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12 March, 2014

Evaluation 3: Distribution


Media Institutions: Film Distribution

A film distributor is a company or individual responsible for the marketing for a film. These distributors may set the release date or when the film is available for viewing, such as theatrically or home viewing. A limited distributor may deal only with particular products such as DVD’s or Blu-ray, or perhaps act in particular countries or markets.

Film Distributors control the marketing and circulation of movies in theatres and also home viewing, playing a huge part within the success of a film. The film itself is the biggest factor in whether or not a film is successful, however the distribution is nearly as important. The distributors decide how much and often the film should be advertised, such as through TV commercials, on the Internet, within magazine, posters, trailers (as well as within the cinema), special promos, and other methods. This is crucial for the film as it gains awareness within the media and entice the audience to become interested about the product.

The distribution companies also decide how many theatres the film will be screened in, as well as the length of time. This gives the film financial support allows the companies to maximise their revenue, depending on the success of the film.

Film distributors could be seen as more important for smaller, independent films as they are less known and need to utilise marketing methods to build awareness of the film. Also, as these films tend to use new, upcoming actors rather than established ones, it may be harder to gain an audience as the consumer are expecting big name stars who they admire or enjoy watching on screen. Film festivals like ‘The London Film Festivals’ and the ‘Sundance Film Festival’ are so important as it is a common place where distributors sign films, with smaller films now gaining support and funding for the marketing of their products.

Maxim Media:



Maxim Media International is the largest worldwide distributor of independent horror and thriller films. The library of indie horror, thriller, paranormal, and reality/shock films are the main focus of the company, especially similar to the area of our film ‘Obsessed’. Founded in 2000 by industry veteran Darrin Ramage, the company has grown to represent a library of over 300 films. Through the horror film distribution channels of ‘Maxim Media’, they are able to reach the global entertainment market and have licensed film rights to nearly all major territories.

Most, if not all, the films Maxim Media distribute are from independent or indie film companies, targeting a niche market rather than mainstream market. They specialise in horror and thriller films, linking to the genre of ‘Obsessed’, being focused within a mixture of these genres. Some of the films they have distributed currently include: ‘The Innocent’, ‘Nightmare Asylum’ and ‘Wild Justice’. 

‘Obsessed’ may be a suitable film for this distribution company as it is designed and created to fit in within a niche audience appose to large mainstream audiences. The use of camera work and shots, such as POV shots and many tracking shots, give a more indie outlook that may be successful within a smaller, niche market. The use of sound is also ambiguous and unique, unlike the generic audio used by large, established films, allowing the opening sequence we have created to be used with this distribution company.

Having many international distribution channels, the company may be able to create DVD’s and Blu-ray copies of the film, Limited theatrical release (with smaller films perhaps not suitable for trailers, being a highly competitive market), Worldwide cable, satellite and Internet video on demand, allowing partnership within cable, hotel, box-top and other methods of video on demand. The Internet may also be used to allow audiences to stream, download or to rent the movies. International DVD release is another method that may be used, having regularly selling DVD rights to distributors. Some of the companies they are in partnership with include Netflix, Amazon, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, iTunes, Xbox Live, Verizon and Sony Entertainment.

New Line Film Productions inc. (New Line Cinema):



New Line Cinema is an American film studio founded in 1967 by Robert Shaye as a film distribution company, later becoming an independent film studio. It became a subsidiary first of Turner Broadcasting, then Time Warner in 1996 and was merged with its larger studio Warner Bros in 2008. This company had continued its long and successful history of producing critically acclaimed hit films that resonate with both mainstream and niche audiences globally. Throughout its history, New Line Cinema has created some of the most successful film franchises in history, with its most popular films including ‘The Mask’, the ‘Austin Powers’ titles, ‘Hairspray’, ‘Rush Hour’, ‘Elf’, ‘Sex and the City’ and ‘Wedding Crashers’. New Line became a unit of Warner Bros. Entertainment in March 2008. The company maintains separate development, production, marketing, distribution and business operations, but coordinates those functions with Warner Bros to maximise film performance and operating efficiencies.

The films produced by this company are both for niche as well as mainstream audiences, with a well established marketing, production and distribution reputation, they may be able to use ‘Obsessed’ within their practises. One of the mainstream hits they had distributed in the past, that our opening sequence had been based on, is the film ‘Se7en’. Many similar technique and aspects had been taken from this film into our own sequence, such as the short clips or props and images throughout the sequence. With Se7en being a well-established film with much success, it could be replicated with the ‘Obsessed’ sequence as it has the ability to target a wider audience, despite using many independent filming techniques. This film company also does not focus on a particular genre, perhaps a downfall for the thriller/horror genre movies, however many of its hits were from this genre, such as the ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ and ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’, again allowing the ability to target wider audiences who may have similar interests.

‘Obsessed’ comes under a category of horror, thriller and mystery films, perhaps relating to some of the previous hits distributed by this company. Its independent style may prove a change to the conventional films of this genre and allow the audience to experience a different sort of film that may prove successful. Though aspects had been taken from Se7en, it still remains unique and different with the use of specialised props, actors and cinematography, yet the similar aspects to the film allow audiences to relate to the genre of the film. New Line Cinema distribute a variety of various films, so in some way the genre may not be as important, their audience is highly diverse with various films accounting for the different successes for the films that had been distributed. However, being a large, multi-national firm, they may be suitable to distribute ‘Obsessed’ as they have experience, funding as well as reputation to distribute the product and perhaps make it a success.


Being a large, well known company, the distribution methods used by this company could come from a variety of forms. They could produce trailers within movie cinemas to gain awareness for the audience and hold vast premiers for the film to gain publicity for cinema releases. They could further set times and length for viewing times for the film allowing the audience to view the product in several different cinemas, such as Odeon or Empire. With the increase in downloading and streaming movies, New Line Cinema could use websites such as Netflix and Lovefilm to appeal to a larger audience and distribute their films accordingly to meet a specific demand. They could also distribute DVD’s and Blu-Ray products through various shops such as HMV or Supermarkets, allowing a vast audience to be aware of the product and potentially purchase it.

Supernova Studios:



At the start of our opening sequence, we created a distribution/production company to create an authentic feel for the product. ‘Supernova Studios’ could be described as an independent film distributor, offering products to a niche market. Not being as large as other companies such as New Line Cinema, it still has the ability to create awareness for the product. This ‘made up’ company could perhaps reflect those like Maxim Media, who focus on a smaller niche market rather than large multinational organisations. 

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