There are 3 main stages to a film: Pre production, Production and Post production
Pre production: This is the work done on a project where elements are prepared for film, play or other performance and is broken down into sections such as the script, props, scenes, costumes, effects etc.
Production: This is the main process that is carried out. This is when the actual filming takes place and there is much more staff on set. Costume and make-up would have been prepared in advance to this to speed up filming and actors/actresses will arrive to the filming location at their scheduled times. The director and camera man will repeat the filming process a number of times to ensure they have the perfect amount of shots for more precision and crisper shots for the editing process.
Post production: Simply put, post production is the editing of the film, where the shot material is edited. Also, the production sound is also edited along with some added soundtracks and sound effects to make the quality of production a higher value. Finally, all sound elements will be mixed into "stems", marrying to the picture and fully completing the production ("locked").
Main producers of American films
- Michael Mann
- James Cameron
- Steven Spielberg
- Spike Lee
- Tony Scott
- John Singleton
- Richard Donner
- Quentin Tarantino
- George Lucas
- Martin Scorsese
- Jerry Brukheimer
How might studio ownership impact what film studios make?
Ownership may impact what film studios make as there are specific audiences certain film studios aim at or there are some films they specialize in and are recognized for so they remain with that style of film production.
What is an independent production?
An independent film/production is a professional film that results in a feature film, mainly produced completely outside of the major film studio system. Furthermore, independent films can also be produced/distributed by subsidiaries of major film studios.
DISTRIBUTION
Distribution is simply allowing the movie to be available to the audience.
How films go from edit house to cinemas
- The studio makes a licensing agreement with a distribution company.
- 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.
- The buyers negotiate with the distribution company on which movies they wish to lease and the terms of the lease agreement.
- The prints are sent to the theaters a few days before the opening day.
Who distributes a film (is it always the same people who produce the film?)
It is not always the producer who distributes the film: It can be another source that distributes it. For example Time Warner produces films and sometimes have Warner Bros. distribute their films as it is a subsidiary of Time Warner.
Traditional way of distributing a film
The traditional way of distributing a film is through theatrical release. This is a harder process than it sounds because distributors need to find the correct time slot for their film to be released and it is a very competitive business as there are many films battling for the best time spots. Some films allocate time slots months, sometimes even more than a year before the actual release. This can then lead on to DVD releases.
Newer ways of distributing films
There are many ways to distribute films, most commonly on platforms such as YouTube and Vimeo. Our Swedes are a good representation of the newer distribution process which can be viewed below!:
What are film festivals and their role in film distribution?
Film festivals is a traditional route for film makers who are seeking distribution, where many A list film distributors from all over the world participate in window shopping for films to take on. If they find something they like, they will bid against each other to earn the rights to distribute your film in their respective countries which can be shown in theaters and also on DVD.
Releasing on one weekend over another?
A film distributor may distribute their film on one weekend over another weekend as they feel it would bring in more sales on that weekend. The income that these distributors receive counts mainly on the first few weeks of release so distributing a film on a holiday over just a normal day will result in higher sales which is a common tactic made by film distributors.
Why distribution is essential to the film chain and what happens if a film doesn't secure a deal?
Distribution is most definitely essential to the film chain as this is what gets the film out there for viewers to see. Without distribution, all the effort put into making the film would go to waste as there wouldn't be anyone to view it, no sales for the hard work put it, there would be no profit at all.
If a film distributor fails to secure a deal the production of the film will go to waste unless they continue on their search to find a new film distributor.
MARKETING
MARKETING
What is marketing and how is it different to distributing?
Marketing is the process of promoting the film which goes in combination of the distribution. However, there is a difference between the two as distributing is getting the film out there for it to be available for viewing whereas marketing is the process of advertisement, to attract those viewers to come and watch the film.
Different types of marketing
There are many types of examples of marketing techniques used such as;
Trailers
Bus Adverts
Happy Meal Adverts
Internet Banner Ads
Facebook Pages
How are films promoted to different audiences?
The main difference in promotion to an audience is the age group. If you are promoting to a younger audience, you are more likely going to use promotion tools such as Happy Meal Adverts and Bus Adverts as kids always love this kind of promotion, especially Happy Meals as there are added bonuses to that kind of promotion (Toys!)
On the other hand, if you're promoting to a more mature audience, for example teenagers and young adults, you would want to use Trailer Ads and Facebook Pages. This is because Teens and Young adults are always accessing social media networks and are using the internet 24/7 so the chances of them viewing your advert would be very high.
EXHIBITION
How do audiences get to see films nowadays?
- Cinema
- Television
- free online hosting sites ie Youtube and Vimeo
- On demand service , Netflix etc.
- Online illegally
- Flim Festivals
- Inflights
What is the "box office" for a film?
The box office for a film is how much that movie made when viewed in the Cinema. It shows how much money was made and if it broke even.
Why is this useful to identify the success of a film?
This is useful to identify the success of a film because it means that a lot of people who viewed the film actually enjoyed it. This can lead cinemas to pay more money to keep the film running longer on the cinema screens.
Who receives money from a successful film?
Sadly, the actual theatres who are putting these films on for viewing do not make much profit from box offices as most of this money goes to the producers who have to pay back for things such as camera operators, carpenters etc.
How do Cinemas make their money?
Cinemas make their money mostly off their concessions such as their food like popcorn, drinks and snacks. This is why the price of cinema food is extremely expensive as they need to make some sort of profit to keep the cinema up and running. Even the ticket sales doesn't go back to the cinemas, it again is passed on to the producers for coverage on the costs of everything that helped make their movie a success.
Techniques cinemas use to make people view at the cinema rather than at home?
Cinemas use many techniques to attract people to view at the cinema rather than at home such as creating a nice surrounding atmosphere, so friends and families can enjoy their movie more. There's also added features such as IMAX & 3D. These features are things that you barely find anywhere else other than at cinemas which attracts viewers who want to experience something new and cool. Then there's techniques such as 2 for 1 tickets, Orange Wednesdays being one of the main examples of this, where people can view cinema films at low revenue costs.
What are Ancillary markets?
Ancillary markets are non-theatrical viewings of movies. These include DVD, Blu-Ray, Television, VOD, Internet streaming and many others. These methods still allow producers to gain money after the box office.
What is the BFI?
The BFI stands for the British Film Industry.
What are the BFI required to do?
The BFI exists to promote greater understanding and appreciation of, and access to, film and moving image culture in the UK.
How does this help the British Film Industry?
This helps the British Film Industry as they aim to increase access to higher quality British independent and specialised films. It also funds export drives and opportunities to British films selected by international festivals. It also encourages UK distributors and producers to form strategic partnerships and also provides support for digital projects that are being developed to increase audience size.
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