Media Institutions Research

The are many distribution companies that distribute films internationally. Some are based in the UK and some in the United States. Distribution companies decide the release of the film e.g. date of release, selected cinemas, when it is released on DVD/Blu-Ray. They also decide on the marketing of the film e.g. posters/billboards, trailers, TV spots, publicity - red carpet invites. Finally they decide on the delivery to the cinema.

There are two types of distribution companies. Major Studio companies usually have the money, resources and equpment to produce and distribute films. These include:

• Universal Pictures
• Paramount Pictures
• 20th Century Fox

The other type of distribution company is an Independent Studio company. These produce small scale, budget films and rely on funding from the major studios to produce and release films. Films such as Bridget Jones' Diary, Notting Hill and Love Actually were all produced in Independent Studios and recieved funding from larger companies to be able to release on the scale they did. Independent companies include:

• StudioCanal
• Working Title Films

I feel that our film would be produced by an Independent Company but may recieve funding from studios such as Universal of 20th Century Fox for international distribution.

Films always carry age restrictions on them to determine which audience is deemed suitable to view the film. In the UK the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) determine the age rating of the film through a board of members, who view the film and decide on the classification. In the UK, currently, the age restrictions are:

• U (Universal, suitable for all ages)
• PG (Parental Guidance, suitable for children any age but may require parental supervision)
• 12A (Suitable for children under 12 but only with a parent)
• 12 (Suitable for viewers over 12 only)
• 15 (Suitable for viewers over 15 only)
• 18 (Suitable for viewers over 18 only)

I feel our film would be a 12 or 15 classification as, although the opening sequence does not, the rest of the film may contain explicit language and violence.