Production (Main stages)

Pre-Production: Planning, scripting & storyboarding, etc

Production: The actual shooting/recording.
Post-Production: Includes everything between production and creating the final
master copy.
PRE-PRODUCTION
It is the stage in which all the planning for the project takes place.
During this stage, the production is broken down into individual scenes
and all the places, props, cast members, costumes, special effects and
visual effects are identified. The script is also written at this stage, if it
has not already been completed. A well detailed schedule is produced
and arrangements are made for the necessary elements or people to be
available to the film-makers at the appropriate times.
PRODUCTION
This is the stage at which all the filming is carried out. All scenes
planned out in pre-production are filmed at the relevant locations. Each
scene is filmed as many times as the director deems fit, to ensure the
best quality scenes will be used to construct the film. This is where the
strength of the pre-production work is tested. Great precautions and care
must be taken to make sure that all the filming is done correctly and all
necessary shots are taken, as it is sometimes difficult or impossible to go
back and repeat certain events if the filming is incomplete when it comes
to the post-production stage.

POST-PRODUCTION

In this stage the film is assembled by the editor. The first job of the film editor is to build a rough cut taken
from or scenes based on individual shots. The purpose of building
a rough cut is to select and order the best shots. The next step is
to create a fine cut. This is getting all the shots to flow smoothly in
a seamless story. Trimming- which is the process of shortening
scenes by a few minutes, seconds, or even frames- is done during
this phase. Editing of footage, all music, graphics, menus etc are
also added in this stage. After the fine cut has been screened and
approved by the director and producer, the picture is "locked," this
means no further changes are made.
Americas Main producers
DreamWorks
Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenburg and David Geffen
established Dreamworks in 1994. Though not a full-
service studio, Dreamworks arranges for the production
and financing of movies. It then ties up with one of the majors for help in the distribution. It actually had a
brief stint as part of the Viacom group, but it became independent again after over two years. The Reliance
ADA Group of India currently backs the company. Katzenburg has since completely divested from the
company and now runs a separate studio called Dreamworks Animation.

Viacom
Viacom(established January 3, 2006) by Tom Freston
and Sumner Redstone, is the conglomerate behind the
Paramount Motion Pictures Group. Its major studio
subsidiary is Paramount Pictures, while arthouse
movies are released under the name of Paramount
Vantage. It also has a company dedicated for B movies
called Insurge Pictures. It has an 8.5 percent share of
the entire North American Market. It also owns MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. Philippe P. Dauman
(president and CEO)
LionsGate Entertainment
Lions Gate Entertainment is the most successful studio not based
in Los Angeles. Established in 1997 by Frank Giustra, the company
is also the owner of Artisan Entertainment. It has recently been
renamed as Lionsgate and the studio is now also the owner of
Summit Entertainment, the highest earning mini major studio
from 2009 to 2012. Lionsgate also has a share in Roadside
Attractions.
20
th
Century Fox
News Corporation was the outfit behind the Fox Entertainment
Group. The major studio subsidiary is 20thCentury Fox, while
independent movies are distributed through its Fox Searchlight
Pictures. Other companies under News Corporation include Fox
Faith, 20th Century Fox Animation, Blue Sky Studios and
Fox Animation studios also has a minority stake in New Regency
Productions. The company owns a 10.6 percent share of the US and
Canadian markets. Jim Gianopulos (Chairman and CEO)

Comcast/General Electric
Comcast/General Electric owns NBC Universal and is the
company behind Universal Pictures. It also owns Focus
Features that it uses for art house and independent movies. It
has a 13.6 percent share of the US and Canadian markets.
Other companies under it are Illumination Entertainment,
Working Title Films and Universal Animation Studios. Brian
L. Roberts (Chairman, President, and CEO)

The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company controls about 14.3 percent
of the entire North American market. Its parent
division is called The Walt Disney Studios. Movie
productions are done under its major studio
subsidiary called Walt Disney Pictures. The Walt
Disney Company also owns other important film
brands and divisions, among them being Lucasfilm,
Marvel Studios, Pixar, Touchstone Pictures, Walt
Disney Animation Studios and Disney nature. Robert A. Iger is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
The Walt Disney Company.
Time Warner
Time Warner is a conglomerate that owns the second biggest
share of the combined markets of the US and Canada at 15.4
percent. Its parent division is called Warner Bros. Entertainment,
while its major studio subsidiary is named Warner Bros. Pictures.
It is also the owner of other brands and divisions. Among them
are New Line Cinema, Castle Rock Entertainment, Turner
Entertainment Co., Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment.
SONY
SONY is the conglomerate behind Sony Pictures
Entertainment. Its major studio subsidiary is Columbia
Pictures. The company is also friendly to independent
producers with its own art house division that is called
Sony Pictures Classics. The company, through its distribution subsidiary called Screen Gems, also backs genre
and B movie producers. With a 17 percent share of the entire US and a Canadian market, Sony is considered
as the biggest studio these days. It also owns companies and prominent film brands like Tri Star Pictures,
Sony Pictures Animation, Destination Films, Triumph Films, Stage 6 Films and Affirm Films.
The ownership of a studio can have a great impact on the films the studio
makes, this is because for the owners or the studios may have a liken for
comedy genre films than others, hence the studios will be made to gear
their films to more comedy based than others.
There are two types of ownership: Conglomerate and Independent.
If as studio is owned by a conglomerate they will tend to make more big
budget movies and better standard movies as the conglomerate has more
funding than an independent producer. Conglomerates have more funding
as a result of the income they make from previous blockbuster movies
hence they able to help other smaller studios they own make better quality
movies.
If a studio is independent or is not under a conglomerate they will have less
funding to invest in their films to make it a high budget or good quality.
Independent Production: This is production normally done outside bigger production
company/Conglomerate.
Distribution
This is the act of sending copies of produced films
(physical, digital etc.) to exhibition places (cinemas, art
houses, cable etc.)
The people who distribute films are known as
distributors. It is not always the same people that
produce a film; this is because anybody can
produce/make a film.
Although now there are newer and more modern ways
of distributing films, people generally still use the traditional means of distributing films.
The traditional way:
A film is made/produced.
The producers find a distributor(if the producers are independent)
The distributor looks for a cinema house(s)(exhibitor)
The distributor convinces the cinema(s) that the movie is worth exhibiting(as it will bring
more people into the cinema(s) hence increasing their revenue from food and drinks)
When they manage to convince the cinema house they sell a physical copy of the film to the
cinema.
Once this is done the movie has been considered to be distributed traditionally
Some new ways:
These involve distributing the films though other means like: the internet(Netflix, YouTube etc.),
cable(virgin or sky-on demand, Dstv-box office etc). All these can be classified as digital means.
FILM FESTIVAL
This is simply a festival/event held in order for producers to find funds(investors) for their films it
also helps producers to people who will distribute their produced film(distributors). The event also
helps producers with local distributors, meet and find distributors in other countries.
The main factors that affect when a distributor releases a film are- When and what other movies are
showing also what season it is (Christmas, holiday etc.)
Distribution is probably the most important part of the film chain because, if a film is produced and
is not able to secure a distribution deal, the movie will remain with the producers and will not be
able to get to exhibitors hence the film will not be able to be seen.
Marketing: This is the process of creating awareness of a film/movie (getting an audience) where
as distribution is getting the film to be exhibited (screened).

NEW RELEASES AND THEIR WAYS OF MARKETING
THE JUDGE (2014)- TRAILERS AND WORD OR MOUTH
ANNABELLE(2014)- TAILERS AND POSTERS

PROMOTION TO DIFFERENT AUDIENCE
Films that are promoted to different
audiences normally are promoted in the
language of the different audience, and also
have features that the audience may find
attractive (names of stars, different colours
etc). Example: The Lorax
BOOK COVER
(appeal to book
readers)


More visual which appeals to
people who have interests in
graphics (animated posters)





Has the same colourful appeal as that of the English equivalent
but text is in a different language.









EXHIBITION
Currently audiences get to see films through different means (more convenient), as compared to
previously that audiences had to go to a cinema to view a movie that the cinema has decided to
purchase and exhibit. Now audiences can watch whatever movie they please at the comfort of their
homes using applications such as Netflix, getting it on demand and even streaming/downloading it
illegally.
The box office for a film is the actual payments made in exchange for a copy of the film produced. If
a films box office return [normally monitored during first week(end)] is high, the film is most likely
to succeed and last long in term or demand. The distributors receive most of the money from a
successful film. Cinemas make their money through the selling of food and drinks.
Cinemas also tend to offer discounts, promotion deals, exhibit in 3D etc. In order to encourage
people (attract) to watch in the cinemas than at home.
Ancillary
Using the name of the main
character (this attracts those
who like his voice, acting or like
him)
markets are non-theatrical markets for feature films, like home video, video games, television, Pay
Per View, VOD, Internet streaming, airlines and others.
Through these means people are able to view or know the story line of the film long after they are
off the screens this hence extends the life of the film.

The British Film Institute (BFI) is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter that is
geared to promote greater understanding and appreciation of, and access to, film and
moving image culture in the UK. This organisation is responsible for the organisation and
holding of the Film Festival in UK.
Festivals are a key part of our cultural infrastructure: they inspire audiences, artists,
filmmakers and professionals alike. We believe they can help us achieve our three strategic
priorities for 2013-2017, as outlined in Film Forever.
The BFI has allocated Lottery funding of 1 million per year, for the four years from 2013-
2017, to the Film Festival Fund. As part of the Audience Fund, the Film Festival Fund
supports festivals which provide audiences across the UK with a greater film choice, as well
as increasing audiences for specialised and independent British film.
The fund has two priorities:
o Strand 1: To support audience development activity within film festivals that offer a
strong cultural programme and which serve regional/local audiences, or which may have
a particular specialist theme enabling them to reach audiences from further across the
UK. These festivals are usually focused on public audiences, rather than the film
industry, and do not generally attract an industry delegation. New festivals can be
supported under this strand as long as they demonstrate a clear cultural vision which
meets a gap in provision, are based on audience analysis and need, and demonstrate
financial viability.
o Strand 2: To support audience development activity at UK film festivals that have an
international or UK-wide reach and profile, enhancing opportunities for the UK film
industry nationally and internationally, as well as increasing audience choice. New
festivals will not be supported under this strand.