Doc Martin

Task 10

What is film distribution?

Distribution is key. Film distribution is the process of making a movie available for viewing by an audience and is the third part of the supply chain. Distribution is the most important part of the film industry, without it films would not make any profits or been seen by audiences.

What is the role of a film distributor?

A professional who would determine the marketing strategy for the film, the media by which a film is to be exhibited or made available for viewing, and who may set the release date and other matters.

What's a distribution plan?

Usually, a distribution strategy is put together to ensure that the product reaches the intended target audience. This includes how the film is marketed, its merchandise, prices and other such things.

What's a P + A budget?

The P+A budget is the prints and advertising budget for a film. These budgets tend to be 50% of the films full budget, but can sometimes amount to over 125%.

What is the average distribution cost for a big six film?

Budgets for big six films have been growing year on year, as in 2006 the average budget was around $65.8 and reaching the highest of $150 million marketing budget for Avatar.

What does the distribution budget include?

Any  advertisement that requires technology such as printed posters, movie trailers, billboards, websites also including viral videos and merchandising.
Securing actors, slots on TV, advertising in magazines, interviews online, premieres and stories on the news.
Release date: getting the film to cinemas and maintaining its popularity - opening weekend must be a hit - film less likely to do well with a bad opening weekend.

What is a simultaneous release?

Traditionally, movies are released first in cinemas. A DVD release follows some months later along with TV and other streaming services. However simultaneous releasing of a movie removes these windows: the movie is released to cinemas and other channels such as DVD, internet and television, on or around the same date.

What are some main distribution companies?
Top 10 distributors:
1 Warner Bros.
2 Walt Disney
3 Sony Pictures
4 20th Century Fox
5 Paramount Pictures
6 Universal
7 Lionsgate
8 New Line
9 Dreamworks SKG
10 Miramax

What do you think is the link between audiences and distribution?

Distribution is linked with the audiences because without distribution, consumers would not develop a demand to go watch the film. This demand is created through advertising and marketing the films. Moreover if the demand for the film was there but there was no distribution people wouldn't even be able to watch the film. 

Define target market audience?

A target audience is the intended audience or readership of a publication, advertisement, or other message. In marketing and advertising, it is a specific group of people within the target market at which a product or the marketing message of a product is aimed.

What's audience positioning?

Created by Stuart Hall who was a cultural theorist, it has 3 objectives:

1. To understand the relationship between the audience and the media text

2. To understand the position that the audience will take dependent on certain factors

3. To understand how audience are constructed by media producers

Why is the release date crucial?

"This is one of the biggest issues facing Hollywood today," said Rothman, adding that it's just as crucial to pick the right release dates as it is to select the right script and hire the right stars and film makers. "When you're trying to cram too many movies into a finite number of release dates, it's inevitable some will suffer." For example, Spectre came on the Friday before the October half term last year, this strategy is commonly used which gives the film-makers a better advantage for people to go watch their film.

What is self distribution?

You promote your film yourself without a distribution company.

Task 9

Mainstream – mainstream films are the big blockbuster films that the majority of the public will watch or at least know about. These are often high budget and is produced by the big six – often used by ordinary people for escapism.

Independent – contrasting with the mainstream, independent films are more intellectual and often focuses on social issues. They are less known, low budget and targeted at niche audiences. These are often produced by small independent companies although not always.

Production (stages) – there are three stages of production – pre production which is deciding the genre of the film, casting, writing the script, setting the budget etc. Actual production would be filming the scenes. Post production would be editing.

Distribution – launching and sustaining films in the market place.

Marketing – advertising the film to the public to attract the intended or a wide target audience – usually through the use of billboards, social media, posters, trailers

Exchange – how a product has reached the consumer.

Multinational Conglomerate - a combination of two or more corporations engaged in entirely different businesses that fall under one corporate group.

Monopoly – when one company dominates the market.

Oligopoly – the control of a market for a particular product by a small group of companies in which no one is dominant.

Name the Big Six (90% of box office takings) – Paramount Pictures, Universal, 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros Pictures, Walt Disney, Columbia Pictures

Horizontal Integration - this is where an organisation develops by buying another company within the same section of the market at the same stage of production (also known as cross media ownership).

Vertical Integration – when two firms in the same industry come together but at different stages so for example, a television studio may buy a production company to produce some of its television programmes.

Synergy – the interaction of two or more forces working together to create a larger effect in comparison to working independently. For example, an artist may sing the theme song of a movie and the song is repeatedly featured in the film – they are both promoting each other.

Merchandising – selling a variety of products that is related or is focused on a specific film to maintain the popularity of the film as well as adding to the profit made e.g. clothing, household items

Ultra Violet – allows consumers to have a proof-of-purchase so that they are able to view the content in a variety of different devices – also allows users to share their library with up to 5 people.

Above the Line - All the objects you pay for in marketing/the budget

Below the Line - Below the line- Free adverting- word of mouth/Peoples tweets about the film

Technological Convergence/Cross media convergence – when different types of technology come together to create a new technology

Consumption – how much people buy at the cinema – e.g. tickets, food, drinks

Exhibition – showing films in cinemas or on DVD – making the film available on different platforms.

Piracy – the act of stealing, copying, distributing movies.

Hollywood Franchise 4S Model – synergy, spectacle, sequelisation, story

Tie-In – the creation of marketing synergy between two products so for example a book and a film - a book that inspired or was inspired by a motion picture.

Task 8

Task 7

When do audiences go to the cinema?

• Most people go to the cinema during the weekend because they have these days free from their working weeks or school weeks. There is also incentive to visit the cinema during the week when there are certain deals and subsidies, such as Orange 2 for 1 Wednesdays.

What are the most popular genres?

• The most popular genres are generally used by blockbuster films and these tend to be Action, Comedy and Animated films. These seem to be the most mainstream movies.

What was the top film in each of these genres?

• Action - Fast And Furious 7: An extremely popular series, and this installment was in the memory of the late Paul Walker and so any Fast and Furious, or Paul Walker fans would've watched the film.
• Comedy - Minions: Very popular for younger children, based on the success of the previous films 'Despicable Me' 1 & 2. Released in children school holidays which means that it can be viewed by a larger volume of people.
• Animated - Inside out: Appeals to families and younger children, meaning a larger audience went to see the film. Once again it was released in children school holidays which means that it can be viewed by a larger volume of people.

How do audiences hear about films?

• Most poeple now hear about movies online, via social media, such as Twitter, YouTube and Facebook. This is because most people nowadays use social media everyday and it provides companies with below the line advertisement.
• Another way however, is trailers before watching the film itself in the cinema

Do audiences prefer US, UK or other nationality films?

• The biggest film production and distribution industries are in the UK and the US, so popularity varies between the two.
• But since 90% of cinema viewings are The Big Six films, these companies are American, which may increase the territories film popularity.

Do audiences like 3D films?

• Most cinema goers prefer the 2D experience rather than three dimensional due to wearing the glasses which may cause annoyance when watching a film in the cinema. 

What other ways do audiences watch film aside from the cinema?

• The way in which the audience watch films alternatively involve monthly subscription to Netflix or buying films at home through Sky Store or Amazon Prime. 
• However, the majority of audiences can watch movies through illegal sites such as Putlocker which means the cinema industry are losing money. 

Who do audiences go to the cinema with?

• The cinema is very socially orientated which means that audiences tend to visit the cinema with friends as an outing. It is relatively cheap and is suitable for everybody.
• Depending on the target audience of the film, parents can take their families to see more family orientated films or a group of friends could go and see a horror film etc. 

When and where are most audiences likely to go to the cinema?

• Many audience members tend to visit a local mainstream cinema. This would include for instance "The Odeon" for Chelmsford. This is due to the amount of available screenings they can have at one time and the wide range of films they can show.

Merlin has many editing techniques that subvert and conform to stereotypes of class and status. Firstly Merlin gets more screen time than the Lord, which subverts the stereotype that the upper class have more power. The fact the Merlin has more screen time shows that he is the main focus of the scene and he has the most power in the scene.  However the order of narrative is in chronological order which shows how Merlin's life is mundane and monotonous. It conforms to the stereotype that the lower class lead boring, mundane lives. There are face paced transitions between Merlin and the Lord when they are talking and they have equal screen time. Showing how the upper class mixes with the lower class, and the equal screen time shows equality between the classes which subverts the stereotype. The use of special effects when Merlin uses his magic gives him power, something lower class people don't usually experience. However nobody notices his power so people still think he is a nobody, conforming to the stereotype.

Moreover there are many camera techniques used to display class and status. When Merlin and the Lord are talking they are both framed to the side and in a mid-shot. This shows equality between the classes as they are both framed in the same way. This subverts to the stereotype that the upper class has more power. Also Merlin is in the foreground when he beings conversing with the Lord, this means the audience are closest to him and it creates and empathetic connection with the lower class, conforming to the stereotype of people feeling sorry for the lower class. There is a birds eye shot, where the Lord is looking over Merlin, this displays how the Lord has more power over Merlin. Showing how the higher status lord has power of Merlin, conforming to the stereotype. In the fight scene there is chaotic camera movement which reflects how hard and chaotic life can be for lower class people like Merlin. This conforms to the stereotype that lower-class people lead chaotic lives.

Also sound is used to display class and status in Merlin. Comical music is used when the Lord is fighting Merlin, this shows how he takes Merlin as a joke, and how the upper class don't take the lower class seriously, conforming to the stereotypes. Additionally Merlin says "How long have you been training to be a prat?" this shows hostility between the classes and how they don't get along. Conforming to the stereotype.

Hotel Babylon

Mise en scene
What?	Where?	Why?
Uniforms	Throughout the clip	The basic similar uniforms make all the migrant workers look the same, it shows how none of them are superior. Also compared to the suits that the white, western characters are wearing it shows how the migrant workers have little power.
The boss	Throughout the clip	The boss is oriental which subverts the stereotype that all oriental people are factory workers and have no power. She also seems to know all of the languages of the migrant workers, this shows how she is clever but also caring enough to learn their languages. However it gives the migrants a negative image, as they are alienated as they cannot speak English and it makes us feel that they are too lazy to learn English.
The locker	The locker scene	When the boss goes to Ibrahim’s locker she takes out his possessions, it shows us how poor the migrants are and how they brought very little with them, showing how desperate they were to leave. It also shows us a picture of his family, this shows us he left behind his family, creating empathy for Ibrahim and creates an emotional connection.
Ibrahim	Lobby scene	Ibrahim is wearing red which suggests danger, moreover he is being arrested and dragged away making us feel that his is a criminal, this conforms to the stereotype that most migrants are criminals. It also creates empathy for the migrant workers as Ibrahim is being arrested for doing nothing wrong.

Sound
What?	Where?	Why?
“They’ve got one”	In the cupboard	The fact that the migrants aren’t known by name in the hotel and are referred to as ‘one’ makes them seem just like an item, showing how they have very little importance and that they are simply an item to do work
Dialogue about diabetes	In the cupboard	The fact that the man is very knowledgeable subverts the ‘uneducated African’ stereotype.
“I wasn’t always a cleaner you know”	In the cupboard	It outlines how desperate the migrants were to escape their countries, the fact that Adam gave up being a doctor to be a cleaner shows how desperate he must've been to escape. He would've had a high paying job but he gave it up to escape.
“Rules of the game”	In the lobby	Shows how the officers consider capturing migrant workers as a game and consider it fun. It shows how the migrants aren’t considered as people more as instruments in a game for the immigration officers to play
Loud Hispanics	Around the table	The fact that they are laughing a joking around and being loud shows how they aren’t affected by one of the migrant workers being taken away, or that they have gotten used to it. Also the loud quick talking Hispanics fit the stereotype that they are given.

Editing
What?	Where?	Why?
Screen time of boss	Throughout the clip	The boss of the hotel seems to have the most screen time so this shows a representation of power. Moreover it goes against the stereotype that white characters always have the most power as the boss is oriental.
Close up shot reverse shot	In the cupboard	Shot reverse shot between the boss and the migrant workers “Adam” shows how the boss sees them as equal, and shows how they are equally important. However this is after Adam saved someone’s life, suggesting they are not regarded as important until they do something outstanding, such as saving a life.
Fast cuts between migrants	In the cupboard	The close up shots of the migrants faces are very fast cutting, this gives each of the workers very little screen time, suggesting a lack of importance and no power. However it also shows that regardless of how little power they have they are all equal. Moreover the quick cuts create a feel of fear and desperation, outlining how desperate they are to keep their jobs and how bad their previous lives must’ve been.
Mid shot, shot reverse shot	In the lobby	This shot shows a contrast in characters, as it shows the immigration officers in black suits and the hotel receptionist in a white suit. The colours show that the officers are the bad characters and the black suits give of a bad aura. Whereas the white suit suggests a kinder and friendlier characters, which is outlined by the fact that the receptionist wants to help the migrants.
“STAFF ONLY”	On the cupboard door	There is a lot of emphasis on the sign saying “STAFF ONLY” and it seems to remain on the screen for around 3 seconds. This suggests that the migrants are simply just staff, they aren't regarded as people and they aren't treated like people. They are simply used by the hotel to get work done, this fits a common stereotype that migrants just work all the time to make money to survive.

Camera
What?	Where?	Why?
Close up of white immigrations officer	In the hotel lobby	He is always central in the shot and it is close up on his face, conforming to the stereotype that the white English man has all the power. His stern face also shows how he is the bad character.
Tracking shot showing them eating	In the Canteen	The tracking shot explores all of the typical stereotypes of the ethnicities, the Hispanics are all shouting and are really loud, and the Africans are praying as they are stereotypically religious. Also shows a contrast to the cupboard scene when they were all bunched together, shows how the fear of being taken brings them together despite how different they all are.
Close up shot of all the immigrants hiding in the cupboard	Cupboard scene	Shows fear and vulnerability but also crammed conditions, reflecting the conditions they would've had when they were travelling into the country to avoid being caught and turned away.  The length of the shot creates empathy creates an emotional connection.
Low angle mid shot in the kitchen	In the kitchen	The shaking of the camera and the low angle creates a sense of fear, moreover the low angle shots of the migrants creates a feeling that the migrants are inferior to the officers.

Task 6

Top 10 Independent Cinemas:

- Corn Exchange, Newbury
- Barn Cinema, Totnes
- Genesis, London
- The Phoenix Cinema, Finchley
- Greenwich Picturehouse
- Curzon, Mayfair
- The Rio, Burnham-On-Crouch
- Cramphorn Theatre, Chelmsford
- Thameside Theatre, Grays
- The Rio, London

Listings at HOME, Manchester:

Most of the cinemas I have looked at seem to be playing the same films, clearly as they are the most popular, these include: A Bigger Splash, The Big Short, Carol and Hail, Caesar. Independent Cinemas typically show indie films, that focus on topical and real life dramas rather than flashy action packed blockbuster films. This is because the audiences as Indie Cinemas are generally more interested in real life drama and films with deep story lines. There is a huge difference in prices between Independent and Multiplex cinemas and because the licenses for blockbuster films are much more expensive Multiplex cinemas must charge more than Independent cinemas. For example:

Odeon Chelmsford: Adult Ticket- £8.75

The Rio, Burnham-On-Crouch: General Admission- £3.00

Task 5

Film 4

Founded 1982 as Film 4 productions under Channel 4 but became its own company in 1998 when it became known as just Film4. It is UK film distribution company that distributes Indie and Blockbuster movies. Some of the films they have produced:
- 12 Years a Slave
- Attack the Block
- The Inbetweeners Movie (1 & 2)

Box office comparisons
Film4.
The Inbetweeners movie:

Budget:
£3,500,000

Opening Weekend:
$35,955 (USA) (9 September 2012) (10 Screens)

£13,200,000 (UK) (23 August 2011) (475 Screens)

Gross: 

$36,000 (USA)
£41,800,000 (UK) (20 September 2011)
$88,025,781 (worldwide)

FOX.

Black Swan:

Budget: 

$13 million

Opening Weekend Takings: 

$1.4 million

Gross: 

$106.9 million

Target Audience

The Inbetweeners - The Inbetweeners would have a target audience of teens and young adults who can make connections with the 4 main protagonists. The movie explores typical 'Ladish' behavior and therefore the target audience would typically be male.

Black Swan - Black Swan: Research shows that more females go to the cinema than males so this film would be popular when in cinemas.

Summit

Founded in 1991 but became a subsidiary to Lionsgate Films in 2012. It mainly distributes and produces UK films, but has distributed and prouced foreign films from France and Spain. Some of the films they have produced include:

- Divergence

- Twilight Saga

- Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain

Box Office Comparisons

Summit.

Twilight:

Budget:

$37,000,000

Opening Weekend Takings:

$69,637,740 (USA) (23 November 2008) (3,419 Screens)
£2,508,422 (UK) (21 December 2008) (446 Screens)
NZD 556,923 (New Zealand) (28 December 2008) (50 Screens)
PHP 84,632,242 (Philippines) (30 November 2008) (66 Screens)

Film4.

12 Years a Slave

Budget: 

$22 million

Opening Weekend Takings:

$923,715

Gross:

$187.7 million

Target Audience

Twilight - Typically Twilight was aimed a teen girls, who are interested in romantic action films. With the main protagonist being a female.
12 Years a Slave - Had a large target audience with big name stars within the film but also appealed to older audiences with its more serious tone and storytelling, setting it apart from other Blockbusters.

Icon

Founded in 1989 by Mel Gibson, it primarily makes and distributes its own films and can be considered a very slight Min-Max production company after successes of films such as: Braveheart, The Passion of Christ and We were Soldiers.

Box Office Comparisons
Icon
We were Soldiers -

Budget:

$75 million

Opening Weekend Takings:

NA

Gross: 

$114.6 million

Insomnia

Budget:

$46 million

Opening Weekend Takings:

NA

Gross:

$113.7 million

Target Audience

We were Soldiers: Limited market to Americans as large disinterest, dissatisfaction from other nations about Vietnam war however came out at a time of high nationalism during Iraq war.

Insomnia: Follows common blockbuster tropes of good vs evil and so was popular in cinemas and across the world but again limited to primarily 'Western World' release with common American themes being present.

Warp Films

Founded in 1999 and based in Sheffield and London, this production company produces many British independent films such as: '71, Kill List and Four Lions.

Box Office Comparisons

Four lions

Budget:

£2.5 million

Opening Weekend Takings:

£609,000

Gross:

£6.9 million

The Passion of Christ

Budget:

$30 million

Opening Weekend Takings:

$83.8 million

Gross:

$611.9 million

Target Audiences

Four Lions: Like 'We were Soldiers', limited target audience as very 'English' comedy and themes are used and also a focus on younger adults because of the comedy used and younger characters.

The Passion of Christ: Wide target audience and too this day the highest grossing Non-English film to succeed in foreign countries.

Task 4

Task 3

Task 2

The Top 5 grossing films of 2015 were:

1. Star Wars:
Star Wars was Released on 17th December 2015, which falls in the Christmas holidays for the UK. This means that children and adults can go and watch the film. Star Wars is a Sci-Fi Blockbuster that is a sequel to the 7 part Star Wars franchise.

2. Jurassic World:
Jurassic World was released on 11th June 2015, which fell in the UK summer holidays. Once again the genre for Jurassic World is Sci-Fi Blockbuster and is the fourth instalment in the franchise.

3. The Avengers: Age of Ultron:

The Avengers: Age of Ultron was released on 23rd April 2015, which, surprisingly, doesn't fall in any UK holiday. Once again the genre of The Avengers: Age of Ultron is Sci-Fi Blockbuster. And it is the second movie in the Avengers franchise.

4. Inside Out:

Inside Out was released on 24th July 2015, which coincides with the UK summer holidays. It's genre is Animation and Fantasy, much like many Disney films. And unlike every other film in this list it is not a sequel.

5. Furious 7:

Furious 7 was released on 23rd April 2015 which doesn't coincide with any school holidays. The genre for this movie is Action and it is the 7th instalment in the Fast and Furious franchise.

All of the films, except Inside Out, in the top 5 grossing of 2015 were sequels, this goes to show that sequels are the most popular and successful films and are most likely to be the most successful in the Box Office. The majority of the films were released during the UK and US school holidays, which goes to show release date contributes hugely to the success at the Box Office. All of the top 5 grossing films are big blockbuster movies with very high budgets and 3 out of 5 of them are Sci Fi films and 4 out of 5 are in the action film genre. Also all of the top 5 films were made by the 'Big Six' and there aren't any independent films near the top of the list.

Task 1

Here is the survey I made using survey monkey. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SNJFNGZ

This is what my survey found:

#1 - What was the last film you saw?
The most common answers for this question were 'The Revenant' and 'Star Wars' showing that the big blockbuster films that were heavily advertised seemed to be the most popular and recently seemed films. This may also be due to their strategic release dates during school holidays.

#2 - How often do you go to the cinema?
The majority of the people who answered this question said 'Once a month' This is the most common maybe due to movie release dates and the price of the cinema. Popular movie are not released every week so there is simply no need to the go every week, moreover the cinema is expensive and everyone taking my survey was 16-17 years old, meaning they cannot afford to go to the cinema every week.

#3 - Do you have a particular day to visit the cinema?
This question was mainly answered with 'No' however when people did say a day it was mainly 'Friday' or 'Saturday'. This may be due to the fact that many blockbusters are released on a Friday in the UK and Saturday is when 16-17 year olds have free time.

#4 - How do you hear about films?
90% of people who took my survey said 'On the Internet' this may be due to various twitter accounts used to advertise, or maybe Snapchat stories that were made famous by James Bond Spectre. However movies are often advertised on YouTube and most 16-17 use YouTube on a daily basis.

#5 - Do you buy refreshments?
75% said 'No' to this question, this may be because the refreshments in the cinema are expensive, and the age range of the people who answered my survey were 16-17 and typically wouldn't want to spend so much on refreshments.

#6 - What is your favourite way of watching movies?
Almost 80% answered '2D' to this question, this may be because of the increase in price from 2D to 3D or the fact that some people find it hard to concentrate on the film and story when it is in 3D,

#7 - Do you prefer 'Home Cinema' or 'The Cinema'?
Almost everyone answered 'The Cinema' for this questions, this is probably due to the expensive big screen and loud speaker systems used in the cinemas, and the feel you get when watching a film in the cinema that simply cannot be achieved in your home.

#8 - Do you pay for movies online, through services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime?
Once again almost everyone answered 'Yes, through Netflix' to this question. Recently there has been a real rise in the use and popularity of online movie streaming sites, it is cheaper than buying or renting DVD's and its convenient and can be accessed anywhere,

#9 - Have you ever watched a film illegally online?
Almost 90% answered yes to this question, this may be due to the ever increasing prices of cinemas and DVD's, however this method of watching movies could see the collapse of the movie industry if its popularity continues to grow.

#10 - Have you ever bought a DVD for a film you've seen in the cinema?
Everyone that took the survey answered yes to this questions, showing that some films are good enough to watch more than once, generally people will buy the classics or the most popular films, so that they can re-watch them at a later date.