Movie Distributor

If a film distributor works with a cinema exhibitor, he must provide:

• A written contract stipulating the amount of gross ticket sales that will be paid to the exhibitor by the distributor after the initial deduction (usually as a percentage of the gross);
• Fees due;
• Verification of the exhibitor by ticket sales, necessary to ensure the accuracy of the data on gross fees that the exhibitor provides to the distributor;
• Transferring the amount due to the film producing company or any other intermediary (for example, the agent who released the film).

Also, a film distributor should:

• To guarantee the availability of a sufficient number of copies of the film required by all exhibitors with whom the contract is signed on the day of the premiere ;
• Ensure their delivery to the cinema by the day of the show;
• Keep an eye on exhibitors to make sure that the movie is actually shown even in movie theaters with the minimum number of seats, the proper number of times;
• Ensure that all copies of the film are returned to the distributor’s office or other storage facility within the time specified in the contract.

From a practical point of view, when a movie is rented in cinemas, the activities of a film distributor include the physical production of copies of films and their delivery around the world (a process that is beginning to be replaced by digital distribution of copies), as well as the creation of posters, advertising articles in newspapers and magazines, TV- commercials , trailers and other promotional items.

If the film distributor works with a foreign film, he may also be responsible for providing dubbing or subtitles for the film, as well as censorship or other legal “approvals” for showing the film in the territory where the film distributor conducts his business. In the event that the film distributor decides to cooperate with a local distributor in a certain territory, the name of this distributor is indicated in the film materials distributed in this territory. A foreign distributor is allowed to license the film for a certain amount of time. ^[one]

With the advent of new ways of renting films, film studios were wary of experiments. Many believed that new ways to rent films would cause the destruction of old methods. Over time, new types of distribution in the cinema have proven effective, and most movie studios have begun to use unconventional new technologies.

As a result of the spread of new methods of movie rental, the revenue structure of film studios has expanded significantly: so-called “distribution windows” have appeared. “Distributor windows” created unique opportunities in the film industry and allowed film distributors to receive additional profit and eliminate temporary and territorial “failures” in film distribution. ^[2]

Non-theatrical distribution includes the distribution of feature films among a selective audience. The difference between theater and non-theater shows is that the latter should take place in some way among a closed audience. For example, among school students or passengers on an airplane. In non-theatrical screening, hidden pay-per-view is common: the cost of watching a movie of an airplane's passengers is included in the total ticket price.

Most non-theater show contracts state that shows are not advertised, except in the group that is eligible to participate in the show (for example, a passenger leafing through a magazine on board an airplane).

At present, the most common business model for non-theatrical screening is the sale of a license to the exhibitor, which allows the legal display of film copies, purchased by the exhibitor separately for the home video format. Such licenses can be individual, one-time screenings or an unlimited number of film screenings provided by the distributor for a certain period of time.

Some movie distributors distribute only home video or some subspecies of home movie distribution ( DVD / Blu-ray distribution). Also, film producers can license other movie distributors, giving them rights to home videos, or the distributor can sub-license the rights to other distributors.

If the film distributor distributes the film on physical media such as DVDs, he must take care of creating the DVD cover and agree to create a certain number of copies.

Today, some movie makers use a model called DVD-on-demand. Companies record DVD-Rs (a process called “dubbing”) when someone orders a movie and then the disc is transferred to the client.

The distributor can also maintain contacts with wholesale distributors of discs that supply DVDs to retail outlets, with online stores, as well as arrange for them to deliver DVDs.

• Movie Distributor List