TTSS PRODUCTION RESEARCH

Here is some background research regarding the production stage of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (our film of reference). This is important to know as we need to consider the what a company does such as Working Title prior to the movies release. 

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a recent film made by Working Title. Working Title had recently divulged their ambition to engulf a wider audience, enabling their films to reach a larger market and gain reach of a global standpoint. As a result to this, they have two major distributors, one based in the UK and the other in the US. StudioCanal UK (UK) and Focus Features (US). The production companies that had taken part in making this film are Working Title Films and StudioCanal.

Thomas Alfredson, a Swedish film director, is the one responsible for directing this film. He is internationally best known for the vampire thriller movie Let the Right One In (2009). Alfredson had received a Guldbagge award for best directing for both his 2005 Four Shades of Brown and the 2009 Let the Right One In.

The key people in the production of this movie lay mainly within the cast. Actors such as Gary Oldman and Colin Firth really supports Working Title’s notion to reach a global audience. These two actors are well renown and academy award winners in their credentials, which automatically heightens the status of the movie. Colin Firth and especially Gary Oldman have successfully broken through into the industry globally.

Peter Morgan initiated the project when he wrote a draft of the screenplay, which he offered to Working Title Films to produce. Morgan dropped out as the writer due to personal reasons, but still served as an executive producer. Following Morgan's departure, Working Title hired Peter Straughan and Bridget O'Connor to redraft the script. Tomas Alfredson was confirmed to direct on 9 July 2009. The production is his first English-language film. The film was backed financially by France's StudioCanal and had a budget corresponding to 30 million US dollars.

The film premiered in competition at the 68th Venice International Film Festival on 5 September 2011. StudioCanal UK distributed the film in the United Kingdom, where it was released on 16 September 2011. American rights were acquired by Universal Pictures, which have a permanent first-look deal with Working Title, and passed the rights to their subsidiary Focus Features. Focus plan to give the film a wide release in the United States on 9 December 2011.