Your films title, a tagline, some quotes, the trailer and a big buy now button. The distributor may set the release date of a film and the method by which a film is to be exhibited or made available for viewing. For an a grade film looking to be placed on about 1400 screens across india the kind of understood expense ration between film production cost and distribution. The london film school is one of the worlds leading postgraduate film institutions, offering ma, phd and workshops programmes in filmmaking and screenwriting. Also and as well discuss later in this section, government intervention prevented the film producers from gaining too great a control over distribution. In this post, we will tell you everything you need to know about product distribution, from different distribution strategies to who is who in the industry, so you can refine your own distribution. A win at a major film festival cannes, berlin, sundance, toronto, venice can lead to a distribution. In a service deal, the filmmaker hires a specialist who takes over the distribution process for a fee. Distribution agreements in order to sell the right to distribute a film, a production company must enter into one or more acquisition and distribution agreements with a. Many people in the industry have no idea how it works, but if youre a filmmaker you will need to learn all. Nov 02, 2014 episode 10 of the film industry cover the basics of film distribution. This is normally the task of a professional film distributor, who would determine the marketing strategy for the film, the media by which a film is to be exhibited or made available for viewing, and who may set the release date and other matters.
You will learn about the traditional process of hollywood movies and how independent filmmakers can get. The distribution company determines how many copies prints of the film to make. The distribution company shows the movie screening to prospective buyers representing the theaters. Aug 08, 2017 from our conversations with candelaria and mansfield, we came up with four keys for filmmakers to keep in mind as they navigate the evolving world of independent film distribution in the 21 st century. Film aggregation faq enhanced digital media management. Distribution deals are an important part of financing a film. Cast matters and a cast that tweets, even more apartment troubles 2014, dir. This is the distribution sector and its vital to the health of the whole film economy. In this sector, distribution can be divided into three stages licensing, marketing and logistics. Apr 09, 2018 as a result of internet film distribution and the inevitable demise of dvd retail distribution you can now reach a global marketplace. Film distribution is the process of making a movie available for viewing by an audience. Here, as the pigin the middle, distribution is necessarily a collaborative process, requiring the materials and rights of the producer and the cooperation of the exhibitor to promote and show the film in the best way possible. It was great to come face to face with key industry players who are so passionate about film and their jobs, but who also make the process work as a business.
There was a time when there were certain big film distribution companies that used to buy film distribution. Film distribution process will help you reach more audience. For some film teams, such as knock down the house, which sold their worldwide rights to netflix at sundance 2019, bully, who made an allrights deal with the weinstein company in 2012 after winning the audience award at the tribeca film festival, or blackfish, who secured a distribution deal with magnolia pictures at sundance film festival in. Further, the widening appeal of cinema in several countries made international distribution a rather taxing process. Get your free copy of the ebook called astonishingly detailed and useful by filmmaker magazine. In fact, youve only won half the battle when you complete a film. This is a list of motion picture distributors, past and present, sorted alphabetically by country. The indie filmmakers guide to amazon film distribution. It usually also includes determining a marketing strategy. In this post we will be looking at how film distribution works in the 21st century. In distribution, licensing itself can take place on two levels.
Sep 03, 2019 one way to do this involves creating a home page that lists. First, what i discovered is that there are lessons you can take from silicon valley and apply directly to film pitching marketing distribution. Film distribution process begins when you have decided you want people to see your movie. Mar 08, 20 film distributers thekey players in film distribution are the big companies which controls much of the industry, control the distribution of their own products, and of others films are loaned out to cinemas for a set amount of time release dates are secured a set number of screens and screen times 5. They help in setting the discharge date of a film and the framework by. Our series on movie theaters concludes with movie distribution. You may choose to sign a traditional deal or you can leverage digital aggregators to get your film. The film will go into the cinema andor be distributed via various platforms such as amazon prime, netflix, and. At the end of our chat, green suggested we join forces and create a distribution resource for filmmakers that could help break down the walls between artists and gatekeepers. Before the internet paved the way for online film distribution platforms like netflix, amazon, itunes, etc. This article gives you the complete explanation about the indian film distribution. A taxation guide, now in its sixth edition, is a fundamental resource for film and television producers, attorneys, tax, and finance executives involved with the commercial side of film and television production. Distribution companies acquire and place films on cinema screens with the aim of attracting the largest possible audience. How film distribution works in this century amy clarke films.
This is how producers make their money back and a considerable amount of time and energy will be invested to secure the right distribution deals for their projects. Again, this breakdown is meant to expose how film distribution works within the studio structure. Even if your film does not find distribution at a film festival you can still find and contact distributors. A taxation guide, now in its sixth edition, is a fundamental resource for film and television producers, attorneys, tax, and finance executives involved with the commercial side of film. It is through him that a film reaches the audience.
Film distribution should be in the process of creating a movie, most of the time this is not taken into account. Digital has replaced physical and video on demand has become the primary way to sell your films. Another way to kickstart your distribution thought process is casting. It is the distributors responsibility to create a strategy for reaching the largest paying audience possible, at the lowest cost. Distribution is the integral part of the movie business, it is the way a financier or a film producer gets back their returns. The buyers often will accept a movie that the theater is not very interested in to make sure they get a film they really want. The buyers negotiate with the distribution company on which movies they wish to lease and the terms of the lease agreement. That button can then be linked to your film page on amazon. As a fullservice, dedicated distributor, we specialise in film distribution strategy and we have direct relationships with all the major distribution outlets. New rules for selling your movie when we released our first feature on amazon and started making sales, it was hard to believe we could do so without a traditional film distribution deal. Jun 05, 2017 in that regard, as part of understanding the entire process of production and distribution, it is important to understand how film distribution and film financing are linked.
Distributors try to balance the movies they lease to theaters in the same local area to make sure all of the theaters will continue to work with them. The evolution of film distribution survey of mass media. This is normally the task of a professional film distributor, who would. These are the steps of the film distribution process. And if you need extra help on amazon film distribution, check out the indie producers guide on how to sell your movie. The reality is that securing film distribution is one of the most challenging parts of the entire filmmaking process. Film distribution strategies to use when financing your movie. Dec 19, 2018 becoming a film distributor is one way to influence the movie industry and helping great movies reach an appreciative public. Explaining here about the film distribution process in. Understanding the 5 stages of indie film production indie. By contrast, distribution, the third part of the film supply chain, is often referred to as the invisible art, a process known only to those within the industry, barely.
Youll find out how film distributors play a pivotal role in connecting films with audiences. The province of quebec has a strong frenchlanguage film and television production industry. Distribution is the highly competitive business of launching and sustaining films in the market place. A film distributor is responsible to market and promote the film. Distribution office assistant my first job in film. Learn how movies make it to your local theater and how money flows back to the studios.
What follows is a breakdown of the distributors who were willing to participate and be transparent in giving an inside look at their process. Distribution is the idea of taking the finished film and producing advertisements to figure out how to get the movie out there. From distribution to audience engagement social change through film hill, put the film in front of policymakers as they prepared to confront immigration reform. They help in setting the discharge date of a film and the framework by which a movie is to be showed up or made accessible for the examination. At the same time, cast talent that works well for the project. Each phase has a different purpose, with the overarching goal to get to the next one, and ultimately on to distribution. Distribution for independent film is a completely different process. Apr 22, 2019 film festivals at the least let you watch how your film plays out in front of a live audience and the opportunity to network with other filmmakers. Most screenwriters are writing the wrong ones by corey mandell duration. Film festivals are still the main distribution route for filmmakers. Dec 21, 2019 the film distribution process in india is something that expects up the risk for the advancing of your film. Jun 22, 2016 hopefully this gives you some insight into how film distribution works and where the industry stands in terms of distribution to theaters and home entertainment.
Find out the difference between negotiating and bidding, and finally understand why. Film financing and television programming 1 preface kpmg llps kpmg film financing and television programming. It is the norm to require it upfront, but also imagine us doing all of the work to obtain distribution for a filmmaker, only to then find out that they really didnt or no longer have the money for the fee. This is the process that makes your film go from private to public and this way people will see your product finished in cinemas or any other distribution. Film distribution process is what makes your film go public and people will see your product finished in cinemas or any other distribution. The ins and outs of hollywood film distribution premiumbeat. When we released our first feature on amazon and started making sales, it was hard to believe we could do so without a traditional film distribution deal. Meanwhile, if you have any doubts or opinions related to this section. Learn how to get your film distributed, in under 3 months. Here, as the piginthemiddle, distribution is necessarily a collaborative process, requiring the materials and rights of the producer and the cooperation of the exhibitor to promote and show the film in the best way possible. We spoke to dozens of independent film distributors. You might like my post how film distribution works read here. The advertising of film or the practice of promotion in film industry in coordination with the process of film distribution is called film promotion or film.
Like other forms of entertainment, the film business is productdriven. Many people in the industry have no idea how it works, but if youre a filmmaker you will need to learn all about it so you. Securing film distribution might be the most challenging part of the entire filmmaking process. File sharing data gives you an indication of the actual relevance of your content in different areas, allowing you to optimize your tv show and film distribution strategy and process around whether a film or franchise has the potential of being renewed or continued. What filmmakers should know about negotiating a film. My names curt jaimungal and i know what its like to struggle as an artist. Simply put, we takes your finished product and generate money from it by getting distribution deals on every platform and in any territory you wish to reach your target audience. Explaining here about the film distribution process in india. Try to cast talent that might help turn eyes towards your project. Breakdown of the major online indie film distribution.
The seven stages of film production film production. Film distribution is the commercial process that makes a feature film available to the general public. Nov 22, 2019 understanding the 5 stages of indie film production. Film distribution and marketing is a process that should start from production, this two goes hand in hand, so it should be taking into account before.
Through this online course, youll discover the ways in which films make their way to cinemas and beyond through the film distribution process. As a result of internet film distribution and the inevitable demise of dvd retail distribution you can now reach a global marketplace. Aug 19, 2015 learn more about the film distribution in india. Youll find out how film distributors play a pivotal. A guide to independent film distribution in the 21st century. Becoming a film distributor is one way to influence the movie industry and helping great movies reach an appreciative public. Film distributers thekey players in film distribution are the big companies which controls much of the industry, control the distribution of their own products, and of others. Huge credit to lfs and to mia bays for disclosing this area of the industry, as its very hard to access inside knowledge of the selling and distribution process. Episode 10 of the film industry cover the basics of film distribution.
A process that many think should start when the film is already done and out of postproduction, but reality is another. This is the process that makes your film go from private to public and this way people will see your product finished in cinemas or any other distribution platform. The outreach and strategic communications work the filmmakers did began long before the film. The advertising of film or the practice of promotion in film industry in coordination with the process of film distribution is called film promotion or film marketing. The studio makes a licensing agreement with a distribution company. Acquisitions, sales and marketing staff are found at international film markets and festivals, developing relationships with sales companies and production companies. Traditionally these were the only way for your independent films to be seen by the public. Just how do those movies get from the motion picture studio to the theater. Once the film is completed, it must be distributed. The film distribution process in india is something that expects up the risk for the advancing of your film. This entry was posted in tricks of the trade and tagged buzz, distribute, distribution, filmmaking process, five phases of film, hollywood, marketing plan, princebury, release windows, target. At first we did not understand the power of modern selfdistribution.