Film Distribution

Once a film has been produced, the next stage of the timeline is the distribution. Distribution means the selling of the finished product to the cinemas and film company's. Marketing is a big part of the distribution process because it involves the advertising of the finished film. Without advertising, there isn't going to be a big enough audience, which means the film will lose money.

Marketing


Printed Advertising - Poster Campaigns, Billboards, Bus stops, buses, Tube stations, Magazines

TV commercials - costs a lot of money

Cinema trailers

Youtube Trailers/ Official Movie website

ALL of the above are examples of above the line advertising. This means that they are the types of advertising which has to be paid for.

Below the line advertising is the opposite, it is a free form of advertising made possible by recent changes in technology.

The 'Share' function available on ALL Youtube videos

For example, the introduction of social networks in the recent years has had a huge impact on the distribution of films. Let's say someone watches a film trailer on youtube and they like it, so they decided to 'share' the video on their facebook profile, this then becomes available to everyone else. This way of advertising is free because the film producer does not need to pay, instead, the audience advertises the film through facebook. Another way social networking can advertise films for free is through facebook pages. Facebook pages can be created absolutely free and can help to advertise the film.

Stars being photographed by the media

Empire (Film magazine)

Film premiers can attract a lot of media coverage. A lot of media companies, especially those based in Films will often visit premiers and photograph the stars and the film makers. Magazine companies such as Empire will get photographers to travel to the premiers. This is free advertising for the film company because they are not paying for any of it, instead, the other media company are advertising the film in their magazines or tv shows.


The same goes with Film reviews in magazines and talk shows. There is a Symbiotic relationship between film magazines and the actual films themselves. This means that they both benefit the fact that the magazine covering the film, as the magazine needs material, and the film needs to advertise. Obviously if the film has a good review, readers will want to go and watch the film.

Word of mouth advertising

This sort of advertising is usually what gets around the quickest. It is simply advertising through people communicating. Simple people talking to each other about a recent film trailer they saw can lead to other people finding out about it. Someone who has seen a film trailer which they liked can recommend it to a friend. This send works like a chain letter and it gets around quickly.

Unique Selling Proposition
"Scariest Film of the year"
"Funniest Comedy since..."