The document discusses the history and development of the British and US film industries. It notes that the British film industry has experienced booms and recessions since the 1930s. Some of Britain's earliest successes included Alfred Hitchcock films in the 1930s. The industry then experienced a recession from the 1970s to 1990s. The 1990s saw a resurgence in successful British costume dramas and comedies such as Four Weddings and a Funeral and The Full Monty. Government support through organizations like the UK Film Council and National Lottery also contributed to the industry's renaissance. The document outlines ongoing debates around the type of films Britain should produce and discusses factors that define a "British film."

1. The British and US Film
Industry

2. Brief History
 The industry has experienced a number of booms
and recessions since the industry’s first boom in the
1930s.
 Alfred Hitchcock’s films, prior to his move to
Hollywood, were some of Britain’s earliest successes.
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934), The 39 Steps
(1935) and The Lady Vanishes (1938)
 The 1970s to 1990 were the most recent recession for
the industry.

3. Recent Renaissance
• 1990s - Successful British costume dramas
 1994 - release of Four Weddings and a Funeral - Box
office success
 British comedy success - Brassed Off(1996) and The
Full Monty (1997)
 Impact of the National Lottery
 UK Film Council (more on this later)
 American productions return to the UK

4. Important Debates
• The choices for the British film industry=
• 1. Make low budget films targeted at mainstream
British audiences
• 2. Make low budget films for niche ‘art-house
audiences’ in the UK and abroad
• 3. Look for partners in Europe and/or America and
aim for more clearly an international audience

5. Ask yourself
 Why is it important for Britain to have a successful
film industry?
 ‘The country of origin of a film is irrelevant. Why
should we be bothered if all films at our cinemas
were made in the USA?’ Do you agree with this view.
 What factors have contributed to the success in the
UK and/or abroad of British films produced since
1990?

6. What is a British Film?
 A setting in the UK? or
 A focus on British people abroad?
 A predominantly British cast?
 A storyline about some aspect of British life?
 Based on the work of a British author?

7. What is a British Film?
 Diversity makes a defining a ‘British’ film very
challenging.
 Range of definitions – each worth different amounts
Need 16 point to qualify as British.
 Read carefully through the hand out and use it to
judge whether or not the two following examples are
British or not

8. Is ‘The Bourne Ultimatum’ a British
film?

Yes:-
Director – Paul Greengrass is British
Large section is filmed in London, some
studio work at Pinewood
 Largely British crew



No:-
Doesn’t reflect British themes or
concerns
 Lots of other locations
 Produced by Universal – Frank
Marshall and Doug Liman are
American
 Universal are American owned
company


9. Is ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’ a
British film?

Yes:-
Director – David Yatesis British
Large sections is filmed in England and
Scotland,
 Largely British crew including
producers
 Largely British Actors
 Based on the work of an British
Author (Rowlings)



No:-
Produced/Distributed by Warner Bros –
they are American owned company
 Some key personnel were not British eg
Portuguese Cinematographer


10. What about our Case Study Films?
 Shifty
Fifth Estate
Hobbit

11. Funding for British Films
 UK Film Council-British Film Institute
fund script development, film production, short films, film
export and distribution, cinemas, film education, culture
and archives, festivals and audience support schemes
 Film Fund 15 mil per year (90% of applicants will
be rejected) and money from Lotteries
 Innovation Fund – to help move to the digital age
esp in rural areas

 Co Production deals which BFI can help set
up
 Tax Breaks

12. Main British Production Companies
Can you name films by these
production companies?
Who dominates the
UK film industry?

13. Producing British Films
 Very different to the US set
 Govt support
 Independent Film Production Houses
 Working Title, Warp Films, Ealing Studios
Film4
 Need to team up with a distribution
company (US)
 ‘Can be very hard to get films made in
Britain and they are not necessarily very
profitable (Harry Potter/James Bond)
 Need to be distinctively British.

14. The importance of a national film
industry
 Significant returns for the UK economy through
film making, inward investment, film exhibition,
DVD rentals and sales, film exports
 The UK Film Council estimates that a successful
Brit film will make up to 70% of its revenue outside
the UK

15. British Cinema and Hollywood
 British film production companies have co-
production and distribution with Hollywood studios
 ‘British’ films can be funded and distributed by US
companies (Fifth Estate)
 Decisions on which British films to produce and how
to market them are often based on the tastes of both
domestic and American audiences and they have
very set ideas about what it means to be ‘British’

16. Hollywood – a brief overview
 Hollywood is built around studios and
conglomerates
 Companies who aim to make money from films

17. WHAT IS A CONGLOMERATE?
a corporation consisting of a number of subsidiary
companies or divisions in a variety of unrelated
industries, usually as a result of merger or
acquisition.
They are VERY big companies that have often brought
up or taken over smaller companies

18. The BIG TEN