Independent film: Makes you think
Makes you ask questions
Is associated with critical success
Films more as art and cultural expression
Mainstream film:
Makes you laugh
Makes you cry
Associated with commercial success (e.g. Gravity)
Films as escapist entertainment
Mass audiences watch mainstream film.
Film is a distribution led industry, mainstream film attracts significant advertising budgets.
Sound is important, do not underestimate it.
Mainstream conventions:
High production values e.g. multiple camera technology
Saturated distribution by a major studio
Star marketing
Brand/franchise familiarity
Safe genre location = sex/chase scenes/explosions
Key focus on entertainment values
Glossy mise en scene, studio and locations
Commercial success
Independent conventions:
Limited distribution
Rarely shown at complex cinemas
Older target audiences
Limited star marketing and lower production values
The big six:
Warner Bros. The Hobbit
Paramount Pictures Star Trek
20th Century Fox The Wolverine
Disney Saving Mr Banks
Sony Skyfall
Universal Studios About Time
Reasons why Hollywood films dominate global film production:
Significant financial resources
Safe genres, star and genre marketing
Saturated distribution/marketing
Audience expectations and familiarity with Hollywood film
Merchandising opportunities
Access to latest technology
UK markets
Role of distributes:
Chooses films to distribute
Attends film festivals
Decides number of prints
Pays for the cost of each print
Negotiates the release date and site of exhibition - WHEN
Sends trailers and publicity to cinemas
Negotiates budget, pays for audience and markets
Main aspects of marketing:
Advertising in media (TV/cinema)
PR Public Relations (brand images)
POS Point of Sale (displays in cinema)
Market research
Types of UK cinema:
Multiplex (278 cinemas)
Independent
Small chain
Leading UK Multiplex chains
Odeon
Cineworld
Vue
Empire Cinemas
Anderson
Reel Cinema
City Screen
Guest speakers:
(1) Soda film productions guest
(2) Paul Webster (producer)
(3) Timothy Richards (founder of Vue Cinemas)