Celador is an independent production company formed in 1983 that is known for producing films like Slumdog Millionaire and the television show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. Celador operates on a project-by-project basis and funds productions through investments, loans, and selling distribution rights before filming. Though smaller than major competitors like Sony and Film4 Productions, Celador has found success with lower-budget films like The Descent and owns various radio stations and theatrical productions.

1. Unit 1 Research Task
Celador

2. Ownership
Celador was formed in 1983 independantly, by Jasper
Carrott and Paul Smith. Their first production was in 1999,
called “Dirty Little Things”. Celador is known for other
movies it has produced including Slumdog Millionaire. They
have also worked on television entertainment, they are
behind the world famous programme Who Wants To Be A
Millionaire. Celador own 18 radio stations. They also own
businesses in sectors such as the theatrical industry.
Celador was bought out by Complete Communications.
Complete Communications were intent on selling the
company onto someone else. Celador was able to buy
themselves back before they were sold elsewhere. They
therefore became independant again.

3. Operating Model
Celador is a small independant production company. They work on a project-by-
project basis, and use freelance staff in order to avoid permanent contracts
for crew and actors. Staff are employed on a film-by-film basis also.
Celador’s funding comes from a number of different places. This includes bank
loans, investors, sponsorship and personal investment. Another option for
Celador could’ve been co-funding and partnership. However this was not the
case.
Celador operated through distribution companies, meaning they sell the film to
a distributor before it is made. The company uses profit from other successful
products to fund new ones.
An example of distributors buying the film before it was created was “The
Descent”. It was released in 2005. Pathe, a distribution company, bought the
rights to distribute the film before it was created. The film was then partly
funded by the earnings from the distributor company (in this case Pathe).

4. Products
Celador started producing media in 1999. They have
produced a variety of different products ranging from
theatre, film, and radio. They have only produced 8 movies
since 1999.

5. Products - Films
Dirty Pretty Things (2002)
Separate Lies (2005)
The Descent (2005)
Slumdog Millionaire (2009)
The Descent 2 (2009)
The Scouting Book For Boys (2010)
Selma (2014).

6. Products - TV Shows
All About Me
The Detectives
You Are What You Eat
It’s Been A Bad Week
The Hypnotic World Of Paul McKenna
National Lottery Winning Lines
Richard Digances Greatest Hits
Commercial Breakdown
Talking Telephone Numbers
Joi, You’re The Real Deal

7. Products - Radio & Theatre
Celador own a wide range of radio stations. They own the
Breeze FM Network, broadcasting all across the UK,
JackFM, which also broadcasts at many frequencies
across the UK. They also own Fire Radio, and Palm 105.5
in Torquay.
Theatrical works include Slumdog Millionaire - The Musical.

8. Market Position & Competitors
Celador’s competition ranges from Film4 Productions, Sony
Entertainment and DNA Films. In comparison, Celador is
only a small production company, and produces much
fewer movies than either of these companies. Celador have
released 8 movies since 1999, Sony have made several
more.
For example, lets compare Spiderman 3 (SONY) and The
Descent (Celador). Spiderman 3 cost $258m to produce,
whereas the Descent cost just £3.5m. Celador could have
problems because they don’t have as much funding to
produce a movie. Sony knows it will make a huge profit on
each of their movies, Celador doesn’t have this guarantee.

9. Market Position & Competitors
If we compare Film4 Productions to Celador, again we see
a difference in funding. This is England had a £1.5m
budget, whereas The Descent had £3.5m.
Celador does better than Film4 Productions in terms of
money, because they have more budget.
Celador mainly competes with these three companies. It is
more closely matched with Film4 productions, however still
rivals Sony Entertainment & DNA Films.