Chp 12-- Motion Picture Flashcards
guilds
unions established by writers, directors, actors, and other crew members to protect their mutual interests and maintain standards
exhibition license
an agreement between a distributor and an exhibition firm that specifies the date on which the distributor will make the film available to the exhibition firm’s theaters, the number of weeks the theaters agree to run the film, and when and where competing theaters can show the same film; it also sets the financial arrangements between the distributor and the exhibition firm
the majors
the six most powerful companies in Hollywood because of their distribution power
distribution rights
the rights to circulate a particular movie in different parts of the world
genre films
movies that fit classic storytelling formulas (science fiction, horror, action) and are typically relatively inexpensive to make
independent producers
production firms that are not owned by a distributor
completion bond companies
insurance companies that, for a large fee, pay any costs that exceed an agreed-upon amount for a film
green light
a term used to describe production and distribution executives’ approval of the making of a particular film
exclusive release
the release of a film to only a handful of carefully selected theaters around the country
on spec
writing a script for a film without a contract to do so, with the hope that when the script is passed along to various production firms by the scriptwriter’s agent, it will be bid for and purchased
talent agents
individuals who represent various creative personnel (e.g., actors, directors, authors, and screenwriters) and aim to link them with production firms in exchange for a percentage of the creators’ revenues from the finished product
title testing
conducting interviews with filmgoers in shopping malls and other public places to determine the most alluring name for an upcoming picture
block booking
when movie distributors force exhibitors to book blocks of their films
negative cost
the total cost of making and editing the movie
megaplex
a modern, air-conditioned building that houses 16 or more screens and has the capacity to exhibit a number of different films at the same time
saturation release
the initial release of a film in more than 2,000 theaters simultaneously
bookers
people who license movies from distributors for theaters
A films
expensively made productions featuring glamorous, highly paid stars
platform release
the initial release of the movie in far fewer theaters in a relatively small number of areas with the plan to release the film in more theaters as the film garners positive publicity and discussion
line producer
the individual who makes sure the equipment and personnel are there when they are needed
film distribution firms
companies responsible for finding theaters in which to show the movies around the world and for promoting the films to the public
box office receipts
the sum of money taken in for admission at movie theaters around the country
tracking studies
research on the public’s awareness of and interest in a film, beginning two weeks before the film’s release and continuing through the film’s first month of release
back-end deal (percentage of the gross)
a deal in which a production firm convinces a famous actor or director to take a lower salary in exchange for getting a percentage of the money that the production firm receives from the distributor
sell-through outlets
stores in which consumers buy the videos rather than just renting them
publicity
the process of creating and maintaining favorable “buzz” about a movie among its target audiences
pitch
the initial presentation of a movie idea to a producer
B films
lower-budget films that were made quickly
blockbusters
films that bring in more than $200 million at the U.S. box office
rental outlets
companies that purchase releases from movie distributors and then rent them to individual customers on a pay-per-day basis
day-and-date release
a simultaneous release date for a movie in different countries
art films
movies created on small budgets that often do not fit into Hollywood stereotypes and standard genres
film piracy
the unauthorized duplication of copyrighted films for profit
rough cut
a preliminary version of a movie
data locker
a website that rents secure password-protected areas to store files
word of mouth
the discussions that people who see the movie have with their friends in person and on social media sites such as Facebook
star system
an operation designed to find and cultivate actors under long-term contracts, with the intention of developing those actors into famous “stars” who would enhance the profitability of the studio’s films
previewing
a type of concept testing that takes place after a film is completed but before it is formally released
film production firms
companies involved in coming up with story ideas, finding scriptwriters, hiring the personnel needed to make the movie, and making sure the work is carried out on time and on budget
theatrical films
films created to be shown first in traditional movie theaters
wide release
the opening of a film in more than 600 theaters simultaneously, usually accompanied by a large publicity campaign to incite people to see the film; the most common release pattern in the United States
percentage-above-the-nut approach
an agreement drawn between a distributor and an exhibition firm in which the executives of the exhibition firm and the distribution firm agree on the costs of operating each theater (electricity, salaries, rent, maintenance, and the like) – a break-even point called the nut; then, film by film, the distributor and the exhibition firm negotiate what percentage of revenues “above the nut” the exhibition firm will pay to the distribution firm
treatment
detailed outline of an initial pitch to executives of a production or distribution firm
multiplex
a modern, air-conditioned building that houses between 8 and 15 screens and has the capacity to exhibit a number of different films at the same time
