Working Title Research.

Working Title was formed in 1984 by Tim Bevan and Sarah Radclyffe (who left in 1992 and Eric Fellner became co-chairman with Tim Bevan.)
Working Title's first known film is 'My Beautiful Laundrette.' in 1985 which was nominated for an Oscar.
Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner are the current co-chairmen of Working Title and they are considered to be vital to the film industry as they have successfully managed to make Working Title an international brand as well as the most successful British production company ever.
Universal now own part of Working Title as Universal owns PolyGram. PolyGram was arguably the foundation for Working Title films in the American Film industry as without its investment in the distribution rights in Working Title films, the WT franchise would of never have been able to break the ice in the American film industry. This can be seen with the success of films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994 Mike Newell). Four Weddings and a Funeral had a budget of $4.5 million and grossed $52,700,832 (USA) and grossed £25,532,239 (UK) and finally $245,700,832 (worldwide).
Universal have invested over $2bn into WT over the last 10 years and WT are allowed to make any film with a budget up to $35million before consultation with NBCUniversal.
Les Miserables (2012, won 3 oscars), The Theory of Everything (2014, Eddie Redmayne won an oscar for best actor), Atonement (2007 won an oscar)
Most notable WT films include: Love Actually, Notting Hill, Bridget Jones Diary, Four Weddings and a Funeral, About a Boy, Fargo, Mr Bean films, O Brother, Where art Thou?, The Big Lebowski, Hot Fuzz, Sean of the Dead, World's End, Attack the Block, Atonement, Pride and Prejuidice, Senna, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Les Miserables.
WT have managed to have a successful relationships with key figures in the world of film. For example, their relationship with the Coen Brothers and Richard Curtis contributed to a large part of WT success. Furthermore, their co-productions with Canal+ means that NBCUniversal can distribute Working Title films in France.
WT usually produce about 6 films per year in which they tend to fall into the Drama genre with many having aspects of romance and a sense of reality to them.
The 4 most recent WT films are: The Theory of Everything, About Time, Rush and Closed Circuit. The significance of these films are that they are all Drama genre.

Representation in Working Title Films.

Working Title films have a real strong sense of identity. Is there such a thing as a Working Title British film? Absolutely.
Universal Pictures paid $1bn for 67% of the Working Title for a 10 year deal which has also been re-newed so Universal has invested $2bn. Working Title films have become a brand, the 'heinz baked beans of British films' everyone's preference and first choice.
Realism is one of the aspects which make Working Title films successful. Picturesque British locations which fits into the international ideology which the world views Britain as.
Working Title create relatable characters which add to the realism. The co-founders (Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner) of Working Title focus the films on character which the audience want to spend time with.
The storyline are also very relatable as well adding to the realism. They always have incongruent messages in their films which make their films so successful.
Heritage is a key feature of Working Title Films.
British humour- self deprecation. We enjoy mocking ourselves and all things comic.

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) written by Richard Curtis and directed by Mike Newell. Grossed over $200 million and an oscar nomination for best picture.
Location- Picturesque Church- Wedding in the countryside is what we associate with marriages in Britain.
Mise-en-secene: Three cars feature in the opening of the film: a rolls-royce, a mini and a land rover which are all icons of British Motor. The breakfast as well is a traditional english.
Swearing is extremely british as well as the british.
Characters: One of the houses a huge mansion with butlers and maids suggesting that this is the hook that the audience especially the american audience then the other household is disorganised, late and the realism.

Notting Hill (1999) mild-eccentricentity humour which is mildly quirky which is typical of a Richard Curtis film.

1. Mise-en-scene: the scene is packed up, living room and kitchen merged as one.