Question 2 (mock re-write)

The production and distribution is essential to a film’s success. When producing a film there are many key factors that can determine the outcome of the film such as star power, technology, location, budget and more. Furthermore, are distribution factors like the marketing strategies, convergence and synergy to name a few, which will have a significant impact on a films global success or not.

One of the major elements to a films production and distribution is budget. Budget allows a film to have the ability for the latest technology, various locations, Hollywood movie actors etc. During production conglomerate films such as the film ‘Catching Fire’ have huge budgets to spend on above and below the line costs. Above the line being the actors, producers, directors etc and below the line costs being hair stylists, sound engineer, camera operator and more. Hollywood films have more money to spend on these costs for example Catching Fire had a budget of $130 million and also $10 million just for visual effects. This large budget allows them to have access to the latest and best technology. These big films are using new innovation technology, just like Catching Fire used an IMAX msm9802 camera for filming. This technology can be used as a demographic movement, or selling point for them film. Some films will even use technology a though it is its own character in the film. On the other hand, smaller films have inevitable smaller budgets for example the film ‘About Time’ only had a budget of £12 million, and therefore did not have the same technological advances as larger films. About Time used a simple Arri Alexa camera. Moreover, they will use previous/older technology that was good a few years ago but is now cheaper to get hold of.

In addition to the concept of budget is star power. This can be a major selling point for a film as large films like Catching Fire can get hold of big Hollywood actor such as Jennifer Lawrence, who will automatically attract people to the film. You can guarantee and audience with star power no matter what the film. However, smaller films cannot afford to pay well-known actors to star in their films. In addition to star power is the previous history of the film. Films such as Catching Fire are based on very popular, best seller books, meaning that they will automatically have a built in fan base due to people who liked the book. In addition, the film Catching Fire is a sequel so there would be a hype for the film before it has even been produced as it is so in demand. Also in the area of budget is location, and how high concept films can afford to fly cast and crew to different locations around the world to film in, just like catching fire which filmed in places like Hawaii and America and more. Juxtaposing with low concept films like About Time which filmed only in Cornwall and London, as they cannot afford to fly cast and crew out to other locations.

In terms of the distribution aspect of films and again budget having an impact on this, conglomerates can afford to pay for lots of distribution techniques. Catching fire, for example, could reach many people as they could afford to distribute the film globally by Lionsgate; the film was played in over 4,500 cinema screens just in the US alone, whilst in the cinema Catching Fire was not competing against other films as it was the most popular film out at that time. Moreover, the film had lots of long TV spots, such as interviews and behind the scene snippets playing on television, this is due to the film being very popular before production and because it has the money to pay for these things unlike small films such as About Time which stuck to the cheaper forms of distribution and generally only distributed in a few places. Furthermore, British small films can generally not afford the same amount of distribution as some big American films, that is hoping they are lucky enough to find a distributor in the first place. Big films will be in early talk with distributors possibly even before production, where as other films will produce the film and ask and hope that someone will distribute it.  

Under the branch of distribution is advertisement and marketing, so once the production is over, they have to use strategies to sell the film to the population through advertisements. Large movies such as Catching Fire spent over $45 million on advertisement just in the USA. They utilised bus shelters, newspapers, radio shows, train stations etc. most of these means of advertisement will include a poster of the film, most likely with the main character/star on it, in Catching Fire’s case it have Jennifer Lawrence playing ‘Katniss’ on the poster, immediately attracting people due to star power and the film in general.