Film4

 

Film4 was originally known as Film Four when established in 1998 as channel 4's second channel but was for subscription only.

• Channel 4 is a production house company, who's funding comes from adverts/commercial funding.
• Film4 - "committed to enhance the British film making industry by nurturing and funding new talent"
• Film4 has a nice (very specific small audience)
• It was then followed by many other Channel 4 further programmes who time-shared the air of blockbuster films.
• In 2006, Film Four modified its name to Film4 and also became a free digital viewing channel and started producing many adverts with celebrities in weird situations to stress and intrigue the audience that this is the only channel to watch free movies continuously.
• Tessa Ross became the controller of Film4 in 2004 and head of TV drama for Channel 4.
• Film4 is very heavily linked with Channel 4. Channel 4 financed in the helping of production in such films as "The Crying Game" and "Madness of King George".
• Channel 4 also decided that their side film channel would be made free on digital networks, therefore becoming the only free film program to boost ratings.
• Film4 are currently on some large projects including Tyrannosaur, which Film4 backed in production and distribution closely working with Warp X and Inflmmable films.
  This movie is an example of how Film4 help broadcast and produce English films and not just Hollywood Blockbusters as this was the first film ever to be directed by Paddy Considine.
  Also Film4 are in the final stages of distributing their own creation of Random, originally a theatre play by director Debbie Tucker Green.
  It is being regularly advertised on Channel 4 and competitions have started to try and attract people to see the film in cinemas.
• Film4 produces about 6 films a year and works alongside their subsidiary Warp X.
• Less of the budget is spent on distribution, because the films can be advertised on their own and parent companies' TV channels.
• They have won 5 Oscars in 4 years & 3 BAFTA's in 2007.
  They have won 5 Oscars in 4 years & 3 BAFTA's in 2007. 8.3 million AB Cl's a month, with an upmarket (42%) and male (55%) profile.
• Successful Films include - Slumdog Millionaire/127 Hours/Four Lions/This Is England/Trainspotting
• Film 4 work closely with specific actors and directors such as Danny Boyle's/Martin McDonagh/Steve McQueen/Peter Mullan/Chris Morris
• Film 4 recently launched Film 4.0 - digital/online arena
• Film 4.0's aim will be to find new talent and discover new ways of making, marketing and distributing films and engaging new audiences online in a multi platform environment.

Films:

• Johnny English - written in 2009 by the same people as James Bond, which grossed $160 million. Rowan Atkinson starred and the sequel was released on September 2010.
• Wild Child - budget of $20 million, films at Cobham Hall, was marketed on radio stations, social networking sites and TV adverts - was a financial flop with 2.2 mill opening weekend.
• The Soloist - based on a true story, budget $60 mill, based on books and articles/directed by Joe Wright, produced by Gary Forster & Russ Krasnof. Grossed $31,720,158 mill. Paramount helped distribute through DreamWorks animation and Universal Pictures. Released a year later than planned, therefore lost Oscar potential.

Written by Stephen Hare