american independent

Jenny, Amy and Rasel

• Released on 23rd September 1994

• It’s producer is Castle Rock Entertainment, which is independent, but this company is owned by Time Warner Inc. which is an

American multinational media corporation which has branches such as Warner Brothers (Conglomerate) This studio is a subsidiary of Warner

Bros. This meant that although the film seemed like an independent, but in reality it was an ‘indiewood’ and had the financial backing of Warner

Brothers.

• The inclusion of Morgan Freeman was key in establishing the film’s long term success.

• It’s budget was $25 million

• It made $28,341,469 in the box office

• The Shawshank Redemption received a limited release on September 23, 1994 in North America. During its opening weekend, the film earned

$727,000. It received a wide release on October 14, 1994, earning an extra $2.4m.It was later re-released in February 1995, during the Oscar season,

and made an additional $9 million.

PRODUCTION

• It was distributed by Columbia Pictures (US theatrical, which is owned by Sony) and Rank Organisation (UK, the largest

and most vertically integrated film company in Britain, owning production, distribution and exhibition facilities.)

• This played a key role in allowing the film to ignore its box office bomb and make a significant profit through DVD sales

and on TV.

• The film also had a quiet promotional campaign, probably due to the rivalry with Forrest Gump, which was also released

at the same time.

• It received brilliant film reviews, “90% on Rotten Tomatoes, 9.3/10 IMDb.” The highest ever rating.

• It has a Facebook page, an official website, an official trailer, and it’s poster relied on the star’s faces (Morgan Freeman,

Tim Robbins)

DISTRIBUTION

DISTRIBUTION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v

=6hB3S9bIaco

• Rank Organisation owned Odeon cinemas at the time

• Limited release on September 23, 1994 in North America In 33 theatres

• Wide release on October 14, 1994, expanding to a total of 944 theaters.

• The film left theaters in late November 1994, after 10 weeks

• It was later re-released in February 1995, during the Oscar season

• making it the number 51 highest grossing film of 1994 and the number 21 highest grossing R-rated film of 1994

• Despite its disappointing box office return, Warner Bros. shipped 320,000 rental video copies throughout the United States, and it became one of the top

rented films of 1995

• While it was showing at cinemas, Forrest Gump, Pulp Fiction and Jurassic Park was also screened so it was understandable that the film bombed.

• It is now widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time.

EXHIBITION

• Garden State

• American Splendor

• American History X

• Pulp Fiction

• Reservoir Dogs

• Lost in Translation

• Mean Streets

• Clerks

• Night of the Living Dead

• The Big Lebowski

OTHER AMERICAN

INDEPENDENT FILMS