Marketing and Distribution Flashcards
1
Q
When does the film awards seasons occur?
A
Between November and February of each year culminating in Academy Awards in late February or early March
2
Q
What is a press kit?
A
The press kit is a pre-package set of documents, photographs, and other relevant materials about the film.
3
Q
What is a press kit designed to do?
A
It is designed to generate interest in and acquaint professionals and media with the project.
4
Q
Who is a press kit primarily aimed at? (3 groups)
A
Media representatives, festival selectors, and buyers.
5
Q
True or false a press kit should be a part of an application to a film festival?
A
True
6
Q
What do the initials EPK stand for?
A
Electronic press kit
7
Q
What is the name of the website where you can generate laurel reefs or festival awards?
A
laurelleavesawardmaker.com
8
Q
What is contained on the title page of the press kit?
A
Film title, contact information of the studio, producer, company, or Director; vivid quotes from media reviews; the names of the key members of the crew and leading roles; any festival, awards, or laurels.
9
Q
Also included in the press kit is the synopsis. What is a synopsis?
A
A synopsis in a film press kit is a concise summary of the film’s story, typically written in an engaging and compelling way to entice journalists, distributors, and audiences. It should be clear, well-structured, and free of excessive detail while still conveying the film’s core premise, tone, and major themes.
10
Q
What if anything should you include in your press kit about the film crew?
A
You should choose three or five leading members of the film crew and outline their biographies.
11
Q
When including information about the film crew in your press kit, whom are the four groups you should talk about?
A
The Director, the script, writer, the producer, and the leading cast.
12
Q
Does a good Press Kit contain a “frequently asked questions” section?
A
Yes, it’s a good idea to have about 10 frequently asked questions.
13
Q
What does the FAQ section of your press kit allow you to convey?
A
Among other things, you can convey the directors intention, how you came up with the title, and how you persuaded the cast to be involved in the project.
14
Q
Photos are an important part of a press kit. What four types of pictures will you want your photographer to get?
A
1 shots of the key film scenes
2 images from the shooting set
3 a photo of the Director on set
4 photos with celebrities
15
Q
If somebody gives your film a bad review, is it useless in terms of the press kit?
A
No, even in a bad review, there will be one or two, phrases in the review that will be useful for the press kit.
16
Q
As a final section of your press kit, what five pieces of technical information must you provide?
A
The shooting format, the aspect, ratio, audio format, the length of the film, and the original language of the film.
17
Q
Is it a good idea to specify the age limit in the press kit?
A
Yes
18
Q
What is the standard file format for a press kit?
A
19
Q
In creating an effective marketing plan for your movie what is the first element that you give consideration to?
A
The audience
20
Q
True or false. The Audience of different demographics, have different perspectives, for how and where they source entertainment.
A
True
21
Q
When trying to determine who your target audience is, what are the seven things you should be thinking about?
A
Age, gender, social status, culture, worldview, interests, and what forms of media they use.
22
Q
When targeting your marketing to individual demographics, what is this called?
A
One to one marketing.
23
Q
Leadpages is an example of what?
A
An easy to use website and landing page builder.
24
Q
Google analytics is a great way to do what?
A
Track the activity of people visiting your website
25
True or false search engine optimization (SEO) is a part of a good movie marketing plan?
True
26
What’s the name of the website that is designed to help content creators brands and networks save time and grow their channels?
TubeBuddy
27
In what phase of your project production does marketing start?
The beginning when you are thinking about your film. You want to think about how you’re going to attract an audience.
28
What is a logline?
A brief, one or two sentence, summary of a movie, TV show, that hooks the reader, and describes the central conflict of the story.
29
What are the four elements of a logline formula?
Inciting incident, protagonist, action, and antagonist.
30
What is a protagonist?
the leading character or one of the major characters in a drama, movie, novel, or other fictional text
31
What is an antagonist?
a person who is opposed to, struggles against, or competes with another
32
What’s the difference between a logline and a synopsis?
While your logline is a short summary of what your movie is about, your synopsis is a beat for a beat retelling of your stories plot.
33
What is a tagline?
a short description or comment on a movie that is displayed on movie posters (or direct to video covers, etc.) to capture the essence of the movie, and ultimately make you watch the movie.
34
What’s the difference between a logline and a tagline?
Wow, the logline tells us what we’re getting into the tagline gets us excited and most always is a play on words.
35
What is active voice?
a grammatical voice in which a subject performs the action described by its verb. she threw the ball is active voice, whereby the ball was throwing to her, is passive voice
36
What are the five basic steps to creating a movie poster?
1 choose a good photo
2 add some effects to the photo
3 give the poster a title
4 add credits to the bottom of the poster
5 add a logline
37
If there were a cliché movie poster font, what would it be?
Trajan
38
When creating your movie poster, should you use any text effects such as Bevils gradients, outer glows, etc.?
No, they have no place on a movie poster
39
What is the acronym OTT?
OTT (over-the-top) is a means of providing television and film content over the internet at the request and to suit the requirements of the individual consumer.
40
What is the acronym VOD stand for?
Video-on-demand (VOD) is a technology that allows for the immediate delivery of video content, such as films and TV series, to individual subscribers
41
What does the acronym SVOD stand for?
SVOD (SUBSCRIPTION VIDEO-ON-DEMAND)
Examples of this type of content include: Netflix. Hulu. Disney+ Prime Video.
42
What is an example of SVOD?
Examples of this type of content include: Netflix. Hulu. Disney+ Prime Video.
43
What does the acronym TVOD stand for?
Transactional video on demand (TVOD) is an OTT (Over The Top) video monetization model that charges viewers a one-time fee to watch a piece of content.
44
What does the acronym AVOD stand for?
Advertising-based Video on Demand (AVOD) is a model where video content is made available for viewing on the internet and supported by advertisements.
45
What does the acronym PVOD stand for?
PVOD (Premium video on demand) Premium video-on-demand (PVOD) is a revenue model where OTT providers charge viewers a premium price for exclusive early access to video content. It's similar to traditional video-on-demand (VOD)
46
What is the difference between traditional video on demand and premium video on demand?
The difference is that PVOD offers earlier access for a higher price.
47
True or false it is better to have a longer film with more details when submitting to a film festival?
False. The tighter, your film and story is the better it will do at a film festival.
48
For many film festivals what is the maximum time length permitted for submissions?
20 minutes
49
True or false it is not really important to have a message attached to your film festival?
False. It is very useful to have a message or theme attached to your film festival that allows you to stand out in the crowd.
50
In a film festival what is the executive Director responsible for?
The executive Director overseas the program experience for the film goers.
51
What is a screening committee?
A group of members that works in partnership with the programmers who receives screeners raw films.
52
What is key art?
Key art, also known as key visuals is the artwork which is repeated across media, such as posters, print, television and digital advertisements, streaming or downloaded thumbnails, and game or film DVD/Blu-ray box covers.
53
What’s another name for key art?
Key visuals
54
True or false the films trailer and key art shape how audiences perceive a film?
True
55
What is pathos?
A quality that evokes pity or sadness.
56
What is a theatrical Booker responsible for?
Booking films for sites throughout a commercial circuit and negotiating terms and deals with film distributors.
57
What is a one sheet?
A tool that filmmakers put together as a marketing and information device.
58
What is included in a one sheet?
The one sheet should include a synopsis of the project, stills, poster, reviewer’s quotes, and more information on where you can go online to find out about project.
59
What is the day and date release?
In film production, a day-and-date release refers to a distribution strategy where a movie is released simultaneously in multiple formats—typically in theaters and on digital platforms (such as streaming or video-on-demand). This approach allows audiences to choose how they want to watch the film, rather than waiting for separate theatrical and home release windows.
60
What is another name for a day and date release?
Simultaneous release
61
What is four walling?
An arrangement whereby a motion picture distributor rents a theatre for the entire run of a film and keeps all the receipts instead of splitting them with the theatre owner.
62
True or false grassroots film marketing is not as successful as the traditional distribution routes?
False grassroots marketing can be an effective technique for connecting with your audience.
63
What is grassroots marketing?
Grassroots, marketing as an approach business is used to target highly specific audiences.
64
What is E and O insurance?
It’s a type of insurance that protects against errors and omissions costs related to intellectual property violations.
65
What does the acronym DCP stand for?
Digital cinema package
66
What is a digital cinema package?
A collection of files that allow movie theatre servers to recognize and play your film on the big screen.
67
True or false DCP is the digital equivalent of a 35 mm film print?
True
68
True or false DCP is just one of many standards used throughout the film industry for theatrical display?
False DCP is a universal industry, standard format used by nearly every modern movie theatre worldwide.
69
What does the acronym VPF stand for?
Virtual print fee
70
What is a virtual print fee?
A subsidy paid by a film distributor towards the purchase of digital cinema projection equipment for use by a film exhibitor in the presentation of first release motion pictures.
71
What is the standard DCP for 4K?
DCP compositions must be DCI 4K container resolution.
72
What is DCI?
Digital cinema initiatives. It is a consortium of major film Studios.
73
What is the resolution of DCI 4K?
4096 x 2160 pixels
74
What is an ad slick?
In film production, an ad slick refers to a pre-designed, high-quality promotional layout or advertisement for a movie.
75
True or false often well above 50% of a film’s revenue comes from exploitation outside of the films home country?
True it’s vital that producers know how to target and then structure deals with foreign sales agents.
76
What is an international sales agent?
An international sales agent is the conduit to your films distribution outside of its country of origin.
77
When dealing with an international sales agent, or any sales agent for your film, it’s important just to accept their contract as it exists true or false?
False there are a number of negotiation points that you need to think about
78
What are three important things to pay attention to in a sales agreement?
The sales fee, the term of the deal, the territory.
79
When dealing with an international sales agent, what is the typical percentage range of the fee?
15 to 25%
80
It’s not really important to negotiate expense caps into your sales agreement true or false?
False it’s very important to negotiate expense cops into the marketing agreement.
81
True or false expenses for marketing your film will vary depending upon a number of different factors?
True
82
Define the M and E process.
In film production, the M&E process refers to creating a Music and Effects (M&E) track, a version of the film’s audio mix that contains only the music and sound effects, without the dialogue. This process is essential for creating localized versions of a film for international markets.
83
What are the three main components of the sound mixing process?
Dialogue, music and effects
84
What does the acronym DME stand for?
Dialogue, music and effects
85
True or false film agents can be instrumental at pitching your film to “A” level festivals?
True
86
True or false you should wait until your film is fully completed before reaching out to a film agent?
False. Post production or rough cut stages are a great time to connect with an agent. They can help you with the final cut of your film and give specific guidance about market reaction.
87
True or false it’s important to think about your international and domestic release simultaneously?
True there is so much content in the marketplace. The film feels old weeks after its premier and foreign buyers quickly lose interest.
88
What does MG stand for in film marketing?
Minimum guarantee
89
A negotiated limit to the expenses a sales agent can deduct from incoming revenue is referred to as what?
An expense cap
90
Who is responsible to pitch and sell distribution rates of a film to potential distributors around the world, deliver the film to these distributors, and collect revenue?
A sales agent
91
When distributors, pick the territories and platforms, leaving the other pieces of the distribution window, open to the producer, it is referred to as what?
A split rights deal
92
What is the Paramount decree?
The paramount decrees were the result of a 1948 Supreme Court decision in the United States versus paramount pictures Inc.
93
What were the results of the 1948 paramount degrees?
The supreme court ordered the divestment of major studios from their cinemas and established a landmark antitrust decision for the motion picture industry.
94
What is the best platform for launching an indie film?
Seed and spark
95
What does the acronym SXSW stand for?
south by south west
96
True or false most theatres no longer project 35mm film?
True these days digital screenings are standard.
97
What is the international standard codex for digital files in the movie industry expressed as a file extension?
.MP4
98
What is Apple’s preferred format for digital files for film?
.MOV.
99
What is the preferred resolution for online streaming?
Full HD which is 1920 x 1080
100
If somebody refers to 1080 P what are they actually talking about in terms of resolution?
1920 x 1080
101
What is the correct format for encoding high-quality video and audio for streaming online?
H. 264
102
While H.264 (.MP4) does a super job of encoding high-quality video and audio for streaming online what is the best codec for the big screen?
ProRes 422 codec
103
True or false files submitted for online distribution in AVC/H.264, MP4, M2T, and .ts are acceptable?
True
104
What is the difference between subtitles and closed captions?
Closed captions also include atmospherics. It’s important to include sound effects and on screen music for viewers that are deaf.
105
What are atmospherics?
They are on screen, sound effects and music
106
If you are hiring an aggregator, what are the things that they are responsible for in releasing your film?
Encoding, packaging and delivering your film to digital platforms.
107
What does the acronym EST stand for?
Electronic sell through
108
What is electronic self through?
EST is where the consumer downloads the film and has unlimited viewing access.
109
What does DTR stand for?
Download to rent
110
What is download to rent?
Download to rent or DTR is the digital equivalent of renting a movie for a very short period of time.
111
What platforms leverage the TVOD model?
iTunes and Amazon video are two excellent examples.
112
Which would be a better platform for an Indy filmmaker who wants to leverage TVOD distribution, Apple, or Amazon?
If profit is the primary goal, iTunes extends 70% of the profits to the filmmaker, whereby Amazon operates on a 50-50 split basis.
113
What is included in a full electronic press kit?
A film poster, synopsis, format, information, cast/crew, bios, contact details, and any links to trailers you may have created.
114
When discussing DCI what does the term container refer to?
container refers to the Digital Cinema Package (DCP) structure that holds various media files required for digital projection. Specifically, it defines the resolution, aspect ratio, and color space within which the digital content is formatted and projected.
115
Why was DCI established?
To ensure consistency and quality in digital cinema projection worldwide.
116
Provide a definition of DCI 4K container resolution.
DCI 4K container resolution refers to a standardized digital cinema resolution established by the Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI)
117
For DCI 4K container resolution; Within the container, do films always match the exact 1.90:1 aspect ratio? Explain.
No. For example: Widescreen films (e.g., 2.39:1 aspect ratio) are letterboxed horizontally. Content with a 1.85:1 ratio will have slight black bars.
118
What is the purpose of DCI 4K container resolution in film production?
It ensures that films are compatible with digital cinema projectors that adhere to DCI standards.
119
What does UHD 4K stand for?
Ultra high definition.
120
What is the actual resolution of UHD 4K?
3840x2160P
121
What is the difference between UHD 4K and DCI 4K?
DCI 4K resolution (4096 x 2160) is slightly wider than UHD 4K (3840 x 2160), which is commonly used for consumer displays and televisions.
122
What does it mean when a movie states at the beginning this film has been formatted to fit your screen?
It means that the film has been formatted from DCI 4K to fit UHD 4K.
123
What do DCI standards essentially do?
It provides a uniform standard for color space, bit depth, and compression (e.g., using JPEG 2000 for DCPs).
124
Summarize DCI 4K container resolution.
The DCI 4K container resolution ensures high-quality, standardized digital cinema content for theaters, maintaining flexibility for different aspect ratios while guaranteeing compatibility with professional projection systems.
125
What does distribution rates refer to?
In film distribution, distribution rates refer to the percentage of revenue that a distributor takes from the total earnings of a film (such as box office gross, home entertainment sales, streaming revenue, etc.) before the remaining funds are passed along to the producer or rights holder.
126
What was the Paramount decree?
The U.S. Supreme Court’s 1948 decision in United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc. (334 U.S. 131) ruled against major Hollywood studios, including Paramount Pictures, in an antitrust case brought by the U.S. government. The Court found that the studios had engaged in monopolistic practices by controlling both film production and distribution, as well as owning theaters where their films were exclusively shown.
127
What was the result of the Paramount three in 1948?
As a result, the ruling forced the major studios to divest their theater chains, effectively ending the studio system’s vertical integration. This decision reshaped Hollywood, leading to increased competition, the rise of independent filmmakers, and changes in how films were distributed and exhibited.
128
What is SXSW?
SXSW (South by Southwest) is a major annual festival and conference held in Austin, Texas, that celebrates film, music, and interactive media
129
In film production what is H.264?
In film production, H.264 (also known as AVC – Advanced Video Coding) is a widely used video compression standard. It’s commonly used for encoding and delivering high-quality video at relatively low file sizes, making it ideal for streaming, digital distribution, and even some professional workflows.
130
What is H.264 also referred to as?
In film production, H.264 (also known as AVC – Advanced Video Coding)
131
In film production what does it mean when we talk about conforming the final cut?
In film production, "conforming the final cut" refers to the process of ensuring that the final edited version of a film matches the original edit made during offline editing, often using higher quality or resolution media.
132
What is actually involved in conforming the final cut?
This involves matching the video and audio sequences to the precise frame and sound edit decisions made previously, ensuring that all visual effects, colour grading, and audio mixes align with the editor's final vision. It is a crucial step to prepare the film for distribution and screening.
133
What are the 5 Key elements of a synopsis?
Key Elements of a Film Synopsis
1. Logline – A one or two-sentence hook that summarizes the film’s premise.
2. Main Characters – Introduce the protagonist(s) and key supporting characters.
3. Setting & Genre – Establish the world of the film and its genre.
4. Plot Overview – A clear and engaging summary of the film’s main conflict, without too many spoilers.
5. Tone & Themes – Capture the mood of the film (e.g., dark, comedic, suspenseful) and its central ideas.
134
What's the difference between off-line and online editing?
In film production, the difference between offline and online editing comes down to quality, speed, and purpose in the post-production workflow.
Offline Editing
• This is the first stage of editing, where the film is assembled using lower-resolution proxy files instead of the full-quality footage.
• Editors work on storytelling, pacing, and structure without worrying about heavy processing power.
• It’s faster and more efficient because high-resolution files (like RAW or 4K/8K footage) can be too large for smooth editing.
• The final edit decision list (EDL) or XML file is created here, which tells the online editor how to reconstruct the cut in full resolution.
Online Editing
• This is the final stage of editing, where the film is reassembled using the original high-resolution footage.
• Color correction, visual effects, and final polish (such as motion graphics or high-end transitions) are applied.
• The finished product is then exported in its highest quality for distribution (cinema, streaming, etc.).
In short: offline editing is about speed and storytelling, while online editing is about quality and finishing.
135
Roughly explain what proxy files are and why they are used.
While all footage is originally filmed in the same codec and resolution, proxy files are created separately and linked to the original footage in the editing software. Here’s how it works:
1. Creating Proxy Files
• High-resolution footage (e.g., 4K or 8K RAW) is transcoded into lower-resolution versions (e.g., 1080p or even 720p).
• These proxies have a smaller file size and are often in a more edit-friendly codec like ProRes Proxy, DNxHD LB, or H.264 instead of heavy RAW or H.265 formats.
• This can be done using:
• Adobe Premiere Pro (Ingest Settings in Media Encoder)
• DaVinci Resolve (Optimized Media)
• Final Cut Pro (Proxy Media settings)
2. Editing with Proxies
• The editing software links the proxy files to the original high-res footage.
• You cut and assemble the project using the lightweight proxies, making editing much faster.
• Visually, the proxies are lower quality, but they retain the same timecode and metadata as the original files.
3. Switching Back to Full-Quality Media
• When it’s time for online editing, color grading, and final export, you toggle back to the original high-resolution footage.
• In Premiere Pro, for example, this is as simple as unchecking “Enable Proxies” in the media settings.
• Since the proxy and original files share the same metadata, the transition is seamless.
Why Use Proxies?
• Editing 4K/8K RAW directly is resource-intensive and can slow down playback.
• Proxies keep the workflow smooth without compromising the final product.
• Once the edit is locked, the high-resolution footage is restored for the final export.
So, while all footage is shot in the same codec, editors create and use proxies separately for efficiency before switching back to the original files for the final master.
