Warp Films;
Warp Films is an independent Uk film production company. It is based in Sheffield and London, UK, with a further office in Melbourne, Australia.
- Originally founded by Warp Records founding partner Rob Mitchell and Steve Beckett.
- Created initially with financial support from NESTA, with a remit to produce a number of short films.
- After the passing of Rob Mitchell in 2001, the company continued to run with the help of new partner Mark Herbert ( A sheffield friend of Beckett's)who had just produced the critically acclaimed first series of Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights on Channel 4.
- The first film released by Warp was Chris Morris' 'My Wrongs' in shot in 2002.
- My Wrongs won the BAFTA for best short in 2003, and was the first short film on British DVD on the market in the UK.
- Star of My Wrongs Paddy Considine, Herbert met with director Shane Meadows and asked them to work together and come up with an idea for a film. Mark Herbert worked on the funding, and resulted in Warps first feature release 'Dead Man's Shoes' in 2004, directed by Shane Meadows.
- The film was shot with a tight budget in 22 days, produced from Warp Film's Sheffield office - A shed in Herbert's garden at the time. The film recieved a BAFTA nomination, a record eight independent British film awards, amongst many other recognised nominations and awards. Receiving strong critical acclaim, now hailed as a landmark in British film.
- Rubber Johnny (2005); The experimental 44 page book and short film produced by Warp still continue to shock and amaze audiences, containing music from Warp Records artist Aphex Twin. Director of Rubber Johnny was Chris Cunningham.
- The Companies biggest success to date is 'This Is England'; The story of Shaun who is adopted by a local crew of Skinheads after his father is killed in the Falklands. It has gained many awards and nominations since its release in 2007, including the BAFTA for Best British Film, and in the same year Warp received it's third BAFTA for 'Dog Altogether'Paddy Considine's directional debut, winning the Best Short Film Award.
- Three months after This Is England released in cinemas, Warp's third feature film, 'Grow Your Own', was released by Pathe. This film was Warp's first collaboration with BBC Films. The film was directed by Richard Laxton, written by Frank Cottrell Boyce and Carl Hunter, and produced by Barry Ryan for Warp Films.
- In 2004, Warp Films made a significant expansion its capacity. Robin Gutch joined Mark Herbert and Barry Ryan to devise the Warp bid for the Low Budget Film Scheme tender put out by Film4 and UK Film Council. The Warp bid was backed by Optimum Releasing, Screen Yorkshire and EM Media. Warp won the Tender against competition and Warp X was formally set up in 2005 as a low-budget digital 'studio' to develop and produce films with focus on new talent and commercial potential.
- In total Warp Films and there subsidiary Warp X were nominated for 18 British Independent Film awards, for their films Tyrannosaur, Kill List and Submarine.
- Warp Films successfully ran a crowd-funding campaign to fund four short films shot at the All Tomorrow's Parties music festival by Vincent Moon, using the website Kickstarter.com. The project reached its funding goal on 15th October and the films are currently in post-production.
- Warp Films is currently developing several television products with Channel 4, the BBC and Sky. Warp Films' development slate currently includes projects with Shane Meadows, Chris Morris, Tony Grisoni, Paul Fraser, and Gregory Burke amongst others.
- The company celebrated it's 10th birthday in September of this year.
Films;
- This Is England;
Director: Shane Meadows
Producer: Mark Herbert
Writers: Paddy Considine, Shane Meadows
Budget: £1,500,000 (Estimate)
Opening Weekend: £207,676 (UK) (29 April 2007) (62 Screens)
Total Gross: £327,919
- Submarine;
Director: Richard Ayoade
Producer: Ben Stiller, Mark Herbert, Andy Stebbing
Writer: Richard Ayoade
Budget: £1,200,000
Opening Weekend: £244,476 (UK) (20 March 2011) (60 Screens)
Total Gross: $466,702 (USA) (14 August 2011)
- Kill List;
Director: Ben Wheatly
Producer: Clair Jones, Andy Starke
Writer: Ben Wheatly, Amy Jump
Budget: £500,000
Opening Weekend:$9,838 (USA) (5 February 2012) (2 Screens)
Total Gross: $26,297 (USA) (4 March 2012)
- Donkey Punch;
Director: Oliver Blackburn
Producer: Mark Herbert, Angus Lamont
Writer: David Bloom, Oliver Blackburn
Budget: £500,000
Opening Weekend:£144,953 (UK) (20 July 2008) (155 Screens)
Total Gross: £448,465
