Arthouse Institution Research - Distribution

Task - Distribution
2) Summarise the 10 steps of film distribution in a list using your own words.

3) Now research the distributors for each of the arthouse films you have analysed for your existing product research. Who distributed each film in the UK?

4) How many cinemas did each film open in?

5) How much money did each film make? Did it make a profit against the budget?

6) Research Curzon Artificial Eye. Who are they and what do they do?

7) Look at the Curzon Artficial Eye YouTube channel. Watch three trailers for recent or upcoming independent films and identify something you can learn from each film to use in your own film production.

The 10 steps of film distribution are:

11)    There needs to be a clear idea for the film, but this doesn’t have to be a final decision yet. The idea can sometimes be based on material that already exists such as a novel. An example, would be the TV series Pretty Little Liars which is based on the series of books by Sara Sheppard.

22)    Identify and then finalize the target audience for the film and ensure that you incorporate things that appeal to them

33)    Public Relations stage: Build relationships with cinema companies who are going to screen the film. Also, the budget and the estimated profit margins should be worked out

44)    Find a film distributor to support the film; they would handle everything outside of the studio. Film distributors acquire films through a third party sales agent who acts on behalf of the producer

55)     A formal contract gets drawn up and signed by both parties consenting to the film distributor releasing the film

66)    Plan and finalize the marketing for the film: How are you going to make audiences aware of the film (Billboards, trailer etc) & all pre production work is done at this stage

77)    Decide upon a release date which is then communicated with the film distributor; have meetings with the film distributors to make sure they know what the film is about to ensure that they can sell it to customers. Encouraging customers to see the film

88)    Communicate with BBFC and have the certificate of the film finalized

99)    Advertise the film: Social media is heavily used as some producers and film distributors release ‘Sneek peaks’ which reveal some content of the film and entice audiences

110) Ensure that everything is licensed and protected to prevent people distributing the film through illegal means  

3)A Clockwork Orange - There were many distributors of A Clockwork Orange but the main distributor was Columbia Warner Distributors. The names of the other distributors can be found on the IMDB website.

Frida - Miramax Film Distributors 

Boyhood – IFC Films, Universal Studios, 20^th Century Fox, United International Pictures, Hollywood Pictures and Diaphana Distribution

The Graduate - United Artists, Embassy Pictures and Studio Canal

Donnie Darko – Newmarket Films and United Artists and Pandora Cinemas

4) A Clockwork Orange -  The film was released in 1972 but Kubrick withdrew the film from British Cinemas a year later as many people were concerned about the level of sexual violence in it

Frida - Limited cinema release

Boyhood -  

The Graduate - 

Donnie Darko - Limited release concerns about level of violence 

5)  A Clockwork Orange - Budget: $2,200,000 Gross:£1,675,124 Opening Weekend:£618,615

Frida - Budget: $12,000,000 Gross:$14,164,253 Opening Weekend: $205,996

Boyhood - Budget: $4,000,000 Gross:$25,359,200 Opening Weekend: $387,618

The Graduate - Budget: $3,000,000 Gross:$104,397,102 Opening Weekend: $873

Donnie Darko - Budget: $4,500,000 Gross:$727,883 Opening Weekend: $110,494

6) The Curzon Artificial Eye is the UK's leading inderpendant film distributor. They release critically acclaimed films to discerning UK audiences by some of the worlds greatest directors. 

7) The Choir Trailer

From this trailer I think that the use of the medium close ups is something that we can use in our production. Our idea is to have a character with schizophrenia. So I think medium close ups will help emphasize the characters expressions therefore appealing to the audiences emotional side. 

This clip is from a film which is due to be released this month, called Ice and Sky. From this clip I learn't how to make a tracking shot and long shot work in sequence to create a affect on the audience. I also think that this film has used montage editing which means that it doesn't necessarily convey a linear narrative.

This clip is from a movie called 'Mia Madre', the technique that I can take from it and use in my groups production is the interesting use of lighting. It uses a variety of lighting techniques such as low and high key lighting which I think can create good dramatic effects and suture the audience into the narrative.