Question 3

What kind of institution might distribute your media product and why?

There are many media institutions in today's society that would be suitable to distribute my media product. These may include; Lionsgate Entertainment, 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures...and many more. For example, Lionsgate Entertainment have been involved hugely in the development and production of numerous horror and thriller movies that have been released over the past decade. Examples may include; The Saw Trilogy, Affliction, The Cabin In The Woods and American Psycho. Lionsgate are a Noth American entertainment company, which as of this year (2012), has become the most commercially successful independent film and television distribution companies.

Since 2008, Lionsgate Entertainment have acquired Summit Entertainment (producers of the Twilight saga), for $412.5 million. From this, it is clear that Lionsgate invest in a very specific genre of films - dark, supernatural...etc, making them an ideal institution to work with for my media product. Also, even through they are an Independent distribution/ production company, they still hold the ability to product high quality and successful films through their large sum of resources, technology and money. For example, on March 23rd 2012, Lionsgate's most recent film "The Hungar Games" grossed $68.3 million at the Friday US box office. It was the best opening day for a non-sequel and the fifth highest of all time. The film also grossed $152 million on its first weekend, making it Lionsgates highest grossing film after just three days. This shows that Lionsgate level of production is increasing over time in terms of its film making.

On the whole, I feel that Lionsgate would be a suitable institution to work with because of their high level of experience in the filming insustry for both Thriller/ Horror movies. Also, because of their connections between other filming industries; such as Summit Entertainment, they are open to higher levels of resources and technology that many other Independant companies are not, making them a stronger and more experienced company to work with. This would also make it easier to distribute the movie in terms of its advertising through both viral marketing - Facebook, Youtube, Myspace...etc, and guerilla marketing - Billboards, cardboard cutouts...etc, before its release to the ancillary markets.