Lionsgate Films would be a suitable distributor for the film noir project. As a major mini studio, Lionsgate has experience distributing dark films that appeal to film noir audiences. It also has a reputation for taking creative risks on films with smaller budgets like film noirs. While conglomerate studios prefer only the most profitable projects, Lionsgate is more willing to take chances on independent films.

1. {
What kind of
media
institutions
might
distribute
your media
product and
why?
Ben Symons

2.  An average week sees around 10 new releases
in UK cinemas, with individual distributers
releasing up to 30 films a year. The market
place is highly competitive due to 500 releases
a year all competing for screen time.
DISTRIBUTION

3. The pivotal questions investors will ask are:
 Is the film’s narrative similar to recent films that
have been successful?
 Are there any obvious marketing spin-offs that
will increase publicity?
 Is the cast and crew popular/had previous
success?
INVESTORS

4.  One of the main distributers of Film Noir is
Universal Studios. This would be a good choice to
distribute our film as it is the fourth most successful
film studio in the world, enjoying market revenue of
just over $6.5 billion.
 Its films are known for taking creative risks - Black
Cat (1934), for instance, was one of the first movies
with an almost continuous music score – which
means it has a reputation for thinking outside of the
box. This will appeal to the majority of people who
watch film noir as they enjoy the thrill and
obscurantism associated with the genre.
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

5.  However, Film Noirs have a comparatively low
budget compared to other film genres. Touch of
Evil (1958), perhaps the definitive Film Noir, had
a budget of just $829,000, around $6.8 million in
todays money.
 As it is the primarily the narrative that sells the
film the actors do not have to be very well known,
resulting in less market shares overall. This
means it is more suitable for a platform release,
expanding to more theatres only as word of
mouth spreads and the marketing campaign
gains momentum.
LIONSGATE FILMS

6.  A suitable entertainment company would be
Lions gate; it is the most successful mini
major film distribution company, enjoying a
market share just shy of $2.9 billion. It is well
known for its "dark" films such as American
Psycho, which received positive reviews and
grossed $34.3 million at the box office,
almost five times its budget.
 This means the type of people who watch
Film Noirs would be more likely to trust it,
allowing it to gain a bigger fan base.
LIONSGATE FILMS

7.  Warner Home Video is one of the most
successful conglomerate corporations, with a
revenue of around $12 billion. One of their
most notable films in recent years is the Dark
Night, directed by Christopher Nolan (Inception,
Memento etc.), which grossed $1 billion at the
box office.
 Conglomerates have lots of money to invest in
film production. They can also market a film
through all their subsidiary companies, a process
called synergy.
WARNER HOME VIDEO

8.  However, a conglomerate corporation,
such as Warner Home Video, would be
less likely to distribute our film as well
established companies generally only
invest money in the most potentially
profitable ideas.
 A film with an unknown cast and crew is
unlikely to generate the level of interest to
accumulate the income that these
companies are accustomed to.
WARNER HOME VIDEO

9.  Companies such as Entertainment Film
distributers would be more liable to produce our
film as it primarily distributes films made by
independent production companies.
 However many of it’s films have been a major
success, the most notable of which being the Lord
of the Rings trilogy which, on its own, made more
money than lions gates entire revenue. It has
gained notoriety for appealing to a large and
diverse audience which means it is more likely to
arouse curiosity upon it’s release.
ENTERTAINMENT FILM

10.  All things considered, I think an independent media
institution, such as Entertainment Film Distributers,
would be the best choice to produce our film. They
are more likely to do this than conglomerate
corporations, who usually invest in films that
accumulate the most profit.
 However, because they have distributed a number
of successful films they are better placed than most
independents to take a risk, and their reputation for
producing films people like means it is more likely to
stir the public’s interest.
CONCLUSION