Submarine and Warp Films G322B Case Study
Production and Funding • Released March 2011 • Institutions: – – – –
Film4 Warp Films Film Agency of Wales Red Hour Films (Ben Stiller)
• • • •
£1.2m Shot in Wales Based on Welsh novel Directed by Richard Ayoade
About Warp Films • • • • •
UK (Sheffield) Independent Low budget films (under £1.5m) Develops directors and talent Aims at UK and European audience
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H_e72WYGlo
History of Warp • Warp Records 1989 Sheffield – Shop – Electronic music record label (Aphex Twin; Squarepusher)
• Late 90s – music videos (Chris Cunningham) • Set up Warp Films ~2000 – Startup grant from government - £150k
• This is England 2005
Film 4
Distribution
Production
Funding
National Lottery UK Film Council
Warp Films
Warp Records
Warpmart Madman Ent.
Channel 4
Optimum
Bleep WarpFilmStore.com
? p r a W o t s m r e t e s e h t f o y n a ly p p a Can you n io t a r g e t in l a t n o •Vertical/ horiz •Synergy •Independent •Autonomy •Conglomerate ip h s r e n w O ia d e M s •Cros •Parent Company •Sister Company
Selected Releases 2003 - My Wrongs #8245–8249 & 117 (Dir: Chris Morris) 2004 - Dead Man's Shoes (Dir: Shane Meadows) 2005 - Rubber Johnny (Dir: Chris Cunningham) 2005 - Scummy Man (Arctic Monkeys short film/music video) 2006 - This Is England (Dir: Shane Meadows) 2007 - Dog Altogether (Dir: Paddy Considine) 2008 - At the Apollo (Arctic Monkeys Dir: Richard Ayoade) 2010 – Four Lions (Dir: Chris Morris) 2011 – Submarine (Dir: Richard Ayoade; starring Paddy Considine) 2011 – Tyranosaur (Dir: Paddy Considine)
Warp’s Aims • Warp = “cutting edge, innovative, interesting, independent” • “We don’t want to have carbon-copy, Hollywood big blockbuster film” • “It’s important to raise the profile of British filmmaking worldwide and get a larger voice out there” • “An artist-led company”
Warp Films’ partners • Film4 and Channel4 • Optimum (now StudioCanal) • Madman Entertainment
What does each side get out of this arrangement?
Technology and Warp Films • Digital Production – Focuses on use of digital photography (cheaper) – WarpX – digital studio
• Digital Distribution – Lower budget films exhibited in more cinemas
WarpX • Set up after 2005 – digital studio in WarpX
– Funded by UK Film Council New Cinema Fund – Backed by Film4, ScreenYorkshire and EM Media (East Midlands Media), and Optimum Releasing
• Distribution arrangements: • • • •
– UK cinema and DVD distribution: Optimum – UK TV rights: Channel 4
Low budget Entirely digital Risktaking Developing talent and developing UK film industry
Submarine
Production and Funding • Released March 2011 • Institutions: – – – –
Film4 Warp Films Film Agency of Wales Red Hour Films (Ben Stiller)
• • • •
£1.5m Shot in Wales Based on Welsh novel Directed by Richard Ayoade
Distribution – Cinemas (Exhibition) • Multiple independent distributors • UK: Optimum – StudioCanal dominating UK indie market? – USA: The Weinstein Company • The King’s Speech • Inglourious Basterds
Distribution – Cinemas (Exhibition)
Promotion (marketing) at film festivals
Priority target audience?
Distribution – Cinemas (Exhibition)
Distribution – Cinemas (Exhibition) • Box office = £3.1m – UK £2.3m – USA £467k
Distribution (Home entertainment) • LoveFilm with StudioCanal • DVD Sales – £40k
Marketing • Film Festivals – Toronto; London; Sundance; Seattle
• Literary adaptation (British novel) • Nostalgia • Soundtrack – Alex Turner, Arctic Monkeys
Warp: Compare to Working Title
Submarine: Compare to Tinker, Tailor