Distributors find it hard for their message to stand out due to other films, competing at the same time. Though the most important marketing tool for a film is the campaign. The synergy of the campaign is important because the working of multiple individuals will bring a greater result when all is brought together. This means that the public relationships will be stronger and therefore distributors will create an exposing connection with the audience.
The first key element of the campaign is posters. Poster art is important because it appeals to a static two dimensional audience, meaning that there is a wider audience available. A good poster should reveal the first selling point of the film, that being the genre and the context. This also allows the audience to witness the first look of the film. A poster is a 'teaser' campaign because it makes the audience aware that the film is coming. This is also the most cost effective way to advertise.
The second key element is the trailer. The trailer is important because it allows the audience to know what they are going to buy into. The trailer is also shown in the suited environment of which the film will be shown meaning that this is the best gauge for the audience, having felt the importance of the impact. Trailers are split into 3 different categories:
1. The Teaser trailer. This is short and shown before the film starts
2. The Main trailer. This is shown before the full length film comes out
3. The short version of the Main trailer. This is shown in local cinemas, after the film has been released.
The 'perfect' trailer would not have a voiceover because the message should be shown through the dialogue itself, along with the visuals. Both the comedy and drama genres will include a voiceover to play with the mood of the audience. On the other hand, a thriller film will use captions to create a specific mood in the head of their audience. Foreign language films will include subtitles, through these films often create big barriers when trying to connect with the audience.
TV trailers are different. Television spots will become available often being later in the day when the whole of the film has been finished. These usually encompass more shorter scenes, playing as a whole to 15-30 seconds worth. TV trailers will include the key areas of the films title, the acting cast and the release date.
When considering the range of multimedia this includes, the internet, official websites, virtual campaigns (when you send links on) and PR (the co ordination of editorial space)
Distributors can get free publicity for a film from its reviews. These communicate with the audience how well a film has been reviewed generally, acting as either an incentive or disincentive to watch the film. Although, this puts pressure on the critics depending on how much space they have to fill within a newspaper. General advertising usually lasts for 6 weeks.
Finally, tracking. Tracking is the awareness and interest of the audience. The figures of which are released 4 weeks after the film has been released. The 'word of mouth' is the discussion between friends. This is seen to be 'King' because the support of a movie is soon spread by the audience, influencing others.
Distributors create a 'buzz' by previewing their film. This means that the word of mouth can be spread before the film is released, also working with media partners. The key strategy is to invite an audience into a free advanced screening programme.
The 'three day' figure is always open on a Friday, also including the Saturday and Sunday, having the figures released on the Monday morning. This is so important because this determines the financial success of the film. If a film is earning a loss then it will be pulled off the screen and soon replaced.
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
The Film Industry - Distribution 1
The distributor's job is to bring the film to the market or in other words to launch it. The ways in which distributor's acquire films vary depending on whether the distributor is major or small. Major distributor's are given many films to distribute whereas the small have to pay for them, acquiring them at events such as festivals. Their job is to simply be the representative of the film.
When films first start to be marketed, there are many starting points. Firstly distributors must find the attracting elements or the USP - Unique Selling Point, also known as the 'hook' of the film. One line is usually given to describe the whole film along with advertising the main casting characters. Genre is also important because this gives the film identification.
Considering audience, there are two core cinema goers. The frequent divide into the categories of 15 to 24 year olds and family groups. It is important for the distributors to target their audience for marketing campaigns and also attract possibly other groups, increasing the revenue of the film.
Choosing a release date for a film is very important. This is one determinant of the audience. School holidays are very popular due to children and adolescents in education being out of school. This allows a wider audience to attend the cinema due to less restrictions on time. A big franchise is a date in which distributors have already in mind. The only problem with this is the possibility of having a similar film released on the same day and therefore having to compete for the same audience. This problem would mean that each film would have to compete for the unique selling point or the release date would have to be moved.
Film research is important because this allows distributors to listen to and interrupt audiences, also being known as the 'marketing hook'. Research involves posters, concepts and trailers for visual purposes.
The budget is decided upon once the audience and unique selling point have been defined. Marketing is how much money you have to spend in the first place. This is determined by the box office potential income. 25% - 30% of the budget will be spent on marketing. Distributors will try and stretch the budget as far as it will possibly go. The three sections of marketing involve: 1) The promotions and events such as premiers. 2) Traditional/ general advertising such as film trailers and posters. 3) The overall costs of production.
When films first start to be marketed, there are many starting points. Firstly distributors must find the attracting elements or the USP - Unique Selling Point, also known as the 'hook' of the film. One line is usually given to describe the whole film along with advertising the main casting characters. Genre is also important because this gives the film identification.
Considering audience, there are two core cinema goers. The frequent divide into the categories of 15 to 24 year olds and family groups. It is important for the distributors to target their audience for marketing campaigns and also attract possibly other groups, increasing the revenue of the film.
Choosing a release date for a film is very important. This is one determinant of the audience. School holidays are very popular due to children and adolescents in education being out of school. This allows a wider audience to attend the cinema due to less restrictions on time. A big franchise is a date in which distributors have already in mind. The only problem with this is the possibility of having a similar film released on the same day and therefore having to compete for the same audience. This problem would mean that each film would have to compete for the unique selling point or the release date would have to be moved.
Film research is important because this allows distributors to listen to and interrupt audiences, also being known as the 'marketing hook'. Research involves posters, concepts and trailers for visual purposes.
The budget is decided upon once the audience and unique selling point have been defined. Marketing is how much money you have to spend in the first place. This is determined by the box office potential income. 25% - 30% of the budget will be spent on marketing. Distributors will try and stretch the budget as far as it will possibly go. The three sections of marketing involve: 1) The promotions and events such as premiers. 2) Traditional/ general advertising such as film trailers and posters. 3) The overall costs of production.
The Film Industry - Production
The role of the producer is to find the original idea of the film or the script of the film. Not only this but the the producer has to find the director and protect him/her, putting their visual ideas upon screen. The producer is also the entrepreneur of the business having to get the money together. Nick Powell talks about the 4 blocks. These are; developing the ideas, physically making the film, followed by raising and putting the film on screen.
The essentials for a good script include; having a well told story, here there is importance of having a passionate idea from the writer so that the story is easily marketable. The script should also comprise of a simple idea for the audience, including references to the real world so that the audience are able to connect to the storyline. The starting point should be a big idea and a question creating a journey through the story having a start, middle and end. This will then be a blue print for the director to be inspired by and build upon. It is also important for the director to care about the individuals involved within the film. The script will usually go through 12 to 15 drafts before it is fully complied.
The 'Package' involves an initial plan of the cast involved, scheduling and the production team. Discussion will also include the budget needing to be set. Script development will also take place by having to polish and rewrite the script. This may include having to transpose settings, eliminate lines or cut the cast. This will result in hoping to find finance and enables a valid judgement on how the final film will turn out.
In the UK, producers have several options for investment. They can go to a television company such as Channel 4 and the BBC or get a regional film fund. A group of financiers is also possible, usually composing of 3 to 10 partners. British producers can also have co production deals with other producers. These are usually found across the channel. Studio Canal is an example of a French co production. A single funder is easier to find although, this means that full control is given to the funder. This in contrast is different to an independent production when the director or producer is in charge. A UK film producer will decide on the best deal for each film by evaluating the possible competition their film will take.
When planning and shooting the film the producer will firstly decide what sections will be filmed where. Preparation will also have to be carried out on finding locations for the hardest scenes, this usually being done early in the shooting process. The producer will also cast and deal with the heads of department such as costume and make up. The right hand of the director is the cinematographer. Their input is needed to construct a budget from the script.
The importance of budget is that the film is entirely based on investment plans. The films finance plan will pay the budget back. The budget is created through the breakdown of the script into specific sections. A table is then constructed and used to analysis the script. This is broken down down into two sections; above and below the line costs. Above the line costs are the creative talent packages. This includes the writer, script, producer and team, director and main casting actors/actresses. In contrast to this, below the line costs include the team who put the shoot together, photographers of the shoot and the background actors/ actresses.
The executive producer needs to ask questions about the audience before every film. A specific audience needs to be defined. Not only this but where will the film be played?, who will pay to see the film?, what price will be paid? and will their be an audience of significant numbers? The market place needs to understand this because the audience determine whether the film will be a financial success or not.
Marketing is often considered a hidden cost...but is the key source of income.The film should fall into a certain genre because this can determine the success of a film by appealing to a certain audience of interest of can encourage an audience by relevant seasons. A 'need to see' aspect is also created so that the audience are enticed into the film, having a possibility of missing out. This is suspended by including high directors and big actors. Finally the significant difference between the Hollywood and UK film industries are that in America the industry consider the audience and marketing first. Where as in contrast, the UK film industry consider the budget of the idea first and the release date of the film worldwide.
The essentials for a good script include; having a well told story, here there is importance of having a passionate idea from the writer so that the story is easily marketable. The script should also comprise of a simple idea for the audience, including references to the real world so that the audience are able to connect to the storyline. The starting point should be a big idea and a question creating a journey through the story having a start, middle and end. This will then be a blue print for the director to be inspired by and build upon. It is also important for the director to care about the individuals involved within the film. The script will usually go through 12 to 15 drafts before it is fully complied.
The 'Package' involves an initial plan of the cast involved, scheduling and the production team. Discussion will also include the budget needing to be set. Script development will also take place by having to polish and rewrite the script. This may include having to transpose settings, eliminate lines or cut the cast. This will result in hoping to find finance and enables a valid judgement on how the final film will turn out.
In the UK, producers have several options for investment. They can go to a television company such as Channel 4 and the BBC or get a regional film fund. A group of financiers is also possible, usually composing of 3 to 10 partners. British producers can also have co production deals with other producers. These are usually found across the channel. Studio Canal is an example of a French co production. A single funder is easier to find although, this means that full control is given to the funder. This in contrast is different to an independent production when the director or producer is in charge. A UK film producer will decide on the best deal for each film by evaluating the possible competition their film will take.
When planning and shooting the film the producer will firstly decide what sections will be filmed where. Preparation will also have to be carried out on finding locations for the hardest scenes, this usually being done early in the shooting process. The producer will also cast and deal with the heads of department such as costume and make up. The right hand of the director is the cinematographer. Their input is needed to construct a budget from the script.
The importance of budget is that the film is entirely based on investment plans. The films finance plan will pay the budget back. The budget is created through the breakdown of the script into specific sections. A table is then constructed and used to analysis the script. This is broken down down into two sections; above and below the line costs. Above the line costs are the creative talent packages. This includes the writer, script, producer and team, director and main casting actors/actresses. In contrast to this, below the line costs include the team who put the shoot together, photographers of the shoot and the background actors/ actresses.
The executive producer needs to ask questions about the audience before every film. A specific audience needs to be defined. Not only this but where will the film be played?, who will pay to see the film?, what price will be paid? and will their be an audience of significant numbers? The market place needs to understand this because the audience determine whether the film will be a financial success or not.
Marketing is often considered a hidden cost...but is the key source of income.The film should fall into a certain genre because this can determine the success of a film by appealing to a certain audience of interest of can encourage an audience by relevant seasons. A 'need to see' aspect is also created so that the audience are enticed into the film, having a possibility of missing out. This is suspended by including high directors and big actors. Finally the significant difference between the Hollywood and UK film industries are that in America the industry consider the audience and marketing first. Where as in contrast, the UK film industry consider the budget of the idea first and the release date of the film worldwide.
Monday, 31 December 2012
Thriller Evaluation Additions
Where considering our thriller as a whole, we used general thriller conventions to suit our genre. These include narrative conventions such as entrapment, being watched/followed, as well as the common character roles of a male psycho and a female victim. Though, thriller conventions have also been challenged.
When looking at films that relate to our opening sequence, the horror film 'Cabin In The Woods' fits the crisis setting of our thriller, within the woods. This suggests that our thriller includes a sub genre of horror, having an isolated location. This is also seen, in the costume change of the young girl. Blood, is a typical element within the horror genre, and this is seen on the young girls white dress suggesting gore within the narrative. Conventions also fit that the predominant section of the film is very dark and gloomy, which reflects the mood of the film.This also adds and creates both tension and anxiety amongst the audience. The mise en scene of every horror film is almost the same, always including a significant amount of low key lighting, and a lot more towards the end of the film, where the tension is at its highest.This is shown firstly when the antagonist is introduced, replicating his dark personality and thoughts, followed by the crisis scene situated in the woods, which was captured as dusk was setting.
Thriller conventions have also been challenged by the horror convention of possession. This is shown in our opening sequence though the antagonists possession of the protagonists mind. Not only this but, horrors include a 'normal' location such as a house although, this would be abandoned due to the phenomenon. This could challenge our thriller genre due to the young girl being the only figure present within the house fitting to that of horror conventions.
When looking at films that relate to our opening sequence, the horror film 'Cabin In The Woods' fits the crisis setting of our thriller, within the woods. This suggests that our thriller includes a sub genre of horror, having an isolated location. This is also seen, in the costume change of the young girl. Blood, is a typical element within the horror genre, and this is seen on the young girls white dress suggesting gore within the narrative. Conventions also fit that the predominant section of the film is very dark and gloomy, which reflects the mood of the film.This also adds and creates both tension and anxiety amongst the audience. The mise en scene of every horror film is almost the same, always including a significant amount of low key lighting, and a lot more towards the end of the film, where the tension is at its highest.This is shown firstly when the antagonist is introduced, replicating his dark personality and thoughts, followed by the crisis scene situated in the woods, which was captured as dusk was setting.
Thriller conventions have also been challenged by the horror convention of possession. This is shown in our opening sequence though the antagonists possession of the protagonists mind. Not only this but, horrors include a 'normal' location such as a house although, this would be abandoned due to the phenomenon. This could challenge our thriller genre due to the young girl being the only figure present within the house fitting to that of horror conventions.
Other sub genres challenge my thriller including that of psychological genre. This sub genre is seen throughout our opening scene as the main element, with the antagonist controlling the protagonist. The young girl is not controlled physically but instead mentally. The psychological element also applies when considering the depth of our storyline. Having the parents of the young girl diseased, this effects her mentally within the mind. This could also interlink to the mind set and inner soul of the antagonist, being distressed and twisted, challenging thriller conventions by adding areas of the horror and psychological genres.
Friday, 28 December 2012
Thursday, 13 December 2012
Thursday, 22 November 2012
Music Ideas
When considering a thriller film, music and sound acts as a literacy device to create an atmosphere, suspending anxiety and tension upon the audience.
So, when composing our thriller film we will add background music, replacing dialogue so that the audience will feel more anxiety.
Therefore, I have been looking on youtube for suitable song tracks that are related to young children, that encounter a disturbing twist.
For our first track I have found a creepy ice cream truck tune. This interlinks well into our thriller because an ice cream truck shows intertexuality with children, though at the same time the silence plays part in the background creating suspension.
For our second track, we found a creepy music box soundtrack. This would be a suitable track to fit our thriller because each note gives an echoing sound. This creates mystery and a sense of lingering anxiety. The simplicity of this, replicates that of a children's nursery rhyme, creating intertextual references with our thriller synopsis, encompassing a young school girl. This track also suspends silence within the background representing the theme of loneliness.
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