AS Media Studies

Unit G322 – Section BThe Film Industry

The Film Industry

• Production.

• Distribution.

• Exhibition.

Production

• Can be split into 3 further sub-sections:

• PRE-PRODUCTION

• PRODUCTION

• POST-PRODUCTION

Pre-production

• Casting• Getting the budget • Writing / developing the script• Hiring the crew• Choosing and visiting the locations• Hiring the director and producer

4

Production

• Filming the movie - shooting every scene that appears in the film

• The director getting the best of the stars• Finessing and even changing the script on

location• Arranging, reheursing and filming the stunts• Moving the crew from location to location

5

Post production

• Editing the footage that has been shot - pictures and sound

• Editing and re-editing so the film is polished

• Laying on the extra sound effects• Laying on a narrator if neccesary• Adding the music• Adding the graphics and special effects

6

Distribution

• Distribution companies (or distributors) are involved in P and A - Prints and Advertising.

• They make the copies (prints) of the film which are distributed to cinemas, video stores, retailers and TV companies.

• They are also responsible for the marketing campaign of the film, advertising it to maximise the audience.

Distribution

• Film distribution is dominated by a relatively small number of massive companies (I.e. an oligopoly).

• These companies are often owned by larger companies that are also involved in film production. E.g. Buena Vista are part of Disney.

Distribution

• The distributors of a film have a range of advertising and promotional strategies.

• Different films are marketed in very different ways - it all depends on the target audience that the distribution company has identified.

• E.g. Attack the Block used different strategies to Pirates of the Caribbean 4.

Exhibition

• Exhibition refers to the final stage of the chain - the cinema, DVD, TV etc.

• Exhibitors (cinemas) have to pay the distributors to rent prints of the film.

• They then generate revenue through selling popcorn etc.

• A company involved in film production, distribution and exhibition is known as a vertically integrated company.