Distribution involves releasing a film through various formats, branding it, finding sponsors, and advertising. Most distribution is handled by major companies like Universal, Columbia Tristar, Paramount, Disney, 20th Century Fox, and Warner Bros. Distribution companies determine a film's release date and locations, advertise and brand it for specific audiences, and decide which formats to release it through like theaters, DVD, streaming or TV to maximize profits. They also sometimes provide input during a film's production and find sponsors to fund the project in exchange for advertisements.

1. Task 3: Distribution

2. What is Distribution?
The Distribution of a film covers the following, The
release of the film, The branding of a film, The
sponsorship of a film, The Various Formats of the
film’s releases, The Location of the film’s release,
The advertising of the film and even it’s production.
Distribution is handled by a distribution company,
there are many distribution companies but most are
owned by one of the ‘Big Six’ companies.

3. The ‘Big Six’
Most distribution companies fall
under the banner of one of the
‘Big Six’. these are the main
companies that distribute films.
The ‘Big Six’ are...

4. Universal,

5. Columbia Tristar,

6. Paramount,

7. 20th Century Fox,

8. Disney

9. And Warner Bros.

10. The Jobs of the
Distribution
Companies
And what they entail...

11. Film Release
Film release is a very important job for the distribution
companies, getting the right time can make or break a film.
factors that would influence its release date include, Film type
(Christmas films aren't released in the summer), Other potential
blockbusters schedule for a similar release date, Holiday’s (Films
aimed at young people are usually released around the holidays)
Recent events and the content of the film (sometimes a film can
be postponed if recent events would make the content seem
inappropriate). Distribution Companies have to factor in all these
and more in order to maximize profits from optimum releasing.

12. Branding and Advertisements
The way in which a film is branded and promoted can be
just as important as the story of the film itself, the
advertisements need to draw in the audiences to watch the
film. if they film is aimed at a specific audience then the
Advertisement and branding need to appeal to them.
deciding where to advertise is also a key factor in that too, to
attract younger people your prime location wouldn’t be in a
newspaper, it would be online.

13. Release Format
Deciding the right format to release and re-release
on is how many of the distribution companies make
their money. most of the time films are released at
cinema’s, then on DVD/ Blu-ray, then Online
services like Netflix, Then TV releases. however
some films are only on DVD/Blu-Ray, Some only
for online subscription services and some only for
TV.

14. Production
Sometimes the distribution companies will put
forward ideas to the film’s creators in order to
make it more appealing to certain audiences or to
fit with their style. Some distribution companies
have their own ‘in house’ production teams that
liaise with the films team.

15. Sponsorship
All of the above costs allot of money, to fund this
films and Distribution Companies require sponsors.
Sponsors will fund the project and in return they can
advertise themselves alongside the film. Most
commonly, the Ad’s before a film starts at the
cinema are the sponsors.

16. Who Would Distribute Our Film?
As to who would distribute our Crime Thriller ‘Till The End’ for
one of the ‘Big Six’ I would say Universal, they have films like
Contraband, Non-Stop and Safe House in their portfolio and ‘Till
The End’ would fit in nicely. As for the independent company I
would say Relatively Media. They have worked with films like
Limitless and The Raven.