The document discusses several key aspects of British cinema: 1) There are debates around whether British films should represent British culture to domestic audiences through public funding, or compete internationally by attracting wide audiences. 2) The UK Film Council was set up in 2000 to centralize public support for film through various funding programs. 3) There are discussions around whether British cinema should receive any public money given some films' financial performances. British films must balance representing national culture with finding international distribution.

1. Contemporary British Cinema Unit 2735 Media Issues & Debates

2. LEARNING OBJECTIVE To question the role and purpose of British Cinema To develop an understanding of what makes a film “British” ANSWER THE QUESTIONS: What makes a film British? What is the purpose of British Films?

3. USE : www.imdb.com to help. Story and plot Actors Director Style Genre Production Company Distribution Exhibition HOW IS YOUR FILM BRITISH?

4. What is British Cinema For? There are two positions within this debate about the aims and purposes of British Cinema: British Cinema should be a resolutely national cinema, representing British culture to British audiences. To do this British films need to be publicly funded. British Cinema should be profitable, competing in the international marketplace, particularly Hollywood, by attracting a wide audience.

5. The UK Film Council Set up in 2000 to centralise ways of public support for film Took over the Arts Council and production dept of the BFI.

6. The UK Film Council Funding now targets different aspects of the British film industry: DEVELOPMENT FUND Aims to raise the quality of screenplays produced PREMIERE FUND Supports bigger budget films & established talent NEW CINEMA FUND Supports shorts & features; aims to encourage diversity REGIONAL INVESTMENT FUND FOR ENGLAND Supports nine regional screen agencies which promote filmmaking skills, education & understanding of local/regional cinemas.

7. The UK Film Council Some people believe that British cinema should not receive any public money. Before the film council £100m of lottery money was spent on 200 films. Only £6m was returned. UFC invested £13m in 20 films and generated £125m at the box office between 2000 and 2003.

8. The UK Film Council Complete worksheet 3: the role of the UK Film Council. Check out the website for further information: www.ukfilmcouncil.co.uk

9. British Film Abroad A problem facing British Cinema is if it addresses a domestic audience about culturally specific themes, it is likely to find wider distribution more difficult. It is argued that a national cinema should also be an international one. Bend it Like Beckham – is set in Hounslow, London but themes are universal.

10. British Cinema & Hollywood British film production companies have co-production and distribution deals with Hollywood studios (ie Working title) “ British” films can be funded and distributed by US companies – ie The Full Monty by Fox Searchlight. Hollywood studios film in British locations and with British technical crews. (ie Harry Potter, Troy, Alfie )

11. British Cinema & Hollywood Hollywood studios have often used the UK for post-production and special effects. British actors work in US films; American stars are used by UK producers to widen the appeal. British audiences’ taste in films is strongly influenced by watching Hollywood films.

12. British Cinema & Hollywood Distribution costs can be 3 times the budget of making a film, but without marketing it can be a flop. This is one reason why using a big star can draw in the audience abroad – consider Hugh Grant.

13. Hugh Grant Star Persona Complete the following tasks: 1 Research the Hugh Grant filmography using a website such as www.imdb.com. Do the films have anything in common (for example, in terms of their genre, institution, budget etc)? 2 a. Choose three films and describe the characters he plays in each one. Are any similarities evident? Consider: nationality, class background, work, relationships (family, friends), appearance, and function in the plot. b. Are any repeated characteristics or mannerisms evident in the performances? If so, why? 3 What do you know about Hugh Grant’s life? How did you acquire this information? How reliable are your sources? 4 What representation of masculinity is constructed in Hugh Grant’s star persona?

14. Discussion Does the persona draw on any stereotypes of British identity? If so, which? Does it modify or reinforce these stereotypes? Are these aimed at a British or an American audience?

15. Useful Websites www.bbc.co.uk www.bfi.org.uk www.channel4.com www.filmunlimited.co.uk www.launchingfilms.com www.screenonline.org.uk www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk