Extracting Information

Every film will always have a distribution plan created buy the producers and anyone else who may need to get involved. The most important factor they need to get right is when and where to release the film and though specialist knowledge it can be done.

Senior managers then need to create a business plan which the goal will be to turn a profit. It is hard to do this because of the range of films your able to go see, this is why planning when and where to release the film is important. You can create a very brief business plan by taking a glance at the script and discussions with the film makers but can take as long as waiting for the film to be made.

 

No one can really be sure what will be a hit or not, so intense research has to be done before even thinking about when to release the film. Test screenings will be shown and the audiences will fill in questionnaires about the film giving producers a confident look into the future. Films can become 'Sleeper' hits where the film takes off without warning and is played in the cinema for longer than expected but this doesn't mean it will happen again as the audience is just too unpredictable.

 

A target audience has to be establish before releasing a film so they can get to right time to advertise. You can base your film on other previous films and select the target audience based on that. Although you must never loose sight of your intended target audience, you must be aware of other audiences you may be able to attract to your film making it 'break out' and ' cross over'.

 

Going the cinema is one of the most favourite things to do as a out house hobby for 15 to 25 year old. They are also the easiest to promote to thanks to social media sites, mobiles, games ext as they are the people that use these the most. Though this may be true, just over a 1/4 of the UK population go to the cinema just as often.

 

The average UK person will go to the cinema 2.7 times a year which is very low compared to countries like Canada and America. The better a film does in its opening weekend, the more likely your going to attract your infrequent cinema goers and a older target audience.

 

When releasing a film, you need to be aware of your competition. Releasing a film with the same genre as a film that is going to be released at the same time is always a risky move. This means you want to make sure you release something that opposes the movies that will be released at the time. 

You need to look out for:

• Event films, Films that appeal to a mass audience
• Star power, Are there any big stars in opposing films
• Cast members going to premieres of your film
• Will your film lead the reviews?
• Is the film going to be released on a holiday for kids?
• Is the film out for any awards this year?
• Is there a Franchise film out at the same time?
• Has the film been released somewhere else with good reviews?
• What certificate has the film been given?

You need to be aware of how many screens you open with. If your doing a 'at cinemas everywhere' approach, you need to make sure your film is a 'event film' or maybe a sequel to a popular film so people can see it as quickly as possible. oppositely, you could release your film in 25 or less cinemas. You might do this for foreign films or low budget movies to start the hype but most films are released with 100 prints.

 

Every film needs a strong marketing plan which is to engage a audience's interest and get a general hype about the film. With distributing, who ever shouts the loudest gets the cookie, You need to fight for the best advertising space where your audience will get it. All marketing plans need to be entertaining and engaging otherwise there is no point in it.

 

Thanks to social media sites, word of mouth over forums, facebook, twitter are the best influences to go to a film. A good buzz can be helpful but get any bad word on the Internet and it is extremely hard to get out of it.

 

The poster for a film is the first thing most cinema goers are going to see. It should give you he genre, tag line, stars, everything you need to know to get you interested in the film. As many posters are created, Cinemas must decided the best of the best to put up in their theatres to attract people.

 

Months before release, a teaser poster is usually put up to engage the audience's attention without giving to much away about the movie. Cinemas would choose from mini posters, banners, full size posters to put in the foyers to engage future sales.

Trailers are probably the single most cost effective marketing technique. This is why every film has one. They show some of the most dramatic scenes in small snippets so it can engage a audience's interest without giving to much about the film away. Distributes will release about 2000 copies for cinema owners that deem them worthy.

The Internet is a key way to get people to see your movie. For a start, any Major box office movie will have its own website with all the latest posters and trailers from the movie. On the web, you can create small posters to engage the fans before the film has even started filming. You can then post small snippets of the film in production so they fans can feel as they are walking through the film process.

Film clips are the most searched thing on the Internet, especially fan made material. Film makers will even post things on blogs saying "come up with the ending to this film" making people getting involved and sharing the posts to people they know. All these sites direct you to exhibitors where tickets to the film can be bought.

As soon as film content is posted on the internet, the comments and reviews will come flying through social media sites. Content can fly across the internet to differnt people in different places. Trends then rapidly apear and the idea is to get yours on the top of the list.

The Uk has about 250,000 posers sites around roadsides, railways stations, thousands of news papers and radio stations and even more digital tv stations to advertise but it is extreamly expencive. Posters on the outside world can target smaller target audiences as well as the ones you want and are a very productive source of advertisement.

Mayjor blockbusters need more advertising space to support world wide releases. This means that they need to come up with more inventive ways to get the word out. Most tv viewers fast forward through all the ads with the latest technology anyway.

Emotional coverage for a film can be extreamly persuasive as people respond better when they don't have to read it. Unfortunatly, artical space and air time is limeted. Kits are created for jernaists which have cast lists, crew lists ext in it. It is also important to get images from the film because once again, it is easier to engage with a picture than words. These all focus on 'hooks' and 'angles'. What pictures and cast members will get the public talking.