Evaluation - Question 3

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

Distribution companies are extremely important in the film industry.Big conglomerate companies, such as Hollywood invest in smaller companies to allow them to vertically integrate into different areas of the media industry. Retaining the profit they make within their company. The role of distributors is to print and advertise up-coming films in theatres ,which nowadays is a lot faster and cheaper as it is done digitally instead of previously doing it with analogue technology.Larger production companies, such as the 'Big Six', help platform to smaller independent institutions, more in particular independent film industries, helping them by providing funding and additional budgeting.Our film's genre is Supernatural Horror, influenced by a range of films in the same genre; Paranormal Activity, Silence Of The Lamb etc.With all following the narrative of a female protagonist being vulnerable and in danger of the Supernatural presence, with the theme of the unknown.However all the films used to influence our initial ideas/storyboard, are filmed and produced in America.Due to a limited budget, we have little choice besides distributing our film through a independent institution.This is also because our film doesn't include CGI or special effects, however most films in this genre and Horror films in general, are distributed by conglomerates, because the genre appeals to the masses on a global scale, however, in our case we would have funding from the UK Film Council, being distributed by an independent film institution.

Potential Suitable Institutional Companies

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Fox Searchlight Pictures is a subsidiary of the 20th Century Fox film company, founded in 1994. Fox Searchlight Pictures is known for having a part in low budgeted films, especially British independent films. A company like Fox Searchlight Pictures would be perfect to distribute our film because it focuses on films like ours, therefore would guarantee it's success.

Warp X
Warp X are an independent film company,who produce film's following the genre of social realism. Warp X are distributed to a niche audience as budgeting is very low therefore they are unable to get the accessibility to distribute to a tent pole audience. Warp X are funded by several different companies.

For example;

• Film4
• UK Film Council
•  EM Film Funding
•  Optimum Releasing

These are where Warp X receives there funding from, as it is an independent film institution, with limited funding available.These companies which provide them with funding to run, are highly important for them, to help them survive, because without they would struggle and perhaps go into liquidation.Small independent institutions, such as Warp X, rely on pre-sale to ensure they receive sufficient funding.

A pre-sale is when they present a pitch to other film companies, in the hope to receive an investment from them, however this will only be done if it is presented in such a way that it shows to look like a success , in both popularity and profit.An example of this is British drama 'Tyrannosaur' (2011), which cost £750,000 to make. £206,540 was received by the National Lottery as a contribution to making it, resulting in earning £244, 563 in Box Office.This is similar in the way in which we want our film to be funded and distributed.This institution would suit our film well, as a niche audience is more appropriate for our film.Our film also doesn't include the star system, therefore if we were to distribute our film through as larger conglomerate the characters won't be recognizable to the audience and industry.

Film4 Productions

Film4 is also an independent film institution company and owned by the British Channel Four Television Corporation.By having an ownership of Film4, the films were later on aired on digital TV which had gained huge success for Film4 productions in both advertising and profits. Previously, Film4 produced low budget films which were related to social realism. However due to the most recent success they started to co-produce with some more renowned known film production companies such as Fox Searchlight Pictures and Warner Brothers when making '127 Hours' (2010).

Unsuitable Institutional Companies

Lions gate Entertainment
Lions gate Entertainment was founded in Canada in 1997. with it growing success in the filming industry, Lions gate Entertainment acquired several other smaller companies in the process, one of these was Momentum Pictures in 2000. Momentum Pictures is ran by Alliance Films, distributing not only the big budgeted Hollywood film but also numerous low budget films. 

Examples of successful box office films -

• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2010)
• Saw franchise (2004 - 2010)
• The Woman in Black (2012)
• Sinister (2012)

From the list above you can see that all these films follow the same type of genre, horror. Therefore this shows that this production company are known for their more psychological films. This type of distributing company would be perfect for our film as it follows the same type of genre which it always distributes however they always distribute higher budgeted films, for a tent pole audience. Unfortunately, like I have previously said our film would become an independent film due to low budgeting therefore we would need a distribution company which focus' only on independent films to ensure more of a success, with the appropriate target audience.

Warner Bros

Warner Bros. are a subsidiary company of Warner Bros. Entertainments. The company has been involved with huge successes , such as the Harry Potter franchise (2001 - 2011) and the Dark Knight franchise (2008 - 2012) therefore this shows that this production company distribute high budget films.Films such as Harry Potter required a budgeting of $125 million, therefore they need the conglomerate companies to help fund their films. However conglomerates agree to this, as they know that they will be huge at Box Office, for example when 'Harry Potter and then Deathly Hallow Part 2' was released, it made just under $170 million, meaning that they gained a $45 million profit. This wouldn't be suitable for our film as ours is a very low budgeted film, also companies such as Warner Bros. distribute films which they know is a guaranteed success with potential star power behind it, resulting in them making a huge profit.

Conclusion