Production: Independent film studios
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - Focus FeaturesOther Films that Focus Features produced:
- Fifty Shades of Grey
- Brokeback Mountain
- Lust, Caution
- 9
- Milk
Focus Features success
Focus' most successful release in North America to date is Brokeback Mountain (2005), which earned $83 million at the North American box office. However, this is not counting the domestic total of Traffic (2000), which earned $124.1 million under the USA Films banner. Focus' most successful international release is Burn After Reading (2008), which earned $163.7 million in worldwide gross revenue.
It Follows - Northern Lights Films
Other Films that Northern Lights Films produced:
- The Brass Teapot
- High Road
- I'll See You in My Dreams
Northern Lights Films success
Northern Lights films was the 5th highest US Gross Box office of independent film companies in 2015 and making waves in the world wide box office as well. The projects have won many awards working on different films and different genres of films.
United 93 - Universal Pictures, Studio Canal
Other Films that Universal Pictures produced:
- Jason Bourne
- The Secret Life of Pets
- King Kong
- Nanny Mcphee and the Big Bang
- Fast and Furious
Universal Pictures success
| Rank | Title | Year | Box office gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jurassic World | 2015 | $1,670,400,637 |
| 2 | Furious 7 | 2015 | $1,516,045,911 |
| 3 | Minions | 2015 | $1,159,398,397 |
| 4 | Jurassic Park | 1993 | $1,029,153,882 |
| 5 | Despicable Me 2 | 2013 | $970,761,885 |
| 6 | E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial | 1982 | $792,910,554 |
| 7 | Fast & Furious 6 | 2013 | $788,679,850 |
| 8 | The Secret Life of Pets | 2016 | $676,658,314 |
| 9 | Fast Five | 2011 | $626,137,675 |
| 10 | The Lost World: Jurassic Park | 1997 | $618,638,999 |
| 11 | Mamma Mia! | 2008 | $609,841,637 |
| 12 | Fifty Shades of Grey | 2015 | $571,006,128 |
| 13 | King Kong | 2005 | $550,517,357 |
| 14 | Ted | 2012 | $549,368,315 |
| 15 | Despicable Me | 2010 | $543,113,985 |
| 16 | Meet the Fockers | 2004 | $516,642,939 |
| 17 | Twister | 1996 | $494,471,524 |
| 18 | Bruce Almighty | 2003 | $484,592,874 |
| 19 | Jaws | 1975 | $470,653,000 |
| 20 | Lucy | 2014 | $463,360,063 |
| 21 | Gladiator | 2000 | $457,640,427 |
| 22 | The Bourne Ultimatum | 2007 | $442,824,138 |
| 23 | Les Miserables | 2012 | $441,809,770 |
| 24 | The Mummy Returns | 2001 | $433,013,274 |
| 25 | Warcraft | 2016 | $422,262,155 |
Other Films that Studio Canal produced:
- Paddington
- The Terminator
- Non-stop
- My King
- The House of Magic
Studio Canal success
The biggest box office hits for StudioCanal have been Terminator 2: Judgment Day which grossed $519 million, Basic Instinct which grossed $352 million and The Tourist which grossed$278 million worldwide.
Buried - The Safran Company
Other Films that The Safran Company produced:
- The Conjuring
- Annabelle
- Hours
- ATM
- Best Night Ever
The Safran Company success
The film company has also produced Paul Walker's movie after his death, Hours. The Safran Company also created both The Conjuring and The Conjuring 2 which collectively grossed over $600 million.
La Haine - Canal+, Egg Pictures
Other Films that Canal+ produced:
- Blue is the warmest color
- Shut In
- The Intouchables
- Amelie
- The Pianist
Canal+ success
Other Films that Egg Pictures produced:
- The Baby Dance
- Home for the Holidays
- The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys
- Waking the Dead
Distribution: Independent film distributors
1) Research film distribution using this guide from the UK Film Distributors' Association. It's called Launching Film and takes you through the whole process of distributing a movie.
Read the whole step-by-step guide (warning: this is LONG and will take you around an hour)
2) Summarise the 10 steps of film distribution in a list using your own words.
- Step 1 - Introduction: Films are made to inspire, to convey strong emotions and to express what people want to say and the best way to view them is in a cinema with a large audience.
- Step 2 - The role of the distrubuitors: Distributors job is to deliver the largest audience possible for a film. Tailor-made, audience focused distribution focuses on all aspects of a particular film and tries to reach people that are appropriate for the film. Also the end of 35mm film has changed the way in audiences are found because digital film making is different in style. Audiences still choose to go to a cinema to watch a film because of the immersive experience.
- Step 3 - The role of the Distributor In order to reach the right audiences, distributors have to identify the films, consider why people will see a particular film, estimate the revenue, persuade theatres to screen the film and also work with advertisers to reach mass audiences.
- Step 4 - Who are the distributors?: There are 6 major film distributors for Holywood films and several independent ones which focus on Art-house films.
- Step 6 - Distributors getting the film: Distributors get their films from : 3rd party companies, parent studios, production companies or from a single title acquired at any stage. Many times the rights to film distribution will sold off to the actual distributor so they can generate thier own income rather than relying on the studio to fund them. An example of this Harry Potter which its rights belong to Warner Bros Distribution and they're responsible for the marketing and products of the film. An independent distributor will market the film on a lower scale such as film festivals and online.
- Step 6 - Making a deal: Distributors sign a formal contract with the producer, sales agent or studio, specifying the rights they hold to the title and also they regions they can distribute in.
- Step 7 - Planning the release: Once both parties reach an agreement and sign all the necessary contracts the distributors will work closely with the production team to make sure they reach the right marketing strategies. They prepare all the plans needed while working with the script of the film and applying their work to the genre and storyline of the film.
- Step 8 : The distributor will do research about how relate-able the genre is to audiences and will ask questions like 'Who is this film for?' In addition this they will find out how much profit they film is likely to earn because of course their goal is to make a profit.
- Step 9 -Film Marketing: "Marketing needs to lead a horse to water and also persuade it to drink." - Marketing can be done online, on publication or digitally/ socially, eg: Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Marketing is always about visibility and about getting the best billboard placement and the amount of views a trailer gets.
- Step 10 - Licensing: This basically legally covers the film in terms of where it can be shown. Examples of exhibitors are: Vue, Odeon, Cineworld, Independent Cinemas, Film4, BBC Films, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and just generally TV or streaming services.
Research Curzon Artificial Eye. Who are they and what do they do?
They are a British film distributor who are associated with the Curzon industry. They screen foreign film with non-english languages and screen them in arthouse cinemas all scattered around the city of London.
Look at the Curzon Artficial Eye YouTube channel. Watch three trailers for recent or upcoming independent films and identify something you can learn from each film to use in your own film production.
Almost Holy: it could inspire to have a normal character talking over a series of different clips parallel to the speech, almost giving the effect of being a narrator. In addition of adding non-diegetic dramatic soundtrack to create tension.
Christine: keep the pace of the clip quick and fast to create tension and suspense and obstruct the shot to create tension.
The Commune: it could help me learn how to create tension and build suspense without too many cuts in post production. It could help inspire some performances as well as acting techniques.
Look at the Curzon Artficial Eye YouTube channel. Watch three trailers for recent or upcoming independent films and identify something you can learn from each film to use in your own film production.
Almost Holy: it could inspire to have a normal character talking over a series of different clips parallel to the speech, almost giving the effect of being a narrator. In addition of adding non-diegetic dramatic soundtrack to create tension.
Christine: keep the pace of the clip quick and fast to create tension and suspense and obstruct the shot to create tension.
The Commune: it could help me learn how to create tension and build suspense without too many cuts in post production. It could help inspire some performances as well as acting techniques.
Exhibition: Arthouse cinemas
The name of the chosen arthouse cinema is called the Everyman Cinema, its a London based cinema in Canary Wharf.
Everyman Cinema screens many independent film that are not really targeted or appreciated with mainstream audiences, however it does not mean that all of the movies shown in this cinema are not screened in multiplex cinemas such as Vue. One film that is screening this week is 'Allied' which is also screening at Vue all over the country. A vast majority of the films they host are rated 15 and above by the BBFC, this is because the arthouse cinemas appealing to a mature audience and are usually appealing to the older generation.
An older film consumer would attend this cinema due to the fact it hosts many films that are rated 15 and above. In addition people of the middle class and upper class would go to this location rather than a mainstream cinema because it is very luxurious and expensive compared to the conventional everyday cinema.
Everyman Cinema screens many independent film that are not really targeted or appreciated with mainstream audiences, however it does not mean that all of the movies shown in this cinema are not screened in multiplex cinemas such as Vue. One film that is screening this week is 'Allied' which is also screening at Vue all over the country. A vast majority of the films they host are rated 15 and above by the BBFC, this is because the arthouse cinemas appealing to a mature audience and are usually appealing to the older generation.
An older film consumer would attend this cinema due to the fact it hosts many films that are rated 15 and above. In addition people of the middle class and upper class would go to this location rather than a mainstream cinema because it is very luxurious and expensive compared to the conventional everyday cinema.
A case study in independent film production: Film London and Microwave Film
Film London: Film London is London's film and media agency - sustaining, promoting and developing London as a major international film-making and film cultural capital. Film London aims to ensure London has a thriving film sector that enriches the capital’s businesses and its people.
Film London’s objectives are to:
Microwave Film: Microwave funds films, they give development and mentoring support to all of the shortlisted projects, as well as production finance and distribution support to the final commissioned films. Twelve teams are shortlisted for the scheme, and receive concentrated training at Film London Microschool along with mentorship and development funding. From this shortlist, six projects are selected to go on to a second phase of development with further funding. Lastly, two features are appointed and receive additional development, in addition to production funding of £100,000 and distribution funding for finished films.
London Calling: London Calling is open to all new and emerging film-making teams resident in the capital. Run across nine months, highlights of the scheme include: 15 short films are awarded a maximum of £4,000, training and mentoring is provided to all film-making teams, match funding can be sought for any film being produced through London Calling.
Film London’s objectives are to:
- Grow the film industry in London
- Maximise investment in London through film
- Sustain London’s film culture
- Promote London to the world through film
Microwave Film: Microwave funds films, they give development and mentoring support to all of the shortlisted projects, as well as production finance and distribution support to the final commissioned films. Twelve teams are shortlisted for the scheme, and receive concentrated training at Film London Microschool along with mentorship and development funding. From this shortlist, six projects are selected to go on to a second phase of development with further funding. Lastly, two features are appointed and receive additional development, in addition to production funding of £100,000 and distribution funding for finished films.
London Calling: London Calling is open to all new and emerging film-making teams resident in the capital. Run across nine months, highlights of the scheme include: 15 short films are awarded a maximum of £4,000, training and mentoring is provided to all film-making teams, match funding can be sought for any film being produced through London Calling.
4) Choose three feature films funded by Microwave Film and embed their trailers in your blog. For each film, explain why it fits the profile for an arthouse or independent film and what target audience the film might attract.
5) Watch these top tips for film production. List three things you've learned from these short videos that you can apply to your MEST2 production work.
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