The document summarizes the key stages in the film industry: production (pre-production, production, post-production), distribution (distribution companies distribute prints of films to cinemas and market films), and exhibition (cinemas rent films from distributors and screen them). It provides details on the activities that occur at each stage, such as casting, filming, editing, marketing strategies, and cinemas exhibiting films.

1. AS Media Studies
Unit G322 – Section B
The Film Industry

2. The Film Industry
• Production.
• Distribution.
• Exhibition.

3. Production
• Can be split into 3 further sub-sections:
• PRE-PRODUCTION
• PRODUCTION
• POST-PRODUCTION

4. Pre-production
• Casting
• Getting the budget
• Writing / developing the script
• Hiring the crew
• Choosing and visiting the locations
• Hiring the director and producer
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5. 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
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6. 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
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7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.