How does ownership impact upon a film companies working practices?

Ownership of a film company holds a huge impact on a film companies working practices, it gives them any choice of what the film’s budget and what the theme of the film can be. For example working title are owned by universal but are aloud to make any film up to the budget of $25 million, but if they need more funding than $25 million then they must ask universals permission. This freedom is granted as the films that working title create are of very low risk to loose money, also being part of Universal studios brings Working Title Financial Security, a share of the profits from studio canal

The ownership has an impact on genre of the films that are produced by a certain company. For example ‘Working title’ is owned by universal, this is a good thing for the small film producers of ‘Working title’ as they can take advantage of, universals other ‘connections’ such as being able to use there music labels, so they will be able to use well known soundtracks throughout there film. Working Title use the same actors/ actresses (like Hugh Grant) for most of their films giving the same sort of genres through out their films. Working title have tried to create a different genre of films, an example of this is there own independent film company called ‘WT2’ this is the opportunity that they had been waiting for, now they can develop and attempt different genres of films, even if they are not effective for profit.

Working title construct there films to be represent Britain, in a strong and positive way. The representation of Britain in Richard Curtis films for working title is referred to as ‘Curtisland’ this is undermining how Richard Curtis has made Britain seem like. Richard Curtis makes Britain seem like heaven on earth with his characters seeming like they are angles, composing the British public to all seem like this, which is certainly as far from the truth. Warp Film Company is not designed to show a positive outlook on Britain. This is thanks to the way that Britain is illustrated. Britain is illustrated in warp films as a generally harsh environment with crime and violence.

Over all being under ownership has a large impact on a film company, as they have financial security especially if big companies such as universal own them. They have shared profits with other companies owned by the same company. Being an independent film company does not significantly mean that this company is going to be unsuccessful, just aspires that they do well and can do just as well but do not have that cushion in case something goes wrong financially, they do not have the connexions they would have if they were part of a branch of companies such as, warp films who have a link with film 4 which helps with their distribution.