A film distributor is responsible for advertising films, setting release dates, and determining how films can be viewed. The main aims of a distributor are to convince exhibitors like movie theaters to show the film in order to make a profit. In the UK, distributors try to get films in front of the largest possible audience through marketing campaigns. They must carefully plan marketing strategies that target the right demographics to maximize profits from box office sales since only 30% of films are profitable. Vertigo Films is provided as an example of a UK film distribution company.
2. FILM DISTRIBUTORS
A film distributor is a company who is in control of the advertising of
a film. They often set the release date and how the film shall be
made available for viewing. E.g. on demand films such as Curzon
on demand, DVD, TV and download. If a distributor owns it own
brand of cinemas. It can do this independently but often it will have
to been done in other peoples cinemas.
3. WHAT ARE THE MAIN AIMS?
The main aims of a distributor is to persuade the exhibitor to buy
into a film (agree to show it). To do this they will often organise
industry screenings for exhibitors to try and get them to show the
films in their cinemas. This is all so that they can make a profit from
the film. The distributors will then secure a contract which says the
amount of the ticket sales that goes to the director, and secure
their own share, so that they make money.
4. DISTRIBUTION IN THE UK
In the UK, distributors are responsible for trying to get the largest
possible audience to the film, this could be done via adverts and
viral marketing e.g monsters.
6. WHEN WORKING A FILM DISTRIBUTOR MUST:
• Get the marketing spot on, as only 30% of films make a profit in
the box office.
• Think about who is the target market?
• Think how to get as much profit as possible
• Think about how the plot attracts the audience
7. MARKETING
It must always be known, that marketing is age/ gender specific.
E.g. the older generations may prefer to find out about a film in the
paper, whereas younger people would prefer tv or internet.
8. VERTIGO FILMS
Vertigo films are an example of a distribution company. They were
founded in 2002 and is a British company, they were responsible to
“Monsters”