Veronica Mars Case Study and Digital Distribution Essay
1. Lesson Objectives: To investigate the production
and distribution of the Veronica Mars movie.
2. Lesson Objectives: To investigate the production
and distribution of the Veronica Mars movie.
How was Veronica Mars funded?
How was the film distributed?
How successful has the film been so far?
3. Lesson Objectives: To investigate the production
and distribution of the Veronica Mars movie.
Funding
Veronica Mars is a film spin-off a television series that was cancelled
in 2007.
Warner Bros. owned the rights to the television series and did not
want to fund a film version.
The shows creator decided to fund the film through crowdfunding
website Kickstarter.
4. Lesson Objectives: To investigate the production
and distribution of the Veronica Mars movie.
5. Lesson Objectives: To investigate the production
and distribution of the Veronica Mars movie.
6. Lesson Objectives: To investigate the production
and distribution of the Veronica Mars movie.
Funding
Warner Bros. agreed to fund the distribution and marketing of the
film, and release it via its Warner Digital Distribution subsidiary if
the project attracted at least $2 million in funding, effectively using
Kickstarter to measure the audience for the film.
7. Lesson Objectives: To investigate the production
and distribution of the Veronica Mars movie.
Distribution
The film opened on 270 screens in the US, and was available to rent
or buy via TVOD sites such as iTunes.
Many fans who had pledged money would receive digital
downloads.
The film had a limited UK theatrical release (aprox. 11 cinemas), and
was available to rent (at higher price) or buy from TVOD platforms
such as iTunes, Sky Store (rental only), and BlinkBox.
8. Lesson Objectives: To investigate the production
and distribution of the Veronica Mars movie.
Marketing
Almost 100,000 fans pledged meaning the producers would be able
to update them regularly on the release of the film.
Social media was also important – Kristen Bell has 1.4m followers on
twitter.
9. Lesson Objectives: To investigate the production
and distribution of the Veronica Mars movie.
Marketing
The first footage was shown at Comic-Con, and the film premiered
at the SXSW festival.
The official website included a Race to the Box Office page that
allowed fans to access exclusive content if they liked and shared
Veronica Mars content on social media.
10.
11. Lesson Objectives: To investigate the production
and distribution of the Veronica Mars movie.
Success
The film opened on Friday 14th of March.
It had earned $1 million in theatrical box office by Saturday in the
US, and was on course to earn $2.5 – 3 million over the opening
weekend.
Revenue will also be generated by TVOD rentals and sales.
12. Lesson Objectives: To investigate the production
and distribution of the Veronica Mars movie.
13. Lesson Objectives: To investigate the production
and distribution of the Veronica Mars movie.
14. Lesson Objectives: To investigate the production
and distribution of the Veronica Mars movie.
Structure
Introduction – state argument and focus
Digital Distribution – projection, home
entertainment.
Film Distribution and the UK
‘A Field in England ’ (2013)
‘Veronica Mars’ (2014)
Conclusion
15. Lesson Objectives: To investigate the production
and distribution of the Veronica Mars movie.
Introduction
Digital technology has had a significant impact
on the way in which films are distributed to
audiences. Whilst film distribution in Britain is
still dominated by the American Big Six
studios, developments in digital technology are
helping independent films to reach their
audiences.
16. Lesson Objectives: To investigate the production
and distribution of the Veronica Mars movie.
Digital Distribution
Digital projection – benefits/disadvantages
Digital prints cost around one-tenth of film prints.
Digital projectors are more expensive than film projectors,
and have a shorter shelf life.
90% of US and UK screens are digital (following success of
Avatar in digital 3D most cinemas converted).
Paramount first major studio to stop distribution on film.
Digital projection benefits independent films – distribution
costs prevented wide distribution of lower budget films.
Digital Screen Network – UK Film Council financed.
17. Lesson Objectives: To investigate the production
and distribution of the Veronica Mars movie.
Digital Distribution – Home Entertainment Platforms
Proliferation of VOD platforms allows films to be
distributed digitally.
Benefits low budget films, e.g. Pulp (2012).
Early electronic sell-through (e.g. Iron Man 3) helps
tackle piracy.
More convenient for consumers.
VOD film market grew 50% in 2012.
Popularity of streaming sites (e.g. Netflix) saw revenue
increase 123% in 2012.
Long Tail.
18. Lesson Objectives: To investigate the production
and distribution of the Veronica Mars movie.
Film Distribution and the UK
Film distribution dominated by Big Six US
studios – top 6 places at UK box office – 75% of
UK box office went to films distributed by the
Big Six in 2012.
Avengers, Lego Movie (2014) opened on +500
screens in the UK.
The Selfish Giant (2013) 35 screens.
19. Lesson Objectives: To investigate the production
and distribution of the Veronica Mars movie.
‘A Field in England ’ (2013)
Low budget British film.
Day and date release strategy – why?
Marketing?
How successful?
What does A Field in England tells us about
digital technology and effect on distribution
and marketing?
20. Lesson Objectives: To investigate the production
and distribution of the Veronica Mars movie.
Veronica Mars (2014)
New technology being used to fund, market,
and distribute films.
Crowdfunding
Distribution strategy
Marketing
21. Lesson Objectives: To investigate the production
and distribution of the Veronica Mars movie.
Conclusion
Digital technology has had a huge impact on the
production, distribution, marketing, and consumption
of films. Whilst major studios continue to dominate
film distribution, and are at the forefront of the shift to
digital distribution new technology is helping low
budget, and independent films to find audiences.
Your Experience – what methods do you used to
watch films? What are the benefits and
disadvantages?
22. Lesson Objectives: To investigate the production
and distribution of the Veronica Mars movie.