FILM COMPANY RESEARCH

WARP FILMS • Warp Films is a production company based in Sheffield and London. There is also a Warp

Films production company located in Melbourne, Australia. This company produces films and TV shows. Most of their TV shows are released on Channel 4. The genres that Warp Films focus on are thriller, drama, romance and comedy. Warp films is a small independent company therefore it can produce a film in one month whereas a Hollywood film would take a few months to film one specific film because it is a major company. Warp films focus on social realism which is the realistic depiction in art of contemporary life. This means Warp Films use social realism to address a political or social comment.

• The colour used for Warp Films’ logo is black and white. The company’s name is written across in a funny looking shape which has a circular shape behind it. The circular shape may emphasize their political and social comments about the world. It may also indicate that the company is abroad in two countries that are in two sides of the world. From the look of the logo I expect to see thriller films because the white and black may represent the storyline between the protagonist and antagonist.

WARP FILMS: TITLE SEQUENCES• I have chosen to analyse the title sequence of the film Bunny and the Bull. The title sequence is very

creative because it uses house objects to introduce the cast and crew of the film. As each of the cast and crew are introduced each object has a name on it and moves from one object to another. Firstly, we see the title of the film which is written in a faded brown colour and is written in big writing. On a piece of metal it says “Film4 & UK Film Council in association with EM Media & Yorkshire present” which tells us the channel that the film has been released and what company the production is associated with. On a crossword sheet that is pinned up on a wall it tells us that the production is also associated with Wild Bunch. It also tells us that it is associated with Optimum Releasing on a posted letter. Next, at the bottom of a shelf a torch lights up shows “A Warp production” telling us the main company that produced this film. Additionally on a calculator it introduce one actor, another actor is introduced on a telephone then a magnifying glass a shows a sticker of another actor’s name. In addition, on a wall paper we can see the names of executive producers, next we see a delivery box which shows the name of the line producer. Next the casting director is introduced on top of a blind. After, we see a grey hat on the floor and the costume designer is written in red, then the hair and make-up designer is introduced on a pillow. On a front sack of a bicycle the sound designer is introduced along with the person who did the live visual effects whose name is on the front wheel of the bike, also the name of person who did the music is written on top tube. After the bike scene, a toaster is shown and two toasts pop up with the editor’s name written on it. A lamp then switches on a table with the director of photography’s name. From a toothpaste, down in the bathtub and on a hot water bottle blanket on a couch introduces the producers. Lastly the name of the person who wrote and directed this is introduced on a small clock.

EVALUATION ON WARP FILMS• Would this be a film company that I would choose to distribute or produce

my film? Why?This film company is very creative with title sequences and how they introduce their films. The title sequence I analysed is creative because it uses different objects to introduce the characters which creates humour. For the film that I create I could use these skills to create anticipation for the audience. The company is also independent and can produce one film in a month, if they distribute or produce my film it will take a month until it releases. However, I would not choose this particular film company to distribute or produce my film because although thriller films are part of the genre, most of their films aren’t of that genre. The film that I create will be a thriller but I won’t learn much about thriller films produced by Warp Films therefore I won’t develop skills from the company.

WARP FILMS: FILMS

VERTIGO FILMS• Vertigo Films is a British film production and distribution company based in London.

Vertigo films was created in July 2002 and was found by producers Allan Niblo and James Richardson. Vertigo Films’ goal is to produce and distribute four films per year. It is also a small independent film company. This company produces films and television. The genres of Vertigo Films are usually thriller, romance, drama, mystery and psychological thriller. Vertigo Films have distributed the films Bronson, Monsters and StreetDance 3D. Vertigo Films represent a vision of England in a realistic way which make their films interesting.

• The logo can be presented in different colours, the one that I picked has the colours black and red. The colours may emphasise that their films are made to be inspiring. It may also indicate that in some films they are either political or sporty. Next to the name of the company are two // which may represent the fact they produce and distribute. This may be a way to persuade people to watch their films as they explore different genres and deliver a message through those genres. From this logo I expect to see films of drama and thriller.

VERTIGO FILMS: TITLE SEQUENCE

• From Vertigo Films, I have chosen to analyse the title sequence of the film Pusher. The title sequence starts by stating that the film is a Nicholas Winding Refn production. This title sequence is quite different compared to the other title sequences that I have analysed because usually the film introduces the name of the actors in the film instead in this particular film opening the characters’ names are introduced. The characters’ names are shown along with a medium close-up of the characters, however we can’t really see them clearly because the opening sequence is dark which may emphasise that the thriller film will be dramatic because the genre is a combination of drama and thriller. The title sequence introduces the characters with intense rhythmic music which creates anticipation for the audience who want to know the storyline and know why all those characters are introduced. After the characters are introduced the title sequence then mentions that the film is based on a Nicholas Winding RefnThe title sequence is written in white bubble writing which may suggests that the film will end positively despite the drama and thriller events.

EVALUATION ON VERTIGO FILMS• Would this be a film company that I would choose to distribute or produce

my film? Why?I would choose Vertigo Films to distribute and produce my film because it is a film production and distribution. Vertigo Films is an independent film company who can produce 4 films a year therefore it would be a quick process to produce a film. It is well know for distributing the films StreetDance 3D, Monsters and Bronson. The genre of the film that I will produce would be a thriller therefore I can use the thriller films produced by Vertigo Films as a guidance. As the film would be produced it will have some influence of a thriller film from Vertigo Films.

VERTIGO FILMS: FILMS

BRITISH LIONS FILMS• British Lion Films is a British film production and distribution company who

have produced more than 170 films. This production company was found in November 1927 by Sam W Smith. British Lion Films has been in the film industry for many years because it has released films since 1927 and is the most respected distribution and production. This production company is also independent. Although British Lion Films explore many different genres in their films, the main ones are thriller, comedy, romance, drama, fantasy and crime.

• The colours used in the logo are blue, white and black which may highlight the fact that this production company produces films of different genres. On the logo it shows an eye with a tail near the left corner which catches people’s attention. The tail may also imply that British Lion Films will continue to produce more films. From this logo I would expect to see a drama, crime, thriller or an adventure film.

BRITISH LION FILMS: TITLE SEQUENCE

• From British Lion Films, I have chosen to analyse the title sequence of the film The Third Man. The title sequence starts by telling us where the film is set (Oxford Street) and who the target audience is. It states that it has ”been past for public exhibition to adult audiences” which tells us that the target audience is adults. This is all done through a poster. It then shows an image of Big Ben and next to it writes “A London Film production.” The title the tells us who presented the film (Alexander Corda and David O Selznick). After that the title sequence introduces the actors of the film. Next, it shows the title of the film, above the title it says that it is a “Carol Reeds production” and at the bottom of the title it says “by Graham Greene” who did the screenplay. After that it introduces more of the actors’ names. Once again, Graham Greene’s name appears again acknowledging that he did the screen play, then it tells us who did the photography for the film. It then tells us the people who designed the sets. The title sequence informs who played the music and what type of music is played. The music played is a Western electric recording and the instrument played is a Zither. It then mentions the name of the associated producer and who distributed the film which is British Lion Film Corporation. The title sequence ends by telling us that it was produced and directed by Carol Reeds.

TITLE SEQUENCE CONTINUED…• The camera filter is black and white which tells us that this film was made between

1940s-1950s. The use of font is creative because sometimes it can be written in bold, joint writing and a posh/fancy writing. The font is also written in white which infers. The title sequence is a lot different from the other title sequences that I have analyzed because all the people who took part in the film and made the film are being acknowledged which makes the title sequence long. Towards the end of the title sequence the names of the people who helped make the film are introduced like this, it may suggest that it took a lot of work in order to created a film of thriller and drama combined.

EVALUATION ON BRITISH LION FILMS

• Would this be a film company that I would choose to distribute or produce my film? Why? I would choose this film company to distribute the film that I make because this company has released many films through the years and are creative with genres. I feel like watching a thriller opening sequence and the film will help me with my creativity. I think that if British Lion Films would distribute my film it will attract the audience because their films have had many viewers due to their creativity and using some of that creativity would be useful for the film that I make. British Lion Films create impact on their films which is also my aim.

BRITISH LION FILMS: FILMS

EVALUATION• In this task I have researched 3 British Film Companies and have learnt about them as I

have completed this task. From this task I have learnt that all the companies that I have researched all have their creative way of introducing themselves to an audience. Warp Films introduce themselves by hinting the genre through the title sequence for example the film Bunny and the Bull was a comedy film and as the audience we know that because of how the titles are introduced which are through objects. Vertigo Films introduce themselves through their logo. In the slides before I mentioned that I expected to see drama and thriller films through the logo, as I did my research my prediction was right. Most of the films were thriller, drama or a combination of both. British Lion Films introduce themselves through film posters. Sometimes the genre is not that obvious because the huge number of films produced by British Lion Films has many different genres. The company has produced films since 1927 which means that there might have been other film genres that is no longer common today.