One last area that a producer must be well aware of is foreign distribution of their films. Foreign distributors can be of great importance to producers even before a film has gone to production. In this case, distributors will give the producer a cash advance on the film for distribution rights once the film is released. Distributors can also make advances after the film is produced. In either case, the producer can use this money for financing the film, and the distributor will be reimbursed from the producers' share of the proceeds the movie will bring in.
Foreign distribution is an ever-increasing benefit for the producer.
The producer, whether independent or studio-based, should maximize whatever foreign means made available but should make sure to have individual contact with each distributor from each individual country. This may seem like an overwhelming task, but every country will have a different approach to distribution and their profit margin, and therefore should be treated on an individual bases. If done correctly it is possible that foreign distribution could ultimately account for a majority of the films' profits. Gorham Kindem, writer of The moving image , sums up the role of the producer in a few simple words. Producers are the film industries' building blocks.