Working Title – Profile •
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Largest British film production company (50+ staff) Specialise in mid-budget, genre-based films (£20-35m) for a mainstream audience with international appeal
• 5-7 films per year • Part of global conglomerate (Universal) –
Retain some autonomy/ independence
• London and Hollywood
Working Title – Type of Films they produce • In the past: Mainstream feelgood movies. • Often hybrid genre films (rom-com, eg Love, Actually) • Literary adaptations (Atonement) • Represent Britain/ Britishness to appeal to international market (Elizabeth; Notting Hill; Johnny English; Mr Bean’s Holiday) • Now: Strong focus on aesthetics (Anna Karenina; Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)
Working Title – Type of Films they produce •
Anna Karenina illustrates all of the points: –
Feelgood – the glamour of Russia?
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Hybrid genre: Romantic-historical-literary adaptation
– Literary adaptation – Keira Knightley and Britishness – Focus on aesthetics (its award nominations at the Oscars and Baftas were for Make-up, Costume, Cinematography, Film Music, Production Design)
Working Title - Targeting Audiences •
Range of audiences: –
Mainstream UK (hybrid genres; feelgood)
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Mainstream-edge of arthouse cinema (literary adaptations; Senna documentary)
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International (make films of the export market, reflecting their global conglomerate ownership)
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Increasingly European? (Tinker Tailor; Anna Karenina)
Working Title – Ownership
How does Working Title’s ownership help them to be successful? •
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JUST focus on production (parent company sorts out funding, marketing and distribution) Autonomy up to £25m
• Support with expertise in marketing, production, casting, legal, subcontracts… • Guaranteed distribution • Global distribution (Europe: StudioCanal; America: Focus Features/ Universal; World: Universal)
Working Title – Technology •
Working Title shoot on film (not digital, yet)
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No 3D; little CGI
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Limited digital marketing
Working Title – Strategy •
Three markets: Domestic, European and International
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Feelgood/ glamorous
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Hybrid genre
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Literary adaptation
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Big British stars and mid American stars
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Focus on aesthetics to be the arty end of mainstream