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• Government subsidies (withdrawn)• Dependent on American film industry (fickle)• Track record (disproportionate number of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