The UK's top 40 film production companies
Televisual's inaugural film survey kicks off with a showcase of the UK's leading film production companies. Tim Dams profiles the indies behind some of Britain's biggest and best films
Unrealistic Budgets
Still at the top of post houses’ list of gripes is the “unrealistic budgets” provided for their work. Most of the companies completing survey forms singled out declining rates as a key challenge. Triangle is concerned about “the impact of lower budgets on quality of production” and Big Buoy sums up the general sentiment that “lower budgets make it difficult to maintain profit margins.”
Undercutting
Talking of lower bugets, Azimuth is amongst many, many post houses complaining that, “stupidly low bugets - they still get posted at a loss by someone”. Undercutting continues to be a major source of frustration. “Facilities giving work away at crazy prices can only end up with their downfall and others,” says Narduzzo Too.
Inhouse Facilities
Third on the list of challenges once more is production companies’ inhouse facilities. “Agencies and production companies absorbing post inhouse” is singled out by Unit as well as many others as their key concern. Meanwhile, Mwnci points to broadcasters also taking work inhouse as a challenge.
Opportunities
Stereoscopic 3d
Quite a number of post facilities are looking forward to “the stereo 3d revolution,” as Prime Focus puts it, which many feel is just round the corner. “3d stereo could breakthrough if it comes on the back of a job that fires up the public’s imagination,” sums up Time Based Arts.
File-based Working
There are opportunities for post houses in “making tapeless production easier” and “providing a reliable tapeless workflow” for their clients, says Azimuth, The Station and numerous others. Post houses have to keep on top of the many file-based formats and are well placed to assist clients with going tapeless.
Digital Platforms
“More creative channels means room for more growth, from TV and film through to digital,” says The Mill. Many facilities agree that digital platforms are good for business. Opportunities come from “being a market leader for the new media industry,” says Unit. Glassworks and Eon point to “digital services and the growth of the medical simulation market”, while Locomotion singles out “outdoor media”.
