1. PR2: Same Film, Different Time and Place
Rec and Quarantine Research Task
Quarantine Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUw2zNR5Dzc
Task 1
Find out the following information:
Rec Quarantine
Director Jaume Balaguero John Erick Dowdle
Year of Production 2007 2008
Distributor Filmax International Screen Gens
Budget 1,500,000 12,000,000
Box office takings 32,492,948 937,833
Sequels 4 4
Read the interviews with John Erick Dowdle and Jaume Balaguero and answer the following
questions
http://totalscifionline.com/interviews/2761-john-erick-dowdle-quarantined
http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/865/865683p1.html
Task 2:

2. 1. Explain Jaume Balagoro’s reasons for making REC in a handheld, documentary style
The director wanted to film the movie in hand held “to ensure that everything retained the
highest possible credibility and preserved that dynamic feeling” They wanted the most
realistic production of a news report.
2. Is it a coincidence that Cloverfield and Diary of Dead were released at the same time, or does
it relate to audience demand for horror filmed in this style?
I believe that it is a coincidence that both these movies were released at the same time as
REC because a lot of director would also be starting to go against the typical conventions
meaning that ideas would cross. In the interview Jaume Balaguero said that the world is
more diverse and people are able to communicate and interact more and more.
3. Why do you think Screen Gems, the distributors of Quarantine wanted to get the remake
out so quickly?
Screen Gems wanted to get Quarantine out as quickly as possible because of the hype for
the original film and the cult that followed it Screen gems wanted to optimise the amount of
profit they could make by putting out two versions of the same film so the audience would
have a chose between watching more popular original subtitle movie or the newly released
American remake. This would allow more profit because people would watch both movies
to compare the quality of each film. Sony is the owner of Screen Gems and gain a lot of
profit from these investments as they control the production, distribution and exhibition this
is known as vertical integration. Sony combined their vertical integration and synergy with
the merchandise that can be produced. An example of this is Iron Man, The synergy is in the
T-shits, toys posters etc. This maximises the profit output to the company and allows them
to get the most out of both films and benefits everyone involved.
For your article, you need to consider why film production companies produce remakes and the
factors that influence those remakes.
Factors which influenced the remake of REC
Financial factors
Trends
Genre and popularity
Synergy (related products such as DVD’s/books/TShirts)
Vertical integration (where a film company deals with the production, distribution and
consumption of a film)

3. In your magazine article you will need to comment upon all of the above
Task 3:
In the box below, write your introduction to your article. Use your findings from Task 1 and 2 to
help you
P2 describe the
relationship between
films and their
production contexts
with some appropriate
use of subject
terminology [IE]
M2 explain the relationship
between films and their
production contexts with
reference to detailed
illustrative examples and
generally correct use of
subject terminology
D2 comprehensively explain the
relationship between films and
their production contexts with
elucidated examples and
consistently using subject
terminology correctly
Article intro:
P1. Introduce your article by giving the titles of the films covered and production factors which
influence remakes.
Quarantine was the American remakes of the original Spanish movie REC that quickly gathered cult
following and became a worldwide phenomenon. Remakes of films are usually made because
advancements in technology enabling people to convey projects and ideas in new and innovative
ways. The reason this remake was made was to maximise the profit that can be made from the
audience watching the American remake and then to satisfy their curiosity watching the original to
see if it lives up to expectations.
P2. REC.
Relate factual information about REC; director, release date, distributor, budget and box office
takings. Describe the production values and context (handheld documentary style/plot synopsis)
Rec is a worldwide wide phenomenal film directed by auteur director Jaume Balaguero who went
against the typical conventions at you would see in a zombie/infected horror film. About a television
reporter and cameraman follow emergency workers into a dark apartment building and are quickly
locked inside with something terrifying. This idea of a simple plot is quickly turned around as the
director chooses to have the whole movie filmed as handheld (production camera). This is because it
gives a more realistic feel for the viewers as during the film they have to use the camera as a tool to
survive. This makes the camera apart of the movie and not just floating around the characters
aimlessly. The film was release in 2007 becoming rapidly popular
P3. Quarantine
Relate factual information about Quarantine; director, release date, distributor, budget and box
office takings. Describe the production values and context (handheld documentary style/plot
synopsis. Explain similarities and differences with the original.

4. John Dowdle is the director of the successful remake Quarantine made in 2008 a year after the
original predecessor REC which made an international film impact on the way horror films are
conveyed to the audience. Screen Gems decided that a remake would be good idea to maximise the
profits worldwide as the audience in other countries did not want to watch a Spanish film.
Quarantine was seen as successful because of the quick popularity that formed. As the opening
week the movie made 14,211,321 whereas REC made in total worldwide 32,492,948. This shows that
making remakes for a bigger audience in countries like America gives a bigger profit to both
themselves and the original film.
P4. Production Contexts
Explain why Quarantine was produced so soon after REC. Give examples concerning trends, genre
and financial factors.
With the popularity of the REC rising quickly production was quickly underway for the American
remake to be made a year later. Unlike REC, Quarantine had a massive backing with budget and the
size of the production. The films were made so close to each other to maximise the profit that could
be made as fans of the original would want to see if the remake lives up to expectations. The
worldwide audience would watch the remake first because they do not like to watch subtitled films.
Once they have watched the remake they would then be curious in what all started it and watch the
original in turn passing around the profit to all the companies. The companies would then be able to
create merchandise for their films bringing in money from all different areas. These two movies
were both popular because in the two years that they were released, the horror genre was trending
worldwide as people wanted to feel scared but in the safety of their own homes, both these films
created that atmosphere but challenged the typical conventions that allowed these films to shine.
P5.
Explain synergy and vertical integration and how Screen Gems are an example of a vertically
integrated company. Explain how Screen Gems have contributed to the overall success of REC due to
this.
Synergy is where the company use all resources to gather as much profits from all areas. Screen
Gems gathered this profit from soundtracks of the films music. They also brought out merchandise
such as t-shirts, posters and banners. This would extend the profit of the film and also allow more
promotion to spread so that the film REC and Quarantine are seen by as many people as possible
intrigued by the concept of the film.