So far I have been through all of the 'big six' film institutions, but of course there are many more which much be addressed. These smaller institutions tend to be more specialised, and instead of competing with the big six, rely on their level of story telling and their film making techniques in order to get money and acclaim. They are known collectively as the 'mini-majors'. Mirimax Films especially tend to make a lot of films that win awards at festivals and are generally more about art than money, however they have recently been taken over by Lionsgate so do not count. Here are a few of the smaller institutions who are still independent:
- Dreamworks: Dreamworks tend to make films aimed at a younger audience, and have done very well in this field. Dreamworks films include: 'How to train your dragon', 'Shrek', 'Kung Fu Panda', 'Madagascar', 'Prince of Egypt' and many more!
- Lionsgate Entertainment: In recent years Lionsgate have started to have to join together with bigger companies in order to get the money needed to make films, but they still are making very strong, high grossing films. This is due to the fact that they specialise in making action films, or films with violence, generally aimed at a male audience. Their films include: 'The Hunger Games', 'Saw', '3:10 to Yuma', 'Rambo', 'Transporter', 'American Psycho' and more!
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer: MGM have become bankrupt in recent years, and so haven't really been releasing anything, although they have had involvement in 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' and 'Skyfall', which they believe will restore their funds. They tend to make a wide range of films, and follow what is in trend at the time. MGM films include: 'Rocky', 'Stormbreaker', 'Rescue Dawn', 'The Pink Panther', 'Nanny McPhee', 'the James Bond Franchise' and much more!
- Relativity Media: Relativity media at the moment is very low-key, seeming as it was only founded in 2004, and is still growing. In a few years time, however, they may be big players in Hollywood, and they may make 'the big six', the 'big seven'! As of yet, they have a fair bit of growing, and they have not made many films that have received great critical acclaim. Their films include: 'Season of the Witch', 'Immortals', 'Limitless', 'Haywire', 'The Raven', 'House at the End of the Street', 'Machine Gun Preacher', 'Mirror mirror' and not much more!
The Weinstein Company: The formation of the Weinstein Company is an odd one, as they actually are a faction that separated off Disney. The founders used to work for Miramax which they had also founded, which was owned by Disney, and then they decided to turn back to their independent film making and form The Weinstein Company. It is also a very recent company; only formed in 2005, but as with Relativity Media, I think that it is aiming high. The work that it has done already is excellent - producing a few best picture nominees and winners already! The Weinstein Company seems to be one of the few institutions that seem to be aiming for the art in film, rather than just the money, as Miramax was originally meant for that, and after stumbling over Disney, the founders have got back on their feet again, and are ready to progress the film industry. It will be institutions like this that will move the film industry forward. Weinstein films include: 'The King's Speech', 'A Single Man', 'The Master', 'The Artist', 'The Fighter', 'The Iron Lady', 'Coriolanus', 'Lawless', 'Nowhere Boy', 'Submarine' and a fair few more!
Of course there are more film institutions out there, but they are not accepted as big as these ones. The ones mentioned here are the 'official mini-majors', but of course there are a lot more, and to list them all would take forever, and moreover be impossible!
