G322 B Institutions and Audiences Case Study on “This is England” and Warp Films
Warp Films has created some of the most exciting pieces of British film making in the last five years. It has won numerous plaudits and awards (including three BAFTA’s) since being set up in 2002.
'My Wrongs 8245-8249 and 117' was Warp’s first short film and was directed by Chris Morris. It won the BAFTA in 2003 and for its television premiere on Channel 4, more than one million viewers tuned in to watch it. Warp sold an astounding 22,000 DVDs of My Wrongs and was the first DVD single in the UK market.
Warp's debut feature 'Dead Man's Shoes', directed by Shane Meadows, received a record eight British Independent Film Award nominations, including Best Film, Best Director and Best Achievement in Production. ‘Dead Man’s Shoes’ was also nominated for a BAFTA and won the Southbank Award for Best Film. The film has received nothing less than rave reviews across the board, and is being hailed by some as a landmark in British cinema.
Chris Cunningham directed Warp's next film, Rubber Johnny, –an experimental short and 42-page book that shocked and amazed audiences.
Following Rubber Johnny Warp made the critical success 'Grow Your Own', a film written by Frank Cottrell Boyce (24-Hour Party People), which tackled the subject of immigration.
In 2006 Warp made their most successful production to date: 'This is England', the story of Shaun, a boy who is befriended by a local skin-head gang after his father is killed in the Falklands war. With its evocative soundtrack, dazzling young star and emotive content it has won numerous international festival awards as well as scooping Best Film at the British Independent Film Awards and Best British Film at the BAFTA’s. At the same award ceremony Warp collected its third BAFTA as Paddy Considine's directorial debut 'Dog Altogether' won best short.
Warp Films has also worked closely with the Arctic Monkeys, producing two music videos for them and collaborating on the short film 'Scummy Man' starring Stephen Graham, which won best music video at this year's NME awards. Richard Ayoade has recently directed a feature length live show film with of them. Shot at their final concert of a world tour.
Warp Films' development slate currently includes projects with directors Shane Meadows, Chris Morris, Chris Cunningham, Richard Ayoade, David Slade and Lynne Ramsay. They are also dedicated to seeking out new voices; this goal is reflected in their recent ventures into promo making and the new digital slate, Warp X.
Warp Films Include:
Production Company
1. Four Lions - (2009)
2. Arctic Monkeys at the Apollo - (2008)
3. Crack Willow - (2008)
4. “Fur TV” - (2008)
5. Exhibit A - (2007)
6. Dog Altogether - (2007)
7. Grow Your Own - (2007)
8. Dog’s Mercury - (2006)
9. This is England - (2006)
10. Scummy Man - (2006)
11. Rubber Johnny - (2005)
12. Dead Man’s Shoes - (2004)
13. My Wrongs 8245-8249 and 117 - (2002)
Distributor – Filmography
1. Arctic Monkeys at the Apollo - (2008)
2. Cinema16: American Short Films – (2006)
3. Rubber Johnny – (2005)
4. My Wrongs 8245-8249 and 117 – (2002)
Warp films also funded ‘The Englishman’ in 2007, and supported ‘The Work of Director Chris Cunningham.
Warp Films purpose in the British Film Industry
Warp Films is very small company focusing on producing new innovative, controversial features that involve new talent from the film and music industry. ‘Scummy Man’ (both parts shown above) is a perfect example of this as it is a short film inspired by the Arctic Monkeys song ‘When the Sun Goes Down’ and stars the relatively unknown actors Lauren Socha and Stephen Graham. This controversial short film involves prostitutes, differing accounts of rape, violence, drugs and the things that go on in today’s society that none of us like to think of. The short production would be extremely dire without the added notion of faith left in human nature and a Jock the taxi driver that tries to help Nina (Lauren Socha) out with money and food. In short Warp films is here to support British films that are trying to make a political or social statement of some sort, these types of quirky films appeal to wide British audience, whilst integrating and developing existing talent, on top of discovering new, interesting, intriguing talent.
These films appeal to a wide British Audience as they tackle the problems in our society and politics at the time; also it is always nice to see the young acting and filmmaking talent that comes from our country. In addition to this they are all filmed in this country in so doing making the viewers recognise the culture and relate to the characters of the story making the watchers feel stronger emotions towards the characters as they will understand the images and ideology being shown to them.
Chris Cunningham and Warp Films
Biography
Chris Cunningham - one of the most influential filmmakers of the last decade - has been at the forefront of innovation and an inspiration for technological boundary-breaking world wide.
Cunningham first forged his relationship with Warp Records in 1995 with his debut promo Second Bad Vibel for Autechre, and since has directed a score of mind-bending videos for the likes of Squarepusher, Bjork, Madonna, Portishead and most memorably, Aphex Twin.
The creepily hilarious Come to Daddy (1997) and bootilicious Windowlicker (1999) Aphex videos have both been showered with accolades, but deemed too darkside for daytime MTV. However, his delicate hand on Bjork's All is Full of Love (1999) sensual, milky robot promo won him the best breakthrough video MTV award and a Grammy nomination, as well as 4 silvers and the first ever Gold Award for a music video at the Design And Art Direction Awards.
Cunningham's film making successes followed on from an accomplished career in feature films. He learnt his craft as an FX sculptor, designer and engineer on numerous feature films, which included working for David Fincher, Clive Barker and Stanley Kubrick.
In 2000, Cunningham created a video art installation flex for the Royal Academy of Art's Apocalypse exhibition. His next two short films with Warp Films, Rubber Johnny and Spectral Musicians are scheduled for release on DVD in 2005.With much anticipation from his legion of fans, Cunningham is finally turning his attention to feature films and is currently developing a feature length script with Warp Films.
Africa Shox
The music video created by Chris Cunningham for Leftfield feat. Africa Bambaataa is exemplary of his work due to the unusual content and the hidden agendas. The themes of this video are quite similar to that of ‘This is England’ produced by Warp Films, for both have stereotypes; the skin heads in ‘This is England’ and the emaciated figure of the African man and the urban ‘gangsters’ break dancing in ‘Africa Shox’. Also the idea of being lost is recurrent in both videos, however in ‘This is England’ the little boy is put back on his feet again by the Skinheads and is adopted into their family, whereas in ‘Africa Shox’ the African man is put back on his feet again when he fell smashing his only remaining hand, but no one helps him find his way home or helps him; everyone just stares. ‘This is England’ goes against the typical thoughts about Skinheads being stupid, violent, thugs and adapts them into a loving family just looking out for one another and their country. On the other hand ‘Africa Shox’ depicts the entire city as being out for itself and unconcerned about others only themselves.
To find the video 'Africa Shox' go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvxbFWY2Hsc
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