ABSTRACT
Distributors “exploit” a film by licensing it in a variety of markets to exhibitors who will show it to their audiences, which could include TV viewers, theatergoers, OTT binge watchers, and old-school DVD collectors. Depending on the deal the production company negotiates, the distributor or its agents— called subdistributors—may license the film for exhibition, broadcast, or sale in the markets. In addition to placing films with exhibitors, distributors may also want to rep the underlying property rights in a film (although many filmmakers want to hold onto those rights or have them represented by more specialized agents in certain areas). The distribution agreement may be the single most important document to a producer trying to make money from their film. This is the document that controls how the film makes money. The filmmaker should push very hard for any advance; this may be the only money a production company actually sees.
