Film4 Facts

• Channel 4 is a production house company, whos funding comes from adverys/commercial funding
• FILM 4 -"committed to enhance the British film making industry by nurturing and funding new talent"
• Film 4 has a niche (very specific small audience)
• It was then followed by many other channel 4 further programmes who time shared the air of blockbuster films
• In 2006 film four modified its name to Film 4 and also became a free digital viewing channel and started producing many adverts woth celebrities in weird situations to stress and intrigue the audience that this is the only channel to watch free movies continuously
• Tessa Ross became controller of Film4 in 2004 and the head of TV drama for Channel 4
• Film 4 is very heavily linked with Channel 4. Channel 4 financed in the helping of production in such films as "The Crying Game" and "Madness of King George". Channel 4 also decided that there side film channel would be made free on digital networks, therefore becoming the only free film program to boost ratings
• Film 4 are currently on some large projects including Tyrannosaur, which Film 4 backed in production and distribution closely working with Warp X and Inflammable films. This movie is an example of how Film 4 help broadcast and produce English films and not just Hollywood blockbusters as this was the first film ever to be directed by Paddy Considine. Also fil 4 are in the final stages of distributing their own creation of Random- originally a theatre play by director Debbie Tucker Green. It is being regularly advertised on Channel 4 and competitions have started to try and attract people to see the film in cinemas
• Film 4 produces about 6 films a year and works along their subsidary Warp X
• Less of the budget is spent on distribution, because the films can be advertised on their own and parent companies TV channels
• They have won 5 Oscars in 4 years and 3 BAFTA's in 2007. 8.3 million AB C1's a month, with an upmarket (42%) and male (55%) profile
• Successful films include: Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours, Four Lions, This is England, Trainspotting
• Film 4 work closely with specific actors and directors such as Danny Boyle, Martin McDonagh, Steve McQueen, Peter Mullan, Chris Morris
• Film 4 recently launched Film 4.0- digital/online area
• Film 4.0's aim will be to find new talent and discover new ways of making, marketing and distributing films engaging new audiences online in a multi platform environment

Films

• Jonny English- It was written in 2009, wrote by the same people as James Bond which grossed $160 million. Rowan Atkinson starred in it and the sequel was released in September 2010
• Wild Child- Budget of $20 million. Filmed at Cobham Hall. Was marketed on radio stations, social networking sites and TV adverts- was a financial flop woth $2.2 million opening weekend
• The Soloish- based on a true story. Budget $60 million. Based on books and srticles/directed by Joe Wright. Produced by Gary Foster and Russ Krasnof. Grossed $31,720,158. Paramount helped distribute through Dreamworks animation and Universal Pictures. Releaed a year later than planned, therefore lost Oscar potential.

Written by Stephen Hare