Film Production Company Research

Paramount

Paramount pictures was originally founded in 1912 as Famous Players Studios by Adolph Zukor  however in 1914 the became paramount pictures and they are also one of the worlds leading film production companies, their headquaters are located in Los Angeles, California, United States since the they were founded they have released films such as The Godfatherparts 1,2 &3, Terms of Endearment, Forrest Gump and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Warner Bros Pictures

Warner Bros. Studios was founded in 1918 then 5 years late the company foun ded Warner Bros. Pictures in 1923. Both organizations where founded by four brothers who are;  Jack Warner, Harry Warner, Albert Warner & Sam Warner and the company’s headquaters is located in Burbank, California, United States. Since the company was founded they have become one of the worlds largest filiming companies and prudcuced movies such as Goodfellas, JFK, Unforgiven and The Aviator.

Universal

Universal is one of the world’s largest film production companies and was founded in 1912 by Carl Laemmle. They produce and distribute motion pictures worldwide as well as having their own theme parks and resorts.  They have produced films such as; Scarface, Jaws and Children Of Men.

20^th Century Fox Television

The company was founded in 1904 in New York City by William Fox. 20^th Century fox specialize in motion pictures and television films. They are one of the largest production companies in the world and have produced many film and television fanchises such as Star Wars, Die Hard, The Simpsons and Family Guy.

Dreamworks

DreamWorks is an animation SKG film production company. They specialize in creating high-quality family entertainment, including computer-generated (CG) animated feature films, television specials and series and live entertainment properties. They have made many animation family movies such as Shrek, Kung-Fu Panda, Madagascar and Over The Hedge.

Working Title

In 1999 Working Title was sold to and merged with Universal Studios. Working Title currently as based in London, Los Angeles and Ireland and they are contractually allowed to produce films up to the budget of $35 million. They have produced films such as; Shaun Of The Dead, Love Actually and State of Play.

Vertigo Films

Vertigo Films was founded in 2002, it was created by producers Allan Nible and James Richardson. They originally made it their goal to produce and distribute two films as they was only small production company however this have currently stated that their gold is to produce and distribute four films per year. They have produced and distributed film such as The Football Factory and its All Gone Pete Tong.

Film 4

Film 4 showcase a wide range of title including the best of British film-making, US independent films, Hollywood blockbusters, mainstream drama and comedy, guilty pleasures, foreign films and cult cinema. They also make films to as Film 4 productions is the feature commissioning department of channel 4. They specialize in developing distinctive feature films such as Slumdog millionaire, This Is England and Trainspotting.

Warpfilms

Warpfilms was founded in 2001; they lead the way in producing exciting and original British Filmmaking. Warp Films has been behind an array of critically acclaimed and award winning films and BAFTAs such as Rubber Johnny, Dead Man's Shoes, This Is England and Donkey Punch.

Retro Films

Retro Films is an independent Film Production Company Established in 2004 and is based in Bournemouth, Dorset. They specialise is in Short films, some of which have included award winning short films, documentaries and music videos. Their most notable work was Stone which was received an ITV local film award in 2006.

Helix Films inc

Helix Films was formed in 2008 and plans to be based in Los Angeles and work with film makers to produce movies that have an international appeal, with budgets that reflect the challenges of the global economy. They produce historical epic to  psychological thrillers, science fiction, animation, and comedy.  Some of their releases are Eddy Deco, Kelin and I’ll See You Again.

The Italian Job Title Scene

Time:                                                           Screen Shot & Description:

0:25

Credit of distribution company ‘Paramount Pictures’ and a landmark which suggests the setting of the film.

0:32

Credit of production company ‘De Line Pictures’ and a possible point of view shot of bridge which may be of significance in the film.

0:38

Credit of actor ‘Mark Wahlberg’ and a panning shot of a map which has arrows drawn on which could be a possible route and significant to the plot of the film.

0:43

Credit of actress ‘Charlize Theron’ and panning shot of the map which supports the fact that there is planning for a crime.

0:45

Panning of map with a note ‘Police Station Distance’ this identifies that this is a plan for a crime, the note is also written in red which may connote that they are trying to avoid the police.

0:48

Panning shot of map which covers another route which reveals another note ‘meets John 8:25 am’ this is written in blue where as the previous note was in red which suggests this is a safe route. The note also shows that this is planned and suggests a heist is going to take place.

0:54

Title ‘The Italian Job’ appears and camera focuses on the map title ‘Venezia’ which shows where the film is set and the crime has been planned to take place.

0:58

Credit ‘Seth Green’ panning shot of the map which reveal another note ‘group meets 8:25 am’, this again shows that this has been planned and is a most likely a crime which relates to the plot of the film.

1:01

Mid shot of a green boat which shows ‘Giovanni’ which may be a location or of importance within the film.

1:39

Credits of ‘Kethy Nelson’ & ‘Julianne Jordan’. Close up shot of a character holding stationary which suggests they are planning the route and where the crime or heist is going to take place.

2:17

Credit of director ‘F. Gary Gray’. Close up shot which introduces a character who has been planning the route on the map and is of importance within the film.



Se7en Title Scene

Time:	Screen Shot & Description:
00:03	Opening of a book which may be significant within the film. Credit: 'New Line Cinema Presents' (moving and flashing font to create an eerie effect which may relate to the film). Camera Shot: Extreme Close Up (ECU). Special Effects: Font Panning, Font Size Editing, Font Contrasting.
00:06	Black screen, introduces the producer; 'An Arnold Kopelson Production' in an eerie font which moves and flashes on the screen. Special Effects: Font Panning, Font Size Editing, Font Contrasting.
00:10	Distorted hands image/sketch from which looks to be from a file (book) may reflect importance to a character within the film and links to the horror/thriller genre. Opening credit; 'A Film By David Fincher' in an eerie font which moves and flashes on the screen. Camera Shot: Close Up (CU). Special Effects: Font Panning, Font Size Editing, Font Contrasting.
00:12	Close up a hand (important character?) and a tool which may also be of importance. Quickly flashes within the same second to the next shot. Camera Shot: Extreme Close Up (ECU). Editing: Cuts (Fast to create a flashing image effect).
00:12	Close up of a tool which may be used within the movie. Imprinted 'U.S.A' which suggests the setting of the film. Camera Shot: Extreme Close Up (ECU). Editing: Cuts (Fast to create a flashing image effect).
00:13	Character using a tool which is also quickly changes to making a strange/eerie effect. Camera Shot: Extreme Close Up (ECU). Editing: Cuts (Fast to create a flashing image effect).
00:13	Black screen, introduces the big actor; 'Brad Pitt' in a eerie font which moves and flashes on the screen. Special Effect: Font Panning, Font Size Editing, Font Contrasting.
00:16	Characters hand, black dirty nails suggests they use their hands and the razor tool carving dead skin from the hand add to the eeriness of the opening. Camera Shot: Extreme Close Up (ECU).
00:18	Black screen, introduces the big actor; 'Morgan Freeman' in an eerie font which moves and flashes on the screen. Special Effects: Font Panning, Font Size Editing, Font Contrasting.
00:21	Disturbing image of a human (dead corpse) who looks to have been tortured which relates to the genre of horror/thriller may also reflect to the character. Camera Shot: Extreme Close Up (ECU). Editing: Cuts (Fast to create a flashing image effect).
00:24	The title 'Se7en' appears in an eerie font which moves and flashes on the screen and also increases and decreases in size again. Special Effect: Font Panning, Font Size Editing, Font Contrasting.
00:30	Opening credit 'Gwyneth Parlow' in an eerie font which moves and flashes on the screen. Book appears again which emphasizes its importance and blood smears appear on the screen connoting death and the horror/thriller genre of film. Camera Shot: Close Up (CU). Editing: Cuts (Fast to create a flashing image effect).
00:33	Ghosting effect of the characters hand writing onto a piece of paper, Opening credit; 'Richard Roundtree' in an eerie font which moves and flashes on the screen. Camera Shot: Close Up (CU). Special Effect: Ghosting. Editing: Cuts (Fast to create a flashing image effect).
00:39	Images of the character cutting a film reel which may also be of importance later on in the film, film reel may also be evidence of some kind. Camera Shot: Close Up (CU).
00:45	Black and white images under the book where the character sliding the image across. Again may be significant to the film. Camera Shot: Close Up (CU).
00:51	Character wring into a book. A lot of hand wrote notes/documents which may contain the eerie images or information on murders/victims. Camera Shot: Close Up (CU).
01:07	Highlighting in black pen over black pen which seems odd and may reflect to the characters personality. Camer Shot: Close Up (CU). Special Effect: Ghosting.
01:10	Opening credit; 'Casting By Billy Hopkins, Suzanne Smith, Kerry Borden' in an eerie font which moves and flashes on the screen. Use of the black pen to cross out the eyes on the images of the boy which suggests he was a target of a murdered/villain (possibly the character in the title scene?). Camera Shot: Close Up (CU). Editing: Cuts (Fast to create a flashing image effect).
01:28	Close up of a hand written letter/note which looks to have water marks on which may be important within the film. Camera Shot: Close Up (CU).
01:32	Another disturbing image of a human (dead) with some type of metal tool pierced through their head which may suggest this character tortures human beings. Camera Shot: Close up (CU).
01:56	Images of humans who look unwell/injured or possibly dead and again from a book which may belong to the characters suggesting they are a murderer/villain. Camera Shot:  Close Up (CU).
02:03	Panning shot of many files/book which may have contained some of the content which is shown throughout the title scene which suggests that the murderer/villain has killed many human beings creating an eerie horror/thriller genre theme.
02:08	The opening of the film begins with text 'Monday' the text is in an eerie font which moves and flashes on the screen like the credit in the title scene. By using a day/time in the opening it suggests that the plot is time related e.g. being given a certain amount of time/days to save someone/something. Camera: Long Shot. Setting: City. Editing: Cuts (Fast to create a flashing image effect).

Stero Typical Non Horror Fans (Female)

Female Non Horror Fans (Age: 17 - 18)

Jobs:

• Part time jobs

Likes:

• Roncoms
• Chick flick movies
• Sitcoms
• Shopping
• Make-up
• Pop & R&B music

Dislikes:

• Sports
• Videogames
• Horror films (non sterotypical fans & get scared easily)

Shop:

• Clothing shops e.g. Topshop (womens fashion)
• Supermarkets (Home entertainment & Snack)
• HMV (Albums & muscian posters)
• Pharmacy (Make-up Perfume)

Money:

• Average part time pay
• £100 - £400 month

Clothes:

• Fashionable
• Casual
• Highstreet

Education:

• College/Sixthform

Stero Typical Horror Fans (Male)

Male Horror Fans (Age: 16)

Job:

• Part time
• Supermarkets

Likes:

• Violent Videogames (blood & Shooting)
• Violent Movies
• Home Entertainment
• Partying
• Take away Food
• Call of Duty
• Physical Sport (boxing & MMA)

Dislikes:

• Romantic Comedies
• Barbie
• Non-physical Sports
• Reality TV Soaps
• 3 Course Meals
• Super Mario
• Wild Life Progams

Shop:

• HMV (dvd/albums & Posters)
• GAME (pre-orders & Videogames)

Money:

• Poket money income
• Average part time salary

Clothes:

• Fashionable
• Casual
• Highstreet

Education:

• College/Sixthform

1408: Horror Movie Research

In today’s Media Studies lesson we watched and analyzed the opening 2 minutes of 1408 to give an idea of how to begin the opening to our own horror film. Below is a table of the screen times and the descriptions of the scene.

Screen Time (Seconds)	Description of Scene
00:00 – 00:14	The film begins with a black screen which gives connotations of evil associated with non dialect sound (Evil/Horror).
00:14 – 00:28	Still a black screen which shows the opening credits in a white font. At 00:28 the title screen fades into an extreme long shot/establishing shot on a long road, the road is deserted which is a stereotypical horror setting and gives the viewer in sight to the location of the scene. The weather is also bad as it is a dark scene with lightning and heavy rain which is pathetic fallacy as it resembles the motion and characters mood.
00:30	The name of the first actor appears on the screen.
00:31 – 00:33	The camera begins to pan across and the second actors name is displayed within the credits.
00:40	The title ‘1408’ appearing in a ghostly affect with the heavy rain in the back ground.
00:45	The car in the shot reverses which connotes the driver is lost or confused.
00:49	Screaming on the radio begins with a voice of a man shouting “open the gates of hell”, this may symbolize that the driver of the car is entering a dark place where something bad may happen (hell/death/haunted).
00:50	Close up of the man in the car. This introduces one of the characters in the film as we get to see his face close up.
00:56	Point of view shot from the man in the car looking at a sign, ‘you are now leaving Fairfield County. Please come back’.  This connotes that Fairfield County is deserted as the sign is almost begging people who leave to come back. This relates to the gothic/horror them of isolation.
01:02	Close up shot of the man in the car uses a map which supports that he is lost. Still showing the opening credits
01:09	Extreme close up on the car tire of the car the man is driving, may connate to something of importance in the storyline possibly stranded.
01:15	Shot fades and enter a new screen which shows the car pulling up at a house. The house has low key lighting and is surrounded by trees which could show that the character is isolated as the lighting may reflect the mood within in the building. The starting credits are also still appearing.
01:25	Extreme long shot of The man coming to a bridge, the lighting around the bridge is very dark, this is in order to show the characters surroundings and the scenery of a forest which again is a stereotypical horror setting.
01:30	Point of view shot viewing the man walking toward the house which is dim lighted and outside is an old fashioned street light which may resemble the age of the building. The point of view shot suggest someone or something is watching the house or man.
01:38	The man enters the hours which looks very old fashioned as the interior include the chairs, lamp and curtains is dated. The colour of the walls is a dull green which may connote happiness to sadness/darkness within the house.  The camera shot is also point of view from the man behind the counter.
01:52	Welcoming old couple, who seem delighted to see the man, suggests that he is one of very view visitors (isolation – horror). The old man then mention the houses haunted history which connotes that something bad is going to happen to the man visiting the house.
02:00	Old couple and man discussing the history of the house and woman hands over a leaflet which is a prop used to show an image of the lady/maid who hung herself from the stairs which is also in the mid range shot. The theme of death and use of the prop is stereotypical of a horror genre.