Working Title Films is a British film production company founded in 1983 known for comedies, dramas, and romantic films. It has offices in the UK and US and produces multiple films simultaneously balancing more commercial films with specialized projects. NBC Universal has backed the company since 2000 helping it survive against large American studios. Notable box office successes include Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill. The document also summarizes the production and distribution of the Working Title film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, based on the novel by John le Carré.

1. Case Study

2. What is Working Title?
 Working Title Films is a British film production
company based in London. The company was founded
in 1983 by Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe. It produces
feature films and several TV productions.
 The films created are mainly comedy, drama, horror
and ‘rom-com’
 Notable box office successes include Four Weddings
and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Bean and Bridget Jones’s
Diary

3. Structure of Working Title
 The company has a UK and a US branch
 Films are created on a ‘slate’ system, where production
of multiple films occurs at the same time
 The company works by making films on balance; if a
specialised film such as ‘Atonement’ is to be made
then it is balanced against a more comercially-based
film.

4. How has Working Title survived in an
industry dominated by American
Conglomerates?
 Since 2000, NBC Universal Studios has been
supporting the company and has served as it’s main
backer
 Another reason for their survival is the commercial
success of some of their films. For example, Notting
Hill is the company’s most successful film making over
$370,000,000 on its theatrical release
 The company is allowed to produce films with a budget
of up to $35,000,000 and is based in London with a
limited amount of employees

5. Film Study – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
 TTSS is an Anglo-French espionage film based on the 1974 John le
Carre novel
 The project was initiated by Peter Morgan, wrote a draft screenplay
before dropping out due to personal reasons. He remained an executive
producer.
 Following Morgan’s departure, Working Title hired Peter Straughan
and his wife Bridget O’Connor to re-draft the script
 The director is Tom Alfredson, directing his first film with English as
the main language. The film was backed by StudioCanal (a French
company) and given a budget of $21million.
 The film is dedicated to O’Connor who died of cancer during
development
 Alfredson cast Gary Oldman to play lead character George Smiley
 The film was predominantly filmed in London, but also filmed in
Budapest

6. Distribution
 The film was distributed in the UK by StudioCanal UK
 The US distribution rights were purchased by
Universal Pictures
 The film premiered at the 68th Venice International
Film Festival

7. Exhibition & Consumption
 The film topped the UK Box Office for three
consecutive weeks, reportedly earning over
$80,000,000
 The film gained various acclaim, winning two BAFTA’s
(best adapted screenplay and Outstanding British
Film)
 The film currently has an 83% approval rating on
Rotten Tomatoes