Homework 1 - Film Chains.

The different aspects of Film Chains. This includes the production,distribution, marketing and exhibition of a film.

Production:

1. What are the stages involving in producing a film- what do they include from the early idea to the final edit when the film is read to be sold to cinemas and promoted to the public ?

• Development (Idea is created and the rights to content is bought {example: books}, also screen play is written and finance for the project is sorted)
• Pre-production (Preparation are made : cast, location , sets are made etc )
• Production ( The actual recording providing with raw footage)
• Post- Production( Images , sound , effects are added through editing)
• Distribution ( Sent to cinemas or released to home video)

2. Who are the main producers of films in America ? Try and find out the names of the main  studios and who owns them ?

• Warner Bros.Pictures (Chair man/ CEO - Kevin Tsujihara)
• Walt Disney Pictures (Chair man/ CEO - Bob Iger)
• Walt Disney Animation Studios (President- Edwin Catmull)
• 20th Century Fox  (Chair man / CEO -Jim Gianopulos)
• Paramount Pictures (Chair man/ Ceo - Brad Grey)

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

• The Studio System is arranged that each studio works with long term contract which allows films to be distributed.

4. What is independent production ?

• A production when artists have control of all the inputs into the production.

Distribution:

1. What does distribution mean ? Find a definition what explains how films get from edit houses to the cinemas ?

• Distribution is the communication that reaches a large audience. Example :TV , radio etc. Distributors set release dates which creates ability for the piece to be exhibited  

2.Who distributes a film? is it always the same person who produces (make) the film?

• Film distributors work with theatrical secure a written contract to the amount of gross tickets which would be allowed to be taken. 

3. What is the traditional way to distributing a film?

• This would be through film festivals.

4.What might be a newer way to distribute a film ?

• Trailers, Radio , build boards etc.

5. What are film festivals and what is their role in distribution ?

• Film festivals are organisations to provide a wider presentations of film. This shows different elements like genre and allows for different production to see. Short films are commonly shown.

6. What might make a distribution decided to release a film on one particular weekend rather than another ?

• This is due to the preference of the audience.

7. Why is distribution essential to the film chain? What will happen to a film if it can't secure a distribution deal ?

• It would not be seen , this means not as much profit will be able made which creates money for the company. If they don't have a distribution deal the film is likely to fail and not be seen.

Marketing:

1. What is marketing and how is it different to distribution ?

• Market determines the demographic of the audience and how to expand the product and get full value out of it. The marketing provides a plan for the distribution to be as effective as possible.

2. Find some examples of different types of marketing for film currently being released- such as trailers, bus adverts, happy meals, internet banner ads, Facebook pages and anything else that is used to promote a film to an audience.

Twitter : https://twitter.com/MazeRunnerMovie

Facebook :https://www.facebook.com/mazerunner

3. How are films promoted to different audiences- for example , how might an American blockbuster film such as Avatar, be promoted to a non-English speaking audience?  Find an example of a film that has different trailers or posters for different audiences in different countries - post them to the blog and explain how they are different.

This is a Spanish trailer 

This is the English trailer.

• The difference between these two trailers is that the Spanish has the characters speaking in their own language by using Spanish speakers to speak for them instead. Also, it's common for the countries to use subtitles for the audience to follow along. Audience feel that when other speak for characters it looses a feel to the film.

Exhibition:

1. How do audiences get to see films ? List all the different ways in which we engage with films today.

• Audience can now see films by : Cinema, TV , on demand, Itunes, YouTube, downloading legally and illegally.

2. What is the 'Box office' for a film- what does it mean?

• Box office are places where the public can purchase tickets for the film. This calculates all the people which got to see the film in total.

3. Why is the box office return useful to identify the success of a film ?

• The higher the box office the more successful the video.The box office shows an overall view of the film and shows an approx. profit of the film.

4. How do cinemas do to encourage audiences to visit rather than watch films at home ?

• They provide red carpets to allow the audience to see their favourite celebrities commonly in know areas. They also provide extra effects like 3D which encourages for the audience to see the film in a different way to what they would see on their own TV.

5. What are ancillary markets? How does these enable exhibition of a film outside of,or after, a film's release at the cinema ?

• Ancillary markets are non-theatrical markets which feature films (example:TV). When people recieve DVD and are aware for exhibition on tv they can constantly re-watch the film. Some people chose to wait for this instead going to watch it in the Cinema.

And finally...

1. What is the BFI ?

• The British Film Institution.

2. What are BFI required to do ?

• The BFI supports British films and provides the largest film fund in the UK.

3. How does this help the British Film Industry ?

• The BFI provides the largest funds and help British film get a wider audience.