Distribution - What is it?

Distribution - What is it?

Use the link below and find answers to the following questions 

What Is Distribution?

What part of the supply chain is distribution? Third part of the supply chain

What is distribution often referred to as? its referred to as the invisible art 

What does 'vertical integration' mean when discussing distribution? where the three stages get put together and are all under control by one company.

Why isn't 'vertical integration' so common in the independent sector? Because most producers already have long term economic links with distributors.

What three stages are involved in the independent sector?  Licensing, marketing and logistics. 

Use the link below and find answers to the following questions

Licencing

What is licencing? Licensing is the process by which a distributor acquires the legal right to exploit a film. In distribution, licensing itself can take place on two levels.

What are the two levels of licensing? International distribution and Independent production

What is the advantage of being a major US studio? The major US studios generally have their own distribution offices in all the major territories.

What three different types of rights can you acquire on a local level? 

What are royalties?

What is the most effective way to increase interest in a film? A local distributor will conventionally share profits equally with the producer for the theatrical leg, pay back higher royalties for broadcast rights, and lower for video/DVD.

How long does it take for a film to reach 'free to air' TV? A film will be packaged and released on DVD and VHS video, then on various forms of pay television and eventually, two years after opening in cinemas, on free-to-air television. 

Use the link below and find answers to the following questions

Marketing

What are the two key questions surrounding the marketing of a film? 'When?' and 'How?'

In the UK, new films are released theatrically on Fridays.

What day are films typically released on? Friday 

What will a distributor look at before releasing a film on a Friday? if its a week where not many films are are only a few films scheduled for release.

What is a 'light' week in terms of distribution? ensure that there will be both screen space and adequate review column inches in the press allocated to any potential release. A further consideration for scheduling a release is the seasonality of the film.

What does it mean to 'position' a film distinctively? the distributor will try to position the film distinctively and avoid a release date occupied by other films with similar traits (story, subject, country of origin)

Why has this become increasingly difficult in the UK? the release schedule has regularly featured over 10 new releases in a week.

What are P&A? Prints and Advertising are the nuts and bolts of marketing and distributing films into cinemas, the tools used by the distributor to create a public for its film.

How much can P&A cost?

Use the link below and find answers to the following questions

Marketing - Prints And Adverts

Typically how many prints will a 'specialised' film have? Will often be released with fewer than 10 prints into key independent cinemas

How many will mainstream films have? Commercial mainstream films will often open on over 200 prints.

What is a key factor in developing the profile of a film? 

How else can awareness of a film be raised?

Why is distribution in the UK seen as risky?

Why are companies looking towards viral marketing?

What are the benefits of a 'talent visit'

Use the link below and find answers to the following questions

Logistics

In the pre digital film age what was a distributor responsible for?

How much does a 35mm print typically cost?

How many reals is a typical feature print?

Why do 35mm prints get damaged?

Where are prints stored?

How long did a theatrical release used to last?

Use the link below and find answers to the following questions

Digital Distribution

When did digital distribution begin in the UK?

Name two advantages of digital distribution

Which countries adopted digital distribution early and why?

How many screens were digital in 2005 and how many are now (you'll need to google this)

Why has digital distribution radically altered the operating model of distributors?

What has happened to the typical release period for a film?

What is a loss leader (google it) and why are companies using the Cinema as a potential loss leader?