A focus of Warp Film and the key areas for section B of the exam. The film used for this is Four Lions.

1. Contemporary Film Industry ‘
Jargon
 Production: making films
 Distribution: promoting films and getting them
into cinemas and out on DVD/UMD, as well
as any spin offs/related media products
 Consumption: people laying at the cinema,
renting or buying DVDs/UMDs and
downloading and purchasing related products.

2. WARP FILMS – this is your case
study – Media Ownership
 Warp films is an independent British film company which was set up in
1989 through record label Warp Records. Warp records created Warp
films, Warp X, Warp music videos & commercials and Warps Film
Australia.
 The company is based in Sheffield and London and is truly independent
and therefore, consequently, focuses on producing low-budget films with
unique, and sometimes, controversial storylines.
 The absence of strong Media Ownership results in Warp Films having
small budgets. It often works with other studios to produce films as, unlike
working Title which is owned by Universal Studios and has support from
20th Century Fox, it doesn’t have financial backing.
 Warp Films was set up with funding for NESTA (National Endowment for
Science Technology and the Arts) which allowed the company to develop
even though it was without prominent Media Ownership.

3. Synergy and Media Ownership
 B.Q. – What are the advantages and dis-
advantages of Media Ownership?
 S.C. – To be able to apply ideas to Warp
Films.

4. Advantages of being without
strong media ownership:
 Create genre specific films as they don’t have
a need to draw huge audiences.
 Be controversial and honest storylines
audiences can relate to.

5. Dis-advantages of being without
strong media ownership:
 Small budgets- unable to use special effects
or well known actors
 Less resources and connections needed for
distribution

6. Synergy and Cross Media
Convergence
 The definition of synergy in terms of film can
be seen through film companies working
together advantageously. A company may
work together with another (most likely to be
larger and more successful) to use its studios
and resources and then work together with
one of its subsidiary companies to release the
soundtrack.

7. Synergy in terms of Warp Films –
Four Lions 2010
 Produced by Warp Films
 Worked alongside Film 4
 Distributed by Optimum Releasing
 Worked with Wild Bunch for international
sales which is a division of StudioCanal, a
French company owned by Vivendi
 Showcased at Sundance Festival
 Was shown in some larger cinemas (Odeon,
Vue)

8. Synergy – Four Lions
 The example of Warp Film’s ‘Four Lions’ shows how
synergy has been used throughout the process of
production to consumption. The low-budget film
company employed the help of other companies for use
of studios, sales and distribution. One of Warp films key
financial backers is Optimum Releasing who are
involved closely with the development and distribution
of Warp’s products. Synergy is used in both
independent and large-scale film companies in order to
create the best quality film that will attract and reach
the mass market where independent film companies
target a specific group.

9. New Media Technologies
 New media technologies are developed in order to appeal to
large audiences and reach the mass market.
 In the current day, there are numerous ways to watch films
anywhere at any time. New media technologies increase
access to films of all origins from small-scale independent
companies to one of the ‘Big 6’ media conglomerates. Films
are accessibly via technology such as: cinema (IMAX and
improved digital), television (satellite, cable, digital, terrestrial,
computers, smart phones, tablets, games consoles and
websites such as NetFlix and LoveFilm. Advances in
technology has made it possible for anyone to create films
and showcase them on the internet sites like Youtube.

10. New Media Technologies
 Advances in new technology has made it easier for
audiences to become aware of the films of independent film
companies. Companies are able to make their films noticed
through setting up specific websites to draw an audience in –
this happened with Warp Films ‘Four Lions’. A website was
set up to give the audience knowledge of the film, its plot and
characters and appeal to people through un-censored
humour and controversial, uncommon themes. Disney and
Pixar, parts of the ‘big 6’, also used advanced technology in
web design, interactive, special effects and higher quality
internet and broadband to create their specific website for
‘Monsters Inc. University’ to consume audiences and promote
the film and related products.

11. New Media Technologies
 New Media Technologies are advantageous for
Warp Films as it enables their films to have
access to people through every day forms (e.g.
smart phones, laptops, internet and game
consoles) Whereas, previously, independent film
companies only reached a very specific following,
they are now able to reach a wide variety of
people. An example of this is with Warp’s films
(including ‘This is England’ and ‘Four Lions’)
which appear on both ‘Lovefilm’ and ‘Netflix’
allowing viewers to watch the films anywhere at
any time.

12. The Spread of Technology and the
Proliferation of Technology
(hardware)
 As technology continues to improve worldwide, films gain the ability
to reach fresh new audiences. As technology improves, films become
easier to produce and therefore the number of independent film
companies/makers increase.
 As technology spreads, more people have access to equipment
which allows them to create films and then share them using
tablet/laptops and computers on blogs or sites like youtube.
Independent film companies have access to higher quality equipment
enabling them to produce more aesthetically good films which will
gain more recognition in the industry and in terms of audiences.
However, the spread of technology can increase piracy as more
people have access to discreet or simply the correct recording
equipment. This could be helped by countries now receiving the film
with a smaller time space between them – preventing the demand for
piracy from different countries.

13.  The proliferation of hardware enables film
companies to broaden their product options. A
new format of films is Blu-ray which can be played
on devices such as games consoles and is a
higher quality form of film. This benefits
independent film companies by enabling them to
distribute their films with the ability to be played in
a higher quality form.
 The spread of technology benefits both Warp film
and the media conglomerates as it widens their
audience possibilities and allows more
independent companies to be set up as more
people have access to the required equipment,
resources and networking options.

14. Technological Convergence
 This is the joining of two or more distinct technologies
to create one multi-functioning device with several
purposes. For example: AN ‘ipad’ is a tablet computer
which allows the user to access the internet, watch
films through various websites or downloadable
programmes (itunes) and create their own films through
either one or two cameras which can be uploaded
straight to Youtube. ‘Ipad’s’ can also be used for social
networking with apps for websites such as ‘facebook’
and ‘Twitter’ whereas sound tracks can be listened to or
downloaded through ‘spotify’ or ‘itunes’.

15.  Technological convergence is beneficial to
independent film company Warp films as it
enables them to target their audiences through
minimal devices. Due to the use and demand of
smart phones, Warp films could even manufacture
an app which would appeal to many and promote
the films. Social networking has never been more
accessible which has resulted in Warp films
creating both a Facebook page and a Twitter
page. It is the convergence of technologies which
has improved knowledge of Warps’ Films and
allowed them to reach audiences which may not
have been interested or accessible in the past.

16.  Technological convergence has made it
easier for even smaller independent film
makers to share their films through being able
to research, film, network and share the film
on one single device.

17. Big Industries Targeting British
Audiences
 With more big industry film companies targeting
the British audience, small independent
companies are struggling to survive and beat the
Hollywood giants and their much anticipated films.
Media conglomerates belong to the ‘Big 6’ and
include film companies such as Universal and
Warner Bros. With the companies, and their
subsidiary companies distributing large volumes of
films to Britain, independent film companies are
decreasing in popularity and are more unable to
make their film successful.

18. Warp X
 Warp X, a company connected to Warp films and one
also branched from Warp Records, fights against the
media conglomerates by ensuring their films are purely
British and are shot within the UK. They are part of the
UK film Council and Film4’s plans to provide new
opportunity and talent in British film to improve its
success rate. Warps Films’ ‘This is England’ highlights
the strongly British aspect of their films and shows how
success can still be found by British film through the
competition with the big industries.
 Warp films is disadvantaged due to not being part of
strong media ownership unlike ‘Working Title’ who have
the backing of parent company Universal Studios to
promote and distribute their films.

19. Media Conglomerates
 These are a threat to independent film companies
because:
 They have larger budgets and therefore can make
better quality films with special effects
 Have more ‘universal’ plots which are not specific or
controversial like most independent films and therefore
appeal to more people
 Create serialised films which draw audiences in to
sustain them
 Can afford better and more advertising which allows
their films to reach more audiences.

20. Personal Media Consumption
 What is your own media consumption with
regards to films?