2. CHANNEL 4 REMIT
Channel 4’s isn’t like most production companies as its main concern isn’t about
making money but providing a good public service as their audience's satisfaction
is their primary concern.
The conditions of the remit specifies that they must:
• Demonstrate innovation, experiment and creativity in the form and content of
programmes.
• Appeal to the tastes and interests of a culturally diverse society.
• Makes a significant contribution to meeting the need for the licensed public
service channels.
• To include programmes of an educational nature and other programmes of
educative value.
• Exhibit a distinctive character.
• Broadcast programmes from many independent production
companies, including a high proportion from Europe.
3. HISTORY OF FILM 4
The company was first established in 1982 under the name Channel Four Films and it’s main
aim was to produce diverse and challenging films for the Channel 4 station however there was
a small number of films that got exhibited in cinemas.
Period of financial success lasted between the years 1992-97, films that made this list were:
• The Crying Game (1992) – took $62m in US, Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) -
$240m worldwide
• Trainspotting ( 1996) - $16m (US) £12m+ (UK)
However, in 2002 this company suffered a huge loss, nevertheless it survived and managed to
produce huge successors like:
• Slumdog Millionaire (2008) - $377,910,544 worldwide
• 12 Years of Slave (2013) - $178,375,486
4. FILM 4 ETHOS
Their ethos was:
• To develop (new) British Talent and be a leader of innovation in the British Film
industry
• To invest around £500,000 per film, at a rate of around 20 films a year
• To support international (including American) independent film-makers by co-
investing in innovative and interesting foreign films.
• To offer a platform for British and independent cinema on terrestrial television by
committing to showing each one of Film Four Productions films on Channel 4 and
it’s sister station Film Four.
5. WHY I CHOSE FILMFOUR
PRODUCTIONS• I chose this particular company because of its ethos “to develop (new)
British Talent and be a leader of innovation in the British Film industry.”
• I believed from their array productions, my film would fit comfortably
among them as they’ve produced a lot of low budget independent films
and they have done films of similar genres to mine such as Psychopaths.
• They’re primary concern is their audience and so is mine, my film has a
very niche audience as it is quite an abstract and sophisticated piece that
makes you think as I didn’t want to spoon feed my audience like many
films do.
• Moreover, I was inspired by many of the programmes that they’ve
produced on Channel 4 such as Random acts and Black Mirror.
