The document discusses the Spanish horror film REC and its American remake Quarantine. It provides background information on the production of both films such as their directors, years of release, budgets, and box office earnings. REC was made on a lower budget of $2 million in 2007 while Quarantine had a higher budget of $12 million for its 2008 release. Both films used a handheld, found footage style of filming to make the horror feel more realistic. The document examines why remakes are produced and the factors such as financial motivations, genre trends, and vertical integration that influenced the quick remake of REC as Quarantine to capitalize on the original's success and horror audience demand.

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:
Director
Year of Production
Distributor
Budget
Box office takings
Sequels
Rec
Jaume Balagueró, Paco Plaza
2007
Filmax
$2 million
$32,492,948
2, 3, 4
Quarantine
John Erick Dowdle
2008
Screen Gems
$12 million
$41,319,906
2
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:
1. Explain Jaume Balagoro’s reasons for making REC in a handheld, documentary style

2. 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?
No, companies put out films of the similar genre to make more money. For example, during the term
of Halloween a lot of horror films are released.
3. Why do you think Screen Gems, the distributors of Quarantine wanted to get the remake
out so quickly?
They did this because Rec was already out on DVD, therefore after people watch Quarantine, they
can say there’s another version, meaning people will watch both, making money from two films.
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)
In your magazine article you will need to comment upon all of the above
Task 3:

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
To maximize profits. Releasing Rec and Quarantine at the
same time on DVD helped them gain more money for the
original and the remake.
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)
The filming was done as ‘found footage’ to make the film look more
realistic. The director used ‘shaky cam’ to add the sense of reality and
panic. Using ‘shaky cam’ makes it difficult for the audience to see, making
it scarier when something appears on screen. The actors weren’t given a
script and were auditioned based on their ability to improvise. It was only
Rec that used this way of filming; this could be because Screen Gems
didn’t want to take any chances. The way of filming as ‘found footage’ was
done in both films because that’s what makes the original stand out. The
director of Rec wanted to make the film look like a video game, that’s why
the film was filmed as found footage.
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. Quarantine adds a scene where one of the characters attempts to get out of the building, this
doesn’t happen in Rec. This is scene is more ‘Hollywood’ adding more action to the film. I found this
to be a good way to show the characters desperation. Also, Rec was filmed in an apartment block,
Quarantine, because it wasn’t a budget film, they could create a similar set, with four floors. The
remake wanted to keep the element of handheld film, however, wanted it to be more structured.
P4. Production Contexts
Explain why Quarantine was produced so soon after REC. Give examples concerning trends, genre
and financial factors.
Quarantine and Rec are the same genre, and are filmed the same way, ‘found footage’. The makers
of Quarantine could spend more on the production of the film, and to ensure that they kept Rec’s
P5.
audience, they made Quarantine close to Rec’s release.
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.
Screen Gems are owned by Sony, meaning they are a vertical integration. With Sony being a large
company, Screen gems could create Rec and help advertise it.