Case Study of a British Independent Company- Warp Films

Warp Films

Background/history (box office successes):

Warp Films is an independent film company which is based mostly in the UK, Sheffield and London. They also have spread the company further and now the company is also based in Australia, Melbourne. It was established by Warp Records which was founded by Rob Mitchell and Steve Beckett. Warp Films firstly had financial support from NESTA. Many of the films produced have been successful and been nominated for BAFTA’s and other awards to credit the success. Some films have been turned into short DVD’s. As of 8 August 2010, Four Lions, one of the films which Warp Films produced, grossed £2,932,366 at the UK box office.   

Company Structure:

Warp films has two divisions- Warp Films Australia and Warp X. Warp X is a British company and sister company to Warp Films also based in Sheffield with other offices in Nottingham and London. Warp X was founded in 2005 and produces feature films which are films with a full length running time. It is a digital film studio that produces feature films in the UK with budgets usually between £400,000 and £800,000 but without the help of Warp Films and other companies it wouldn’t have been able to start up. Warp Films Australia is just a branch of the original company based in a different country; it was set up in 2008 and is owned by Warp Films.

Genre of films and British audiences:

Warp Films attracts British audiences by using British locations to set the film around, this would make the audience feel more comftable and may feel that they can relate more to the film as they may be familiar to the surroundings. The film would therefore become more personal and interesting. For example Four Lions is set in Sheffield with the actors playing that they come from there.  There is also the use of British actors- they audience may again feel more connected or they may want to see familiar actors. The genres of the films are generally a mix- dark comedy, comedy and horrors.

This is England

 

Production:

• It is an original screen play
• British drama film 
• The story is based on young working class youths in England in 1983 (skinheads).
•  The plot is that a 'skinhead' group has another person join them and it follows the life the new member, Shaun, has within the group. There are dramatic parts when violence is used however there are also parts which the audience would fine endearing when Shaun becomes close with another member of the group and feeling like they are brothers. 
• This is England was produced with cohabitation with Film4 and Warp Studios. Film4 is another British production company which produces films in the UK- it is owned by Channel Four Television Corporation. 
• The Budget for this film was- £1,472,500. Which is quite a big budget for a British Film.
• None of the Actors in This is England were particularly well known- Thomas Turgoose, Stephen Graham, Vicky McClure etc. 
• There were no significant technologies uses- very basic down to budget. 
 

Distribution:

• It was released by Optimum Releasing which works in England and Ireland. 
• This Is England was released on 12th September 2006-Tronoto International Film Festival and 27th April 2007 in the UK
• Released in 33 different countries- however not all in the cinema but in the form of DVD's or shown at Film Festivals
• Marketing: There is a website purley for fans to find out about the film.
• Also a trailer to show people what the film is going to be about and there was a preview trailer but this was not official.
• There are a few cast interviews which would give more information to the fans/audience. Cast Interview(YouTube viewing of a Radio Interview)
• Web 2.0 websites like YouTube gives the audience the opportunity to leave comments, like and share the videos of This Is England- this also helps advertising of the film. 
  
 

Exhitbtion:

• Overall This Is England made £5,058,600 at the Box Office. On the opening weekend, 29 April 2007 £207,676- 62 screens. 
• It is available to buy on DVD and Blu-Ray which is a home consumption.
• The audience can also watch the film on online streaming websites like Netfilx and LoveFilm. It is also on iTunes to buy for £4.99 and to rent for £3.99 both in HD and there is a non-HD option as well.  
• There was a soundtrack which was released after the film was. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

British Film Industry - Preparation

BBC News- UK films urged to be more 'mainstream'

'Mr Cameron praised the UK film industry but said "we should aim even higher, building on the incredible success of recent years". director Ken Loach said it was important to have a diverse film industry with a wide range of films to choose from- "If everyone knew what would be successful before it was made, there would be no problem."

Channel 4:

The government's funding should make more films which are mainstream and could be a commercial success and less that are 'culturally rewarding? there is now a bigger budget for making films but producers are unsure wether to carry on with the less mainstream or to make a medium sized 'mainstream' film. (Wouldn't be as big as James Bond etc)

3rd link

UK Flim Council was shut down and the responsablities were shifted to British Film Insitute. Cameron said that the idustry should 'aim higher' and produce more dynamic and entrepreneurial films which would challenge other producer and would chase new markets- even over seas. Once you have made a sucessful film is it easier for you to get funding for the next one. 

Production, Distribution & Exhibition

Skyfall:

 

Production: 

Various different technique's which have impact both institutions and audiences. As the film had a high budget they could use the best cameras to film, it was filmed in HD. The pros for the intuitions would be that the film would have higher quality therefore a bigger audience the cons are that it would cost more to film. The pros for the audience is that it would encourage them to go to the cinema for the quality however a con could be that it may cost to much.

Distribution:

There is an official website advertising the film and giving fans up to date information about the film. 

There was also a teaser trailer- this was only a short trailer which didn't give anything away. The audience would become more intrigued and want to see the proper trailer. YouTube is a Web 2.0 which means that the audience can be come interactive with it and let the producers know their thoughts.  

This is the official trailer- it has had 20,042,177 views. Again it is possible to leave comments and to 'like/dislike' the video. This enables the audience to see whether or not it is something which they would want to see at the cinema and to raise awareness of the film.

Another way to get the film promoted is by publishing interviews with the cast. The cast will already have a fan base so those people will then want to go and see the film to see their favourite actors.

Skyfall was release on DVD and Blu-Ray in 18th February 2013.
The producers decided against putting the film in 3D as they didn't think the genre of film would fit the 3D feel and atmosphere.

Exhibition: 

Consumption of the film was widely varied. Available on DVD and Blu-ray. You can also stream it on websites like LoveFilm and Netfilx. There are also illegal websites which will enable people to stream the film without paying.

There were also partnerships, for example here Skyfall is being advertised on Heineken. They will have chosen this as the audience that the producers have targeted the film at will buy these kind of products. Likewise with Coca-Cola, targeting the audience without the audience being aware of it.

There is also an app available of Goodgle Play- Skyfall 007. It is free app which will enable the audience to 'feel like the real James Bond.

Working Title Production Company

Introduction to Working Title 

• British a film company founded by Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyff.
• It is owned by an American Company- Universal.
• The genres in which they concentrate on are- Romance, Rom-Coms, Historical dramas as Elizabeth- The Golden Age.
• They use mostly British Actors
• Bridget Jones produce/made $281,000,000
• Four Wedding and a Funeral- Budget=$4.4 million and Box Office=$245,700,832
• Les Mis-budget=$61 and Box Office=$432,031,975

How is Working Title Structure

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0MWVcR2Q40&feature=related

Working Titles are one of Britain's most successful  Production company. It is owned by Universal an American company. A budget  is set to create the film and the typical budget is $30,000,000. As Universal is the parent company it means that they will have a higher budget available meaning global distribution is possible. One of their ways of making the company successful is by keeping the market-place interested- they start producing the next film whilst the previous film is being produced. This ensures that the audience wouldn't have to wait too long to next the next film. They try and make their films marketable by having two movies with different genres, one mainstream and one a little bit different, there is therefore a balance. The development department need a wing in the US and UK- this creates a international market. However Working Title use many British actors and this makes the films marketable as the audience will be interested and also they are usually based around London- this will entice other audience. 

A film recently relased by Working Title:

Les-Miserables

Production:

• Vocals were recorded on set and this made them more believeable.
• Budget $61 million
• Casting: auditions were held for well known actors.
• Directed by- Tom Hooper.
• Produced by- William Nicholson, Alain Boublil,Claude-Michel Schönberg,Herbert Kretzmer.
• The film was based on the stage version.

Distrubution:

• Teaser trailer
• Trailer
• Extended trailer
• Interview with cast memebers
• 24th of September a offical poster was realsed on the Facebook page- a web 2.0 (audience can leave their comments, like/share and share)

Exhibtion:

• Soundtrack
• You can get the book from app stores
• DVD and Blu-Ray
• Avaliabe for streaming Netfilx and Lovefilm

The Amazing Spider Man- Marketing

There are marketing products-

• The Amazing Spider Man- Nail Polish 
• Trading Cards
• Sony made an app for a phone. 
• Soundtrack 
• Kids clothing/costume
• Bedding
• Some food companies linked up with spiderman- CKE Restaurants marketed a new burger. (In America) 
• The Amazing Spiderman ride and Universal Studios in Florida.

The Amazing Spider Man- technology

Distribution:

This is an example of marketing- it is a website which was created purely because of  the film. It was made for fans (audience). It is Viral website, increasing popularity and awareness of the film but in a different way. 

The website was used as part of a game which had been set up for the audience to take part it. It worked together with twitter. It creates a 'buzz' to involve the audience and brings the audience together and makes them feel part of the action.  

These are videos which help promote the film and this is part of the viral website game. It also interests the audience and gains more people to feel they are part of the action. 

The comments are disabled enabled on youtube. This is one of the official trailers- there are other teaser trailers which are of a shorter length. This one is titled 'New trailer 2' and has had 22,996,320. 

This is an example of a teaser trailer- they are made public before the official are. This is done to make the public aware of the film and starts to promote and get a waiting audience for the official trailer and film. 

The cast interviews are used as another way to promote the film. It makes the audience feel more connected with the characters and again more interest in the upcoming film. This is a web 2.0 site, youtube, the audience can participate by leaving a comment with their thoughts.  This makes them again feel more connected and like their thoughts are wanted. 

There is also a official website. This gives the audience more information and helps promote the film.

The release date for the film was the 3rd July 2012.  It was shown in 3D, 2D and Imax- this added choice and extra interest for the audience enticing them into watching the film. 

Les Mis- Insitution

Les Miserables was produced by two companies- Working Title Films which is a British film company (Subsidiary) and Relativity Media which is an American film company (Independent).

Relativity Media; is independent which means that it is privately owned. It has co-produced Les Miserables along with Working Title Films. Relativity Media have four divisions:

• Film
• RougeLife
• Sports
• RelativityReal

Working Title Films:

It is owned by a parent company- Universal. Universal has many different divisions:

• Universal Television 
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment 
• Parks and Resorts
• Focus features
• Illumination Entertainment 
• Universal Animation studios