The document discusses what defines a British film and provides examples. It examines the criteria such as production companies, directors, actors and cultural content. Two films are analyzed: 1) The Theory of Everything (2014) directed by British director James Marsh, produced by British company Working Titles, starring British actors and set in the UK. It qualifies as British and earned $31.9 million in the UK. 2) Gravity (2013) challenges the definition as it stars American actors but was filmed/produced in the UK. Though directed by a Mexican and starring Americans, its UK production values make it British. It earned £47 million in the UK.

1. G R A C E C R AW F O R D
DEFINING BRITISH FILM

2. DEFINING BRITISH FILM
In order for a British film to be critically defined, the film itself needs to conform to the
conventions of the country as well as placing in certain elements from the film to be identified
by a British audience, aspects such as production companies, actors and directors all have
significant importance in approaching this, however other countries may be involved in the
production of the film also, intentionally questioning if the film is really British, strategies such
as the Cultural Test can be completed to destine the fate of whether the film is truly British or
not, giving a realistic answer to this.

3. WHAT MAKES A FILM BRITISH?
Normally during deciphering about whether upon a particular film is of British origin or
not, there is a cultural test offered to film makers in order to them to recognise this, if
approved and qualified that they’re film is labelled of British origin, and funding can be
offered to them for the creation of the film.
Typically a film can be defined as British if it meets any of these standards:
Has British Producers, Directors or Actors.
The film is set in the UK or has themes or references to the country.
The film is produced by British companies, i.e. Working Titles.
With this it is than slotted into a certain category and offered and placed into a suitable
group that the BFI deem to be appropriate, deciding whether the film can be classed as
British.

4. CULTURAL TEST
Is a test cleverly constructed to inform film makers if they qualify for funding,
tax or lottery funded money in order to create their film within the UK, it is also
used to find out if film makers films can be labelled as a British film.
For this 32 definitions that range within the test are offered to film makers and
at least 16 need to be met to qualify for British funding and to be labelled as
British, the cultural test normally provides for British civilians due to the
institute being British based , therefore catering to a British audience through
funded approved plans provided if one passes the cultural test.
The cultural test scores you upon 4 elements throughout the test, this being
Cultural Content, Cultural Contributors, Cultural Hubs and Cultural
Practitioners, with this being completed a score will show film makers whether
or not the film is British or not, and if so than film makers can go on to class
their film as British with a qualified reference to justify this.

5. BRITISH FILMS

6. BRISTISH FILM ONE: THE THEORY OF
EVERYTHING

7. THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING, 2014,
DIRECTOR JAMES MARSH
The Theory of Everything produced by British Institute Working Titles Films and theatrically
released in 2014, it depicts the life of Jane Wilde Hawking as it focuses upon her memoirs of
Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen, as it deals with her relationship with her ex-husband,
Stephen Hawking, his diagnosis of motor neurone disease, and his success in physics.
Explain how & why they qualify as British films-The majority of the people involved in this film are
British, this includes the director, actors and producers of the film, the film is also set in the UK,
regional identity depicts Cambridge a highly known establishment that is highly recognizable as
being a place of educational authority.
The producing company is a British cooperation, Working Titles, a highly known company that
offers to produce British films such as this one as well as previously released British films such as
Paul (2011) and Les Miserable (2012).
Identify who produced and directed them-Director is James Marsh, a British film and
documentary director, known for also directing 2008 film documentary Man on Wire.
Marsh originates from the UK and specialises in working closely with UK productions.
The producer
Identify their genre and themes-The genre is Romance, Biological and Drama with
themes of Cosmetology, Maths and Physics to highlight Hawking's work as well as
romance and emotional trauma as they deal with his life changing disease, its quite a
heart felt movie that is typically expected of British movies as it conforms to the
stereotypical plots of romance whilst also centring towards British education of high class
people in high educational purposes.
Identify how much money they made in the UK and globally- The Theory of Everything
earned $122,873,310 worldwide, with its biggest markets coming from North America
$35.9 million, the profit made in the United Kingdom was $31.9 million.

8. BRITISH FILM TWO: GRAVITY

9. BRITISH FILM TWO: GRAVITY, 2013,
DIRECTOR ALFONSO CUARÓN
Gravity is a 2013 American science fiction film, starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as
astronauts, and sees them stranded in space after the mid-orbit destruction of their space shuttle and
their subsequent attempt to return to Earth.
Explain how & why they qualify as British films-This film challenges the usual criteria's of it being
classed as British, for starters the film centres around two major Hollywood actors, Sandra Bullock and
George Clooney as well as the films director being Mexican, however despite this the film was filmed
in the UK with the special effects created here, making it British during its production and post
production stages of creation.
Identify who produced and directed them-Mexican Director Alfonso Cuarón directed the film Gravity,
he is also known for directing 2004 film Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, so he specialises in
British films despite originating from Mexico.
The producer David Heyman, is British, known for his involvement of producing the eight instalments
of the Harry Potter franchises, again he specialises in British made movies and is familiar with Director
Cuaróns work, normally working together in the creation of films
Identify who starred in them- The actors in this film are unconventional for a British stated movie, the
two central characters, Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, are the only two seen in the film and are
seen as the most recognisable Hollywood actors in America, this challenges the film being regarded
as British as the two central characters hold no connection within the UK nor are they typically seen
starring in British orientated movies either.
Identify their genres and themes-Gravity has the genres of Sci Fi, Thriller, Drama and Epic film, again
quite unconventional of British films to show these type of genres, the themes showcase spiritual
references of Stones daughter accidental death as well as human evolution and the resilience of life.
Identify how much money they made in the UK and globally-Gravity made a profit of $209.2 million
overall, with UK making around £47 million during its time of release.