Question 3- What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Current FDA Members:

Artifical Eye

-Dogwoof
-El Entertainment UK
-Entertainment Film Distributors
-Eros International
-Icon Film Distribution
-Metrodome Distributors
-Momentum Pictures
-Optimum Releasing
-Paramount Pictures UK
-Park Circus
-Pathe Distribution
-Reliance Big Entertainment PLC
-Revolver Entertainment
-Soda Pictures
-Sony Pictures Releasing
-Twentieth Century Fox Film Co.
-Universal Pictures UK

-Verve Pictures

-Warner Bros. Distributors

-Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, UK      

          

According to the list of current ‘Film Distribution Association’ members, we had to decide upon who would distribute our film product. It is important to understand the importance of the distributor. It is essential if a film is to be successful that the film is distributed well; otherwise a potentially good film could not achieve its realistic chances.

The Distribution is the third role of the film chain, the distributor is possibly the least credited although a has a heavy burden to help the film thrive once it is on screening. It is arguably, the most important part of the film industry, where completed films are brought to life and connected with an audience.  In the UK, distribution is very much focused on marketing and sustaining a global product in local markets unlike in Hollywood where it is all run under the control of one company to complete the phases of production, distribution and exhibition.

 An independent film, works differently to many studio produced movies, the making of a film and the three stages does not operate the same way as a studio would. The Producers don’t have long-term economical links with the distributors, who likewise have no formal connections with exhibitors. Therefore, the distribution is required to gather all the materials together on its own, requiring the rights of the producer and the willingness of exhibitor’s to promote the film and exhibit it in the best way possible. In some cases for a distributor they are divided into three stages - licensing, marketing and logistics.

We needed to find a distributor who would be suitable to the genre and budget of our film. But our choice of distribution came very easily after visiting the BFI for exam  summer preparation, the producer of a film called ‘Shifty’, Rory Aitken, gave a talk about his the film ‘Shifty 2008'. When talking about the film, it was clear that he was representing a relatively a low budget independent film. From the genre and suitability with 'Shifty' and the comparison with our own film ‘Take Off After’; we felt Metrodome would be the best suited distributor for our low budget film and it seemed a perfect distributor.