Little Blue Opening -- Evaluation, Question Three

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

The only process we have yet to experience in film making is post-production distribution. A particularly interesting part of the film industry to me personally. The distribution process is the release and advertising campaign of a film, were the advertising team will distribute posters, adverts, trailers, and other advertising techniques to promote the upcoming film. It’s the distributors task to keep the film in he public eye and organised its showing in theatres, festivals or online. Realistically because of our film is low key production and still at this stage amateur it’s likely not to be distributed at any point. However its not complete impossible, bringing me to my first suggestion of a possible media institution that could distribute our film.

A concept of distribution I am already familiar with is Independent film distributor’s Dogwoof, a organisation that supports independent film making. From choosing the release dates, booking cinema’s, planning, organizing and handling promotional campaigns and PR, DVD distribution and much more. (seehttp://www.dogwoof.com/indie/our-services/ ).

Dogwoof however as a ‘social enterprise’ tends to focus on the distribution of ‘specializing in social issue films: documentaries; independent films and world cinema.’ With an objective of ‘The aim of this approach is to trigger change, and get people to take action.’ Therefore if I was to present my film to Dogwoof for distribution there is the question of if my film genre is suited to there aims as film distributors. However I feel confident of that the possibility still remains after study various films previously distributed my Dogwoof such as Boogie, Cherry blossoms and Four eyed monsters, although even these films suggest strong elements of social issues this independent films are not filmed in a documentary style so Dogwoof’s interest in drama based independent films.

Another distributor that we could potentially use for our film is IFC entertainment, http://www.ifcfilms.com/about-ifc-films as a leading distributor of independent and foreign film it has distributed many recognized independent films such as Night and Day, How to be and Adulthood. It also uses a range of outlets in which to distribute the film, offering it a wide coverage ‘IFC in Theaters, makes independent films available to a national audience by releasing them simultaneously in theaters as well as on cables On Demand platform.’ Also in addition to this, ‘Select IFC Films are also available through Itunes and Amazon Unbox’. Using Itunes as a means of distribution would to me personally be a great goal to achieve, being now one of the most popular and used seller of online films it would offer our film to a vast audience of all ages. To consider our film to reach this stage however is highly ambitious. It also offers audiences to view independent films ‘On demand’ such as Ricky, a film by François Ozon with conventions and themes similar to Little Blue, an example of how our film made be similarly promoted and distributed by IFC entertainment. http://www.ifcfilms.com/films/ricky

This also encouraged me to consider other distribution outlets such as the internet.

Facebook, a social media site with a ever growing number of registered members estimated around 42 million. It remains the 18^th most visited website around the world and is the 7^th most popular visited website in the US. With films using this media as a method of promotional campaign we as the filmmakers could judge the interest of our demographic and raise awareness of our film to them simultaneously. http://www.facebook.com/pages/?browse&ps=88 See the vast selection of films advertised simply through the scheme of ‘Becoming a fan’ which allows members to join the films page, use links to relevant websites promoting the film, follow information of the film during its release and distribution and also to advertise any merchandise of further release afterward. This will also encourage our film to spread thought-out our intended audience through interest and topic of conversation.

Film festivals are one of THE forms of screening independent films. As a possibility for our film it would offer Little Blue a wide audience and recognition in the public and film industry. A possibility of a film festival Little Blue may be shown at is Raindance. ‘Raindance has organized screenings, seminar and workshops in USA, Canada, Japan, Denmark, Poland, Scotland, Ireland, Germany and France.’ Originally working as a support and advice organization for independent filmmakers the Raindance festival was founded in 1993. It encourages and asks for the entries of all genres and types. Working with Raindance not only would we gain the valuable knowledge and advice we need through its training programs and various guides but would also consider screening our film in a upcoming festival creating high awareness of Little Blue and possibly achieving award winning status.

http://www.raindance.co.uk/site/independent-film-festival-2009