'This Is England' - Who Made It and How?

Warp Films was created in 1999 and has since established it’s role as a boundary pushing moving-picture company. Their aim was to create low-budget films that were presented in a director-led-fashion. It’s connections with Film4 have allowed them to create films and distribute them globally, and ties within its successful mother company Warp Records have allowed them to combine their directors with their bands to create visually as well as sonically pleasing works of art.
Directors who have worked with Warp Films include; Shane Meadows, Chris Cunningham, Chris Morris, Richard Ayoade, David Slade and Lynne Ramsay. Each of these directors have contributed with projects, with some gaining large amounts of success. Of the successful productions, those that stand out include; Chris Cunningham’s ‘Rubber Johnny’ which depicts a shape shifting mutant child kept in a basement and Shane Meadow’s ‘This is England’, a dramatic social representation of 1980’s Northern Britain which portrays the life of a young boy and a local skin-head gang.

Warp X is a new digital film studio based in Sheffield which is producing low-budget yet high value motion pictures that can reach wider audiences. It’s cutting edge digital technology conjoined with it’s modern approach to the morales of the industry have cemented its place in being a keen promoter for the future of low-budget, independent British films. It is driven by the creative talents of those involved and awards them with a share in the gross revenue of the production in which they are involved. Warp X’s aims are to; encourage filmmakers to explore social issues such as racism and social exclusion and to provide those involved within the British Film industry; including directors, writers, producers and actors previously disadvantaged due to their social backgrounds or disability with more opportunities. The films produced are for the Low-Budget Feature Film Scheme that has been created by the UK Film Council and Film4 to revitalise this sector of the British Film Industry. With additional financial support from EM Media and Screen Yorkshire along with development and distribution support from Optimum Releasing Warp X has successfully released two films in 2008, including the critically acclaimed ‘Donkey Punch’ and ‘A Complete History of my Sexual Failures’ as well as the award winning ‘This is England’ in 2006.

Successful Warp Films motion picture ‘This Is England’ by Shane Meadows was financed by Screen Yorkshire, Film4, UK Film Council and EM Media. It was produced by Big Arty Productions and distributed by Optimum Releasing(UK) and IFC Films(US).