(Left) our production logo
(Right) proposed suitable distributor
Sourced from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StudioCanal_UK
StudioCanal UK (formerly Optimum Releasing/Home Entertainment/Classics) is a film distributor company working in the UK andIreland. The company releases many films, including foreign language films, anime releases such as Studio Ghibli's films and independent British, Irish and American films in the UK and sometimes Ireland.
Optimum was acquired by StudioCanal, a subsidiary of Vivendi SA, in 2006. Since StudioCanal bought Optimum, the French company distribute their large back catalogue of classic British films (many from the Cannon and EMI catalogues) through Optimum releasing under the strand 'Optimum Classic'.
Optimum Releasing (also known as StudioCanal UK) are an ideal distributor for our film. They have recently distributed numerous low-budget, British horror movies such as:
- The Awakening (2011)
- Attack the Block (2011)
- Kill List (2011)
- The Silent House (2010)
What does the distributor actually do?
Helpful information on film distribution: http://www.skillset.org/film/jobs/distribution/article_4958_1.asp
Film distribution involves launching and sustaining films in the marketplace. Because the film business is product driven, Film Distributors must connect each film they release with the widest possible audience. As every new title is distinctive and different, Distributors must be strategic and knowledgeable about promotion and publicity in order to entice audiences to see their films, utilising successful film release plans, created in collaboration with film production and/or studio company personnel, marketing teams, publicity departments and exhibitors (cinema operators).
Some film distribution companies are affiliated with Hollywood studios, and release studio products in tandem worldwide. Unaffiliated film Distributors (Independents) primarily handle films financed outside the Hollywood system, which are usually country specific, i.e. they oversee films only in their home country. Regardless of affiliation, all Distributors are allowed to compete for films with available rights in such areas as theatrical, television, satellite, DVD, etc.
Ideally, a film's distribution plan is taken into consideration during the scripting stage. The more Distributors know about a production, the more informed are their choices when deciding how to publicise the film, and about its marketing campaign, release strategy, promotional tie-ins, etc. However, in the independent sector, Distributors often become involved only after films premiere at film markets or festivals such as Sundance, Cannes or the American Film Market. Film Sales Agents represent such films when they are seeking distribution, and broker deals between filmmakers and Distributors.
In general, the more money Film Distributors spend on a release, the more interest is generated, which should also heighten what every Distributor wants from the public - publicity by word of mouth. Distributors position films, making the decisions when and where to release a new film, this is decided through a combination of market knowledge, experience and judgment to gauge the target audience for each film. Roughly 350 feature films are launched each year in the UK, and most don't make any money during their theatrical runs. P&A (prints and advertising) represent the largest expenditure items for Distributors, often amounting to the equivalent of between a third and half of the film's original production budget. Risks are high. A film's opening weekend revenue often brings in as much as 25-30% of its entire box office earnings, and is vitally important to its long-term fiscal profitability and sustainability.
The Film Distributor's Association (FDA) is the trade body that represents UK Theatrical Film Distributors. It seeks to promote cinema going in preference to other leisure activities. It is also involved with such important issues as anti-piracy laws, stopping the production and sale of counterfeit DVDs, and planning for the future when digital projection replaces 35mm film.
Eden Lake (2008, James Watkins) has some notable similarities to our film (a British horror with a similar protagonist in a similar setting) and was distributed by Optimum Realsing. The movie was shown at 184 screen in the UK and made £192,000 on it's opening weekend. I think would be a realistic target for our film. Below is an example poster I made to promote our film (left) with influences from the Eden Lake Poster (above) and from the horror classic The Thing Poster (1982, John Carpenter) (right).
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