Production, Distribution, Marketing & Exhibition

Production, Distribution, Marketing & Exhibition

Production

Film making involves an initial story, idea, or commission, through scriptwriting, casting, shooting, editing and screening the finished product before an audience that may result in a film release and exhibition. Typically, it involves a large number of people, and takes from a few months to several years to complete.

Development

• ·         Producer selects a story
• ·         After identifying a theme, a producer works with writers to prepare a synopsis
• ·         Produce a step outline – breaks the story into one paragraph scenes
• ·         Prepare a treatment – 25 to 30 pages of page description of the story, its mood and characters
• ·         Screen writer writes a screenplay
• ·         Film distributor contacted to assess the likely market and potential financial success
• ·         Producer and screenwriter prepare a film pitch and present to potential financiers
• ·         Once they receive the ‘green light’ the parties involved negotiate deals and sign contracts
• ·         Move on to pre-production period

Pre-production

• ·         Production company is created and production office established
• ·         Production is storyboarded and visualised
• ·         Production budget is drawn up
• ·         Production hires a crew

-        The director

-        The unit production manager

-        The assistant director

-        The casting director

-        The location manager

-        The director of photography

-        The director of audiography

-        The production sound mixer

-        The designer

-        The composer

-        The production designer

-        The art director

-        The costume designer

-        The hair and make-up artist

-        The story board artist

-        The choreographer

Production

The raw elements for the finished film are recorded

                

            Post-production

• ·         Film released to cinemas or occasionally to a consumer media (DVD, VCD, VHS, Blu-Ray) or direct download from a provider
• ·         Film is duplicated, press kits, posters, and other advertising materials are published for promotion
• ·         Film distributors release film with launch part, press releases, interviews and press preview screening
• ·         Film is played at cinemas and DVD is released few months later

Distribution

A film distributor makes the movie available to be watched by an audience. This can be done in various ways; for example with a theatrical release, a home entertainment release (DVD, Video or Blu-Ray) or television programme for broadcast syndication and may include digital distribution. Another way could be through internet release.

Marketing

There are loads of ways that films are marketed. For example:

• ·         Posters
• ·         Billboards
• ·         Internet adverts
• ·         Trailers
• ·         Magazines/Newspaper
• ·         Bus stands
• ·         Train stations
• ·         Buses

Exhibition

People can watch films at the cinema, online at home on DVD or Blu-Ray or on television.