Film Institution

FILM INSTITUTIONLOW BUDGET VS HIGH BUDGET

INDEPENDENT AND MAINSTREAM

What is an independent film?An independent film is a film which is made outside of the conventional studio system.

What is a mainstream film?A mainstream film is a film which is widespread and accessible to many people.

What is a production company?A production company provides a physical basis for the production of a film. Will usually provide the film with their budget for making the film.

What is a distribution company?A distribution company is responsible for making the film available to the audience, either on DVD or in the theatres.

INDEPENDENT AND MAINSTREAM FILMS

Independent Films Mainstream Films

Usually low-budget films. Usually high-budget films

Usually tackles big personal struggles. Typically light-hearted (makes you laugh/cry)

Makes you think and is seen as an ‘art’ Simple story designed for escapism.

Usually only shown in certain cinemas. More widely available.

Usually made by young/inexperienced filmmakers.

Made by large production companies.

Associated with critical success. Associated with commercial success.

Targets an older, more educated audience.

Targets a more youthful audience.

MOST SUCCESSFUL LOW-BUDGET FILMS

1. Paranormal Activity (Budget = $15k) Blumhouse Productions2. The Blair Witch Project (Budget = $60k) Haxan Films3. Mad Max (Budget = $300k) Warner Brothers Studios4. Napoleon Dynamite (Budget = $400k) MTV Films5. American Graffiti (Budget = $777k) Lucas Film6. Rocky (Budget = $995k) United Artists7. Saw (Budget = $ 1.2 million) Twisted Pictures8. The Full Monty (Budget = $3.5 million) Redwave Films9. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (Budget = $5 million) Gold Circle Films10. The Conjuring (Budget = $20 million) New Line Cinema

THE BIG SIX FILM STUDIOS

Warner Brothers Studios

Twentieth Century Fox

Paramount Pictures

Universal Studios

Sony Pictures

Walt Disney Studios

WARNER BROTHERS STUDIOSWarner Brother’s Studios was set up in 1923

It was founded by Sam Warner, Albert Warner, Harry Warner and Jack L. Warner.

It is run by Kevin Tsujihara.

Warner Brothers Studios’ Typical Movie Genres – Action, Adventure, Science Fiction and Fantasy

Warner Brothers Studios’ Typical Target Audience – Teenagers and young adults

WARNER BROTHERS STUDIOSThe Top 10 Most Successful Warner Brothers Studios Movies1. The Dark Knight (Budget = $185 million)2. The Dark Knight Rises (Budget = $230 million)3. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 (Budget = $250 million)4. American Sniper (Budget = 58.8 million)5. Batman VS Superman (Budget = 250 million)6. Suicide Squad (Budget = $175 million)7. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Budget = $130 million)8. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Budget = $180 million)9. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Budget = $250 million)10.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (Budget = $250 million)

TWENTIETH CENTURY FOXTwentieth Century Fox was set up in 1935.It was founded by Darryl F. Zanuck and Joseph M. Schenck.

It is run by Jim Gianopulos.

Twentieth Century Fox’s Typical Movie Genres – Action, Adventure, Drama, Family, Fantacy/Science Fiction

Twentieth Century Fox’s Typical Target Audience - Families

TWENTIETH CENTURY FOXThe Top 10 Most Successful Twentieth Century Fox Movies1. Avatar (Budget = $237 million)2. Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace (Budget = $115 million)3. Star Wars: Episode 3 – Revenge of the Sith (Budget = $113 million)4. Deadpool (Budget = $58 million)5. Star Wars (Budget = $13 million)6.Independence Day (Budget = $165 million)7. Star Wars: Episode 2 – Attack of the Clones (Budget = $120 million)8. Home Alone (Budget = $15 million)9. Return of the Jedi (Budget = $32.5 million)10.Night at the Museum (Budget = $110 million)

PARAMOUNT PICTURESParamount Pictures was set up in 1912

It was founded by Jesse L. Lasky, William Wadsworth Hodkinson and Adolph Zukor

It is run by Brad Grey

Paramount Pictures’ Typical Movie Genres – Action, Adventure, Drama, Family

Paramount Pictures’ Typical Target Audience – Range of ages and sexes

PARAMOUNT PICTURESThe Top 10 Most Successful Paramount Pictures Movies1. Titanic (Budget = $200 million)2. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Budget = $200 million)3. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (Budget = $195 million)4. Forrest Gump (Budget = $55 million)5. Shrek the Third (Budget = $160 million)6. Transformers (Budget = $147 million)7. Iron Man (Budget = $140 million)8. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Budget = $185 million)9. Iron Man 2 (Budget = $200 million)10. Star Trek (Budget = $185 million)

UNIVERSAL STUDIOSUniversal Studios was set up in 1912

It was founded by William Swanson and Jules Brulatour.

It is run by Ronald Meyer

Universal Studios’ Typical Movie Genres – Action, Adventure, Thriller and Science Fiction

Universal Studios’ Typical Target Audience – Range of ages and sexes.

UNIVERSAL STUDIOSThe Top 10 Most Successful Universal Studios Movies1. Jurassic World (Budget = $150 million)2. Despicable Me 2 (Budget = $76 million)3. The Secret Life of Pets (Budget = $75 million)4. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (Budget = $10.5 million)5. Jurassic Park (Budget = $63 million)6. Fast and Furious 7 (Budget = $190 million)7. Minions (Budget = $74 million)8. Meet the Fockers (Budget = $80 million)9. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Budget = $123 million)10. Jaws (Budget = $7 million)

SONY PICTURESSony Pictures was set up in 1991

It is run by Thomas Rothman and Michael Lynton

Sony Pictures’ Typical Movie Genres–Action, Adventure and Thrillers/Mystery

Sony Pictures’ Typical Target Audience – Teenagers and older

SONY PICTURESThe Top 10 Most Successful Sony Pictures Movies1. Spider-Man (Budget = $139 million)2. Spider-Man 2 (Budget = $200 million)3. Spider-Man 3 (Budget = $250 million)4. Skyfall (Budget = $200 million)5. The Amazing Spider-Man (Budget = $230 million)6. Men in Black (Budget = $90 million)7. Ghostbusters (Budget = $144 million)8. Hancock (Budget = $150 million)9. The Da Vinci Code (Budget = $125 million)10. Terminator 2: Judgement Day (Budget = $100 million)

WALT DISNEY STUDIOSWalt Disney Studios was set up in 1929.

It was set up by Walt Disney.

Walt Disney Studios’ Typical Movie Genres – Family

Walt Disney Studios’ Typical Target Audience – Children and Families

WALT DISNEY STUDIOSThe Top 10 Most Successful Walt Disney Studios Movies1. The Avengers (Budget = $220 million)2. Pirates of the Caribbean – Dead Man’s Chest (Budget = $225 million)3. Pirates of the Caribbean – On Stranger Tides (Budget = $250 million)4. Alice in Wonderland (2010) (Budget = $200 million)5. Pirates of the Caribbean – At the World’s End (Budget = $300 million)6. The Lion King (Budget = $79.3 million)7. Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Budget = $180 million)8. Pirates of the Caribbean (Budget = $320 million)9. Tangled (Budget = $260 million) 10. Cars 2 (Budget = $200 million)

Boyhood – Low-Budget, Independent Film

Star Wars Episode I : The Phantom Menace – High-Budget, Mainstream Film

BOYHOOD

Budget - $4 millionBox Office - $44.5 million

Genre – DramaTarget Audience – Older Teens, Young Adults/AdultsRelease Date – 11th July 2014Production Company – IFC ProductionsDirector – Richard LinklaterAwards – 170 Wins (including 1 Oscar) and another 202 NominationsMain Cast – Ellar Coltrane

Patricia Arquette Ethan HawkeElijah Smith

BOYHOOD - INSTITUTIONS

Budget - $4 millionBox Office - $44.5 million

Production CompanyThe production company used for

Boyhood was IFC Productions.

Distribution Companies

The film had many different distribution companies however two of the main ones were - IFC

Films and Universal Pictures International.

STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE

Budget - $115 millionBox Office - $1.027 billion

Genre – Science Fiction/Fantasy Target Audience – Universal AudiencesRelease Date – 16th July 1999Production Company – Twentieth Century FoxDirector – George LucusAwards – 24 Wins, 63 more NominationsMain Cast – Natalie Portman

Liam NeesonEwan McGregorKeira Knightly

STAR WARS - INSTITUTIONS

Budget - $115 millionBox Office - $1.027 billion

Production CompanyThe production company for Star Wars: The Phantom Menace was

Twentieth Century Fox.

Distribution Companies

The main distribution company for this film was also Twentieth

Century Fox.