me to Hell, The Posession,
and Evil Dead.
• Michael bay’s very own Platinum Dunes has produced
previous horror films like: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The
Amityville Horror, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street
and The Purge.
• Twisted Pictures is most notable for its works and
involvements with the Saw movies.

8. Film Distributers: The Horror Genre
Having stated some of the films in which these specific horror
genre distributers have had involvements in, the decision of
whom would be the most suitable for my film if I had the option
to choose would be a very difficult one. For example there is a
great mix of horror classics ranging from the past and present
however the different sub-genres from each distributer would
make the decision easier. However I would propose that the
most likely to produce, promote and distribute my film would be
either Blumehouse Productions or GhostHouse Productions,
mainly based on their previous works. I think that Platinum
Dunes would be more focused on slightly bigger budgeted films
of a different sub-genre than psychological horror whereas and
although Twisted Pictures is a psychological horror, the films that
this company has had involvements with is quite gritty and
gruesome which is not what my film is about.

9. Film Distributers: The Cinema
Choosing a cinema for my film is a difficult decision as I would
like success with my film however putting it in an independent
cinema would result in a more niche audience as there are less
independent cinemas then there are multiplexes across the UK. I
would like to see the right balance of multiplexes and
independent cinemas so that I can attract the right target
audience. Therefore this way my film will be viewed by a wider
range of people. I would want my film to be distributed in
multiplexes such as Vue Cinemas as well as independent cinemas
to ensure it reaches all of the target audience my film is aimed
at. This would also come down to the success of the distrusters
and what they think would be adequate cinemas for my film.

10. Film Distributers: The Marketing
The marketing of my film would rely on the success of the
distributers and what they would feel is the best way to
advertise my media product. I however would want to see my
film be advertised through social media and posters in cinemas. I
feel the best way to engage with my target audience would be
through social media sites like Facebook as it would enable me
to have a page about my film and then also be able to pay
advertising duties to get my film to reach a wide audience and
variety of people through adverts. I would also have two film
trailers but released on different days and they would be on
YouTube but also linked to Facebook. I would make sure the
trailers were viewable for all age groups and ensure they
wouldn’t include spoilers. I would have a short and long version
as then they can also be adverts on other YouTube videos for
example as well as potentially having some television adverts.