Evaluation

1. Question 3;
What kind of media institution might distribute your
media product and why?

2. What is a film distributor?
• A film distributor is a company, usually different from the production company
which is responsible for the marketing of a film. Distribution deals are important
part of financing a film.
• A distributor may set the release date of the film and the method by which a film
is to be exhibited or made available for viewing. For example directly into
cinemas or available for home viewing.
• A limited distributor may only deal with particular products, such as DVDs or
may act in a particular country or market. The primary distributor will often
receive credit in the films titles or other marketing material.

3. Major or independent distributor?
• Because we want our film to be released and shown in a big multiplex chain of
cinemas we think that it would be necessary to use a major distributor for our
genre for example ‘Blumhouse Productions’ They have been involved with the
release of ‘Insidious’ ‘Paranormal Activity’ and ‘Oculus’ These films have been
successful when hitting the big screen which proves that this production
company is successful. Also by using a major distributor with a good reputation
means that when the film is released people would associate that production
company with good horror films meaning they would be encouraged to watch
the new film released by this distributor. As opposed to using a smaller more
independent one which the audience may not be familiar with meaning they
would not have any associations with that distributor which might put them off
wanting to watch our film.

4. Blumhouse Productions
• If I had the chance to release a film with a real life distributor for our genre I
would use ‘Blumhouse Productions’ as they have been responsible for some of
the best horror films of all time for example; ‘Ouija’ ‘The Purge: Anarchy’ and
‘Jessabelle’. These films have been prosperous in the cinema meaning that more
than likely our film would be too. People make connections between production
companies, for example Walt Disney and good films who appeal to all ages.

5. Low Budget Horror Films
• There are many well known horror films with small budgets, this just proves that
successful horror films can be created on a tight budget. For example;
• Paranormal Activity = $15,000
• The Blair Witch Project = $60,000
• Saw = $1.2 Million
• Insidious = $1.5 Million
• The Last Exorcism = $1.8 Million
The information above shows how much money
Paranormal Activity made in the box office. It
supports the fact that low budget horror films are
very successful if marketed correctly.

6. Marketing
• There are many options when it comes to marketing a film, but for our film to
ensure attain views from the widest population possible it would be marketed
everywhere. I would market it on social media firstly because most of our target
audience will more than likely use it. If marketed on social media people can
share and the advert is spread further and further afield. I would also start
advertising the film months before release with a teaser trailer advert on a prime
channel on TV such as ITV 1. But I would only show this after 9pm watershed as
younger children may be watching TV with their parents before this time. When
it gets closer to release of the film I will create an advert with the full trailer on to
entice people to see the film. I would also create an app so that people can count
down to the release of the film and also play games related to the film. I have also
considered showing the film trailer at a film festival to gain more interest before
the release. Some films sometimes release a soundtrack for the film prior to the
release so that people know the film and some of the tracks from it.

7. Online Streaming/ On Demand
• I think so that we can achieve the maximum amount of people watching our film,
after it had been released in cinemas our film should be available to stream and
on demand. By choosing this it will mean that our film will have a wider
audience. I would not want our film to be put on Youtube as that way people can
watch for free, whereas On Demand and Online Streaming have to be paid for
per month. Meaning that each film will make profit each time their film is
streamed or the companies will pay the production company to have their film
on their website or system.

8. Conclusion
• In summary, I would use a major distributor such as Blumhouse Productions to
market our film as I feel that by using a big, well-known production company
means that our film will most likely do well. I have found out that it is possible
for low-budget horror films like ours can be very successful without spending the
cash. I would like to release our film into big multiplex cinemas around the world
so that everyone can see our film. I would also like it to be on streaming websites
such as Netflix. Finally our film would be marketed in several ways, such as; use
of social media to attract the target audience and television adverts so that
everyone can see it on a mainstream channel such as ITV.