Ex_Machina - Research Task

Producer: This film was produced by the production pair Alex MacDonald and Allon Reich, who have previously worked together on projects including Dredd, 28 Weeks Later (MacDonald doing the previous instalment 28 Days Later too) and Never Let Me Go. Alex MacDonald also produced Trainspotting and Sunshine.

Director: This film was directed by first time director, Alex Garland, who has since directed Annihilation, coming out next year. The director also wrote the film, after previously writing on 28 Days Later, Sunshine and Dredd.


Production Companies: The film was produced collaboratively between Film 4 (a British film company owned by the Channel 4 corporation, responsible for films like Attack the Block, Frank and the Inbetweeners films) and DNA Films (a British film company co-owned by the producer Alex MacDonald, responsible for films like 28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later, Love Actually and Sunshine). 


Distributor: The film was distributed by Universal Studios, one of the Big 6 Film Companies.


Cast: The film had a small cast, including: Domhnall Gleeson, famous for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (both parts), Frank and Star Wars: The Force Awakens; Oscar Isaac, who went on to star in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and X-Men: Apocalypse; Alicia Vikander, famous for her role on Swedish TV, as well as The Man From U.N.C.L.E and Jason Bourne; Sonoya Mizuno, a relative newcomer, only appearing in Venus in Eros prior, but going on to star is Alleycats as well as next year's Annihilation and Beauty and the Beast; as well as Corey Johnson, who previously starred in Captain Phillips, Saving Private Ryan, The Bourne Ultimatum and Robert Shearman's Doctor Who episode, Dalek.


Budget: A small budget of $15 Million was given to the film.


Locations: The film was mostly filmed in Norway, notably in Valldal, Sognefjord and Briksdalen, as well as in Pinewood studios in the UK and Bloomberg Offices in London.


Technology: A variety of cameras were used in the film, including GoPro Hero 3s as well as Sony CineAlta F65s and Sony CineAlta PMQ-F55s (both with Cooke Xtal Express, Kowa Prominar or Angenieux Optimo lenses). It was also filmed digitally at 4K resolution. No greenscreen or motion-capture were used during filming, and all visual effects were added during post production, although there were only 800 VFX shots.


Number of Screens - Opening Weekend: During the official opening weekend, the film was shown on 1,255 screens in the USA, as well as roughly 100 screens in Europe. However, a week before its official release, it was screened on 4 screens at the South By Southwest Film Festival.


Number of Screens - Peak Number: On its 3rd Week, it peaked in the USA at 2,004 screens.


Box Office Figures: The film grossed $25.443 Million domestically in the US, with a $36.9 Million take in the global box office.