THE FILM INDUSTRY 

By Antonia Enemuwe

PRODUCTION

Filmmaking involves a number of discrete stages. The project's producer selects a story, which may come from a book or a play or another film or a true story or an original idea etc. After identifying a theme or underlying message, the producer works with writers to prepare a synopsis. Then, they produce a step outline, which breaks the story down into one-paragraph scenes that concentrate on dramatic structure. The producer and screenwriter prepare a film pitch, or treatment, and present it to potential financiers. If the pitch is successful, the film receives a "green light", meaning someone offers financial backing.

DISTRIBUTION

Distributors decide to go for a release on one weekend as opposed to another supposedly because there's a lot of buzz around that time or it is a festive season (e.g. Christmas, New years) and during these periods people are a lot happier to spend their money and go to the cinema to see what's on. 

MARKETING

There are several types of marketing strategies that can successfully promote a film.

1) Endorsements (e.g Kristen Stewart in Twilight)

2) Advertising on Buses

3) The use of Billboards

4) Trailers on Youtube

5) Partnering up with other companies (e.g. Mcdonalds pairing up with Despicable Me 2)

6) Social Networking Fan Pages

Young children enjoy cinema-going. Sometimes they attend with a group of friends. Often they are accompanied by parents or relatives. Films for the younger age groups are important for local cinemas and may attract sell-out audiences for matinée performances, especially at weekends and during school holidays. Local cinemas have to be capable of adapting to whatever is currently in the news and available to them. This requires skill and showmanship on the part of the cinema manager and staff in addition to a well designed building.

EXHIBITION

There are many ways that audiences can watch films.

1) At the cinema

2) Home entertainment (On DVD, Blueray)

3) Online

Usually feature films open first ‘theatrically’ – (ie in cinemas). A cinema release has long been, andstill remains, the most effective way to bestowstature on a film and create demand to see it.But the cinema is just one link in the value chain.After the big screen run, films are released in flexible timescales in agrowing range of other formats so consumers may choose how, when andwhere to watch. These are the ‘ancillary market'.