Key Problems in the British Film Industry

Objective

• Understand the difficulties faced by producers in the British Film Industry

The British Film Industry

Investment Financing

FilmStudio

Production

CinemaDVD/BD

Exhibition

Timeline – 1900-1940s

Early 1900s brings experimentation - A Daring daylight Robbery pioneers the chase genre

1930s sees a boom in ‘quota quickies’ and rising attendances – on the downside, a massive ‘brain-drain’ to Hollywood (Chaplin et al)

World War II sees surge in anti-Nazi propaganda films which showcases the massive importance of film in shaping national culture

Timeline – 1900-1940s

The 1950s sees the Rank organisation exporting British film to the world; Hammer begin making horror films. In the 1960s, ‘Swinging

London’ and James Bond boost profile of industry

1970s – American studios stop financing British productions and industry begins decline. In 1980s, home videos boom, cinemas fail

Early 1990s recession seems to signal end of British Film industry…

The 1990s and Cool Britannia

Why is financing a problem?

• Government subsidies (withdrawn)• Dependent on American film industry (fickle)• Track record (disproportionate number of

‘failures’)• Complicated process• Lack of a national talent academy (future

success is chance)

Why is production a problem?

• Studios owned by Hollywood or second-rate• Brain drain to Hollywood• British star prices?• Companies are not vertically-integrated

(expensive)• Companies have been purchased by American

conglomerates (creative freedom)

Why is distribution a problem?

• Cinema chains (Odeon, Vue, Cineworld)• Centrally-controlled• Few arthouse cinemas; lack of funding• Short lifespan of films• Relatively expensive costs of distribution due

to non-vertically-integrated companies

‘Commercial Viability’

• Government unprepared to invest, but wants the success

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-16495095

• Copycat – Kidulthood is a success, so 20 copies are made (distilling the brand)