Arthouse Film Institution Research

Production: Independent film studios

1.

• Donnie Darko- this film was made by the production 'Flower Films'.
• The Falling- this film was made by the productions 'BBC Films' and 'British Film Institute (BFI)'.
• iLL Manors- this film was also made by the production  'BBC Films' along with 'Film London Microwave' and 'Aimimage'.
• It Follows- this film was made by the productions 'Animal Kingdom', 'Northern Lights Film' and 'Two Flints'.
• Appropriate Behaviour- this film was made by the production 'Parkville Pictures'.

2.

• Flower Films:Whip It, He's Just Not That Into You and Happy Camp.
• BBC Films: The Woman In Gold, Philomena and The Awakening.
• British Film Institute (BFI): Under The Skin, The Lobster and Robinson In Ruins.
• Film London Microwave: Strawberry Fields, Shifty and Cubs 
• Aimimage: The White Darkness, My London and Leaving Baghdad.
• Animal Kingdom: Short Term 12 and It Follows.
• Northern Lights Film: This Is Where We Take Our Stand and Killer Poet.
• Two Flints: And Then I Go and I'll See You In My Dreams 
• Parkville Pictures: Borrowed Time, Part Of Me and Madame Ida.

3. 

• Flower Films: in 2005 Flower Films signed a two-year deal with Warner Bros. Pictures. Flower Films has become one of the most successful film companies to produce low budget independent films for the pleasures of the Arthouse audience. 
• BBC Films: the two most successful films they have made are 'A Cock And Bull Story' and 'Africa United'. 
• British Film Institute (BFI): Sight & Sound, published by the British Film Institute, has conducted a poll of the greatest films every 10 years since 1952.
• Film London Microwave: their most successful films are iLL Manors, Shifty and Lilting which are all low-budget independent films.
• Northern Lights Film, Aimimage and Two Flints: these three production companies are best known for their participation in the film 'It Follows'.
• Parkville Pictures: Parkville Pictures is a BAFTA-nominated and multi award-winning independent film production company based in London. Parkville Pictures’s feature credits include 'Borrowed Time'.

Distribution: Independent film distributors

10 Steps Of Film Distribution:

1. Films can be conceived in a variety of ways. Sparked by a unique moment of inspiration, maybe an adaptation of a carefully chosen book, a true life story, an historical figure, an event, a moment in time. The labour to create a film, the greater the desire to ensure it finds exposure beyond those immediately connected with it. Film is about shared experiences, about letting everyone in to enjoy a time of escapism, be it through drama and excitement, comedy or tragedy. Films have the power to inspire, to convey strong emotions, to express what people want to say, but cannot necessarily find the words themselves. 
2. Films influence the games we enjoy, the music we play, and they inspire the fashions and advertising images that spring up all around us however films can have an impact, both commercial and social. It is the task of distributors to identify and deliver the largest possible audience for every film. Tailor-made, audience-focused distribution is, and will remain, vital to the prospects of individual films. 
3. Distribution is the highly competitive business of launching and sustaining films in the market place.The distributor's challenge is to bring each one to market by:
• identifying its audience
• considering why they'd go and see it
• estimating the revenue potential across all the formats of its release
• persuading exhibitors (cinema operators) to play the film
• developing plans and partnerships to build awareness of and interest in the film
• aiming to convert as much interest as possible into cinema visits                                                         
4. The UK has six major distributors and many independent distributors who tend to handle films made outside the major studios.
5. When considering acquiring a new film, distributors normally look for distinguishable features in order for the film to sell and become a success. They would also need to consider the target audience. They will need to put together a detailed marketing spend and organise film festivals to make a wider audience aware of the film's release. Distributors recognise the importance of local product. Distributors sometimes choose to launch films at a suitable international festival, where critics and insiders may discover them and go on to champion them in early reviews and columns.
6. Distributors sign a formal contract with the producer, sales agent or studio, specifying the rights they hold in respect of the title.These normally include the right to release it in UK cinemas and promote it in all media before and during its release. Distributors normally seek to acquire all available rights in their particular territory, spreading the risk and opportunity across multiple platforms. 
7. A distribution plan needs to be prepared.
   The distributor will develop this in consultation with the producers and/or studio as appropriate.
8. The most important strategic decisions a distributor makes are when and how to release a film in order to optimise its chances. Through a combination of market knowledge, commercial experience, statistical research and professional judgement, distributors gauge the audience for each film.When distributors have estimated what a film may earn, they prepare a budget to release it. As with every business plan, the goal is to recoup the costs and turn a profit.As distributors review what kind of film they have, they will begin to form assumptions as to the type of release they need. 
9. The job of a distributor is to create visibility and to raise enough awareness and interest in a film to persuade potential audiences to buy tickets to go and see it at the nearest cinema at the earliest opportunity. The marketing plan – produced to complement the overall distribution plan – is designed to navigate a route to market that allows interest to peak as the film opens in cinemas. This will take into account the competitive environment, to ensure that the opportunities to raise interest and awareness are not lost under the weight of other films or entertainment on release.
10. A key consideration in any distribution plan is where the film should play. Every theatrical release is effectively a joint-venture: the distributor supplies the film, the exhibitors provide the screens, and the arrangements are reviewed week by week.The distributor's sales and marketing strategies go hand in glove, with the film's target audience kept front of mind. 

• Donnie Darko- this film was distributed by 'Pandora Cinema' and 'Newmarket Films', the first screening was at 'Sundace Film Festival' and it was only shown on 58 screens nationwide, it had a budget of $3.8 million and made $7.6 million.
• The Falling- this film was distributed by 'Metrodome UK', The Falling premiered at the BFI London Film Festival on October 11, 2014 and it had a limited release in the United Kingdom, it had a budget of £750,000 but only managed to make £368,378.
• iLL Manors- this film was distributed by 'Revolver Entertainment', The film was given a wide release to 191 cinemas in both Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom, it had a budget of £100,000 and made an amazing profit of £453,570.
• It Follows- this film was distributed by 'RADiUS-TWC' and 'Dimension Films', The film was given a wide release to 191 cinemas in both Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom, it had a budget of $2 million but made an outstanding profit by making $19.4 million.
• Appropriate Behaviour- this film was distributed by 'Gravitas Ventures'.

Curzon Artificial Eye- They are the UK's leading independent film distributors. Curzon Artificial Eye has been releasing critically acclaimed films to discerning UK audiences by some of the world's greatest directors, including Michael Haneke, Lars von Trier, Abbas Kiarostami and Andrei Tarkovsky. Curzon Mayfair and now has 11 cinemas nationwide. Curzon launched its Curzon Home Cinema service in 2010, making films available to watch at home on the same day as their cinema release.

Still Alice

This trailer has taught me to ensure that the storyline of my production is interesting enough to keep the audience engaged throughout. Also, the shots are visually appealing due to the use of wide/establishing shots which has inspired me to include them into my film.

Lilting

This trailer has inspired me to use foreign language in my production and also the storyline of this film is unique which has helped me to change the narrative of my production to make it original. 

Wild Tales

The use of different locations in the beginning of trailer has inspired me to include the concept of flashbacks in my production. Furthermore, the use of fast pace music which gradually gets louder and then stops creates a dramatic effect which is vital in my film.

Exhibition: Arthouse cinemas

The BFI Southbank: BFI Southbank (from 1951 to 2007 known as the National Film Theatre) is the leading repertory cinema in the UK, specialising in seasons of classic, independent and non-English language films and is operated by the British Film Institute. It is sited below the southern end of Waterloo Bridge, forming part of the cultural complex on the South Bank of the River Thames in London.  Their target audience could be adults more than teenagers since the movies they are screening are not something teenagers would watch; as it isn't as mainstream. They are currently screening: Carol, Steve Jobs, 2 or 3 Things I Know About Her and The Challenging.

Electric Cinema: The Electric Cinema is a movie theatre in Notting Hill, London, and is one of the oldest working cinemas in the country. It is located at 191 Portobello Rd, London. The target audience could be both teenagers and adults (15-35+) due to the fact that they screen mainstream films. They are currently screening: Carol, Star Wars, Big Hero 6 and The dressmaker.

A case study in independent film production: Film London and Microwave Film

Film London: Film London is London's film and media agency - sustaining, promoting and developing London as a major international film-making and film cultural capital. Film London aims to ensure London has a thriving film sector that enriches the capital’s businesses and its people.

Film London’s objectives are to:

• Grow the film industry in London
• Maximise investment in London through film
• Sustain London’s film culture
• Promote London to the world through film

Microwave Film: Microwave funds films, they give development and mentoring support to all of the shortlisted projects, as well as production finance and distribution support to the final commissioned films. Twelve teams are shortlisted for the scheme, and receive concentrated training at Film London Microschool along with mentorship and development funding. From this shortlist, six projects are selected to go on to a second phase of development with further funding. Lastly, two features are appointed and receive additional development, in addition to production funding of £100,000 and distribution funding for finished films.

London Calling: London Calling is open to all new and emerging film-making teams resident in the capital. Run across nine months, highlights of the scheme include: 15 short films are awarded a maximum of £4,000, training and mentoring is provided to all film-making teams, match funding can be sought for any film being produced through London Calling. 

Borrowed Time

 The unique concept reveals that the film is independent. The binary opposition of the characters reveals the conflict and the intriguing narrative. The target audience would predominately be 15-24 year old's due to the narrative being based around a young teenage boy and it relates to many teenagers.

Lilting

This film is a British drama and due to the use of the foreign language we can tell this is a art house film. The narrative involves homosexuality therefore I do not think the target audience would be older because elder people would stereotypically be traditional and set in their ways whilst younger people tend to be more accepting and open to the idea of homosexuality.

Freestyle

The mis-en-scene of the film suggests it is low budget. The target audience would be 50/50 males and females due to the subversion of the stereotype of all girls not being sporty, which would therefore appeal to the female demographic. Overall, this film would mainly appeal to teenagers.

• I need to make sure my script doesn't have too many and locations, instead I need to identify my protagonist and make sure it's a clear narrative. 
• I need to make sure I know exactly who my film is for and I need to stick to that audience and make sure the film will suit their requirements and appeal to them.
• The narrative must be interesting and intriguing in order to engage the audience; I need to include enigma codes and features.