“They have been listed as the most powerful figures in the British industry and in 2002 Premiere magazine put them at 41st in the world-wide movie power list.” ( BBC News story (2004) 

Background• Working title films is co-chaired by Tim Bevan and

Eric Fellner since 1992 and is one of the worlds leading film production companies.

• It was found in 1983 and it has made over 100 films that have grossed over $6billion worldwide.

• Working title have won 11 Academy Awards, 38 BAFTA awards and numerous prestige prizes at the Cannes and Berlin International Film festivals.

• In 1998, Universal joined Working Titles.• Working Title can spend $35million on a film before

having to consult Universal.

Funding • Each year, the British Film Institute (BFI) invest

over £26m of lottery funds to support film development, production and distribution activity in the UK and the budget is set to rise o £30m by 2017.

• Between 2001 and 2002, the council had £57m at their disposal, with £20.8m from the government and £36.2m from the lottery.

• Film companies can claim back money if they meet a certain criteria:

Criteria• Accessing film tax relief• Film tax relief is available for British qualifying films. Films must

either pass the Cultural Test or qualify as an official co-production;

• Films must be intended for theatrical release;• Films, including those made under official co-production

treaties, must have a minimum UK core spend requirement of 10%;

• Tax relief is available on qualifying UK production expenditure on the lower of either: 80% of total core expenditure; or the actual UK core expenditure incurred.

• There is no cap on the amount which can be claimed.• The film production company (FPC) responsible for the film

needs to be within the UK corporation tax net.

Key Players in Working Titles

• They enjoy collaborating with filmmakers such as the Coen Brothers, Richard Curtis, Stephen Daldry, Paul Greengrass, Edgar Wright and Joe Wright.

Actors • Here are some of actors they enjoy working with;

Rowan Atkinson, Cate Blanchett, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, Gary Oldman and Emma Thompson.

Love Actually• Love Actually is a 2003 British Christmas-

themed romantic comedy film written and directed by Richard Curtis.

• The estimated budget for this film was $45,000,000.

• This film is what people wanted because it featured Christmas which many people are aware of and they like the thought of Christmas, it cast high class British actors which made the film ‘more’ British and also, it had a mention of America in it which will have made the Americans want to watch it because it had their country in it which gave them a sense of pride.

Four Weddings and a Funeral• This film was released 13th May 1994 in the UK and

20th January 1994 in the USA and it was produced by Richard Curtis.

• The estimated budget for this film was $4,500,000.• This film cast actors such as Hugh Grant, Andie

MacDowell, James Fleet, Simon Callow, John Hannah, Kristin Scott, Thomas David Bower, Charlotte Coleman, Timothy Walker, Sara Crowe, Rowan Atkinson, David Haig, Sophie Thompson, Corin Redgrave, Anna Chancellor and Duncan Kenworthy.

Science Fiction• Working titles don’t produce scientific films

because they cannot compete with Hollywood as they don’t want to seem like they are copying them and they don’t have the budget to do it. They may use some special effects, but not major ones that are very noticeable as this would take a large chunk out of their budget.

Future/ Upcoming Films from Working Titles