1.How would you define the exhibition of film?

The exhibition of film is a commonplace, shared cultural activity highly visible in every city and town in Britain, constantly feeding the popular memory.

1. What number part of the film supply chain is distribution?

Third

1. How is it sometimes referred to?

The invisible art

4. Why is it argued that it is the most important part of the film industry?

Distribution

1. What are the three stages of film process?

In the practice of Hollywood and other forms of industrial cinema, the phases of production, distribution and exhibition.

1. In what way are they most effective?

Exhibition operate most effectively when 'vertically integrated', the three stages are seen as part of the same larger process, under the control of one company

7. Why is this more difficult for the independent film sector?

In the independent film sector, vertical integration does not operate so commonly. Producers tend not to have long-term economic links with distributors, who likewise have no formal connections with exhibitors. Here, as the pig-in-the-middle, distribution is necessarily a collaborative process, requiring the materials and rights of the producer and the cooperation of the exhibitor to promote and show the film in the best way possible. 

1. What are the three stage of distribution?

In this sector, distribution can be divided into three stages - licensing, marketing and logistics.

Licensing of Film

1. Define the licensing process.

licensing is the process by which a distributor acquires the legal right to exploit a film.

1. How many levels are there?

2

1. How many ‘market territories are there around the world?

International distribution ensures that films find their way to the 90+ market 'territories' around the world.4. Why are smaller independent film companies unable to handle the licensing for their own films?

1. So what do they do?

By contrast, independent producers have to sell their films to different distributors in each territory. Independent production companies are usually small concerns, sometimes set up for one film and often lacking the necessary knowledge or contacts of each of the territories around the world. Instead of doing this themselves, they might choose to hire a specialist sales agent, whose function is to understand the value of a film in many different markets. The sales agent will then set up stall at the film markets that take place throughout the year.

1. What is ‘local’ distribution?

Distributor acquiring the licence to release and exploit the film in a particular country. The distributor will usually pay the producer a minimum guarantee for the licence. This fee will vary depending on the status and perceived commercial potential of the film, and on the range of rights that the distributor chooses to exploit.

7.They purchase the theatrical rights, what does this consist of?

A distributor will usually be offered theatrical rights, for showing the film in cinemas; video rights, for video and DVD exploitation; and TV rights, if the distributor is able to sell the film to a broadcaster.

1. Who do they have to share royalties with?

A local distributor will conventionally share profits equally with the producer for the theatrical leg, pay back higher royalties for broadcast rights, and lower for video/DVD.

1. What is the most effective way to create interest in a new film in the UK?

A theatrical opening is seen as the most effective way to create interest in a new film. The big screen is still the optimum setting for a film for both audiences and the filmmakers.

1. What options are available after the theatrical (cinema) release?

Some months following the theatrical release, a film will be packaged and released on DVD and VHS video, then on various forms of pay television and eventually, two years after opening in cinemas, on free-to-air television. 

11.What must a successful distributor do?

At every stage, the successful distributor must have an in-depth knowledge of the marketplace - which cinemas, video outlets and broadcasters can best draw an audience for its films - and of the variable marketing costs involved in releasing a film in that territory.

12.Who was the distributor for your case study? 

Johnny English Reborn was distributed by Universal Pictures.

1. What techniques did they employ?

It used Blanket distribution and was therefore targeted at anyone, and shown to many cinemas.

Marketing

1. What are the two questions around the marketing of a film release?

When? and How?

2. What day of the week are new films released in the UK?

Fridays

3. Who schedules and coordinates forthcoming releases?

Film Distributers association

4. What is a ‘light’ week?

Only a few films scheduled for release

1. What three aspects have to be taken into account for a film to have the greatest potential to reach audiences?

Seasonality for the film, screen space, adequate review column

6. Why is this becoming increasingly difficult?

In recent years in the UK, these two aspects of release planning have become increasingly difficult, as the release schedule has regularly featured over 10 new releases in a week.

7.What are P&A 

P&A are the nuts and bolts of marketing and distributing films into cinemas, the tools used by the distributor to create a public for its film.

1. What are the costs of P&A?

P&A also represent the bulk of the distributor's investment, after paying the initial fee for rights, and can range from less than £1,000 to over £1 million for the release of a film in the UK.

1. Who marketed your film?

Universal

Marketing P&A (Print and Advertising)

1. What are the 7 elements of P&A?

The quantity and production of release prints and trailers.

Press materials, clip reels, images, press reviews, screen tapes.

The design and printing of posters and other promotional artwork.

Advertising campaign - Location and size and frequency.

Press campaign/ contracting a PR agency.

Arranging visit by talent from the film.

Other preview screenings.

1. About how many prints might a specialized film have and how long will the tour be?

Fewer than 10 prints.

3. How many prints might a commercial mainstream have?

over 200 prints.

1. How many did your case study film have?

5. Why is a favorable press response a key factor?

For the majority of releases, favorable press response is a key factor in developing the profile and desirability of a film. Distributors consider both the quality and breadth of coverage, and this is often inscribed into the nature and scale of a press campaign.6. What is the standard format for a cinema poster?

7. Why is a poster important?

Numerous recent examples indicate that the poster design is highly effective in 'packaging' the key attributes of a film for potential audiences. Distributors will also consider other poster campaigns, ranging from Underground advertising to billboards.

1. Please insert a copy of your case study film poster and analyze how it features to key attributes.

The poster shows a major focus on the actor, this is so the audience knows automatically who is in the film. Can see that it is an action film due to the explosion in the background, and as he is holding a gun.

9. What is the word to express coverage working at the same time.

‘to work in tandem’

10. What is the key aspect for mainstream film?

Scale and high visibility

11. Why is distribution in the UK seen as riskier than in other countries?

The cost of print advertising in the UK is comparatively high, and is seen as making distribution in the UK a riskier business than in most other countries. 

1. How are distributors trying to get around this problem?

In order to extend the reach of advertising and develop more effective communication with audiences at low cost, distributors are looking increasingly to 'viral marketing' - different forms of electronic word-of-mouth via the internet, email and mobile phones.

1. Who was the press agency for your case study?

SunChaser.

14. What is another name for the actors or director?

Talent.

1. What sort of coverage did the key players in your case study have? Did they appear on Jonathan Ross?

No they did not. 

1. What is the ultimate aim of marketing?

To promote the film, and to make people aware.

Logistics Of Distribution

1. Who decides on the  'play date'?

Distributor and cinema. 

2. What is the distributors responsibility?

To arrange transportation of the film to thew cinema.

3. Why is it imperative that films are delivered on time?

The showing of films in cinemas is a time-pressured activity. Cinemas spend their money publicizing film play-dates and times in local papers or through published programs.

4)About how much does a 35mm print cost?
£1500-£2500

5)How are prints usually broken down?

Lasting around 18-20 mins when run through a projector at 24 frames per second. So a feature print, in its physical form, will usually be 5 or 6 reels, stored and supplied in a single hard case, weighing in at 20-25kgs.

6)What are the disadvantages of using film prints?
They are very expensive

7. How was your case study film distributed? Digitally or 35 mm or a combination? Can you find out how many prints were developed?
It was digital.

Bullet Boy

1. Who is the director of Bullet Boy?

Saul Dibb

2. Where was the film first screened in 2004?

Hackney

3. Who handled the release?

Verve Pictures

4. What is their most recent release?

Breathing

5. What percentage of their releases are from first time feature directors?

Over 75%

6. Who handled the release of your case study, provide the link to their website, consider how effective their webpage is?

http://johnnyenglishreborn.com/home/entry

7. How did Verve manage to broaden the theatrical release?

We have a proven track record of working with first time filmmakers who have previously excelled in other visual fields

8. How many prints did it have in the UK?

9. What did the advertising campaign consist of?

10. How does this compare to the ad campaign for your case study film?
They had a lower budget.

Film Plot

Johnny English Reborn Review

Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson) is learning martial arts in Tibet as penance for an earlier disastrous mission in Mozambique. His Tibetan guru and mentor, Ting Wang, is actually an MI7 sleeper agent: their employers have requested Johnny's services.

Johnny return sMI7's London headquarters (now Toshiba British Intelligence) and is assigned by new boss "Pegasus" (Gillian Anderson) to stop a plot to assassinate the Chinese premier during scheduled talks with the Prime Minister. Johnny also meets with friend and fellow agent Simon Ambrose (codenamed "Agent One") and MI7's resident inventor, Patch Quartermain. He is also assigned a junior agent, Tucker (Daniel Kaluuya), to accompany him.

In Macau, his Chinese contact is murdered in a casino, but English discovers a poker chip in the man's hand with the address of ex-CIA agent Fisher (Richard Schiff) in Hong Kong. Fisher reveals that he is a member of 'Vortex', a secret cabal of assassins, who also sabotaged his mission in Mozambique. Vortex's power lies in a secret assassination weapon which require three metal keys to unlock, of whom Fisher has one. Fisher is killed by an assassin, (Pik-Sen Lim), dressed as a cleaner, but English manages to chase down and incapacitate the killer accomplice and recover the key. While bragging with Tucker about the success of his mission on a flight back to London, the key is stolen by a member of vortex disguised as a steward. English is humiliated in front of the Foreign Secretary and Pegasus at the latter's estate when it is discovered that the case is empty. English proceeds to assault Pegasus's mother twice, both times mistaking her for the killer cleaner.

Kate Sumner (Rosamund Pike), MI7's behavioral psychologist engages in an "off-hours" session with English, prompting him to recall the previous events of his failed mission in Mozambique and recall the identity of the second member of Vortex as a result, Karlenko (Mark Ivanir), a Russian agent. A golf match is arranged between Karlenko and English, whose unsubtle attempts to elicit information from Karlenko cause him to order English's death. However, Karlenko is critically injured by the cleaner lady assassin. English and Tucker hijack Karlenko's private helicopter, but he succumbs to his wounds, though not before revealing that Vortex's last agent is a member of MI7.

In a meeting at MI7, Ambrose reveals that the Swiss government have agreed to lend them their fortress 'Le Bastion', allowing the talks to continue. Ambrose and English dine together, informing Ambrose that he knows a mole is present in MI7. Ambrose prepares to gun down English until English reveals he does not know who the traitor is. Tucker confronts Ambrose in the bathroom stalls at gunpoint, claiming Ambrose is the mole, as he is shown pictured with Karlenko on his computer, until English orders him to leave. Ambrose convinces Johnny into believing that Patch Quartermain is the traitor. English, unaware that Simon is the mole, entrusts him with the key. Afterwards, Ambrose contacts Pegasus and tells her that Johnny English is the traitor.

English confronts Patch in a church, discovering that he has been framed and set up. Johnny escapes MI7's clutches on Patch's highly advanced wheelchair, equipped with retractable armrest-mounted pistols and high speed settings. Johnny goes to Kate's house and convinces her that he is not the traitor. Kate scrutinizes footage of the Mozambique mission and realizes that the behavior of Shambal's bodyguard seemed abnormal and out of place. They find out that Vortex is using a drug calledtimoxeline barbebutenol that allows people to be controlled for a brief time before they die of heart failure. Ambrose, the only surviving member of Vortex, plans to use the drug to kill the premier in exchange for 500 million USD.

Ambrose arrives at Kate's apartment to take her to the airport. After Simon leaves, English discovers that the killer cleaner is present in Kate's apartment. She attempts to kill him using a chainsaw built into her vacuum cleaner, but Johnny uses a garbage chute to escape.

English confronts Tucker in the latter's bedroom and convinces Tucker to embark with him on a new mission. English and Tucker attempt to sneak into a heavily-guarded fortress in the Swiss Alps, where the premier is to be assassinated. English inadvertently activates a distress beacon, (mistaking it for a rappel device) which alerts the armed guards to their presence. English has Tucker 'pretend' to attack him, with his subordinate faking his death with a pistol. English is put into a body-bag, and the two manage to gain access to the building. Tucker attacks the armed guards escorting them while English attempts to hop over to Pegasus's office. English finds Pegasus just before she attempts to drink the spiked drink in which the drug is present and convinces her Ambose is the traitor. English, however, drinks it instead, rendering him vulnerable to Ambrose's commands. Pegasus is knocked unconscious by English, as ordered by Ambrose.

Ambrose orders English to kill the premier using a pistol disguised as a tube of lipstick. English attempts to resist the effects of the drug using his monastery teachings. Johnny engages in a relentless fight with himself while Tucker attempts to interrupt Ambrose's frequency used to communicate with English. English gets ready to kill the Chinese premier, before Tucker finally disrupts the frequency, replacing it with radio station which causes Johnny to dance to the music. Ambrose resumes the communication and again orders English to kill the Chinese premier, unfortunately revealing his goal to kill the Chinese premier in the process. English resists and shoots Ambrose instead, but he dodges and escapes.

The effects of the drug wear off and English seemingly dies of heart failure. However, Johnny is revived by Kate, who kisses him on the lips, which causes his heart rate to escalate. Johnny attempts to chase after Simon, jumping off the building and using a parachute to safely descend to the snow. English hijacks a snow-mobile and chases after the MI7 traitor. Eventually, Johnny catches up to Simon, who is using a gondola lift. The two fight, with English using his teachings to endure several kicks to the groin. Johnny manages to eventually obtain Simon's pistol, yet falls off the car. Ambrose tries to shoot English, which culminates with English pulling out his supposedly bulletproof umbrella, but which actually shoots a rocket at the cable-car and Simon Ambrose is killed in the following explosions. Johnny then realizes that it was the T2. As the remains of the gondola lift fall down English then rests in peace. Tucker and Kate watch down in amazed.

English is knighted, but, during the ceremony, he finds out that the Queen is the killer cleaner in disguise, and she tries to kill him yet again. He chases after her and violently hits her on the head with a tray, only to find out, when the guards bring the real killer inside, that he has attacked the real Queen.^[5][6][7][8]

In the post-credits scene, English is seen making a takeaway for Kate Summers to the tune of "In the Hall of the Mountain King".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXQSfSu1Y0s

Britishfilmindustryshsg.blogspot.com