Film Chain

Production

Producing a film consists of 3 different stages: pre-production, production and post-production.

Pre-producion is the stage in which all of the planning for the film takes place before the camera rolls. This sets a vision for what the final project will look like - money is also spent on script development and everything from securing the crew to the location, props, hiring the cast, costumes and special effects are all chosen and identified. A detailed schedule is assembled and necessary arrangements are made for the cast/crew members to be available to the film-makers at the appropriate times. As the ideas for the film become more ambitious and creative, the producers begin to storyboard. This makes the post-production stage run more smoothly when it comes to editing.



Production is the stage in which the actual filming takes place. Everything seems to happens at once - the actors, lighting requirements, composition, camera, props, keeping to schedule any problems that may occur etc. All of the scenes that were planned out in pre-production would be filmed in the relevant locations at the relevant times (usually from dawn to dusk). The director usually films divergent scenes many times to ensure the best quality and so that the expectations for the film would be met. Substantial control must be taken to make sure that all filming is done correctly and all shots are taken (if this isn't checked, it can be extremely difficult, almost impossible to go back and re-film certain events again).

The last step to completing the production of a film is post-production. This is the stage in which the filming is assembled by the editor in the studio. The film editor will assemble all visual images into a sequence so that the story flows freely from one scene to another. The sound editor and music composer will create music that reflects the mood and action in certain scenes. Graphics can furthermore be added along with non-diagetic sounds, special/visual effects and colour corrections. After everything is completed, the film can be released and it's then time for promoting.

             Main producers of films in America

                                                

Steven Spielberg

 

Martin Sc

Main studios in America

1. Paramount Pictures - Owned by the Viacom company

2. DreamWorks Studios - Steven Spielberg is the principal partner and co-founder

3. Columbia Pictures - Doug Belgrad is the principal partner



How might the ownership of the studio have an impact on what films the studio makes?

↳ Depending on who owns the studio and it's leadership, diverse films are made within them for different types of audiences and genres. From this, the director/producer of that particular studio would have to produce films incorporated to that specific audience (for example; making sure some films are suitable for younger audiences) or genre. Also, some studios have various constitutions - for instance, 'The Walt Disney Studios' as well as 'DreamWorks' have a separate studio for animation.

Independent film production: A film produced outside of the prime studio system e.g. Hollywood, which also could be interpreted as an Indie film. Additionally, with considerations made for cast, budget, story and distribution etc.

Distribution

Film distribution is the procedure of making a film available for viewing by an audience. The main role of film distribution is to ensure that as many people as possible go to see the film.

Process:

○ A distributor's first aims are to enter an agreement lease with the showcase cinema to screen the film for a certain period of time. This includes advertising the film via posters, videos, television or online. They also choose how to distribute the film after the initial release, for example, DVD/Blu-ray or online downloading.

○ The distributor will then secure a written contract, if accomplished, stating the amount of gross ticket sales to be paid.

○ The distributor will then make sure that enough prints/copies of the film are sent to the cinema

○ During the time it's shown in the cinema, the distribution company have to make sure the film is achieving the minimum amount of ticket/seat sales.

○ Once the film has stopped showing, the copies are sent back to the distribution company.

○ By this stage, they will then confirm if they have created enough advertising to gather sufficient profits for the exhibitors, themselves and the other film companies.



Paramount Pictures (distribution company) 

Other areas of distribution: The distributor of the film may want to release the film in other countries. In this case, the film will need to be subtitled to the language of the countries it will be distributed in. Also, removing/censoring certain aspects of the film to make it suitable. All of these changes must be made before approaching a foreign exhibitor.

The people most in charge of distributing a film are the film distributors/sales agents. Universal distribute films under their company name worldwide, however in reality, no company (whether it's major or independent) can do it all alone. That's when most companies operate film distributors/sales agents.

Traditional method of distributing a film (in steps):

1. An idea for a film is used to create an outline that will promote interest.

2. A studio or independent investor will decide to purchase full rights to the film.

3. People are brought together to produce the film (director, producer, screenwriter, cast and crew).

4. The studio makes a licensing agreement with a distribution company once the film is completed.

5. The distribution company determines how many copies of the film to make.

6. The film is shown at a screening to potential buyers representing the cinema.

7. The buyers negotiate with the distribution company the terms of the lease agreement.

8. Copies of the film are sent to various cinemas.

9. At the end of the allocated time for the film to be showing, the cinema send the copies back to the distribution company and makes payment on the lease agreement.

Modern method of distributing a film:

Digital distribution would be a more modern way of distributing a film. This is a faster method as it's easier to send a file to a distribution company over computer rather than send a physical copy (for example, Disney/Pixar's Toy Story was supplied and presented digitally at London's Odeon, Leicester Square in 1995). This is also beneficial for the distribution companies as there are substantial reductions in the cost of transporting them to the cinema. A digitally produced/converted film would be delivered quickly and reliably via disc. Moreover, cinemas that receive a digital copy would store it on a computer/server in the projection box.

Film Festivals are events staged by film societies; they provide an opportunity for unknown filmmakers to get their films viewed by a real live audience as well as having their films reviewed by professional critics. Film festivals can take place outside as well as in screening venues. The role of a film festival in distribution is to give the film more recognition and display the film to a wider audience.

Distributors may decide to release a film on one particular weekend rather than another to avoid competition. This is so that the distributors know they won't be out shined by another tent-pole film and that they won't lose out on ticket sales. Also, to avoid 'dump months' which is when there are lower expectations for major releases. The film distributor is essential to the film chain as it's the moment where films are delivered to the audience. If a film does not secure a distribution deal it will fail to be screened and also lose a lot of money - especially as it costs a lot of money to actually make the film.

Marketing

Marketing is the process of promoting and advertising a film. One of the main aspects of marketing a film is ensuring that it gains the correct amount of credit and recognition. This links to distribution as both try to captivate an audience, however it also differs as distribution exhibits the film to an audience, whilst marketing is selling the film using different methods. The way in which a film is promoted/advertised can have a huge effect on whether or not it will be successful. Most films are quite expensive to make and if the public do not buy tickets at the box office to see the film, a lot of money will essentially be lost.

One example method of film marketing is a press junket/film junket; which generally includes press releases, merchandising and media , interviewing significant people who were involved with the making of the film - actors, directors, producers and screenwriters etc.

Press junket for 'Brave'

Street marketing for 'Rio 2'

Billboard advertising for 'Spring Breakers'

Films promoted to different audiences

Alice in Wonderland is an American fantasy film that develops to a range of audiences such as foreign audiences. The examples below are of French and Japanese movie posters:



Japanese film poster for Alice in Wonderland

Exhibition

There are several ways that audiences can view films - DVD/Blu-ray, cinema (2D + 3D), film subscriptions (Netflix), television and film festivals etc.

'Box office' for film is the amount of money made; the greater the money the film makes, the better the success for the company that distributed it. This is useful for tracking the success of the film because the higher the gross profit, the greater amount of people that have seen it and the quantity of money spent.

After doing some research, I found that generally most of the money a cinema takes in from ticket sales goes back to the film studio/distributor. The studio leases a film to a cinema for a set period of time - in the first couple of weeks the film shows in the cinema, the cinema itself only gets to keep about 20%-25%. This percentage will vary from film to film depending on the specifics of the leasing deal. By the second and third week of release, the percentage could possibly increase to 45%-55%. However, the cinema mainly make their money from concession stands (40%).

Cinemas capture the attention of the audience through discount ticket prices, snack combos/deals, 'Bargain Tuesdays' at Odeon and Orange Wednesdays. Having these at the cinema attract audiences to watch films at the cinema rather than staying at home.

Ancillary markets are non-theatrical markets for feature films, for example; internet streaming, pay per view and television.

The BFI stands for 'British Film Institution',which is a cultural and creative charity founded in 1933. Together they bring film distribution, exhibition and education at BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX, publishing and festivals. BFI helps the British Film Industry due to the annual London Film Festival which is the UK's largest public film event. The festival showcases the very best of world cinema to originality and imagination.

BFI London Film Festival