What Media Institution Will Distribute ‘The Cycle’?Evaluation Question 3: Maddison Cunningtonhttps://maddiecunningtonmedia.wordpress.com/

What is Film Distribution?

Film distribution is the process of making a movie available for viewing by an audience.

It is the job of the film distributor to identify and deliver the largest possible audience for the film.

The distributors sales & marketing strategies work alongside the films target audience. A film can only be released once, and so it is crucial that in its first weekend in

cinemas it furthers progress. It is not unusual for a film to generate 30%+ of its overall box office in the first 3 days

of release.

Factors to Consider

Who is the target audience of ‘The Cycle’? What is the estimated income the film will produce? Will the target audience be interested in the film? How can they be marketed & how would they watch the film? What is the films budget? Who is it produced by? How well have similar films done? What audiences did they attract? Who are the actors in the film? Are they famous? What other films are planning release targeting a similar market?

About ‘The Cycle’

‘The Cycle’ (2016) is a low budget, independent British film by ‘IMAC Productions’, based in Peterborough, UK. It is not a Hollywood film.

The target market are young people, particularly females, up to the age of 30. Many of these are students on a low income.

Due to it being a low budget film, they cannot afford to spend excessively on the distribution and marketing methods of the film.

A key way to do this is through social media, as it is cost effective and is most commonly used by people within the target audience.

Case Study: DNA Films

DNA Films are a independent film production company, that were set up in 1997. They have produced a small number of successful films, including 28 Days later

(2002),28 Weeks Later (2007), Sunshine (2007), and The Last King of Scotland (2006). They have a distribution agreement with ‘Fox Searchlight’, a subsidiary of 20th Century

Fox that specialises in British Independent films. This is an example of synergy. The two companies work together for mutual benefit, as DNA benefit from Fox

Searchlights funds and global distribution network, whilst Fox gain cultural & artistic praise for supporting more ‘edgy’ productions.

Case Study: Vertigo Films

Case Study: Film 4

Film 4 is a British film company established in 1982. It is backed by Channel 4, who are not required by legislation to make films. They have produced some successful films including Oscar winning Slumdog

Millionaire (2009). They have faced threatening funding issues, however have been able to

overcome this with support from other film & TV organisations.

Case Study: Lionsgate

Lionsgate are an American-Canadian entertainment company established in 1997. They are an industry leader in the marketing and distribution of packed media & digital

entertainment. They produced The Hunger Games trilogy films which was ranked as the top digital

title of 2012, and The Twilight Saga films. They have distribution partnerships with A&E Networks, The History Channel &

Lifetime. In 2012, Lionsgate had a 9.5% market share, making them one of the top 5 studios.

Bullet Boy

Conclusion

We featured a Lionsgate Ident within our opening sequence because they have successfully distributed many films with similar target markets as our film, for example the hunger games and cabin in the woods.

However, we have to consider the budgets of these films in comparison to our own, and also that they are American films.

It would be much harder for a small time British independent film to secure a deal with a distributor of this size.

After considering these factors, I think DNA Films would be a better distributor for ‘The Cycle’, as they are British and not as large as Lionsgate, however they also still have support from Fox Searchlight, meaning is has been proven possible for their films to become hugely successful.