Working title films

Working Title Films

1. Working Title Section B: Institutions & Audiences AS Media Studies

2. Learning objectives: To gain a basic understanding of issues relating to Media Ownership: Ownership of film industry. To locate Working Title within the context of the British Film Industry. To understand the issues raised by media ownership in contemporary media practice.

3. Background Working Title Films is a British film production company, based in London. The company was founded by Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe in the late 1980s. It produces feature films and some television productions. Among the company's films are Richard Curtis-scripted romantic comedies and Coen Brothers' films, but has in recent times moved into many other types of film, such as United 93 . In 2004 it made a profit of £17.8 million. As of 2007, all its films distributed by Universal Pictures, which owns a 67% stake in the company, and many of its recent films are co-productions with StudioCanal . The remaining shares are owned by the company's founders, BBC Films, and private investors.

4. Film maths Films + American stars = Appeal to international market (& success for the British film industry) This approach has provoked criticism about the ‘mid-Atlantic’ nature of the films.

5. The British film industry dilemma : Do you: A) Make culturally specific films which appeal to a limited audience? OR B) Make broader, generic films with a wider appeal?

6. The British film industry dilemma: Working Title want to make European films for a worldwide audience. They want to imbue them with European ideas and influences and they couldn’t do these things without the backing of a major Hollywood studio.

7. 1992 PolyGram (a European music and media company) buys Working Title. Sarah Radclyffe leaves to set up her own production company She’s replaced by Eric Fellner History of WT:

8. History of Working Title 1984 Working Title founded by Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe Now the most successful British film production company 1984 1985 - First Working Title film My Beautiful Laundrette (The first of a series of collaborations with Channel Four Films) 15 - Number of WT films produced in the 1980s 1988 - Production deal with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment 1991 - WT sets up Hollywood office

9. History of WT: 1994 Four Weddings and a Funeral A big box office success due to the access to the US market provided by Polygram

10. History of WT: 1998 Polygram bought by Universal, a Seagram company 2000 Seagram is bought by Vivendi, the French multimedia conglomerate WorkingTitle is now owned by Universal, which is in turn owned by Vivendi

11. $35m The amount of money WT can spend on a film before consulting with Universal WT2 Set up to encourage new British filmmakers. Billy Elliot (Dir. Stephen Daldry , 1999) WT2 did not need the approval of Universal

12. Safety Net: £13m Budget for Captain Corelli’s Mandolin £9.8m UK Box Office takings The protection of Universal means that Working Title was able to survive this disappointing performance

13. Unique: There is no other British Film Company like Working Title It is allowed freedom to make creative decisions but it is owned by a conglomerate

14. Some key Working Title films: Film Budget (£m) Box Office UK (£m) Bean (1996) 16.2 17.9 Elizabeth (1997) 13 5.5 Notting Hill (1998) 15 31 Bridget Jones (2000) 14 42 About a Boy (2001) 13.5 16.8 Love, Actually (2004) 30 36.2 Wimbledon (2004) 20 (est) 6.8

15. Some numbers: 4 or 5 The number of films Working Title produce each year 1 Number of ‘risk free films’ Working Title will invest in each year 2 Number of mainstream films WT will invest in each year 2 Will invest in projects they feel passionate about (which have risk factors involved)

16. Some numbers: 95 Number of films made (to date) by Working Title $4.5 billion Amount of money made by these films 6 Number of Academy Awards won 26 Number of BAFTA Awards won

17. Successful Relationships Working Title make films with 3 rd parties e.g. the Coen Brothers and people they know well and have built up a good working relationship with e.g. Richard Curtis

18. Notable films The Soloist State of Play The Boat That Rocked Wild Child Burn After Reading, The Interpreter About a Boy Notting Hill

19. Elizabeth Fargo Dead Man Walking Bean High Fidelity Johnny English Billy Elliot Four Weddings and a Funeral

20. Bridget Jones's Diary Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason O Brother, Where Art Thou? Love Actually Shaun of the Dead Pride & Prejudice Nanny McPhee United 93

21. What does Eric Fellner have to say? Working Title focus on character and narrative (as opposed to action/ special effects etc.) They often create films of cross-genres Fellner feels the simple essence of a successful film is a really good screenplay and sense of humanity; that the most important thing is for the audience to identify and empathise with characters

22. What does Eric Fellner have to say? Working Title have aimed to create an industry that is exportable and global There is an active aggressive industry in Hollywood that we can never compete with What we should focus on is making films we believe in and exporting them

23. Breakthrough success Four Weddings and a Funeral is a 1994 British romantic comedy film directed by Mike Newell. It was the first of several films by screenwriter Richard Curtis to feature Hugh Grant. The film was an unexpected success, becoming the highest-grossing British film in cinema history with worldwide box office in excess of $244 million worldwide.

24. Richard Curtis Curtis is a screenwriter for British Films, best known for writing ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’, ‘Notting Hill’, ‘Love Actually’ and shows such as ‘The Vicar of Dibley’, ‘Mr Bean’ and ‘Blackadder’ and transferring ‘Bridget Jones’ from book to film.

25. Charity Curtis founded the charity in 1985. And was a founder of MAKE POVERTY HISTORY

26. Curtis and Working Title His films for Working Title have a recognisable formula : A tendency to portray a ‘Christmas Card’ little England, combining chocolate box villages with tourist London Middle class heroes stuck in romantic predicaments, looking gorgeous and living in fabulous houses in London Using the romantic comedy genre as a showcase for Britain’s comedy talent in cameos Hugh Grant is best known for his Curtis films

27. Coen Brothers Owing a heavy debt to film noir and other film styles of the past, the Coen brothers' films combine dry humor with sharp irony and shocking visuals, most often in moving camera shots.

28. Working Title Films

29. Best of British Working Title films have promoted a range of home grown talent: Hugh Grant, Bill Nighy , Rowan Atkinson, Martin Freeman, Alan Rickman , Keira Knightly, Colin Firth, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost and frequently draws on comedy television show stars (such as ‘The Office ’) for cameo roles. When casting for Bridget Jones was taking place, there was outrage than an American actress was given the lead in what women saw as a ‘Thoroughly British’ role.

30. Portrayal of London Working Title’s portrayal of London could be described as heavily formulaic, especially in Richard Curtis’ depictions. TASK: Using ‘Notting Hill’ ‘Bridget Jones’ and ‘Love Actually’ for reference, what values and ideologies does Working Title’s London convey?

31. Task Content Views of London, the streets and houses, famous landmarks – where do the characters take us? Londoners – how are they portrayed? Jobs in London – what do the characters do? Fashion and music

32. Working Title Films Bridget Jones Diary http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp08csjN_xI Love Actually http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYCkFTyADJ0 Notting Hill http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5_5wAX4rrk

33. Discussion Question: What does a healthy film industry need to be productive?

34. ELT Due Monday 9 th March Research a Working Title Film and prepare a presentation in groups (no more than 3) examining its patterns of production, distribution, exhibition and consumption by audiences. http://www.workingtitlefilms.co.uk/

35. Production Original idea ? Book? Franchise? Casting? Producers? Directors? Composer – music tie ins? Screenwriters – other films? Studio – genres the do best? Blockbuster? Locations? Stars - A List or unknown?

36. Distribution How did the distributor market the film and who was the target audience? Posters Trailers Websites Release date and type of cinemas The number of prints and scale and pattern of release eg wide release Internet downloads, DVDs.

37. Exhibition Exchange and consumption In cinemas and at home Screen release DVD release Rating? Censorship? Restrictions? Film reviews A commercial success? Why? Audience figures Box office figures Personal response Sales figures for DVDs, CDs Rising stars?