Working Title

Company Profile

1. Working Title make formulaic films (films that are based on a previously successful formula)

2. Working Title have a set of genres in which they specialise

3. Working Title re-use actors/ writers/ directors that they have worked with before

4. Working Title create mid-to-low budget films5. Working Title films focus on writing/ acting/

cinematography rather than special effects/ CGI

6. Working Title repeatedly target similar audiences

7. Working Title widen their target audience by the way they package their film

In what ways is Anna Karenina a typical Working

Title film?

WT2

Studio Canal

Working Title

Universal

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How does Working Title’s institutional structure help them to be successful?• Autonomy up to £25m• Global distribution• Support with expertise in marketing,

production, casting, legal, subcontracts…• Guaranteed distribution• Links with other Universal companies

(record labels/ TV etc)

A History of Working Title

• Set up 1984• Indie, low budget UK films• Some funding from Channel 4• Non-mainstream• Issue-based films• Key films:

– My Beautiful Launderette (1985)• Immigration; Community; Racism;

Homophobia• £650,000

– For Queen and Country (1988)• US star; UK-led production• £250,000

Working Title Phase 1 – 1984-1988

• Co-productions with Polygram• USA and UK appeal –

International films• Larger budgets (low-mid)• Key films

– Drop Dead Fred• US star; UK star

– Barton Fink • Coen Brothers• Budget $9m

Working Title Phase 2 – 1989-1992

• Owned by Polygram• US-UK co-productions• Secure funding and international

distribution• Mid budget international films• Mainstream• Key films:

• Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)• Budget = £4.4m Box Office = £245m• US star + UK stars

• Elizabeth• Budget = £25m Box Office = £34m• Australian star + UK stars

Working Title Phase 3 – 1992-1999

• Bought by Universal/ Vivendi• Mid-budget• Financial security – guaranteed

investment (up to £25m)• Guaranteed worldwide

distribution• The Working Title Formula

• Literary adaptations and rom-coms

• Key films: – Notting Hill– About a Boy– Pride and Prejudice– Bridget Jones

Working Title Phase 4 – 1999-today

How have Working Title changed their ownership to enable them

to reach new audiences/ achieve new heights?

• WT2• Dedicated to

• developing new talent• low budget films• UK films• UK and European markets• Back to Working Title’s roots?

• Key Films• Billy Elliott• Ali G Indahouse• Shaun of the Dead• Hot Fuzz

Working Title Phase 4a – 2000-2007

• TV productions• The Tudors

• International films• Bean (Indian market)• Coen Brothers (USA)

• European films• Tinker, Tailor,

Soldier, Spy• Anna Karenina

Working Title’s Current Strategy• Move away from mid-

Atlantic exports (no more Richard Curtis/ Hugh Grant)

• Focus on European cinema• Explore potential of digital

technologies to enhance distribution and marketing (e.g. StudioCanal deal with LoveFilm, and Tinker Tailor marketing)