britfilmissues

8/7/2019 britfilmissues

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/britfilmissues 1/14

The British Film IndustryLO: To identify key issues within the British Film

industry

LO: To evaluate whether the British Film industry is

popular with audiences

Thursday 26th March 2009

Thinking question: Why have a British film industry?



Who does what in the British Film

Industry?Aims to support, develop and

promote the art forms of the moving

image

An independent, non-governmental body which

classifies and censors film, video as well as computer

and console-based games released in the UK.

The official UK agency for international

cultural relations. Its Film Department

promotes new British films (features

and shorts), internationally

principally through festivals and

showcases. Portal site britfilms.com

Promotes understanding and appreciation of Britain's rich film

and television heritage and culture.

Government backed lead agency for

film in the UK ensuring that the

economic, cultural and educational

aspects of film are effectively

represented at home and abroad.



Main British Production Companies

Can you name films by these

production companies?

Ext: Who dominates the

UK film industry?



� USEFUL INFORMATION:

� To qualify as a British film, it needs to meet three of thefollowing six criteria:

� A British Director

� A British Producer � A predominantly British cast

� A British production company

� A subject matter that informs on the British experience

� British identity defined by the BFI in 'Sight and

Sound' (www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/)

� Co-productions with British input count as British films.



How do British

films attract

mainstream

audiences?

Ext: How are

they distinct from

Hollywood

blockbusters?



This research uncovered an audience typology that helped to inform thedepartment¶s ongoing audience development activities. Briefly, the cinema types

uncovered were as follows:

Mainstream: unlikely ever to view anything other than major µHollywood¶ style

blockbusters.

Mainstream plus: generally mainstream, but apt to see less mainstream films

on a few occasions.

Aficionados: tend to view a mix of films, including major foreign language titles,

and can be encouraged to become even more adventurous in their viewing

choices.

Film Buffs1: eschew mainstream films in favour of more extreme, esoteric,

challenging and difficult subject matter (specialised) films.

AUDIENCE TYPES



Weekend 20 Mar - 22 Mar 2009 UK box office ±

audience consumption

Rank Title Country of Origin Weekend Gross

1 Marley & Me USA £2,166,270

2 Paul Blart: Mall Cop USA £1,289,513

3 Duplicity USA £796,244

4 Lesbian Vampire Killers UK £648,634

5 Watchmen USA/Can £594,510

6 Gran Torino USA £484,808

7 Slumdog Millionaire UK £416,356

8 The Young Victoria UK £387,399

9 Bolt USA £201,250

10 Bronson UK £161,880

11 Confessions of a Shopaholic USA £158,414

12 The Unborn USA £126,630

13 Hotel for Dogs USA/Ger £119,041

14 The Age of Stupid UK £101,752

15 Il Divo Ita/Fra £71,952

Total £7,724,653



Questions for Box Office results

� What do these box office figures tell us

about the British Film industry?

Consider:

Country of origin

DistributorsGross profit



HOMEWORK

Case StudyA

rticle

� How is the British Film industry

responding to audienceconsumption?

� Consider the relationship betweenproducers and audience



Facts in focus

� UK cinema admissions reached 162 million, up 4% on2006.

� Box office receipts were £821 million, up 8% on 2006.

� 516 films were released for a week or more in the UK and

Republic of Ireland, an increase of 2% on 2006 and 58%more than in 1998.

� UK films, including co-productions, accounted for 21% of

releases and 29% of the market by value, up 10% on last

year.

� The top 100 films earned almost 91% of the gross boxoffice, 2% more than in 2006.



� UK films are films made by British

companies and shot wholly or partly in the

UK and/or films that qualify as British

under Schedule 1 of the Films Act 1985 or

under one of the UK's official co-

production treaties.



� 3.2 Schedule 1 (UK film) certifications

� Schedule 1 films are films certified as Britishunder Schedule 1 of the Films Act 1985. Under

the old rules, the main qualifying criterion was70% UK spend, but films commencing principalphotography

� on or after 1 January 2007 have been required

to pass a UK Cultural Test emphasising UKelements in the story, setting and characters(see UKFC website for full details of the CulturalTest).



CULTURAL TEST

� Cultural Test Points

� Cultural Content

� A1 Film set in the UK A2 Lead characters British citizens or residentsA3Film based on British subject matter or underlying material

� A4 Original dialogue recorded mainly in English language� Cultural Contribution

� Film represents/reflects a diverse British culture,

� British heritage or British creativity

� Cultural Hubs C1Studio and/or location shooting/ Visual Effects/ SpecialEffects C2Music Recording/Audio Post Production/Picture Post Production

� Cultural Practitioners

� Director, Scriptwriter Producer Composer Lead Actors Majority of CastKey Staff (lead cinematographer, lead production designer, lead costumedesigner, lead editor, lead sound designer, lead visual effects supervisor,lead hair and makeup supervisor) Majority of Crew

� TOTAL ALL SECTIONS (pass mark 16)31



How dominant is British Film in the

industry?� Look at the box office figures:

� What can they tell us about British Film?

britfilmissues

Documents