2. Warp Films is an independent film production company based in Sheffield
& London, UK, with a further affiliated company ‘Warp X’ Australia based in
Melbourne, Australia.
This is England
Four Lions
Dead Man’s Shoes
Trash Humpers
Exhibit A
Grow Your Own
Paradise Lost
The company also own at least four drama and comedy series on
television.
Hollywood film companies will often spend months or even a year
just filming one specific film, whereas in many cases small
independent companies have produced a film in one month. This is
evident with ‘Dead Man’s Shoes’, which was shot in just 22 days for
a project to encourage independent film makers to get there work out
there.

3. ‘This is England’: Shane Meadows
o Produced with Film 4
What makes it different from Hollywood films?
o Particular genre to base upon – Social realism
o Cheaper to make than Hollywood films – they focus on special effects, CGI,
HD, 3D etc.
o The importance of cultural reference points: clothes, dialect, music – only
a specific viewer with a cultural familiarity would recognise.
o Warp films cannot rely on a big studio to finance their films and cannot act
as a distributor.
o TIE was distributed by optimum releasing.
Box Office
Budget:
£1,500,000 (estimated)
Opening Weekend:
$18,430 (USA) (27 July 2007)
Gross:
$327,919 (USA) (16 November 2007)

4. Question:
‘What are the issues raised by media ownership in cotemporary practice?’
Warp Films was initially created with funding help from NESTA
Dead Man’s Shoes: Shot in 22 days on a tight budget, and produced from
Warp Films’ Sheffield office (at that time a shed in Herbert’s garden)
Premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2010 and was
released in the UK during March 2011 by Optimum Releasing It was
distributed in the US by The Weinstein Company.
Warp X (Australian) Focuses on really low budget films (£400,000-£800,000)
Focuses on genre based films, specialised storylines ‘social realism’ – attracts
a smaller, particular target audience (Cheaper than Hollywood films).
Innovative, uncompromising films.
Good for audiences and society because British indie companies gives way
to new talent, fresh storylines and keeps film industry thriving. Stops
Hollywood companies gaining a monopoly/oligopoly over the film industry.
Work with Film 4 and BBC to secure extra funding for their films – also helps
with distribution.

5. With the ‘Big 6’ and large conglomerates in Hollywood owning a
large proportion of the film industry, it leads to a number of
problems for smaller independent film producers and also the
audience:
Lack of choice regarding films
Endless sequels, e.g. Shrek 1,2,3 and 4.
Does not give way to new talent
Same actors seen in lots of films
Lack of creativity (Same people working on all of the films)
Small British companies working with large Hollywood companies
means:
The British producer may be tied down into producing a
‘mainstream’ film and is unable to show off their talent
 Potentially destroys his creation
Warp Films is a lot smaller as a British Indie company compared to
Working Title, because they work with Universal, giving them a
conglomerate backing.

6. Synergy: Two or more companies working together to distribute and promote a
related product, E.g. the film, soundtrack, video game, dressing up costumes
Convergence: The process by which a range of media platforms are integrated within
a single piece of media technology. E.g. An iphone is a camera, music player, social
networking access, communication.
Convergence - TIE was distributed by Optimum Releasing who are closely involved in
the development process and distribute the films theatrically and on DVD in the UK.
This relationship therefore benefits themselves and Warp Films because they are
operating in a competitive market. The film was produced as a result of collaboration
between 7+ companies. It was distributed by 6 organisations.
Synergy – Web 2.0: Four Lions’ website contains aspects of sharing links of trailers to
social networking sites.
 Live twitter feed streamed - encourages interaction and buzz about the film.
 Download posters.
 Interactive software.
 Hyperlinks to online multimedia interviews/web content/production company
websites.
 Link to it takes you directly to the booking page of that cinema venue.

7. The emergence of digital, computerised or networked information and
communications technology in the later part of the 20th century.
‘New Media’ = Digital. A quicker, more efficient, smaller and
compressed form of data storage when compared with older methods.
Old media technologies – Films were shot on big cameras and would
be recorded onto big reels. The editor would then literally have to cut
and paste the film together frame by frame. Special effects were
primitive and often looked extremely unrealistic.
Digital Cinematography: The footage can now be recorded onto tape,
hard disk or memory stick. There has been a huge emergence in HD
and 3D films in the last 10 years.
New media technologies has meant that independent film makers now
find it a lot easier to produce films because technology is more
advanced, cheaper, faster and of a higher quality. You do not need a
huge amount of money in order to produce a film.

8. The spread and proliferation of technology has meant:
That piracy is decreased because there can be a simultaneous global release
of a film – Puts an end to the ‘time gap’ between film releases in different
countries and therefore the exploitation of pirates.
Distribution is cheaper because technology is more accessible
It’s quicker to produce, promote and distribute films
New films or products can be promoted on social networking sites as it is free
Digital technology has made production a lot easier for low budget film
makers.
However, piracy becomes slightly easier because camera qualities are
improving so filming in cinemas is easier, it can be easily uploaded to the
internet and spread virally through ‘Youtube’ or social networking sites. The UK
Film Council reported a film theft in 2008 with only Germany and Austria
having a larger percentage of film piracy.
The increase in digital technology means that it offers the potential to increase
profits, but also dangers in equal measure.

9. Technological convergence completely changes the viewers
experience. Incredible ease of access to infinite libraries of film,
anytime, anywhere. E.g. Downloading films on your smartphone, or
downloading films onto ‘Netflix’/’Love Film’ using an xbox or computer.
Warp Films have minimal convergences, however they do have
their own website warp.net/films which allows online promotion for
distribution and sales to the public viewers. This is England is a
popular trend on their website and has lots of information regarding
the film with extra acknowledgements - able to watch the trailer on
your smartphone and then click straight through to the cinema venue
website to order/book tickets for the film.
There’s equal access to both niche/alternative and mainstream films
– This is highly beneficial for Warp Films.
The spread of viral marketing creates huge opportunities for film
producers.
If Warp Films were to release one of their films onto Itunes to buy,
then it could increase their sales as technological convergence has
meant that people use Ipads, Iphones and Ipods for viewing and
downloading media.

10. British indie companies target smaller niche audiences - they don't have the
budget for special effects or big budgets to attract the mainstream
audiences. The smaller niche audiences are usually based on a certain
age or gender.
Warp X: They only produce films which qualify as British. They would
strongly prefer producers to shoot in Yorkshire or some other northern
region of England, but "if there is a compelling creative need to shoot
elsewhere, then we will put the needs of the film first.“
Unlike the Hollywood film companies whose main aim and objective is to
make a huge profit from sales, Warp X’s objectives include:
 Providing new opportunities to increase participation of groups currently
under-represented in the UK film industry such as writers, directors,
producers and actors who are disabled, women and/or from black and
minority ethnic groups.
 To encourage filmmakers to explore social issues of disability,
cultural/ethnic diversity and social exclusion through the content and range
of individual film projects.
 To create much-needed progression routes into the UK film industry for
identified filmmaking talent, who may have experienced some success
through their first feature film or through short filmmaking, but who need
further infrastructural and other support to make their next film/s a

11. Big Hollywood conglomerate companies have begun to target British
audiences ore than ever now as a way to get rid of competition. By
targeting these audiences, they are deteriorating the British Film
industry and gaining a monopoly over film institutes. As big film
companies become more popular, they are making the journey to
become a successful British independent film producer ever harder.
Smaller independent companies must try and distribute their films are
effectively and efficiently as possible by using convergence; Warp
Films will usually work with at least 7 other different companies in order
to produce, distribute and exhibit their films.
For larger independent companies this is not so difficult however, Warp
Films do not have it as easy as Working Title. This is because Working
Title is owned by Hollywood conglomerate Universal Studios and so
they get help with distributing their films.

12. My media consumption has changed drastically in the last 10
years. In the past, I would watch films on a VHS or go to the
cinema regularly, then DVD’s started to become more
popular so you could watch films easier by being able to
pause, fast forward and rewind easily and by choice.
However, as technology has developed and advanced there
are now infinite ways of producing, watching and
downloading media.
My viewing experience has become more diverse, I am able
to download films on Netflix and instantly watch them
through the TV or Xbox, I can easily watch trailers for
upcoming films on ‘Youtube’ and through social networking
sites such as ‘Twitter’, I am kept updated with the latest news
on the films such as the Hunger Games, e.g. I was made
aware and alerted when the trailer and teasers for the
upcoming ‘Catching Fire’ were released. It is now a lot more
accessible, easier and cheaper to consume the large
sources of media that are everywhere around us.

13. Warp Films- An independent company
 Base their budget from low to medium as they are not as popular as a
conglomerate film, and don’t have a huge amount of money to work with.
Their low budgets affects the type of genre they are able to base their films around.
 Get their funding from NESTA; a big company within the filming business.
Working title - Part of a conglomerate company. Conglomerates are a high budget
film, they usually produce Hollywood blockbusters and include a higher standard
quality i.e. special effects; more famous actors/actresses Etc.
 Produce medium budget films up to $35m
 Love Actually and Four Weddings.
 Get their funding from Universal Studios, which is the parent company of Working
Title.
 They also get a big sum of money from previous films that they have produced.

14. Will assess:
Your understanding of how media institutions currently operate
Your ability to explore ideas about how audiences use media
Your understanding of the relationship between audiences and
institutions (film companies)
Need to acquire a sense of how rapidly institutions and audiences
are being transformed by digital technology.

15.  Jan ‘09:
Discuss the ways in which media products are produced and distributed
to audiences, within a media area you have studied (film)
 June ‘09:
How important is technological convergence for institutions and
audiences within a media area you have studied (film)
 Jan ‘10:
‘Media production is dominated by global institutions which sell their
products and services to national audiences’ To what extent do you agree
with this statement?

16. Pre-production:
Ideas, planning
Casting etc.
Production:
Production (principal
photography)
Editing
Use of technology etc.
Distribution Refers to the marketing
: and circulation of movies in
cinemas:
Licensing
Advertising & prints
Marketing
Logistics
Exhibition:
Independent cinema
Mainstream cinema
DVD/Blu Ray

17. Camera
IMAX MKIII, Hasselblad Lenses
Comparing the Panavision Panaflex Millennium XL, Panavision
production processes C-, E-Series and Super High Speed Lenses
and technical Panavision Panaflex Platinum, Panavision C-,
specifications E-Series and Super High Speed Lenses
Laboratory
Astro Color Lab, Chicago (IL), USA (processing)
Consolidated Film Industries (CFI), Hollywood
Technicolor, Hollywood (CA), USA (also prints)
Laboratory Technicolor, London, UK (processing)
DeLuxe, UK
Cinematographic process
Cinematographic process Digital Intermediate (master format) (some
Digital Intermediate (master scenes: IMAX prints)
format) IMAX (source format) (some scenes)
Super 16 (source format) Panavision (anamorphic) (source format)
Printed film format Printed film format
35 mm (blow-up) 35 mm (Kodak Vision 2383)
70 mm (horizontal) (IMAX DMR blow-up)
(Kodak Vision 2383)
D-Cinema