DNA Films Questions

Who were the co-founders of DNA Films?
DNA films was founded by Andrew MacDonald and Duncan Kenworthy, however Kenworthy was later replaced by Allon Reich as head of the studio.

When was the company founded?
The studio was founded in 1983.

Where is DNA based?
DNA Films is based in the UK, with the head office being in London.

How many films have DNA Films produced?
DNA Films have produced 21 films, one of which is now in post-production, awaiting its release next year.

What awards have DNA Films won?
DNA Films have won several awards for their films including 28 Days Later which won 6 awards (including the Saturn Award's Best Horror Film in 2003), Love Actually which won 9 awards (including the Empire Award for Best British Film), Notes on a Scandal which won 8 awards (including the British Independent Film Award for Best Screenplay), The Last King of Scotland which won 6 awards (including three BAFTAs, for Best British Film, Best Actor for Forest Whitaker and Best Adapted Screenplay), Sunshine which won a single award (being the BIFA for Best Technical Achievement in 2007), Never Let Me Go which won 8 awards (including the Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Overlooked Film) and Ex_Machina which won 19 Awards (including an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects).



How many full time staff does DNA Films employ?
There are three main full time staff at DNA Films, the heads of Andrew MacDonald and Allon Reich, as well as their secretary Joanne Ruth Smith.

List 5 box-office hits that DNA Films have made:
- 28 Days Later (2002) - Making $84.6 Million from its $8 Million budget
- Love Actually (2003) - Making $246.9 Million from its $45 Million budget
- The Last King of Scotland (2006) - Making $48.4 Million from its $6 Million budget
- 28 Weeks Later (2007) - Making $64.2 Million from its $15 Million budget
- Ex_Machina (2014) - Making $36.9 Million from its $15 Million budget

List 5 flops that DNA Films has made:
- The Parole Officer (2001) - Only making $3.976 Million on a $6 Million budget
- Sunshine (2007) - Only making $32 Million on a $40 Million budget
- Amelia (2009) - Only making $19.6 Million on a $40 Million budget
- Never Let Me Go (2010) - Only making $9.5 Million on a $15 Million budget
- Dredd (2012) - Only making $41.5 Million on a $45 Million budget

What is Danny Boyle's relationship with DNA Films?
Danny Boyle is a friend and collaborator with DNA Films, with them working together of 28 Days Later, Sunshine, 28 Weeks Later and T2: Trainspotting.

List 3 famous directors that DNA Films have worked?
- Danny Boyle
- Richard Curtis
- Mark Romanek (although famous for directing Music Videos)

List 5 famous actors who have starred in films made by DNA Films?
- Andrew Garfield
- Ewan McGreggor
- Karl Urban
- Keira Knightley
- Alan Rickman

What has been DNA Films highest grossing film?
Love Actually was their highest grossing film, with the box office take of $246.9.

What Hollywood studios have DNA Films worked with?
DNA films have previously worked with members of the big six, who helped to distribute films, with 20th Century Fox distributing 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later (through their division, Fox Searchlight) as well as Universal, who distributed Love Actually.

List two of DNA Films big blockbuster films and find out their budgets:
- Dredd (2012) - $45 Million
- Sunshine (2007) - $40 Million

What film is DNA Films most famous for?
Arguably, DNA Films most famous film is 28 Days Later.


What other genres do DNA Films films like to make?
DNA Films mostly make smaller, independent films, with the genres including drama, thriller, romance, sci-fi, action and historical.

Who have DNA Films entered into a partnership with for DNA TV Limited?
DNA TV Limited is their television division with is made in collaboration with the Fox Network Group (division of 21st Century Fox, one of the big six).

What information can you find out about DNA Films through their web page?
Contact information as well as a description of their collaboration with FOX for their TV division.

Ex_Machina - Review

Alex Garner's Ex_Machina was released on January 21st 2015, starring the talents of Domnhall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac and Alicia Vikander. The film also boasts the production pair of Alex MacDonald and Allon Reich, previously working together on Dredd, 28 Weeks Later and Never Let Me Go. The film follows Caleb (Domnhall Gleeson) as he wins a competition to spend a week with the entrepreneur, and boss of his company, Nathan (Oscar Isaac), that is until he uncovers the real reason for his visit, to perform a Turing Test on the first AI, Ava (Alicia Vikander).

Ex_Machina shows a fantastic amalgamation of the thriller, drama, terrestrial sci-fi and horror genre, with a provocative, claustrophobic and tense story revolving around the creation of an AI and the possible moral implications of this. The horror-like claustrophobia is fantastically built up, with its tiny cast (with three main stars, two supporting cast and a few unnamed appearances), the amazing set design (with many white and silver corridors) and the eerie, gorgeous music. The talent of the cast shines through in this, with Oscar Isaac playing the cocky, paranoid but depressed entrepreneur excellently, especially with his mastery over being able to flip between rage, excitement and sadness so smoothly but quickly. Domnhall Gleeson, whilst not showing the best performance, puts in a good performance as the intelligent but irrational Caleb, making his feelings for Ava seem real. However, without the fantastic acting of Alicia Vikander, who balanced robotic movements with human emotion. The film, despite its low $15 Million budget, demonstrates fantastic special effects with the design of Ava, making it look realistic in a fantastical manner. The film also shows fantastic stylized cinematography, which makes the film a pleasure to watch.

The story is expertly crafted, with mystery and twists woven through it, with Caleb's indecision of whether to trust Nathan or Ava along the watcher to be engaged in the plot more deeply. It also raises many moral questions of whether an AI would have the same rights as a human as well as a god vs creation theme running through. These moral elements were great additions and, unlike other provocative films, really discretely placed, so not to feel too forced. However, despite this, there are a few plot holes and continuity errors, most notably being Corey Johnson's helicopter pilot taking Ava away, no questions asked, as well as Ava taking skin, which is considerably different in skin tone, and it looking seamless on her. Yet, these plot holes are not hard to overlook. The ending is a special one, coming unexpectedly, mixing hope with despair to show the fates of the future for the characters in another moral dilema of if these new robots will replace us. 

Overall, the film is amazing, with a great cast, fantastic set design, music and effects, as well as an intriguing plot with great messages and morals. Despite a few missteps in the plot, this is almost a flawless movie, which both looks and feels great.

The film gets a strong 9/10.

 

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.