What is a production company?
Most often, the production company for films and television provides the money, and thus sets the budget, and may also make decisions on what director, and actors can be hired. Budget often makes other decisions possible or impossible. A low budget film may not be able to be filmed in a remote location, for example.
The company may also come attached with certain actors, directors, or film editors and photographers. Often this is especially the case when it belongs to a major studio, like Touchstone Pictures, which belongs to Disney. Directors who have contracts with Touchstone are more likely to be offered jobs produced by Touchstone.
The company may also come attached with certain actors, directors, or film editors and photographers. Often this is especially the case when it belongs to a major studio, like Touchstone Pictures, which belongs to Disney. Directors who have contracts with Touchstone are more likely to be offered jobs produced by Touchstone.
General production companies
HAPPY MADISON PRODUCTIONS
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Happy Madison Productions generally stick to producing comedy films. This is reflected in the bright colours of the background, the friendly looking handwriting and the jazzy sounding music clip.
These all help the logo to have a comedy looking style to it along with the golfer. Golf is generally considered a safe and calm sport, so it is obvious they won't have produced a horror film. Happy Madison Productions is responsible for the production of Little Nicky - 2000, Click - 2006 and Grown Ups - 2010. |
Dreamworks
Dreamworks typically produce both real life and animated films for children. Their logo is effective as the young boy fishing from the moon is from a child's fairytale.
The colours blue and white are also linked with serenity and calmness, making it clear this company certainly wouldn't produce a horror film. This is also reflected in the soundtrack. Dreamworks are responsible for the production of films such as Shrek - 2001, Madagascar - 2005 and The Croods - 2013. |
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TOUCHSTONE PICTURES
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Touchstone Pictures produce a variety of different films from a variety of different genres. Their sophisticated colour scheme implies the films they produce have serious story lines and are probably not of the horror genre.
The lighting up of the text in gold also gives a positive look to the logo as light has connotations of safety and purity. Touchstone Pictures are responsible for the production of films such as Shoot to Kill - 1988, Pretty Woman - 1990 and War Horse - 2011. |
HORROR PRODUCTION COMPANIES
TWISTED PICTURES
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We thought this production company sequence was effective as the font is simple. It features only the colours black, white and red, which is why we think it would be a good idea to also use a simple colour scheme when we create our own production company.
We also liked the "scratchy" sounds they used, as this also makes it obvious that it's a horror film. Twisted Pictures are responsible for the production of Saw IV - 2009, Dead Silence - 2007 and Chain Letter - 2010. |
BLUMHOUSE PRODUCTIONS
Blumhouse Productions is such a successful production company as it is dark and obviously related to horror. Again, the colour scheme is simple and green often has connotations of paranormal stuff.
The heartbeat in the background of the sequence is effective as fast heartbeats have connotations of drama and makes the watcher think something is going to happen. Blumhouse Productions are responsible for the production of Insidious - 2011, Paranormal Activity - 2009 and Sinister - 2012. |
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GHOST HOUSE PICTURES
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Once again, the font choice is very simple and nothing too extravagant The colour scheme is also plain black and white. The lack of bright colours alludes to how the production company will have made a horror film. We also liked the idea of looking through a keyhole as one of Clover's theories is that places of safety often end up locking the victim in with the killer in an attempt to protect themselves
Ghost House Pictures are responsible for the production of Evil Dead - 2013, The Grudge 3 - 2009 and Boogeyman - 2005. |
These logos appear for a mere second on the screen before disappearing in a teaser trailer. For this reason, ours needs to be clear yet quick in order to mimic a professional production company logo.
Making Our Own Logo
From conducting this research, we have concluded that a production company logo for a horror film should be simple, sophisticated and in plain colours. The colours red and green also connote to horror so we might consider using these as accents in our logo. Our font and name of our company should also be simple yet striking, so that it will be memorable to the audience.
We should also be considerate when choosing a sound clip for our logo as this can completely change how the logo comes across. We thought the scratchy sound used by Twisted Pictures was particularly effective and so this might be something we try to recreate when producing a production company logo. However in many teaser trailers, the production company doesn't have a sound as they are so quick, they may as well overlay the sounds from the clip in order to avoid the trailer sounding disjointed and messy.
We should also be considerate when choosing a sound clip for our logo as this can completely change how the logo comes across. We thought the scratchy sound used by Twisted Pictures was particularly effective and so this might be something we try to recreate when producing a production company logo. However in many teaser trailers, the production company doesn't have a sound as they are so quick, they may as well overlay the sounds from the clip in order to avoid the trailer sounding disjointed and messy.
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