Method 5- Warp films

Method 5: Warp Films Research

Warp films was 1 of 7 production companies which invested funds in the creation of Shane Meadows film “This is England”. Warp Films is a British production company which originally started in 2002 as a side project of Warp records, but over the last five years has become one of the leading producers of British films and has received its just reward in numerous awards including 3 BAFTAS.

Warp X is a brand new venture in the British film industry with a sustainable digital studio that is driven by creative talent and a dynamic digital business that rewards everyone involved in the films. Warp x is a sister company of warp films, intending to build on Warp Film’s reputation for combining creative originality with commercial success, with releases like Shane Meadows’ ‘This Is England’ and ‘Dead Mans Shoes’, Chris Cunningham’s ‘Rubber Johnny’ and Chris Morris’ ‘My Wrongs 8245-8249 and 117’. “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.

Working along side with the UK film council and film 4 and our other key financial backers; EM Media and Screen Yorkshire, Warp films has been a major influence on the British film industry, funding the production of many films. Since 2002, Warp Films have released 6 films:

My Wrongs 8245-8249 and 117, directed by Chris Morris (2003)
Dead Man’s Shoes, directed by Shane Meadows (2004)
Rubber Johnny, directed by Chris Cunningham (2005)
Scummy Man (Arctic Moneys short film/music video)
This Is England, directed by Shane Meadows (2006)
Dog Altogether, directed by Paddy Considine (2007)
Warp films also funded “The Englishman” (2007 funding) directed by Ian Seller, released in 2008.

All of these films are being managed and produced by Warp X for the Low Budget Feature Film Scheme set up by UK Film Council’s New Cinema Fund and Film4 to revitalise the low-budget sector of the British film industry. Optimum Releasing are closely involved in the development process, and will distribute the films theatrically and on DVD in the UK. Channel 4 will take UK television rights.

Chris Cunningham is a established director of films within the country. Cunningham also directed the music video for ‘Afrika shox’ by leftfield. The music video deals with the theme of racism, following a black man walk through New York City as a helpless man. When he reaches out for help from the community, of mostly white males, the cry for help is ignored, casting the black man aside as though he was invisible. As this happens, each time the black man starts to shatter. The shattering of his limbs is a metaphor for how the community makes the man feel. The only person that acknowledges the shattered man is another black man, who then offers him help, only then to enter back into the society and be entirely shattered by the white population. The theme of racism is also dealt with in Shane Meadows film ‘This is England’ both films have been made to exploit the depth of racism within society. Within both of the productions, a sense of prejudice against the lower classes is present. In Afrika shox, it is ambiguous about the real reason for the male being ignored. The main character is also homeless, with ripped clothes and bare feet. In this is England, the cast are all from a lower working class. We see the struggle in society from their points of view, whereas in Afrika shox, the point of view is an outsider, watching the prejudice and racism take place.

Both of the productions are portraying the issues in negative ways. Highlighting them as problems in society nowadays aswell as in the past. The film and music video were created to have an impact on the audience and allow them to make connections to the video or film. Therefore the problems have been chosen to be portrayed as they are still important in our society.