From Studio to Screen (MMM#58)
Greetings all,
Madeline here with the 58th Movie Minute. Today we’ll be exploring some of the different ways movies and TV are brought to audiences!
Once a film or video has been fully edited out and is ready to go, how does it get shown for the world to see? We at Poor Bear Stories typically use Vimeo to deliver our content to our clients, as well as frame.io for sharing drafts. But depending on the project and the client, the rules and parameters might be quite different. For example, film festivals usually specify certain parameters for films to be submitted, often in the highest quality or able to stream efficiently, depending on the platform. So what are the different ways a film makes it from the studio to the audience?
The theatre has been the dominant form of releasing major films big and small, and it continues to be even in the age of streaming. Major studios often produce a lot of films every year, while some may acquire the rights to the film after it premieres at a festival. It’s often also a requirement to be eligible for entry into major film festivals and ceremonies – even streaming services with movies often give limited theatrical releases to fulfill such a requirement.
Television is another way many people watch films. Depending on the network, it may require editing the film to accommodate time for commercials or to comply with censors, but it remains another common way for films to be shown. Typically, premium channels like HBO have more leeway given to the films they present, while broadcast and cable channels often have different rules.
Home video, in its heyday, was the most common way to see a film outside of the theatre. Though today it has mostly been eclipsed by streaming and VOD, it has seen a resurgence as a niche format. This is largely due to the awareness of owning a movie versus merely being licensed access to a film that the platform can revoke at any time, as well as higher visual and audio quality due to less compression. Boutique labels such as The Criterion Collection and Arrow Video have contributed to this resurgence as well.
The Internet is probably the most common way people access films nowadays. In fact, many notable filmmakers have signed deals with services such as Netflix and Apple TV to produce content for them, often with big-name actors attached. Not only has streaming taken over as the dominant form of home entertainment from cable TV, but short form content on platforms such as YouTube and TikTok has become hugely popular among audiences as well.
Overall, there are so many ways that you can send your film to be shown to the world. Whichever one works best for you depends on multiple factors, such as target audience, budget, etc. In the end, it’s important to send your film the right way to make sure it reaches the right audience and gives the best return.
And that concludes this entry in The Movie Minute. Wishing you all the best, and see y’all in 2! -Madeline
We at Poor Bear Stories are passionate about your story. Creating media that makes a difference is our craft and life’s work. With over 35 years of industry experience, we bring a host of solutions to your brand and media endeavors.
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