WB Institutional Context

Discuss the ways horror films are produced and distributed. Use a detailed case study from Vertigo films and Warner Bros as evidence.

 

The production of films from both Warner Bros and Vertigo films are very different. Due to the magnitude of money that is put into Warner Bros films, they have a much larger production and distribution campaign. Production labels such as Vertigo films rely on film distributing companies such as Netflix and LoveFilm more as there movies will not be played in the cinema. Monster being one of Vertigo films biggest films still only had a budget of $500,000. This is in contrast to Warner Bros ....

 

Production of 'Monster'

- The filming equipment for vertigo films cost approximately $15,000, with the budget coming in way under $500,000.

- They used prosumer cameras to capture digital video rather than more expensive 35mm film. This contributed to the production of the film being so cheap.

- All the settings used in the film were real locations and the extras were people who just happened to be there at the time.
- Edwards got the idea for his movie whilst witnessing some fishermen struggling to haul in their net. He imagined a futuristic world when hauling a dead sea monster seemed perfectly normal.

Marketing and Distribution of 'Monster'
- On 3rd December 2010 (the weeks leading up to the release of Monster) a marketing campaign was released using the social network site Foursquare.
- Cineworld and Vue Entertainment set up 'infected locations' which gave users specific information to 'Monster' content and special prizes.
- Was distributed by Vertigo Films and Magnet Releasing.
- Was released on 29th October 2010 in the USA and in the UK on the 3rd December 2010.

Production of 'The Blind Side'
- This film was produced by Alcon Entertainment.
- The school scenes were shot at both Atlanta International School and The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, Georgia. Many of the extras within these scenes were students that attended the school.
- Julia Roberts was offered Sandra Bullocks role first but turned the job offer down.
- Sandra Bullock also declined the offer three times before being convinced. She even took a pay cut and instead took a percentage of the profits. At first she didn't believe she could portray a devout Christian very convincingly.

Marketing and Distribution of 'The Blind Side'
-This film was released on November 20th 2009.
-The film was distributed by Warner Bros.
- 'The Blind Side' was released on DVD and Blu-ray on March 23rd 2010 and was offered to rent in Blockbusters for 28 days.
- Customers of Redbox and Netflix had to wait 28 days before they were able to rent the movie due to the settlement of a lawsuit brought by Redbox against Warner Home Video who refused to sell wholesale titles to Redbox in order to boost DVD sales.

Conclusion
We can see that there is a clear difference in the production and distribution of industrial films and independent films. Industrial films such as The Blind Side are able to attract big names such as Sandra Bullock within the production of the film whilst independent films like Monster do not pay the actors huge fees meaning big names are not attracted. There extras in Monster were just people who happened to be there at the time showing the low budget that they work with. This is shown within marketing and distribution too as The Blind Side was released on DVD and offered to Blockbusters for 28 days, being available to rent. This is in contrast to Monster in which there whole marketing campaign was on the social network site Foursquare. Thus industrial films generally appeal to the mass audience whilst independent films usually focus on a more niche audience. Nevertheless, they can be just as successful in their own right.