Working title

1. Who were the co-founders of Working Title?

  Working Title films is a British production company. The company was co-founded by producers Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe.

2. When was the company founded?

   The company was founded in 1983.

3. Where is Working Title based?

  Working Title films is based in London.

4. Who are the co-chairpersons of WT now?

Co-persons of Working title are Tim Beven and Eric Fellner. "They are energetic, not naive, not arty-farty, or up their own arses," said actor Hugh Grant, who has worked with the pair on four films.

5.      What awards have Working Title won?

        Working Title have won 6 academy awards, 26 BAFTA'S, 4 Oscars and many more. Including Working title has won the Audience Award for Best International Feature at the LA Film Festival, For its Film Senna, They won the best costume design for the film Elizabeth: The Gold Age, and an Oscar for The Best Original Score, for Atonement.


6.     How many full time staff does WT employ?

Surprisingly there are only 42 member of staff working full time at Working Title films.

7.     What is Working Title’s philosophy?

Working title films appeal to an international market. Their philosophy is to make European films for a worldwide audience. Working title aim to have European ideas in their films and the only way they can do this is with the help from Hollywood studios.
  
8.     List 5 box-office hits that Working Title have made.

Shaun of the deadPaulNotting HillHot Fuzz Bridget Jones Dairies

9.     List 5 flops that Working Title has made.

Sixty Six  (budget 3 million - made 1.9 million)
        
Inside I'm dancing (budget 5 million- made £500,000)

        Micky Bo and me (budget 3 million- made £172,336)
        
The boat that rocked (budget 50 million- made 36.3 million)
        
Jones dairy has a budget of $26 million and made $281,929,795.


10.  What is Richard Curtis’ relationship with Working Title?

Richard curtis is an award winning British TV and film writer. Most of the films such as 'Love actually' and 'Bridget Jones Dairy' (book was written by Curtis). He also wrote and directed The Boat That Rocked.


11.  List 2 famous directors that Working Title have worked?

Working title have worked with numerous directors but one of the most famous being Mike Newell who won a BAFTA award in 1994 for Four Weddings and a Funeral whilst also directing “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in 2005”. Sharron Maguire is another famous director Working Title have worked with, who is well known for directing “Bridget Jones Dairy” and is now currently working with Film4 on a film called ‘Mail’.


12.  What is Hugh Grant’s relationship with Working Title?

Hugh Grant has often played the lead character in a range of working title films such as 'Love Actually' , 'Bridget Jones' and 'Four weddings and a funeral'.


13.   Find out about the Coen Brothers (films, genres, status) and what have to do with Working Title?

14. Who owns 67% of Working Title films? When did this happen? Why did this happen?

      Universal pictures (Hollywood) company own 67% of working title. Working title film wanted to appeal to a wider more universal audience but still keep their European comedy. With the help of major film producers 'Universal' it was made possible. Working Title became big competitors with Polygram films. Polygram films was then sold and merged into Universal studios who work with working title.

15.   List two of Working Title big blockbuster films and find out their budgets.

     The first Bridget Jones Dairy film made $10,733,933 (USA) on the opening week (15th April 2001) and was shown on 1,611 Screens. The adventure/comedy/thriller that is Johnny English Reborn, has a budget of $45 million. On the opening weekend in the states it made $3,833,300 and was shown on 1,552 screens. Working title budgets need to be $35 million before even confronting universal. 


16.  What genre of films is Working Title most famous for?

      Working Title are most famous for their comedy and genre films such as Paul and Hot Fuzz. The majority of their films are classed as 'family films', with U to 18 certificates.

17. What other genres do Working Title films like to make?

from working with Hugh Grant, working title have also made a number of successful romance genre films such as Love actually and Notting Hill.

18. Find out as much as you can about WT2? (when established, films made, budgets, awards. 

When Working Title was established in 1983 by Tim Bevan and Sarah Radcliffe, they produced a variety of films for Polygram (London based company). Polygram films was then merged and sold to what is now known as Universal Studios.

Films include:

Love Actually

The boat that Rocked

Hot fuzz

Johnny English Reborn

Senna

Paul

Nanny McPhee

Wild Child

Mr. Beans Holiday

Awards: 

Senna - Audience award

Two academy awards

Atonement -   Nominated for 14 BAFTA's

Atonement-  Golden Globe

Paul - Best comedy (National movie awards)

19. What information can you find out about Working Title through their web page?

     From looking at Working Title's web page i can see that the company also have a T.V division. Where they produce thrilling adventure series such as The Borrowers. As well as T.V and film, they also have a theatre sector where the company helped to produce Billy Elliot. The company also advertise their most recent releases on their website. 

20.  Find out one other interesting fact about Working Title that you would like to share with the class.

Working title use the technique of a title ruse to for major films. This is a fake name for the film or T.V series that keeps the production of high-profile films secret. By having a fake name for a film it also prevents price gouging.