Life Cycle Of A Film

In order for a film to be created there must first be an idea as to what the film is about, a storyline in which it will follow and the genre of movie that it falls into along with the ideas and experience it is trying to give the audience taking into consideration who the target audience actually is. The idea can originate from the director, writer or could be based on a story which has been in the media before or a well known event.

As the creation of a film moves past development, it enters the stage of pre production. During this stage of the life cycle of a film, the casting is completed, the crew are hired, costumes are designed and the sets are being made. If the film however is shot on location, the location is scouted and contracted in order for the shoot to take place. The film is divided into scenes according to location requirements. The scenes are not shot in the order in which the audience sees them on the screen, the director has a sotryboard which they follow depending on the locations and actors which are available at the time. It is possible for a film to be dropped during this stage of development due to reasons such as loss of a vital cast member or any disruptions which means completing the film can not occur.

During post production, the raw filming is edited. Music is added at this stage, and any scenes which were unclear are re-filmed. The sequence of difference stages within the post production stage are the rushes, rough editing, final editing, music, first copy, censor formalities, distribution, publicity and screening. It is effectivly the final step in the making of a film.

A dostributor of a film will analyse a schedule as to when and how the film will be released. Finding a 'light week' to release the film will ensure that there will be both screen space and adequate collumn inches in the press allocated to any potential release. Finally, the distributor will try to position the film, avoiding other films with a similar release date and traits, for example storyline. After the release date is set, investments are made in the materials and marketing campaign to support it. Prints and advertising represent most of the investment, after paying initial fee for the rights and can range from £1000 to over £1 million for a release of a film in the UK. The studio makes a licensing agreement with the distribution company. the distribution company then determines how many prints of the films to produce. The company then shows the movie to prospective buyers representing cinemas. The buyers then negotiate with them on which movies they decide to lease and the terms of the agreement. The prints are sent to the cinemas a few days before the opening day, and the movie is shown for a specified number of weeks, depending on how well it sells. At the end of its showing, the cinema sends the print back to the distribution company and makes payment on the agreement.

Exhibition is the retail branch of the film industry. It doesn't involve the production or development of a film but its public screening, to paying customers in a site devoted to such screenings such as the cinema. The exhibitor sells the experience of a film and as a result of them having power over how the films are presented to the public, they have considerable influence over the box office success and the reception of the film. The buyers then negotiate with them on which movies they decide to lease and the terms of the agreement. The prints are sent to the cinemas a few days before the opening day, and the movie is shown for a specified number of weeks, depending on how well it sells. At the end of its showing, the cinema sends the print back to the distribution company and makes payment on the agreement.