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Working Title Film trip

On Tuesday 5th April we went to Working Title. It was really interesting to meet the founder of WT as well as the people behind productions.

Tim Bevan

Tim explained the whole process that WT go through before producing the film. I didn't actually realise that WT don't actually direct the film, or hire the crew. 

They are funded by Universal Pictures, who also distribute their films are made.

The first stage is Development. This takes place in the 'engine room', where all the ideas are taken and developed into a possible storyline and screenplay. Their ideas are sent to Los Angeles to get writers who are interested in creating this film. The writers pitch their ideas and how they want to portray the film to WT. Then the company have to find a casting director and a director. Then the script, cast and budget taken to the studio where a cost analysis is created. The Marketing section are always thinking about the film, things that would look good on a trailer, poster ideas, thing in the film that are good/bad that may put people off seeing the film.  

WT make around 3 or 4 films a year.

One of the questions that we asked Tim Bevan was about the issue of piracy. He said that there are two things that put people off buying or downloading pirated films. the first is the fact that the cinema experience is the best way to see a film. The incredible quality on a huge screen, with excellent sound and comfy chairs, as well as popcorn and the general atmosphere. The other is that people know how much money it costs to make a film, there's more to it than illegally downloading a song as so much more work time and effort has gone into making that film.

Sarah-Jane Wright
SJ works in the production department. She talked a lot about Atonement which cost £17 million to make. The beach scene was particularly interesting how they created it, as they used local Army men as extras, and used a technique call tiling to make it look like more people. The director Joe Wright wanted the perfect sunset for the scene, so they had to wait all day to film the scene.

Emma & Harriet
Emma is an intern at WT, and Harriet is a creative executive. They talked about how they got into working at WT, through doing work experience as a runner, and then being offered an internship. They spend time in different areas of WT to gain experience and learn about how things work. It was really useful to find out how people actually get into the business.

Dan Mazer
Dan was the writer for Borat, Bruno and Ali G. He talked about some of the controversial issues that people had with his films. 

What is a British Film?

2.
The King's Speech

• Historical drama, set in the early 20th century. The film is about Prince Albert of York who suffers from speech stuttering problems, and follows him as he becomes kings, and tries to solve his speech problem. I think the film is very British as the monarchy is seen as a very British symbol.
• The main star Colin Firth is British as is Helena Bonham-Carter. However, seveal of the other main actors are other nationalities. This may be to appeal to a wider, especially American, audience. The main characters are also very well known.
• The director Tom Hooper is British. He has also directed several other period dramas.
• the genre would be historical drama. it is based on a true story.
• The film was produced by See-Saw films. They are based in London and Sydney. The film also recieved £1 million from the UK film council. This is an article about the importance of the britsh film council, not only for this film considering the success of it, but the impact on the British film industry.  http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/culture-cuts-blog/2011/mar/01/arts-funding-oscars-2011
• 
  

127 Hours

• biography that follows the story of a climber that was stuck in a canyon for over 5 days. it's not really related to British subject as it is set in america, about an american and based on adventure activities that are not necessarily classed as British
• the main actors is James Franco, an American.he has been in several well known films before.
• The director Danny Boyle is English, and has directed several very well known films such as Slumdog Millionaire (not at all a British film), and Trainspotting (definitely British)
• 
  

Another Year

• drama feel good film about an elderly couple and the people around them. It is quite a British film as it features an old couple, who have English accents, and contains British humor.
• All the actors are British, although none of them are particularly well known.
• Mike leigh is British. he has also directed Happy-go-lucky, a very british, feel good film although none of his other work seems familiar to me. 

Four Lions

• Dark comedy film about terrorists, although they seem to be pretty poor at it. It is a fairly British film as although it is based around the islamic religion, it is set in Sheffield and the people and humor is British. 
• The main actors are all british, and none are well known.
• the director Christopher Morris is British and is known for a part in the IT Crowd, but none of his other work is familiar.
• 
  

Made in Dagenham

• Comedy drama about women fighting for equal rights in 1968. It is related to British subject matter as it is based on true events, and is set in England.
• The cast are English, and the main character played by Sally Hawkins, who was in Happy Go Lucky, although she is probably not that well known. 
• The director Nigel Cole is British, and known for Calender Girls. 

3.

I consider The King's Speech, Another Year and Made in Dagenham to be very British. This is because they have British actors, directors and a subject matter. Four Lions is also very British because of the comedy used , and the British location and actors. I consider 127 hours not British because the actors are American, the location is in America and it is based on an American real life story.