FILM INDUSTRY: Distribution: Marketing

The internet

Websites become more of an important part of a films marketing strategy; a distributor may create a specific/official website for a film as well as having a site which will display all of the films that are soon to be released by the distributor; to make the website successful it has to reflect the overall image of the film.

The opening weekend

Everything can depend on a film's opening weekend, once the film has opened in cinemas there is no possiblity of completely changing the film or marketing campaign if the audience aren't coming to view it. The 1st weekend that a film plays in a cinema indicates where it will successful in the box office, usually a film will earn most of it's money during the weekend. However if the box office reception is poor, then the film may not recover and will be taken out the cinemas.

Timing the release

The film's release is a key element of the marketing campaign. Before releasing a film the distributor will carefully track their competitors' release schedule,this is done to make sure they both don't go head to head. Traditonally around summer and christmas, blockbuster films are released and children's are released during school holiday times.

Types of release

- 5% of films are released with over 500 prints, which is also accompanied by a large advertising spend
- Approx. £300 million was spent on advertising films, the majority of these films were blockbusters
- Most UK released films are launched on fewer than 50 prints which isn't supported by a large amounts of advertising.

Trailers

- Teaser trailers might start to appear in cinemas anything up to a year before the film is released.
-The full trailer will appear between 1 and 2 months before film is released
- TV Spots tend to be on screen a week or 2 before the opening of a film or just after the film has opened.

FILM INDUSTRY:Distribution: Elements of marketing

Prints and advertising

·         Distributors decides on the marketing strategy, after deciding on their target audience and USP

·         They determine how much to spend on advertising, publicity, and on actual prints of the film to send to cinemas

·         They have to predict how much they think the film will make at the box office, before they decide on how much to spend
-they compare their film with others that are similar and have already been release
-if the film features stars then a similar exercise is carried out
-they see how similar films are fared in the marketplace
-the film can be released in many big cinemas if it has a wide appeal, or if the audience isn’t as large, then the film may have a limited release.

Promotions

Promotions and Merchandise

·         It has become important in film marketing

·         Promotions and merchandising are both developed with the target audience in mind, they give added awareness of the film to the audience

·         Cross promotions with ‘3^rd parties’ help both the distributor as well as the company

·         Usually films aimed at a younger market offer opportunities to the distributor to produce merchandises.

Publicity

Advertising

Advertising is paid for the distribution companies have budgets to spend on the film title. The largest spend of any P and A (PRINTS & ADVERTISING). The budget will be on buying media space for the film; the main advertising avenues open to any distributor are:

·         Trailers

·         Posters

·         TV, Press and Radio advertising

·         Merchandise

·         Website

·         Outdoor (billboards, buses)

           

FILM INDUSTRY: Distribution

                                     

WILL BE FURTHER UPDATED LATER ON...

Film4 Productions: Seven Psychopaths

Info: It was released in the United States and Canada 12th October 2012, and it was released in the UK 7th December 2012.

Director: Martin McDonagh
Producer: Martin McDonagh
                 Graham Broadbent
Screenwriter: Martin McDonagh
Distriubution: Momentum (UK) and CBS Films (US)

Plot: A struggling writer who has dreams of finishing off his screenplay, seven psychopaths; his friend is an unemployed actor. his friends Billy and Han help him find inspiration for his play, by putting up an advertisement by inviting psychopaths to come and share their stories.

McDonagh:

• Was born in Camberwell London, to Irish parents; he grew up with his brother John who's also a writer-director. Martin writes both films and plays, but prefers film writing, "It's not that I don't respect theatre. I'm intelligent enough to know that a play can completely inspire a person as much as a film (but) theatre isn't something that's connected to me, from a personal point of view, I can't appreciate what I'm doing."
• McDonagh wrote and directed his first full-length feature, In Bruges (2008), which he recieved a BAFTA Awards for original screenplay.

Broadbent:
He's produced a number of successful films such as; 'Marigold Hotel (nominated), 'Brudges,' which was also a Film 4 production and 'Becoming Jane' (won 2 awards including People's choice).

Inspiration: 

• McDonagh's previous film Six Shooter, which was successful and is almost like a sequel to Seven Psychopaths. 
• Personal inspiration as the plot is based on a screen writer in his early years, and the main actor is played by Collin Farrell, whose also Irish. 

                                                              Martin McDonagh 

                                                                 Graham Broadbent

Title Sequences

Task 1

Task2
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters

What is the genre of the film?
- The genre of this film may be an action/horror
Explain how the style supports the genre of the film?
-The use of fire throughout the title sequences, and the fact that fire symbolises danger.
How does it introduce to the film?
-Imagery of the newspapers with headlines, which describe the storyline of the film.
How does it draw you into the film?
-Concentrating on the headlines and images in the newspaper draws me in, as it makes me want to find out more about the film.
What type of transitions are used by the editor?
-Mostly fades and cuts are used throughout the sequence.

 Se7en

-What is the genre of the film?
- The genre of this film is a horror
-Explain how the style supports the genre of the film?
The style of the title sequence was shaky which gives a sense of discomfort.
-How does it introduce to the film?
The different types of images used
-How does it draw you into the film?
The flashes, fast pace and the music used.
-What type of transitions are used by the editor?
Cuts and Jump cuts
Drive

 

  

-What is the genre of the film?
Based on the title sequence itself, I would've assumed that this film was maybe a drama or romcom. However the actual genre is crime/drama.
-Explain how the style supports the genre of the film?
The style was italic and pink
-How does it introduce to the film?
The main aspect of the film is introduced, throughout the title sequence the main character is seen driving around.
-What type of transitions are used by the editor?
Cuts and Jump cuts Dissolves and fades

Filming update:

Recently we've been having some troubles regarding are filming project and due to these issues are initial plans for our film have been changed a couple of times. After filming our first clip our teacher didn't agree with the concept of the film, and thought it was a bit too complicated for a 2 minute opening of a film, and that we were giving away too much. We then had to come up with a different script and storyboard which was much more simplistic than the previous, once this was done there were still problems with finding locations for certain scenes, and the times in which we could film during the day.

After filming our second piece there were still complications involving the different camera shots used, and the lighting, we then sat down with our teacher who explained that we need to create a plan properly including, call sheets, shot list and to re-do the storyboard once more, and to watch a couple of films that'll inspire us. As group we came up with different ideas, that'll fit our initial storyline, doing so we had to consider our audience and whether they would understand the concept that we were going for, having in mind films that we had recently watched. 

9/3/2013

Once we had created a brand new storyboard, and all our paper work was sorted, myself and my director Nga had planned that our group would go out film that weekend. Our filming started at 6am, as we wanted to get establishing shots of London/Hackney; shops and markets opening and setting up, people making their way to work, and local areas. 

We also managed to film scenes involving our main character which were both interior and exterior scenes, the filming showed him getting ready to head out and making his way to the shop before he makes his journey to his location. 

15/3/2013

We were suppose to film the rest of our scenes involving our main character Pedro, but unfortunately we were unable to film due to issues with our location.

18/3/2013

After having issues with filming that was meant to take place on the 15th, we are going to be filming on this date instead; there will be updates on our progress.

PLAN 

Our paperwork has also been updated (shot list, storyboard, call sheet) images should soon be posted.....

FILM INDUSTRY: PRODUCTION

This task concentrated on the production/producing aspects of film making, from the costs and budgets; and the different influences that may be based on a film. 

The chart above gives a clear idea of the difference between a Blockbuster and an Independent film, and the amount of money that goes into a film, and what the majority of the money is spent on.

The task above involved me having to create my own film from scratch without going over my budget, I had to decide what genre my film was going to be, and what it was going to be about. I then had to decide on a screen write and director both whom have had to have experience within a similar genre; considering my budget I then had to decide on the main female and male actors, which is one of the most important decisions, after reading their briefs I chose the best ones that'll fit the genre and appeal to my target audience.  Once that was done I chose the kind on music I want for my soundtrack, and the different types of advertisements I thought would be an advantage for my film.