Film screening
A film screening is the displaying of a motion picture or film, generally referring to a special showing as part of a film's production and release cycle. To show the film to best advantage, special screenings may take place in plush, low seat-count theaters with very high quality (sometimes especially certified) projection and sound equipment, and can be accompanied by food and drink and spoken remarks by producers, writers, or actors. Special screenings typically occur outside normal theatrical showing hours. The different types of screenings are presented here in their order within a film's development.
Test screening
For early edits of a film, informal test screenings are shown to small target audiences to judge if a film will require editing, reshooting or rewriting.[1] At this stage, the film may be incomplete, with missing or unfinished special effects shots, or sound effects, or dialogues which are not yet rerecorded. Audience responses are usually recorded informally. Test audiences may be required not to discuss the film. A film may go through several test screenings.
Focus group screening
Critic screenings
Critic (or "press") screenings are held for national and major market critics in advance of print and television production-cycle deadlines, and are usually by invitation only. This step may be omitted if a studio anticipates negative critical reviews, or if a film is still being edited until its immediate release.[6] The film media will thus append the statement 'not screened for critics' in their preview/review columns or segments to give the public notice as such.
Private screenings
Private preview screenings are commonly provided for investors, marketing and distribution representatives, and VIP media figures. While distribution of the film is being sought, such screenings can occur during film festivals, film markets or regular movie theaters.[7]
Preview screenings
Public preview screenings can occur at boutique theaters (which may not be scheduled as a release theater). These may serve as final test screenings used to adjust marketing strategy (radio & TV promotion, etc.) or the film itself. Complimentary tickets, sometimes limited in number, are frequently provided to local media for contests or giveaways. Viewers may be recruited and "prequalified" with a series of questions to determine if they fit the film's target audience.[8] No confidentiality requirement is imposed on the audience.
Sneak preview
A sneak preview is an unannounced film screening before formal release, generally with the usual charge for admission. Sneak previews were created in the 1930s to help determine "success and failure factors" of a film,
General release
After a combination, or all, of the above, the film goes on general release if taken up by a film distributor.
References
- ^ Jolliffe & Zinnes, pg. 357, sidebar.
- ^ Marich, Fig. 2.2 Sample Questionnaire.
- ^ James, Caryn (March 15, 1988). Previews: do they help or hurt films?. Anchorage Daily News. p. 24. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
- ^ a b Wallenstein, Andrew (Feb 27, 2008). WB's rebooted Media Lab has multiplatform launch The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
- Wired Magazine. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
- MSNBC.com. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
- ^ Kerrigan, p. 42.
- ^ Kerrigan, p. 50.
- ^ Kerrigan, p. 43.
- Toledo Blade, p. 18. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
- The Montreal Gazette, p 51. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
Bibliography
- Jolliffe, Genevieve; Zinnes, Andrew (2006). The Documentary Film Makers Handbook. ISBN 0-8264-1665-9.
- Kerrigan, Finola (2009). Film Marketing. ISBN 978-0-7506-8683-9.
- Marich, Robert (2009). Marketing to Moviegoers: A Handbook of Strategies and Tactics. Chapter 2-Research Audiences and Ads. ISBN 978-0-8093-2884-0.
| Authority control databases: National |
|---|
