2. Ownership
• Celador Films was founded in 1979 by Paul Smith and Jasper
Carrott and began as a small independent company that
producing television shows in 1983. After establishing
themselves as a leading UK production company they
expanded into other media like film production and radio
station ownership. Today, they own 18 radio stations and have
produced award winning films such as Slumdog Millionaire.
They were purchased by Complete Communications but then
to be acquired by 2waycommunications. After a successful
lawsuit against Disney they were able to buy themselves out.
They sued Walt Disney for $320 million for unpaid profits
from the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire series.
3. Operating Model
• There are many ways films are produced in the UK. The BBC
have to produce 7 films every year. Film4 co fund films
alongside other investors. The BFI give money for film
production. Another way could be using private or corporate
investment. With Slumdog Millionaire they gave Film4 the
rights to the book but they co-produced the film together and
split the costs. For The Descent they sold the distribuiton
rights to Pathe Films and used that money to fund the film but
they kept the cinema rights for the UK. They also used
product placement as a means of financing the film as Coors
Beer and Land Rover is included in the film. Another way they
keep their costs low is by keeping their crew freelance as they
work on a project to project basis.
4. Products
• Movies
Dirty Pretty Things, Separate Lies, The Descent (Pt 1 & 2),
Slumdog Millionaire and Centurion.
• Television
You Are What You Eat, The Detectives, All About Me.
• Radio
The Breeze Network, Sam FM, Anglian Radio Network, Fire
Radio
From when they began they were originally going to create
television but then expanded into films and radio. Now they
are expanding into theatre production.
5. Market Position
I am going to compare Celador Films an independent film company to
Sony Films and Working Title Movies. Sony produced around the same
time, Spiderman 2 and Working Title made Shaun of The Dead.
Shaun of The Dead
Cost: 4,000,000 Gross: 13,542,874
The Descent
Cost: 3,500,000 Gross: 26,024,456
Spiderman 2
Cost: 200,000,000 Gross: 373,585,825
The Descent was more profitable than Shaun of The Dead as it cost
less to make and made more gross profit. Spiderman 2 was made by
Sony which is a huge company with a big budget with the expectation
to make a lot of money whereas The Descent was a small UK
production so therefore it was expected for Spiderman to have made
more money.
