Film4 Productions was formed in 1982 by Channel 4 Television to produce independent films that provide diverse, original, and challenging programming as an alternative to major studios. Being owned by a publicly-owned television station means Film4 produces films that are independent, daring, and appeal to both national and local audiences in the UK. The increasing use of digital technology and convergence across media has affected Film4's production and distribution strategies, allowing them to use new media like social networks to attract audiences and distribute films through various digital platforms.

1. Film4 Productions
Institution & Audience Case Study

2. Key questions for the exam:
 How does the ownership of other production
companies, as well as that of Film4 productions
affect its production, distribution & marketing of
Film4 productions films?
 How has both technological convergence and
cross media synergy affected the production,
distribution & marketing of Film4 Productions
films?
 How has the increased use of digital technology
affected the production, distribution & marketing
of Film4 Productions films?
 How does Film4 productions target and appeal to
national & local audiences?

3. Ownership:
 Film4 Productions was formed by Channel 4 Television in 1982.
 Channel 4 Television is publicly owned company and television
station, that, whilst mostly funded through commercial activities
(such as advertising) is ultimately owned by the public.
 Channel 4 Television has a public service remit and obligation to
provide diverse, original, and challenging programming, and exists
to be an alternative to the existing major TV studios.
 Film4 Productions was known as Channel Four Films before 1998.
 It was renamed to FilmFour to tie in (cross media) with the newly
launched TV channel (subscription only) of the same name.
 It was then again rebranded as Film4 Productions to match the
change in name from the FilmFour Channel to Film4.

4. Ownership Questions:
 How does being owned by Channel Four Television affect
the types of films developed, produced, distributed and
marketed by Film4?
 INDEPENDENT
 DARING / DIVERSE / ORIGINAL
 How does being a clearly identified UK film production
company affect the distribution & exhibition of FIlm4 films
in the UK, and internationally?
 British Films
 Marketed as ‘British’ abroad. British theme & flavour.
 Popular in the UK / Targeting British audience.
 How does the ownership of Film4 Productions differ from
the ownership of the major Hollywood studios?
 Independent / Owned by a public company (TV Studio)
 How does sharing branding with the Film4 TV Channel
affect the exhibition and distribitution of Film4 Productions
films?
 Associate with the TV Channel / Audience from Channel 4
/ e4 / interested in Film4 films.

6. http://www.film4.com/film4-
productions/back-catalogue
https://www.youtube.com/user/Film4video
1) What sort of films does Film 4 typically
produce?
Drama / Docudrama / Documentary / Thrillers
/ Mostly UK Setting / Some international / Set in
England / Low budget compared to Major
Hollywood / “Low Budget, High Concept
Genre Films” – Joe Cornish / Giving debut /
opportunity to new directors, up and coming
talent / British directors, actors, crew / Young
target audience / sensitive, strong,
controversial issues, change opinions /
Original film & Original ideas
Consider
1. Genre
2. Setting &
Location
3. Budget
4. Style
5. Actors
6. Directors
& Crew
7. Target
audience
.

7. http://uk.imdb.com www.boxofficemojo.com
Choose a Film4 Productions
film.
1) Find the production details for the film.
 Production: - Writer / Director / Cast / Crew / Budget /
Co-Production (other production companies involved)
 Distribution: - UK Distribution Companies / WorldWide
(International) Distribution Companies /
 Marketing: - Posters, Trailer, Press (interviews and
appearances) Promotional Material (including tie-ins)
use of social media, digital promotion, how an audience
is targeted, certification (bbfc),
 Exhibition, consumption & release: UK Box Office
revenue / International Box Office Revenue / Number of
screens released on / Awards nominated / received.
DVD and/or Blu-Ray release (distribution company?)
availability & price. Digital download release, availability
& price. TV screenings (subscription / free to air)

8. FRANK Director:
Lenny Abrahamson (as
Leonard Abrahamson)
Writers:
Jon Ronson (screenplay), Peter
Straughan (screenplay)
Stars:
Michael Fassbender, Domhnall
Gleeson, Maggie Gyllenhaal |

9. US Box Office
Figures
($638,000)

10. Marketing & Promotion
Twitter account
of one of the
characters in
the film.
(Twitter
‘prequel’ to the
film)
The film distribution business is changing so rapidly
that it's not exactly fair to say that "Frank," which
stars Michael Fassbender as a musician who
wears a giant fake head at all times, is being
released on VOD early. In the not-so-distant past,
it was unusual for a theatrical release to hit VOD
so soon, unless it was a day-and-date release. But
clearly, there are no longer any set rules.
Directed by Lenny Abrahamson, "Frank," which
also stars Domhnall Gleeson, Maggie Gyllenhaal,
and Scoot McNairy, hit theaters three weeks ago
and continues to expand. But beginning today, it
is also available on iTunes and On Demand.
Below, Bowles explains the company's distribution
strategy for the film.
LINK

11. How does Film 4 use new media, web2.0
new technology and new ideas to attract
audiences, and to distribute?
 http://www.film4.com/film4-
productions/innovation-at-film4
A Web 2.0 site may
allow users to interact
and collaborate with
each other in a social
media dialogue as
creators of user-generated
content in
a virtual community,
in contrast to Web
sites where people
are limited to the
passive viewing of
content. Examples of
Web 2.0 include
social networking
sites, blogs, wikis,
folksonomies, video
sharing sites, hosted
services, Web
applications, and
mashups.[3]