Watching movies, as always, can be a bit of a hit-or-miss experience. Of course, there have always been well respected directors, writers, and actors who create cinematic masterpieces again and again, however it can still be difficult to predict if a film will truly be good. “Bad” directors have come through to make cult classics, and “great” directors have swung and missed as well. Yet, the most inconsistent way to decide whether to watch a movie or not is by the movie production company. Take Warner Bros, Universal Studios, or Disney, for example. They have created so many movies and shows under their name that it’s no wonder there are more than a few bad apples in their filmography, but this is expected and well-balanced with the many sensations they have brought to life. What’s not expected is that A24, a relatively new label, has been dominating the film industry with some unique, Oscar-winning films.
A24 was started in 2012 by David Fenkel, Daniel Katz, and John Hodges. These three friends, having already worked in the film industry, decided to come together and create what we know today as A24. The first commercial success was “Spring Breakers,” which did exceptionally well at the box office; starting with a five million dollar budget, the film made over 30 million dollars. Although it was a huge monetary success, this movie was not taken well by film critics, mainly because of its hyper, obnoxious, dubstep soundtrack, and in many opinions, not the best script.
But, when thinking of A24, “Spring Breakers” doesn’t usually come to mind. People tend to think of “Moonlight,” “Uncut Gems,” or recently, “Civil War.” Some of these films are Oscar-nominated and are generally thought of as good cinema. When interviewing Adam Souza, the Advanced Video Production teacher here at Franklin, he describes what distinguishes A24 from other production companies. “Looking at the themes of these movies, they’re by younger directors, unproven names, very dynamic. [These are] movies that are wanting to make you feel like you just went on a wild ride.” By having these fresh new ideas from young, inspired filmmakers, A24 has defined themselves by taking these sorts of risks. “These [are] movies you might really enjoy, but you may never want to see [them] again,” Souza adds.
Another defining aspect of A24 is their aesthetic. If you watch movies even somewhat often, I guarantee every time you’ve watched an A24 film, you’ve noticed that it’s just a little different. Pinpointing exactly what can be hard. You could say it’s their intense color grading, or maybe the unique scripts, scores, or perhaps the casting director’s choices.
Senior Art Director Steven Wallace, who works at a creative advertising agency called Kamp Grizzly, says that A24 has a very “real” aesthetic. “Movie aesthetics are generally led by the director, and they seem to find the ones that tell stories that are artistic and raw,” Wallace explains. What Wallace shared is a very accurate statement, but not only relating to realism. In fact, A24 tends to be on the more dystopian side, but emotionally intense and thought provoking. You’ll never leave an A24 movie without second-guessing some things.
As you may have noticed, A24 has released more movies recently. Not only are they making more movies, but they are becoming much more popular within the film community. But this isn’t just because they have good films, it’s also because they adhered to every term of the AG-AFTRA’s terms: the compromise of the writers’ strike that took place last year. A24, then still being able to come out with films, thrived in the following year. Because of this, they have had a huge advantage over other companies that weren’t able to come out with movies. A24, on the other hand, continued to pay their writers, directors, actors, and in the end, was the only company releasing worthwhile cinema.
To put it shortly, A24 isn’t just a production company, it’s an arthouse. Unlike most other production companies, they cherry pick their stories and ideas. Their main goals don’t seem to be making money, but rather distributing art that they believe is worth seeing — art that can make an impact on your day or your mood; not money raking blockbusters, not a movie that you use to escape, but movies that make you appreciate and think about your own life more. If you’re interested in watching some A24 films yourself, most of A24’s movies are on Max for you to go and check out.
