Movies are capable of enriching pretty well every aspect of our lives. They retain an extraordinary power to
amaze as much as amuse us. Beyond that, they influence the games we enjoy and the music we play, as well as inspiring the fashions and advertising images that spring up all around us.
But films can have an impact, both commercial and social, only to the extent that they truly connect with their audience. Like any other product, films only come to life when they invade the consciousness of the citizens - consumers - for whom they were intended.
It is the task of distributors to identify and deliver the largest possible audience for every film. This is no small task, particularly when so many other entertainment options are available both inside and outside the home; and that's
in addition to the 500 or more titles released in UK cinemas every year. But research confirms that most cinemagoers know in
advance which film they want to see - and that's principally a result of competing distributors' efforts to promote
interest in the title(s) they are handling.
Tailor-made, audience-focused distribution is, and will remain, vital to the prospects of individual films, and
to the industry as a whole, whatever the medium or format in question. Every aspect of the communications and entertainment
industry is undergoing rapid change. Inevitably, as digital technologies open up new opportunities for audiences, and the
businesses that serve them, traditional approaches melt away.
But through it all a few fundamentals remain rock-solid. Sharing great stories has always been part of human nature, and stories told on film look and sound their very best in modern cinemas. During this decade of almost continual changes and challenges UK cinema-going has been remarkably resilient, in fact when
compared to many other sectors, positively buoyant, thanks in no small measure to the inability of any other medium to match the immersive experience cinema offers.
With this guide, you can look through the eyes (or lens!) of a distributor and consider how you might launch a film. What sort of business considerations would you take into account, and what are the key decisions you must weigh up?
It's my sincerest hope that you enjoy exploring the essential life of a film beyond its production phase, and that this
overview will make you want to discover even more.
I'm delighted to introduce the 2009 edition of this FDA guide, which invites you to explore the essential life of a film after its production phase.
View trailers,clips and production diaries for Working Title films out now and coming soon at www.workingtitlefilms.com
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