Distribution notes

The many aspects of releasing a film
There are tons of techniques, strategies and elements to use and consider when releasing a film, there are a possible 3 different company's that could be used just to get a film reel to the cinemas and vast legislation that dictates the parameters of a film.

Logistics of a film:
The logistics is the core of transport for newly released films. When a distribution company has the task of releasing a film they will tackle getting the film around by hiring a separate company to deliver the reels, the company will use their vans to transport the reels around the different film territories in circulation. However there is more to this aspect of film release than delivery-the logistics must meet the governing body's requirements of film and record and file their moves around the country as plans to be as effective as possible. depending on the budget of the film the logistics will also print the 35mm reels which will cost around £1000 for each film and will be split up into 5-6 reels. Also any extra touches to the films such as subtitling and 3D effects will cost double. Within the last 10 years the logistics has also been responsible for printing the DVD's. However the distributor will own these reels and the right to print the film making them the owners of any films they release. However these are some film company's that are also distributors and logistics, for instance Universal Studios will have the power to make a film, produce their own marketing and then circulate it around the world themselves which actually minimises the overall cost. Another example of logistics is that of the film This is England which on release only bought 20 prints which circulated to only independent cinemas and lasted 3 months.

Licensing:
before any film can be distributed it has to be given a certificate and verified by a board to gain its licensing, this means that all distributors need licenses to release the films they buy. this licensing allows everything from printing the reels to sending them to different cinemas. in the UK this is done via the BBFC-the british board of film classification, this is the governing body for all films released in the UK and is the licensing assigner to all distributors. In terms of licensing for distributors, buying a film from the producers means that royalties have to be paid whenever the film is in use, this could occur when its released, played on TV and even with DVD sales. usually films are bought and played in film territories, there are around 90 of these territories and in the case of film distribution a film can be released in more than 10 of these territories because of its large budget or just released in one because of the locally produced film. Licensing goes as far as TV and even the Internet where Distributors of TV like Sky will by the rights to play newly released films and company's such as Apple will buy the rights to sell a downloadable version on itunes.