Film distribution

Distribution = marketing + duplication + eventually getting it into cinemas
Marketing = advertising + promotion

The film distributor's role is to bring the film into the film market, which is often highly competitive. All films are distributed differently.

Some distribution companies, such as Sony, Disney and Warner, receive films straight from production companies to distribute. However, smaller independent distribution companies, such as Lionsgate, Metrodome and Momentum, buy films at film festivals to distribute.

The distributor has to :

• decide the Unique Selling Point (USP) of a film
  
• decide the release date
• narrow down the target audience to a specific demographic group
  
• decide the budget
  
• get audience feedback on aspects such as the draft of a trailer
• stretch the marketing budget as far as it will go
• aim to reach the biggest audience in order to make a bigger profit

The biggest audience age is 15 -24 years old, as they are the age that has been found to visit the cinema or watch films more often.

Whilst publicity is free, advertising and promotions are paid for.

It is important that the marketing campaign for a film sets it apart from other campaigns in order for the film to be a big success. Marketing campaigns include advertising techniques such as:

• television trailers
• posters and billboards
  
• internet advertising (social network sites and websites)
  
• mobile advertising (text campaigns and bluetooth campaigns)
  
• radio adverts
  
• outdoor advertising, such as posters on the side of buses
  
• viral campaigns
• word of mouth (this is essential)
  
• multimedia products (the film's website)
  
• reviews and critics

All of these elements need to be recognisable and essentially make the film a brand in itself. This is known as synergy, which means to have the same identity.

Usually, the first element of a campaign is the poster, and then the trailer.

There are three types of trailer. The full length trailer, a shorter version of the full length trailer, and then the teaser trailer.

Second storyboard for trailer

First storyboard for trailer

Return of the Repressed

Definition:
'the process whereby repressed elements, preserved in the unconscious, tend to reappear, in consciousness or in behavior, in the shape of secondary and more or less unrecognisable "derivatives of the unconscious."'

http://www.answers.com/topic/return-of-the-repressed#ixzz1GO5E5MFn

This was the theory by Sigmund Freud, left, and it explains that audiences who watch horror movies, may become to feel like the victim themselves, if they have a past that they can particuarly relate to through watching the movie. For example, if a murderer in a horror movie murders the victims father, and the someone watching the movie has a particuarly difficult relationship with their father, or he is indeed dead, this movie may affect them more due to their experiences. This is because, Freud believed, that the unconscious mind is constantly trying to bring these experiences up without us knowing, in order for us to deal with them. The horror film then acts as a way for the unconscious mind to bring this past experience up without the person knowing.
This is useful for film production companies as it means there is more of a reaction from the audience.

Powerpoint of The Silent Era

The Silent Era

View more presentations from charlieflinty.

This slideshow shows my awareness of other ways to represent the horror genre.

Mood board

This mood board represents the various different elements we hope to show in our trailer:

• In the top left corner, we can see what appears to be an abandoned house, and this represents the house the teenagers come across in our trailer.
• The teenagers, in their car, are represented in this mood board in the bottom right hand corner.
• The house they come across was previously occupied by a family many years ago, and this is represented in the top right hand corner.
• The house burnt down, which is represented in the bottom left hand corner.
• This was caused by an oil lamp, which is represented in the middle of the mood board.
• The girl who haunts the house, and who the teenagers are huanted by during their time in the house, is represented by the little blonde girl at the top of the mood board.

Difference between teaser trailer and full trailer.

The Hills Have Eyes 2:
Full Trailer: 1:54 mins


Teaser Trailer: 1:05 mins


Sorority Row
Full Trailer: 2:31 mins


Teaser Trailer: 0:15 mins


Points to make on full length horror movie trailers:

• They are a compilation of small clips from the complete movie.
• They give hints and suggestions to the plot, so you can follow the trailer.
• They will show all of the main characters.
• They can, and usually do, end on a cliffhanger, or a shocking scene.
• They use various shot angles.
• They have a wide use of colour in them, although the colour will usually fit to the genre.
• They use dialogue to hint to the plot and create tension.
• They use dramatic music, and there can be a few different types of music in one trailer.
• They show the full details of the movie release.

Points to make on teaser horror movie trailers:

• They show one clip from the film.
• This one clip does not particuarly tell you about the plot of the movie.
• They show a limited amount of characters, if any.
• They do not always show you a real clip from the movie, as we can see from Hills Have Eyes trailer.
• They can use one camera angle, as we can see from The Hills Have Eyes trailer.
• Because they only contain one scene, there is limited use of colour.
• There is a limited amount of dialogue used.
• They use one continuous sound clip, though it may contain a sudden change, possibly at the end, as we can see from Sorority Row.
• They have a limited amount of details about the release of the movie, such as simply "Coming Soon".
  

However, both types of trailers have one thing in common: they use the shock factor. This is because, no matter how long the trailer is, it needs to keep the audiences attention, and needs to stick in their mind. As these are horror trailers, the best way to do this is to use the shock factor.

Another thing to note, is that sometimes, for example in the Sorority Row full trailer, they use the clip from the teaser trailer.