British Film Companies (BBC)

British Film Companies (BBC)

OVERVIEW:

BBC Films is a subsidiary of the broadcaster BBC and is based in and around the London area. The film production company has produced films such as Bill (2015), StreetDance 3D (2010) and the popular children’s Christmas film Nativity! (2009). However, mainly the company will either co produce a film or simply produce it. However, sometimes it will distribute a film, mainly on DVD releases and join up with another company to release a film theatrically. 

STRUCTURE: 

BBC Films was founded in 1990 as part of the broadcaster, the BBC, which decided to produce feature films of its own. BBC Films is not an independent film production company as it is owned by the British public. This means it is not a private company and receives funding from the government and public. A lot of its films are solely British but they will sometimes co produce with an American company. Rose Garnett is the head of the company and oversees and approves films and ideas before production begins. Eva Yates is the Commissioning Executive and works with other production companies to discuss any scripts BBC Films can commission and films already in commission. BBC Films is situated at the Broadcasting House with the BBC’s other ventures. All the staff at BBC Films work behind the scenes to ensure that it meets its aims and mission values that it has set up.

EXHIBITION: 

Mainly BBC Films chooses to show its films at a mainstream industry because they want to show the film in as many locations possible and this is where an independent cinema may lack. Independent cinemas are used to show limited screenings of a film or a special documentary that BBC Films may want to show. However, showings at independent cinemas are less common as mainstream cinemas to ensure a film can be shown to as many people around the country. 

MARKETING: 
Marketing is a key part in the company as it assists with targeting audiences and achieving success at the box office as well as receiving good reviews. It is a complex process because BBC Films must first establish who they want to target and how. Planning arises first and this essentially covers what type of marketing BBC Films wishes to undertake. BBC Films will have to come up with colour schemes for the poster and cover, font styles and themes. BBC Films ideally should produce a trailer of every film they produce to go along it, this is because a trailer will entice an audience to watch a film and it will help with promotion. They need to establish their target audience and what that target audience will prefer in terms of advertising. For example, if BBC Films wants to target young people then internet advertising is a popular choice as it's convenient, reliable and easy access and a lot of young people use social media these days. However, based on the films BBC Films produces, they market their films to a wide variety of people using different techniques.

DISTRIBUTION:
BBC Films will rarely distribute its own films and instead enlists companies, especially if they want to promote a film in the US. This is because the company does not have a big following overseas and requires the funding of bigger companies to distribute its films to potential audiences all around the world. BBC Films typically goes down three routes to distribute a film; exhibiting it in a cinema, broadcasting it on TV and releasing it on DVD several months after a theatrical release. BBC Films can choose to distribute a film in Blu - ray DVD format too, a popular choice with people who purchase DVDs, this is because it provides the audience with a clearer picture and is worth the extra money. 

AUDIENCE:

The production company is targeting both male and females because of the variety of films they have produced and the fact that they do not specifically target one gender unlike some production companies. However, what BBC Films does that is very different from other film production companies is that it produces and creates films that are of knowledge and education which normally take place before the 20th century. BBC Films is known for producing films with British culture and values, taking on many 18th century novels and adapting them and creating films of the life of Henry VII. The age and demographics of the company is that they are targeting people aged in their mid 20's and people aged 30 - 80 because of the films they produce.