ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at distribution strategies in general, glances briefly at studio distribution, and examines independent distribution in more depth. Studios normally have committees and different levels of people making a decision. There are also US-based distributors that specialize in foreign only. These companies deal with networks of sub distributors all around the world. It is sometimes confusing for producers to distinguish between a distributor and a foreign sales agent. Still an independent film picked up for distribution by a studio remains a film that was independently made. Meanwhile, new independent companies continue to appear. As small films have received acclaim, they have continually moved into wider distribution and have gotten bookings in major chains that would not have played. Independent companies may both make films and distribute them, pick up finished films for distribution, or have a deal with a smaller distributor for a specialized for of marketing.
