Production, Distribution & Marketing and Exhibition

Production
The stages involved in producing a film are pre-production, production and post-production.

In pre-production this is where planning for the project takes place. Scripts are written, cast and crew, location, props, setting, costumes, schedules etc are all produced and selected during pre-production as it is the preparation for beginning the project.

The production stage is when all the filming for the project takes place. Everything that was devised during pre-production is put to works to film for the project. Cast and crew are taken to the locations planned and filmed. The pre-production stage means the production stage can run more smoothly as everything has been planned before hand. During the production stage the director of the film may want to film scenes more then once and can do this a number of times.

The post production stage  is when the editing of the film happens. The film editor creates a 'rough cut' in which they put the best shots in order as a basis for the editing. They then move onto fine cutting the film by going back through the clips and editing them so they flow smoothly. This is also when trimming the film clips and adding effects like sound, graphics etc takes place. When the fine cut has been screened and approved by the director it is then locked, meaning no further changes can be made.

Distribution
Once the film is complete the studio makes a licensing agreement with a distribution company. The distribution company will determine how many copies of the film to make. The distribution company will show have screenings of the movie to potential buyers representing cinema's. The buyers will then negotiate with the distribution company on which film[s] they wish to lease and the terms of this. The copies are sent to the cinema's a few days before opening day and the shows this film for a number of weeks.

Marketing
The different types of marketing are trailers, bus ads, happy meals, apps, competitions, tv ads, posters, newspapers, magazines, radio, billboards, word of mouth etc.

Exhibition
The film value chain is the different formats that a film can be released in as theatrical launch is only one of these formats. There is also non-theatrical license where the audience can watch the film on an aeroplane, at a hotel or on a coach. There is home entertainment, subscription TV, free to air TV and licensed merchandising. We can also view films via the internet.