Arthouse film institution research:

Production: Independent film studios:

1.) 

• Donnie Darko was produced by the studio, Flower Films - an American production company founded in 1995 that produces films and television programs. 
• The Falling was produced by both British Film Institute and BBC Films - both being very successful companies in the British film world. 
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was produced by Anonymous Content and This is That. 'This is That' has grossed over 21 films.
• Appropriate Behaviour was produced by Parkville Pictures - an award-winning and BAFTA-nominated independent UK film production company based in London.
• Let the Right One in was actually interestingly produced by two companies from different countries - Sandrew Metronome from Sweden and Magnet Releasing from the US.

2.) The studio has produced other notable films such as: Charlie's Angels, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, 50 First Dates and more.

3.) Though a $93 million dollars budget that went into Charlie's Angels wasn't necessarily "low" at all, it is still one of the most successful films to Flower Films, having $264.1 million in just box-office. On the other hand, the lowest budget film from Flowers Films would be Whip It - almost a quarter of the budget that went into Charlie's Angels. The low budget did however reflect to its appeal, having only $16,633,035 in box-office.

Distribution: Independent film distributors:

1. and 2.) The 10 steps of a film distribution:

• The film production stage:
• Producers, directors and screenwriters begin planning the production
• Production finance and crew are finalized so that the production can actually start of the film can actually start i.e. filming
• Filming starts off, whether it'd be in a studio or on a location, then once all necessary footage is shot is when editing comes in

2, 3,4 and 5.)

• The distribution stage:
• Once production of the film has finished, distributors have the role of how the film is going to be released, in other words - a strategy. 
• The distributors will then take legal action for screening the films within the cinemas
• Distributors will then try to attract attention and create hype

6 and 7.)

• The final distribution stage:
• The film and disk, as well as the classification will be sent off to the cinema, prior a few days before it is premiered 
• The film runs for a fixed and agreed number of weeks, however can also increase if the demands are high

8.) The distributor lets BBFC to examine and certify that it meets all legal conducts for viewers in the cinema


3.)

• Donnie Darko was distributed by Pandora Films and Newmarket Films
• The Falling was distributed by Metrodome UK
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was distributed by Focus Features
• Appropriate Behavior was distributed by Gravitas Ventures 
• Let the Right One in was distributed by Artificial Eye 

4.)

• Donnie Darko has made quite a significant profit, taking note that it has the lowest budget out of all the films I analysed. It has a budget of $3.8 million and a box office of $7.6 million, resulting in profit of $4.2 million.
• The Falling has unfortunately made a really unfortunate loss. Starting with a budget of £750,000 and box-office hit of £368,378, resulting in a loss of £381,622
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind has also made a huge profit, about three-quarters of it's starting budget of $20 million and then a box-office of $72.3 million, resulting in a profit of $52.3 million
• Let the Right One in has made the most profit, taking into account its low-budget of $4.5 million and box-office of $ 11,227.336 , resulting in a profit of $6727336.

5.) Curzon Artificial Eye is an English, British film distributor that is most significant compared to other distributors, given that it focuses on foreign-language films and art-house films in cinemas. The distributor allows opportunities of low-budget and art-house films to gain reputation, and is a hive of entertainment for film critics. It's high standard and quality of films that appeals to the art-house film audiences has reflected and is evident witht he directors that the company has worked with. The company has worked with (which is known to be one of the best directors in the world) Michael Haneke, Lars von Trier, Abbas Kiarostami and Andrei Tarkovsky.

6.) Ice and the Sky trailer:

This film trailer has allowed me to learn and use different types of sound effects that are non-diegetic, such as whooshes that add suspense and give an epic feeling that sutures the audience, as well as different formats of video such as for e.g. the 4:8 ratio, giving off the old, vintage conventions. The film has also noted to have great cinematography from different angles.

Mia Madre trailer:

  Mia Madre has exceptional cinematography too, especially the panning for a nice, subtle attention. Same as before with Ice and the Sky, non-diegetic sounds such as the muffled song in the background can help suture the audience and ultimately create an intentional emotion that is parallel to the clip.

Kiss of the Spider Woman trailer:

Like all of the previous cinematography shown in Mia Madre and Ice and the Sky, Kiss of the Spider Woman has exceptional use of it too. One thing to take note and definitely use in my film would be the slow panning on a clip of a character's facial expression, just to emphasize and add effect to it. Editing wise, cross fade transitions also allow for a nice effect, a sort of gloomy feeling that would maybe suitable for a memory or flashback.

Exhibition: Arthouse cinemas:

1.) The arthouse cinema I have chosen is ironically the Electric Cinema, based in London. The arthouse cinema is located in Notting Hill and Birmingham, London and is one of the oldest working cinemas in the country.

2.) The cinema screens both mainstream and arthouse films, and their programmes differ from major cinemas i.e. Vue because it gives films that are low-budget and the art of film aspects more appreciation, also raises a company's opportunity. It seems that major cinemas only care for making money, whereas arthouse genuinely want to embrace film arts. Films on this week in the Electric Cinema are: Bridge of Spies, Carol, The Dressmaker and Black Mass.

3.) The audience would most likely be aspiring filmakers, possibly because (as said before) arthouse films have more appreciation and professionalism in the filming aspect, so this then means they can be more innovative and be inspired. 

A case study in independent film production: Film London and Microwave Film:

1.) Film London is UK#s public agency for films and media. The appreciation of arthouse films is also evident because the agency/organisation is for non-profit. Film London's ultimate goal is to promote and develop film culture. It exists as the very foundation for uprising films, directors, etc.

2.) Microwave Film is a low-budget film fund that was raised in 2006, and the goal is to simply shoot a full-length feature film with a limit of £100,000 - it is ultimately open for aspiring film makers, film makers in documentaries, fiction, animation etc.

3.) London Calling is a film-funding project that is open to the pupils in London. London Calling also provides support such as training and mentoring - a great way for aspiring film makers to reach to the top, professional roles in the film industry. It's main goal is to basically find talented film makers. It encourages film making because the project essentially provides each team with everything they need, and all they need from themselves are their ideas, visions etc for a film.

4.)

Borrowed Time trailer:

Borrowed Time fits in very well for an arthouse and independent film because it's plot doesn't consist of something bizarre or completely alien to the real world like in mainstream movies, but it has realistic views of the real world, instead, and has attachments to some people in London as it might be a reflection to their own selves, given that it is about urban youth. Therefore target audience would most likely be for young, London teenagers.

  iLL Manors trailer:

iLL Manors, similar to Borrowed Time again revolves around the urban youth lifestyle of young, ghetto Londoners. The arthouse film is ideal as the plot sort of goes into the deeper side of gangs, drugs, violence etc. What we normally see of ghetto, money-deprived "chavs" to say is taken further, and therefore appeals again to teenagers, maybe even adults too, given maybe that they are fascinated by these kind of people.


Mum & Dad trailer:

 
Mum & Dad - a very sinister movie, particularly appealing to arthouse and independent films as it causes paranoia to whether the grim and grotesque plot could well and truly be one of your own and happen to you, seeing as it is realistic. It explores the story and truly creates a frightening story that sutures the audience in, which is why it fits into arthouse, but steers away from mainstream movies.

3 Tips for film production:

• Allow change - representation - conventional themes, mixed with the actual reality of things will cause incremental change and has an effect on the audience watching the movie, rather than just for entertainment
• Don't avoid little problems - things like too many characters, budget etc, little things can cause a huge problem in the end once you actually start production or half-way, so it is important to have an organized and good foundation
• Have realistic expectations - we're not working with professional, Hollywood standard equipment, so take all resources and put good use