Research Independent Cinema

By Sophie Ordidge.

Task 1Definitions

Production:The action of making or manufacturing from components or raw materials, or the process of being so manufactured. Production consists of five stages: an initial story being established, idea, or commission, through scriptwriting where a plan for the entire film is decided, casting where the actors who shall play the characters are decided, shooting where the film is shot using cameras in the decided locations, editing in post production where aspects such as sound effects and special effects are added into the film, and screening the finished product before an audience that may result in a film release and exhibition.

Distribution:The action of sharing something out among a number of recipients. A film can be released through a number of platforms, including: Theatrical distribution, DVD, Blu-ray, Online distribution, Streaming, or pay or non pay TV . This allows a wide audience to experience watching the film. The more ways the film is distributed typically the more successful it will have had to have been.

Exhibition:A public display of works of art or items of interest, held in an art gallery or museum or at a trade fair. This means how the audience view the film.

ProductionProducing a film can be broken down into several different stages, such as: an initial story being established, idea, or commission, through scriptwriting, casting, shooting, editing, and screening the finished product before an audience that may result in a film release and exhibition. The five major stages of film production are:• Development – ideas for the film are developed, rights to books/plays are bought, and

the screenplay is written. Funding for the projects has to be found.• Pre-production – cast and crew are hired, sets are created and locations are selected.• Production – the raw elements of the film are recorded.• Post-production – The images, sound, and visual effects of the recorded film are

edited. • Distribution – Now the film is finished, it is distributed and screened in cinemas

and/or released on home video. Some of the largest film production companies are:DreamWorks Animation, 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, Screen Gems, Sony Pictures Animation, Marvel Studios, Warner Bros. Studios and Touchstone Pictures to list a few.

DistributionFilm Distribution allows an audience to view a film by either placing it in a Cinema or releasing I on home video. The person in charge of film distribution is usually a professional film distributer , who would them determine a marketing strategy for the film, the ways in which the film shall be presented to the audience, and who may set the release date of the film. The two main ways a film may be distributed to an audience are by:1. Exhibited directly to the audience through a movie theatre or on television2. Through home viewing, which regards DVD-Video, Blu-ray Disc, Video on

demand, Download, Television programs through broadcast syndication. Films can be released by Standard release (The film is initially released just in the Cinema. It is then released on DVD/Blu-ray approximately 4 months after theatrical release, and then finally to the Television approximately two years after theatrical release) , Simultaneous release (when a movie is made available to the public through many different windows at one time such as Cinema, DVD and Internet) , Straight-to-video release (The film is only released to be home viewed, it is not released in Cinemas) and Internet release.

ExhibitionThe Exhibition of a film regards how the film can be presented to an audience. The main ways in which a film can be presented are through:• Cinemas (Usually at the films initial release)• Through Home videos (DVD/Blu-ray – usually four months after the film was

released in theatres)• On the Internet • On the Television (Usually approximately two years after the film was released in

theatres)• Through film festivals (multiple films displayed at one location over a series of days)

Another way to show people the film is either through Trailers, Teasers, Posters or Standees.• For example, Hollywood movie distributers spend roughly $4 billion a year to buy

paid advertising, which includes 30-second TV adverts and newspaper advertisements).

What is Independent Cinema?

The technical definition of the phrase independent film is: any movie that was funded with less that 50% of that money came from one of the “big six” major six film studios, which are Columbia Pictures (MGM and UA), 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney Pictures/Touchstone Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, paramount Pictures and Universal Studios. Independent films are easy to recognise as they are noted for having a specialised style, content and an individual film maker’s artistic visions.What is Mainstream

Cinema?Mainstream films are films that are given widespread releases after being distributed to Cinemas. Globally, Mainstream films are the ones defined as Hollywood films as these are the most common films to be distributed widespread.

The Difference between the two:

Regarding budget, more often that not Independent films have a much smaller budget that Mainstream films. Also, Independent films are always made outside a major film studio – where Mainstream films are made solely in major studios. A-list actors are more prominently featured in Mainstream films, whereas Independent films mainly cast unknown actors – a benefit of this being the actors aren’t a USP. This means people are more likely to go see and Independent film for the quality of the film and the desire to view it, rather than for the cast. Another noticeable difference between the two types of film are the location in which the film is set. Due to a much smaller budget, Independent films take place in inexpensive locations with non-extravagant sets, Mainstream films having the opposite. Finally, Mainstream films are often noted for their dramatic Special effects which can make up the majority of the Blockbuster films, for example the Marvel films. Independent films are likely to use very few special effects, and often none at all.

Task 2Production

Production Companies who produce Independent films:Film4 Productions, Lions Gate Films, Summit Entertainment, Hannover House, IFC Films, Entertainment One and Palm Pictures.

Production Companies who produce Mainstream films:Universal Studios, 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros., Columbia Pictures, Paramount Pictures, RKO Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, United Artists, Grand National and Republic Pictures.

Task 3How do Independent Production Companies fund

their projects?

The funding of Independent films are always under 50% received from major film studios, such as paramount Pictures. The two main ways Independent films can be funded are as follows:

DonorsDonors can voluntarily give their

money to the film maker’s without any expectation of receiving the money back – it is a gift. Donors commonly

have a deep connection to the story or the film maker, or anybody else in relation to the making of the film,

which motivates them to donate the money to aid the project.

Alternatively, they donor may just greatly appreciate the story of the film and the artistic view the film

maker has and has decided to help the film be produced for their own

pleasure of the act.

InvestorsInvestors differ from Donors as

Investors are more interested in the profit they can make from the film

rather than the entertainment/artistic pleasure they will receive from the

finished film. Investors hope they will make a profit from the film, gaining

them money. If the film is a hit, Investors can gain a 500% profit from

the films total gross.

Task 4Distribution

Online film distribution (e.g. Amazon, Netflix, iTunes etc..) is now the most prominent way of distributing films in the 21st Century. Before this, one of the only ways to distribute films was the find a sales agent or a distribution company that could enable you to get your film out into the world and to gain an audience. For most Independent films, then most realistic way of distributing your film would be through straight to DVD release – to which the profits of the DVD have to be fairly split with the distributor who aided you. Self distribution is different to this, as it allows the control and power of the film to be put back into the film maker’s own hands. Self distribution means the film maker will not have to pay commissions to a distributor, saving them money, regarding the profit the film makes. One way to distribute your film yourself is through iTunes distribution, which allows your film to be viewed by a massive audience – making this form of self distribution arguably the best. On iTunes, your film will be available along side Mainstream films, which is likely to increase the appeal of your film to the audience. However, iTunes do take 30% of your profit per sale, which is a disadvantage. Netflix is another example, which allows you to get your film seen by a large audience. To get your film on Netflix you have to go through a aggregator, which will cost approximately $1500.The screening of Independent films can also contribute to their success. In the UK, there is an organisation called the ‘Independent Cinema Office’, which twice a year runs national screening day events, which allows exhibitors to view upcoming Independent films yet to be released. These screenings allow film maker’s to get their work seen by a highly appreciative audience and the expand their audiences and increase interest in their projects.Some companies that distribute independent films in the UK include: Avatar Films, Artificial Eye and Cloud Ten Pictures.

Task 5Exhibition

The exhibition of Independent films is different from the exhibition of Mainstream films. Mainstream films are classed as ‘Mainstream’ as they are viewed in Cinemas over a widespread area – most likely worldwide if they’re a Hollywood Blockbuster. Independent films can often remain just within the country they were made in, or restricted to certain areas. Independent films are famously shown at Film Festivals. Well known Independent film festivals situated in America include: San Diego Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival. A film selected for these festivals will be seen by the world’s distributors and they will bid against each other for the right to distribute your film, if they like it, in their countries. In any major film festival showing 200 or more feature films, at least 40% of these will never get distribution in the UK and will not be seen again on a cinema screen in that country. 

Task 6

Kill BillProduced by: Miramax Films, A Band Apart, Super Cool ManChu.Distributed by: Miramax Films (USA), Buena Vista International(UK).Exhibited by: Miramax Home Entertainment (DVD and Blu-ray)

Casino RoyaleProduced by: Columbia Pictures, Eon Productions, Casino Royale Productions.Distributed by: Sony Pictures Entertainment (World Wide).Exhibited by: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (DVD and Blu-ray).

Bourne IdentityProduced by: Universal Pictures, Kennedy/Marshall Company, The Hypnotic. Distributed by: Universal Pictures (USA).Exhibited by: Universal Studios Home Entertainment (DVD and Blu-ray).

MementoProduced by: Newmarket Capital Group, Team Todd, I Remember Productions, Summit Entertainment. Distributed by: Newmarket Films (USA), Pathé Distribution (UK).Exhibited by: Columbia TriStar Home Video (DVD), Pathé Distribution (DVD).

Task 7How the following Independent films were produced, distributed and exhibited:

Reservoir DogsProduced: Live Entertainment, Dog Eat Dog Productions Inc.Distributed: Miramax Films (USA), Rank Film Organisation (UK).Exhibited: Artisan Entertainment (DVD), Momentum Pictures Home Entertainment (DVD).

Tinker Tailor Soldier SpyProduced: StudioCanal, Karla Films, Paradis Films.Distributed: StudioCanal (UK), Focus Features (USA).Exhibited: StudioCanal (DVD), Universal Studios Home Entertainment (DVD and Blu-ray).

Breaking and EnteringProduced: Miramax Films, Mirage Enterprises. Distributed: The Weinstein Company (USA), Miramax Films (UK).Exhibited: Buena Vista International (DVD).

Task 8

After conduction my research, I have discovered that a company that would

produce, distribute and exhibit my independent production would be

StudioCanal as they offer their services to only Independent films. A film I have researched that that they produced,

distributed and exhibited is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.