Institutional context

Our film trailer is of the horror/slasher genre so is expected to have a low budget which means there are no special effects included. Unknown actors are predominately used so your not having to pay them a high fee which well known actors would demand. However, there are some expectations of films using unknown actors such as in Scream 1 Drew Barrymore is used although she is killed in the first fifteen minutes. Barrymore will have been used as she increases the awareness and attention of the film to the audience.

 

Horror films are typically produced by British Indie companies who generally make all there films low budget such as WarpX producing Donkey punch (2008 Oliver Blackburn) on a budget of £500,000. This film had all unknown actors and was predominately set in one place. There was also no special effects and 'gore' featured heavily which was created from theatrical make-up. This could have been due to the contrast in the cost of special effects and theatrical make-up.

 

 

The production companies also involved in producing Donkey Punch were EM Media, Screen Yorkshire Madman Entertainment Film4 and Warp X. This is so the cost and risk of production is split between 5 productions companies and if the film isn't successful, then the loss will effect them less then if they were the sole production company. All of the production companies above are Indie companies and it is common for them to work within a number of other companies whilst producing a film.

Donkey Punch was distributed by 15 companies so it could be viewed in different areas. Such as Optimum releasing UK, NonStop Entertainment Sweden and Madman Entertainment Australia.

 

 

 

In comparison, Jennifer's Body (2009 Karyn Kusama) an American horror film had a budget of $16,000,000 and the gross revenue was $33,062,980. The film starred Megan Fox an actress whose profile in the film industry is increasing rapidly. The production companies were Dune Entertainment,  Fox atomic and Hard C. This is a contrast to Donkey punch as the budget is a lot higher although there are less production companies involved. This is because they feel there is less of a risk with Jennifer's Body than Donkey punch as Jennifer's Body featured an well known actress so there is already a following for Megan Fox, also most American Horror films are successful such as the Scream series Final Destination and the Unborn.

 

There was 13 Distribution companies associated with Jennifer's Body such as 20th Century Fox Australia, Belgium and Singapore Warner bros Netherlands.

 

• As our film has no budget we could gain awareness for our production by forms of new media such as youtube(see details below) or facebook. We could upload it onto them sites and let people view it.(such as these people have done http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQb92eii1Vs)   We could promote it by sending round links and messages to our potential audience explaining to them about our film making them interested in it and want to watch it. Although, this would mean we wouldn't make a profit however if it received a lot of views it would make our audience aware of our names which would make things easier if we made a second production.
• There are also festivals such as the 'Cooperative young film makers competition' which focus on showing young film makers work which we could enter our trailer and see whether it is short-listed to be shown at the festival. This means I would be able to gain feedback from a vast audience which could help me improve my production. I would use the fact that the film was short-listed to publicise my project further.
• Our film would most probably be straight-to-DVD as we don't have the funding to promote it at the scale that would enable it to be successful at the box office.

Youtube

• The first video posted on youtube was 'Me at the Zoo' by Karim which was posted on 23rd of April 2005. 
• In the US it is a dominant provider of online video and holds a market share of 43%.
• In Nov 2008 'YouTube' reached an agreement with MGM, Lionsgate Entertainment and CBS which will allow the companies to post full-length films and TV shows, accompanied by advertisements.

Propeller

• Propeller TV, which is Sky channel 195. A Chinese owned company that helps to support the short film industry.

Companies that may produce and distribute my film are Warp x as they focus on producing low budget films. They may decide to have regional screenings of my production instead of national as its cheaper.