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56-489: StudioCanal S.A.S. (formerly known as Le Studio Canal+ , Canal Plus , Canal+ Distribution , Canal+ D.A. , and Canal+ Production ), from 2001 until 2011 known as ST U DIO CAN AL , today from 2011 to present stylized as STUDIOCANAL and also known as StudioCanal International , is a French film production and distribution company. The company is a subsidiary of the Canal+ Group , owned by Vivendi . As of May 2024

112-417: A $ 56 million bid for Carolco Pictures ' library. 20th Century Fox , which had originally agreed to buy the library for $ 50 million, had dropped their bid to $ 47.5 million and ultimately dropped out of contention, making this acquisition Canal+'s first foray into library acquisitions. Le Studio Canal+'s original plan was to build a pan-European distribution network. They made their first known acquisition into

168-487: A 45% stake in the Sogepaq division of Spain's Sogecable (Vivendi Universal owned 21% of Sogecable at the time) for $ 36.2 million, also giving the company a 73% controlling stake in its Spanish subsidiary StudioCanal España and a minority stake in the joint venture Warner Sogefilms . In October 2002, StudioCanal and BAC Majestic parted ways, terms of the deal included the sale of Mars Distribution to StudioCanal thus giving

224-420: A cast and crew of hundreds, while a low-budget, independent film may be made by a "skeleton crew" of eight or nine (or fewer). These are typical crew positions: In production, the film is created and shot. In this phase, it is key to keep planning ahead of the daily shoot. The primary aim is to stick to the budget and schedule, which requires constant vigilance. More crew will be recruited at this stage, such as

280-464: A certain appeal of the film to a possible audience. Not all films make a profit from the theatrical release alone, however, the studio mainly targets the opening weekend and the second weekend to make most domestic profits. Occasionally, a film called a "word of mouth film" does not market strongly but its success spreads by word of mouth. It slowly gains its audience. These are special circumstances and these films may remain in theaters for 5 months while

336-538: A film, create and edit the sound and music, and mix the final cut on a home computer. However, while the means of production may be democratized, financing, traditional distribution, and marketing remain difficult to accomplish outside the traditional system. In the past, most independent filmmakers have relied on film festivals (such as Sundance Film Festival , Venice Film Festival , Cannes Film Festival , and Toronto International Film Festivals ) to get their films noticed and sold for distribution and production. However,

392-436: A five percent stake in the independent American studio Carolco Pictures . However, in 1992, Le Studio Canal+ suffered financial difficulties after Carolco Pictures entered a corporate restructure. StudioCanal's most notable productions from its early years include Terminator 2: Judgment Day , JFK , Basic Instinct , Cliffhanger , Under Siege , Free Willy , and the original Stargate movie. In those days, it

448-524: A foreign market in 1997 when they bought a 20% minority stake in Germany's Tobis Film ; they would later increase the stake to 60% in February 2000, renaming the company Tobis StudioCanal. On 1 December 1998, all of Canal+ film, television, music, video production activities, etc., were grouped into a new entity, Canal+ Image, which was rebranded as StudioCanal in 2000. In July 2001, StudioCanal acquired

504-441: A freelance job held by recent university graduates, does not feed scripts into the system that are ready for production nor already produced. "Coverage" is a way for young screenwriters to be read and their ideas might make their way up to an executive or famous producer and result in "meet and greets" where relations with up-and-comers can be formed. But it has not historically yielded ideas studios pursue into production. The studio

560-430: A green light may have protracted difficulties in making the transition to pre-production and enter a phase referred to as developmental hell for extended period of time or until developmental turnaround . Analogous to almost any business venture, financing of a film project deals with the study of filmmaking as the management and procurement of investments . It includes the dynamics of assets that are required to fund

616-974: A majority stake Utrecht-based independent film production and distribution firm Dutch FilmWorks , marking an expansion into the Benelux for StudioCanal. In April 2024, it was announced that StudioCanal had launched a new label dedicated to publishing book-to-screen adaptations called StudioCanal Stories . As of May 2024 the company has 14 production companies in Europe and the US. In September 2024, StudioCanal had announced that they're rebranding their merchandising and licensing company The Copyrights Group as their own children's division named StudioCanal Kids & Family to expand their kids and family brand portfolio and they will also lead on worldwide brand development, licensing and retail services including their own IP Paddington Bear, with their CEO Francoise Guyonnet continuing to be

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672-1086: A majority stake in Munich-based producer and distributor Tandem Productions , marking the company's first major move into television production. StudioCanal would later buy out the company's remaining shares in May 2020. In July 2012, StudioCanal announced that they've made a deal with Australian & New Zealans cinema chain Hoyts to acquire the latter's independent film distribution division Hoyts Distribution as their third expansion, marking StudioCanal's first acquisition outside of Europe with StudioCanal giving opportunities to make their productions in Australia and Hoyts Distribution CEO Robert Slaviero will continue to workthe acquired Australian company StudioCanal. A year later in April 2013, StudioCanal announced that they've rebranded their Australian division Hoyts Distribution under

728-415: A pairing of producers with writers , where they develop a "take", a basic story idea that utilizes the concept given by studio executives. Often it is a competition with several pairings meeting with studio executives and "pitching" their "take". Very few writing jobs are from original ideas brought to studios by producers or writers. Perhaps one movie a year will be a "spec" script that was purchased. Once

784-575: A result, the company's library is one of the largest in the world. As of 2024 the company holds more than 9,000 titles. StudioCanal owns the libraries of the following companies: StudioCanal currently owns the rights to over 30 television series, mostly produced by TANDEM Productions and Red Production Company , including The Avengers , Rambo: The Force of Freedom , Paranoid , Public Eye , Crazyhead , Take Two , Wanted Dead or Alive , The Adventures of Paddington (2019), and international rights to The Big Valley Outside France ,

840-601: A sequel. They will additionally acquire a completed and independently financed and produced film. Such notable examples are Little Miss Sunshine , The English Patient , and Roma . Studios hold general meetings with producers and screenwriters about original story ideas. "In my decade working as a writer, I knew of only a few that were sold and fewer that made it to the screen," relays writer Wayne Powers. Alan Watt, writer-director and Founder of The LA Writer's Lab confirmed that completed original screenplays, referred to as "specs", make big news when they sell, but these make up

896-418: A typical film run is closer to 5 weekends. Further earnings result from pay television purchases, foreign market purchases and DVD sales to establish worldwide distribution gross of a film. Once a screenplay is "green-lit", directors and actors are attached and the film proceeds into the pre-production stage, although sometimes development and pre-production stages will overlap. Projects which fail to obtain

952-445: A very small portion of movies that are ultimately given the green light to be produced by the president of a studio. The executives return from the retreat with fairly well-established instructions. They spread these concepts through the industry community, especially to producers they have deals with (traditional studios will have those producers in offices on their lots). Also, agents for screenwriters are made aware. This results in

1008-479: Is customary for the production office to arrange a wrap party , to thank all the cast and crew for their efforts. For the production phase on live-action films , synchronizing work schedules of key cast and crew members is very important. For many scenes, several cast members and many crew members must be physically present at the same place at the same time (and bankable stars may need to rush from one project to another). Animated films have different workflow at

1064-454: Is drawn up to plan expenditures for the film. For major productions, insurance is procured to protect against accidents. Pre-production also includes working out the shoot location and casting process. The Producer hires a Line Manager or a Production Manager to create the schedule and budget for the film. The nature of the film, and the budget, determine the size and type of crew used during filmmaking. Many Hollywood blockbusters employ

1120-404: Is the film distributor who at an early stage attempts to choose a slate of concepts that are likely to have market appeal and find potential financial success. Hollywood distributors consider factors such as the film genre , the target audience and assumed audience, the historical success of similar films, the actors who might appear in the film, and potential directors. All these factors imply

1176-463: Is up!" to inform everyone that a take is about to be recorded, and then "quiet, everyone!" Once everyone is ready to shoot, the AD calls "roll sound" (if the take involves sound), and the production sound mixer will start their equipment, record a verbal slate of the take's information, and announce "sound speed", or just "speed", when they are ready. The AD follows with "roll camera", answered by "speed!" by

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1232-931: The British Isles , Australia , New Zealand and Germany , StudioCanal does not have a formal distribution unit per se , instead relying on other distribution studios and home video distributors to handle their titles. In North America for example, The Criterion Collection , Rialto Pictures , Lionsgate Home Entertainment , Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (for the Embassy catalog), Universal Pictures (for co-productions), Shout! Studios and Kino Lorber distribute StudioCanal's back catalogue on DVD and Blu-ray Disc (in addition, Anchor Bay Entertainment and Image Entertainment previously owned several of their titles). Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has handled distribution of StudioCanal/Hoyts Distribution films in Australia and New Zealand on DVD and Blu-ray since early 2013. From

1288-438: The film editor reviewing the footage with the director and assembling the film out of selected takes. The production sound (dialogue) is also edited; music tracks and songs are composed and recorded if a film is intended to have a score; sound effects are designed and recorded. Any computer-generated visual effects are digitally added by an artist . Finally, all sound elements are mixed down into "stems", which are synchronized to

1344-432: The internet has allowed for the relatively inexpensive distribution of independent films on websites such as YouTube . As a result, several companies have emerged to assist filmmakers in getting independent movies seen and sold via mainstream internet marketplaces, often adjacent to popular Hollywood titles. With internet movie distribution, independent filmmakers who choose to forego a traditional distribution deal now have

1400-481: The property master , script supervisor , assistant directors, stills photographer , picture editor , and sound editors . These are the most common roles in filmmaking; the production office will be free to create any unique blend of roles to suit the various responsibilities needed during the production of a film. Communication is key between the location, set, office, production company, distributors and all other parties involved. A typical day shooting begins with

1456-584: The 1990s to early 2000s, Warner Home Video formerly handled distribution of select StudioCanal titles through the Canal+ Image label in the United Kingdom on VHS and DVD until 2006 when StudioCanal opened its own distribution unit in the UK, with titles distributed through Optimum Releasing (via Universal Pictures Home Entertainment from 2006 to 2007 and Elevation Sales since 2007). StudioCanal had

1512-706: The American major studios by building its own library that the pay-TV channel could use on their own channels and internationally. By December 1990, Canal+ Productions rebranded to Le Studio Canal+, and released its first film, The Double Life of Veronique , by Krzysztof Kieslowski . By the early 1990s, it became apparent that Canal+ was a major contributor to the French film industry , with its obligation to spend 10% of its income on French-made films, as well as being Europe's largest buyer of American film rights. Canal+ also made investments in other companies. In 1991 it bought

1568-454: The CEO of the renamed division. Anna Marsh was CEO of Studiocanal in 2019 until October 2022, when she was Deputy CEO of Canal+ Group. She had joined Studiocanal in 2008, and been formerly held positions such as head of international sales and managing director of StudioCanal UK . StudioCanal acquired film libraries from studios that either became defunct or had merged with it over the years; as

1624-830: The European home video distribution rights to 550 titles from the Miramax library from 2011 to 2020, when ViacomCBS bought a minority stake in Miramax. On 13 October 2021, StudioCanal announced that its global distribution deal with Universal would expire in January 2022. Later that year, they started distributing their home media releases through Plaion Pictures in Germany. In early 2024, they started distributing their home media releases in France through ESC Distribution. Film production Although filmmaking originally involved

1680-573: The First Draft. Preliminary discussions are minimal with studio executives but might be quite detailed with the producer. Next, a screenwriter writes a screenplay over a period of several months, or however long it takes. Deadlines are in their contracts but there is no pressure to adhere to them. Again, every writer's process and speed vary. The screenwriter may rewrite the script several times to improve dramatization, clarity, structure, characters, dialogue, and overall style. Script Coverage,

1736-600: The StudioCanal banner. In December 2013, StudioCanal announced its acquisition of a majority stake in the British independent TV production company Red Production Company , marking StudioCanal's entry into the UK television drama production industry. In September 2014, StudioCanal announced a first-look deal with the newly established American entertainment company The Picture Company , founded by former Silver Pictures employees Andrew Rona and Alex Heinemann. The deal

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1792-460: The United Kingdom, releasing their British film and television catalogue, including the EMI Films library, through the newly acquired company. A year later, Optimum Home Entertainment and Lionsgate UK acquired Elevation Sales, a home entertainment sales and distribution company. In January 2008, StudioCanal announced that they've entered their second expansion into the international market with

1848-477: The ability to reach global audiences. Warner Sogefilms Warner Sogefilms was a film distribution label in Spain active from 1998 to 2005. It was created in January 1998 as a joint venture of Sogecable (Prisa) and Warner Bros. , bringing the demise of Sogepaq Distribución (a previous joint venture of Prisa and Polygram ) and Warner Española (the former Spanish subsidiary of Warner Bros.). It took

1904-568: The acquisition of German-based film independent distributor Kinowelt , which had distributed StudioCanal's films there until then, marking a re-entry for StudioCanal into the German market. Kinowelt also owned the DVD label Arthaus . Both Optimum Releasing and Kinowelt have since been merged into StudioCanal and both were rebranded as StudioCanal UK and StudioCanal GmbH respectively. In January 2012, StudioCanal expanded its European operations by acquiring

1960-548: The advent of home video in the late 1970s, most major films have followed a pattern of having several distinct release windows. A film may first be released to a few select cinemas , or if it tests well enough , may go directly into wide release . Next, it is released, normally at different times several weeks (or months) apart, into different market segments like rental , retail , pay-per-view , in-flight entertainment , cable television , satellite television , or free-to-air broadcast television. The distribution rights for

2016-409: The camera and sound stop recording. The script supervisor will note any continuity issues, and the sound and camera teams log technical notes for the take on their respective report sheets. If the director decides additional takes are required, the whole process repeats. Once satisfied, the crew moves on to the next camera angle or "setup", until the whole scene is "covered." When shooting is finished for

2072-419: The camera operator once the camera is recording. The clapper loader , who is already in front of the camera with the clapperboard , calls "marker!" and slaps it shut. If the take involves extras or background action, the AD will cue them ("action background!"), and last is the director, telling the actors "action!". The AD may echo "action" louder on large sets. A take is over when the director calls "Cut!" and

2128-473: The company has 14 production companies in Europe and the US, and holds around 9,000 titles in its extensive film library. On 1 January 1987, Canal+ Productions was founded as a cinema film co-production subsidiary of the cable channel which had been established in November 1984, Canal+ . The subscription channel was co-founded by André Rousselet and Pierre Lescure . This was to reduce Canal+'s dependence on

2184-424: The crew arriving on the set/location by their call time. Actors usually have their own separate call times. Since set construction, dressing and lighting can take many hours or even days, they are often set up in advance. The grip , electric and production design crews are typically a step ahead of the camera and sound departments: for efficiency's sake, while a scene is being filmed, they are already preparing

2240-628: The development process proceeds from there and how much detail a writer returns to the studio to divulge before beginning writing can vary greatly. Screenwriters are often protected by the union, the Writers Guild of America , or WGA. The WGA allows a screenwriter to contract for One Draft, One Revision, and One Polish. Bob Eisle, Writer and Member of the Guild Board, states, "Additional writing requires an extension of contracts and payment for additional work". They are paid 80% of their fee after

2296-403: The film are also usually sold for worldwide distribution. The distributor and the production company share profits and manage losses. Filmmaking also takes place outside of the mainstream and is commonly called independent filmmaking . Since the introduction of DV technology, the means of production have become more democratized and economically viable. Filmmakers can conceivably shoot and edit

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2352-622: The film is advertised and promoted . A B-roll clip may be released to the press based on raw footage shot for a "making of" documentary, which may include making-of clips as well as on-set interviews separate from those of the production company or distributor. For major films, key personnel are often contractually required to participate in promotional tours in which they appear at premieres and festivals and sit for interviews with many TV, print, and online journalists. The largest productions may require more than one promotional tour, in order to rejuvenate audience demand at each release window. Since

2408-455: The film is carefully designed and planned. This is the phase where one would narrow down all the options of the production. It is where all the planning takes place before the camera rolls and sets the overall vision of the project. The production company is created and a production office established. The film is pre-visualized by the director and may be storyboarded with the help of illustrators and concept artists . A production budget

2464-586: The filmmaking and liabilities incurred during the filmmaking over the time period from early development through the management of profits and losses after distribution under conditions of different degrees of uncertainty and risk. The practical aspects of filmmaking finance can also be defined as the science of the money management of all phases involved in filmmaking. Film finance aims to price assets based on their risk level and their expected rate of return based upon anticipated profits and protection against losses. In pre-production, every step of actually creating

2520-486: The images on the screen, and the film is fully completed ("locked"). Distribution is the last stage, where the film is released in movie theaters or, occasionally, directly to consumer media ( VHS , VCD , DVD , Blu-ray ) or direct download from a digital media provider. The film is duplicated as required (either onto film or hard disk drives ) and distributed in cinemas for exhibition (screening). Press kits, posters, and other advertising materials are published, and

2576-483: The latter their own distribution division; the joint venture BAC Distribution, majority owned by StudioCanal, would shut down and revert to BAC Majestic. However, staff departures and its parent Vivendi Universal's debt forced StudioCanal to gradually sell off their interests in these companies: Three years later, StudioCanal announced that they're re-entered the international market by acquiring film distributor Optimum Releasing in May 2006 as their first expansion into

2632-479: The legal form of Economic Interest Grouping (AIE). 1998 Warner Sogefilms titles include Barrio , The Miracle of P. Tinto , and The Stolen Years . It split up in 2005. Already in liquidation, Warner Sogefilms was handed a €2.4 million fine by the CNMC for having coordinated with other film majors to standardize their commercial policies. This article about a film production company or film distributor

2688-572: The media and real life, as well as many other sources, to determine their yearly agenda. For example, in a year when action is popular, they may wish to explore that topic in one or more movies. Sometimes, they purchase the rights to articles, bestselling novels, plays , the remaking of older films , stories with some basis in real life through a person or event, a video game , fairy tale , comic book , graphic novel . Likewise, research through surveys may inform their decisions. They may have had blockbusters from their previous year and wish to explore

2744-441: The next one. While the crew prepares their equipment, the actors do their costumes and attend the hair and make-up departments. The actors rehearse the script and blocking with the director, and the camera and sound crews rehearse with them and make final tweaks. Finally, the action is shot in as many takes as the director wishes. Most American productions follow a specific procedure: The assistant director (AD) calls "picture

2800-416: The next shooting day. Later on, the director, producer, other department heads, and, sometimes, the cast, may gather to watch that day or yesterday's footage, called dailies , and review their work. With workdays often lasting fourteen or eighteen hours in remote locations, film production tends to create a team spirit . When the entire film is "in the can", or in the completion of the production phase, it

2856-784: The producer and writer have sold their approach to the desired subject matter, they begin to work. However, many writers and producers usually pass before a particular concept is realized in a way that is awarded a green light to production. Production of Unforgiven , which earned Oscars for its Director/Star Clint Eastwood , as well as its screenwriter, David Webb Peoples, required fifteen years. Powers related that The Italian Job took approximately eight years from concept to screen, which, as Powers added, "is average." And most concepts turned into paid screenplays wind up gathering dust on some executive's shelf, never to see production. Writers have different styles and creative processes; some have stronger track records than others. Because of this, how

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2912-461: The production phase, in that voice actors can record their takes in the recording studio at different times and may not see one another until the film's premiere. Animated films also have different crew, since most physical live-action tasks are either unnecessary or are simulated by various types of animators . This stage is usually thought of as starting when principal photography ends, but they may overlap. The bulk of post-production consists of

2968-439: The scene, the assistant director declares a "wrap" or "moving on", and the crew will "strike", or dismantle, the set for that scene. At the end of the day, the director approves the next day's shooting schedule and a daily progress report is sent to the production office. This includes the report sheets from continuity, sound, and camera teams. Call sheets are distributed to the cast and crew to tell them when and where to turn up

3024-596: The use of film , most film productions are now digital . Today, filmmaking refers to the process of crafting an audio-visual story commercially for distribution or broadcast. Film production consists of five major stages: The development stage contains both general and specific components. Each film studio has a yearly retreat where their top creative executives meet and interact on a variety of areas and topics they wish to explore through collaborations with producers and screenwriters, and then ultimately, directors , actors, and actresses. They choose trending topics from

3080-770: Was extended in May 2023, with StudioCanal acquiring a minority stake in the company alongside a new five-year deal. In June 2016, StudioCanal acquired the intellectual rights to the Paddington Bear brand, along with the Copyrights Group, the franchise's merchandise licensing agent. StudioCanal then announced that it would be producing three more Paddington films, including a show on the Nick Jr. Channel in 2020. In July 2021, StudioCanal announced its acquisition of German production company Lailaps Films. In June 2022, StudioCanal announced that it had acquired

3136-829: Was known as either Le Studio Canal+ or simply Canal+. Other films the company financed include U-571 , Bully , and Bridget Jones's Diary . StudioCanal also funded the last third of David Lynch 's film Mulholland Drive . StudioCanal also financed French-language films, such as Brotherhood of the Wolf (which became the sixth-highest-grossing French-language film of all time in the United States) and Intimate Strangers . Films such as Terminator 2: Judgment Day which grossed US$ 519 million, Basic Instinct which grossed US$ 352 million and The Tourist which grossed US$ 278 million worldwide, have been big box-office hits for StudioCanal. In January 1996, Le Studio Canal+ made

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