Little Miss Sunshine Key Aspect: Institution

Institution This key aspect deals with how the production of media output is organised, financed and controlled and how these shape media texts. This key aspect deals with how the production of media output is organised, financed and controlled and how these shape media texts.

Institution Internal Determinants - These are factors from within the media company that have an effect on the production of the film. Internal Determinants - These are factors from within the media company that have an effect on the production of the film. External Determinants - These are factors that affect the production of the film from outwith the media company. External Determinants - These are factors that affect the production of the film from outwith the media company. Group A – What possible factors from within a media company can you think of that could affect decisions? Group A – What possible factors from within a media company can you think of that could affect decisions? Group B – What possible factors from outside a media company can you think of that could affect decisions? Group B – What possible factors from outside a media company can you think of that could affect decisions?

Internal Determinants Ownership Ownership Finance Finance Time Time Stars Stars Internal Operation (Including Budgets) Internal Operation (Including Budgets) Reputation/Image Reputation/Image Company – remit and mission statement Company – remit and mission statement Technology Technology

External Determinants Legal Constraints Legal Constraints Self regulation/ codes of practice Self regulation/ codes of practice Market controls Market controls Societal Controls Societal Controls

What do you think an independent film is? The technical definition of the phrase independent film is: any movie that was funded with less than 50% of money that came from one of the "big six" major film studios, which are: The technical definition of the phrase independent film is: any movie that was funded with less than 50% of money that came from one of the "big six" major film studios, which are: Columbia Pictures (MGM and UA), Columbia Pictures (MGM and UA), 20th Century Fox, 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney Pictures/Touchstone Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures/Touchstone Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Universal Studios. Universal Studios.

Independent Film The not so technical and somewhat more difficult to apply definition of the phrase independent film is: any character-driven film that is made outside the traditional Hollywood film system with a very small budget and keeps the artist/filmmaker's original vision intact without corporate corruption, with an emphasis on character development and a strong, original and/or controversial storyline. The not so technical and somewhat more difficult to apply definition of the phrase independent film is: any character-driven film that is made outside the traditional Hollywood film system with a very small budget and keeps the artist/filmmaker's original vision intact without corporate corruption, with an emphasis on character development and a strong, original and/or controversial storyline.

Complicating the Issue? The big studios have followed the movie star's path and now the film festival circuit is full of movies that are cast with big names pretending that nobody knows they are famous, and funded (50%) by splinter divisions of all the major film studios (Sony Pictures Classic, Fox Searchlight, Miramax Films, Warner Independent, Paramount Classics, Focus Features, etc...). Are these types of films actually "independent films"? The answer to that question is very much open to interpretation by the individual. The big studios have followed the movie star's path and now the film festival circuit is full of movies that are cast with big names pretending that nobody knows they are famous, and funded (50%) by splinter divisions of all the major film studios (Sony Pictures Classic, Fox Searchlight, Miramax Films, Warner Independent, Paramount Classics, Focus Features, etc...). Are these types of films actually "independent films"? The answer to that question is very much open to interpretation by the individual.

LMS cost $8m to make (modest budget) LMS cost $8m to make (modest budget) Made as an independent film Made as an independent film Fox Searchlight paid $10m for distribution rights Fox Searchlight paid $10m for distribution rights

Little Miss Sunshine – Box Office Figures Total Lifetime Grosses Total Lifetime Grosses Domestic: $59,891, % + Foreign: $40,632, % = Worldwide: $100,523,181 Domestic: $59,891, % + Foreign: $40,632, % = Worldwide: $100,523,181 Foreign: Domestic Summary Domestic Summary Release Dates: July 26, 2006 (limited) August 18, 2006 (wide) Release Dates: July 26, 2006 (limited) August 18, 2006 (wide)July 26, 2006August 18, 2006July 26, 2006August 18, 2006

Figures are based on box office receipts, rather than the number of people who have actually seen the movie. Subtract the production costs of a movie from the box office receipts to find out how much money it made, and therefore how successful it has been in the profit-driven movie business. Be aware that a film which does not cost much to make and takes even a modest amount at the box office can be considered a greater success than a big action movie which cost more, has a bigger set of box office receipts (ie lots more people went to see it) but has a smaller profit margin. Figures are based on box office receipts, rather than the number of people who have actually seen the movie. Subtract the production costs of a movie from the box office receipts to find out how much money it made, and therefore how successful it has been in the profit-driven movie business. Be aware that a film which does not cost much to make and takes even a modest amount at the box office can be considered a greater success than a big action movie which cost more, has a bigger set of box office receipts (ie lots more people went to see it) but has a smaller profit margin. Also be aware that film companies are very coy about publishing production costs of a movie, and that they rarely include the cost of a film's marketing budget, which is probably at least a third again of the production costs, and is frequently more. in some cases, the marketing budget may exceed the cost of originally making the film, especially for an indie hit that is picked up for mainstream distribution Also be aware that film companies are very coy about publishing production costs of a movie, and that they rarely include the cost of a film's marketing budget, which is probably at least a third again of the production costs, and is frequently more. in some cases, the marketing budget may exceed the cost of originally making the film, especially for an indie hit that is picked up for mainstream distribution