Budget Essay

Different types of films are moulded and differ as a result of budget. For example if a film is low budget, there is not likely to be 'big name' actors throughout the film and the producers are not likely to be 'big name' either. Three examples of budgets that differ are 'Dark Knight', 'Hot Fuzz' and 'This is England'. The very high budget film is Dark knight, with a budget of $185 million. Following this is a mid budget film, Hot fuzz with a budget of $8m. And tailing the order with a very low budget is This is England.
The production companies involved re-iterate the budgets, with Dark Knight being produced with Legendary Pictures, Syncopy Films, DC comics and Warner Bros. Pictures. All of these are massive production companies for the simple reason, the film could afford these major companies to help make the film. Production companies in Hot Fuzz are Studio Canal, Working Title, Films and Big Talk Productions. All of these production companies are small but successful ones, not worldwide and ultimately well known but well equipped enough to support the film strongly. Especially Working title, with Universal owning 60% of the company, and being based in the USA.The reason for this is because the film has a substantial amount of money backing it to have interest from the successful companies, and a fair number of them at that. This is England only had two production companies, Film Four and Warp films. Because of it low budget, the film could not afford to be produced by a major company, or multiple companies at that.
The Director and Producers for Dark Knight are successful and well known people in their profession and worldwide, and they were before the film was released and produced. Director, Christopher Nolan and the Producers, Himself, Charles Roven and Emma Thomas. Hot Fuzz has a less star studded board of Producers, but The Director Edgar Wright is a well known director, taking charge of 4 well known films prior to Hot fuzz. The reason for there not being so many stars is that the budget has enough money for certain areas of production to really excel, but not all areas. This is England only had one Producer and Director, both of whom were not well known at all before the film was released and made. This is because the budget could only allow this.
The actors in This is England are all up and coming, not well known actors that are looking for a big role in a film to make a break. The film did not need big name roles, it needed normal, common people to play the roles of everyday characters in England at that time. Also the film could not support a 'big name' actor. Hot Fuzz on the other hand has well known and respected comedic actors that really enhance the film and budgeting has been used to effect. Similarly in Dark Knight, many big name actors are in the cast which gives it a Hollywood factor, which budgeting easily covers.
Because of budgeting in Dark Knight, many scripts were released in different forms. A comic book, story and screenplay each had two professionals working on them for better sales and income from the film. Hot Fuzz and This is England Only have writers that are the directors.
The technology used in the different films is the big difference that leaks through the films and differs them in terms of budget. In This is England not much technology is used at all, and instead of using sets, locations were used to save cost. Hot Fuzz however used special effects, scenes such as murder scenes, pubs, offices, police stations and houses as sets because it could afford to use these things within it because budget is wider stretched. Dark Knight used endless amounts of technology throughout, including frequent special effects and sound effects. This enhances the film and they are easily able to cover this within the budget.
marketing is a big part of budget and involves using other companies to sell the film to the public. This is England only uses simple methods such as posters, adverts and trailers because of low budget, but Hot Fuzz and Dark Knight used action figures for Dark knight, magazine ads, Internet ads, T.V ads, Trailers that differed and extended with release dates, film festivals etc.
All of these factors are highly affected by budget. The simple fact stands the higher the budget of the film, the more successful and bigger names will be involved, with higher marketing opportunities.