Q3 - Reflective Evaluation

Media Institution Research

The kind of films different media institution distributes. Here are some example of two independent and and one major media institution.

Independent Film Companies

Fantastic Films

Fantastic Films is an OSCAR™ winning film production company with a focus on high quality genre & niche films.

Film examples:

Outcast
Outcast is a 2010 supernatural thriller film, which is directed by Colm McCarthy and starring James Nesbitt.


Example of a promo and poster from the film:

Wilderness

'WILDERNESS', a horror feature film starring Sean Pertwee (Dog Soldiers, Goal, Event Horizon and Alex Reid. 


Example of a promo and poster from the film:

It can be identified from the trailers that it is a low budgeted film in terms of its quality and cast. It is not expected to be with a major institution, appeal to a larger group of audience or release worldwide even though the story seem quite good, its not something that comes into a specific genre such as ghost or slasher which people are more likely to admire. Compare to the trailer, the poster is created in much high quality and more eye catching which may interest the audience.


Hammer Films

Hammer is a London based production subsidiary of Exclusive Media Group and a legendary British film brand.

Film examples:


Women in Black
The Woman in Black is a 2012 thriller-horror film directed by James Watkins and is based on Susan Hill's novel of the same name. The film stars Daniel Radcliffe, Ciarán Hinds, Janet McTeer, Sophie Stuckey, and Liz White.


Example of a promo and poster from the film:

Let Me In

Let Me In is a 2010 American romantic horror film directed by Matt Reeves and starring Kodi Smit-McPhee and Chloë Grace Moretz.

Example of a promo and poster from the film:

As we can both film looks like quite large budgeted film in terms of its quality and cast. It uses well known characters and interesting story-line in the trailer. It can be expected to release worldwide and appeal to a large group of audience, something that goes into a specific genre and admired by people. Not just the trailer but the poster is goodly produced in terms of graphics which people would expect from a larger production film company. New but within few years after the remake, Hammer has became popular and well known.

The both production company promotes horror films, mostly based on olden days classical. However Fantastic film production is one of the Oscar winning production, won over 50 international awards in the last six years such as Wilderness, 48 Angels etc. On the other hand Hammer film production is old ,but since its resurrection in 2007 Hammer has only released few film such as women in black, film 2012.

Major Film Company

Twist Pictures Production

Twisted Pictures is an American independent production company, mainly creating films of the horror genre. Twisted Pictures was formed after the box office success of Saw in 2004, which lead to a nine-picture distribution deal with Lionsgate.


Film examples:

Dead Silence

Dead Silence (originally titled Shhhh... and Silence, with alternate title suggestions such asThe Doll and Mary Shaw) is a 2007 horror film, directed by James Wan

Example of a promo and poster from the film:

Saw

Saw is a 2004 American independent horror film directed by James Wan. The screenplay, written by Leigh Whannell, is based on a story by Wan and Whannell.

Example of a promo and poster from the film:

Both Saw and deal silence come into the category of slasher, here they use film location(isolated place) and characters(people being killed by an unknown person, no motive). From its trailer people can expect what may happen which grab the attention and builds confidence of the audience. The film looks of a huge budged film in terms of what are shown in the film, which is expected from a large film production.


It is said that making is much easier then distribution however it depends on how well known the production company is. When distributing a film, production company made to keep in mind of the

• Studio
• Target Audience
• Star power
• Buzz
• Season

because depending on the e.g. season, the movie will be popular. For example horror films such as Friday The 13Th is more likely to be popular during Halloween. The ways film company can distribute their film is through theaters, putting posters, internet such as YouTube, festivals, Television etc. No matter which production company it is their film distribution will be similar because their purpose is to promote the movie no matter what.