The document discusses what defines a British film. It notes that while a film may be filmed in Britain, it is considered British if it is funded in Britain. The British Film Council funds many major British cultural film initiatives and works to support the British film industry. Some characteristics of typical British films mentioned include references to British culture like regional dialects, pubs, football, and a gritty realistic or darkly humorous tone.

1. The British Film Council What is a British Film?...

2. It can often be difficult to define a film as British; this is because many films that are called British are not necessarily filmed in Britain. One example of this would be the Bourne Ultimatum. However, usually for a film to be classed as British it has to be funded in Britain. The British Film Council is a cornerstone of the British film industry and the funder of most of the big cultural film initiatives. The British Film Councils goal is to help make the UK a global centre for film in the digital age, with the world's most imaginative, diverse and vibrant film culture, underpinned by a flourishing, competitive film industry. The British Film Council also fund exciting new British films.

3. A film becomes British when it is financed in Britain, many people think that a film is British if it is filmed in Britain, such as Indiana Jones which is an American film, as that is where it was financed. In order to show our film as British we will try and incorporate some British Icons, just little things that immediately tell the viewer that this is filmed in Britain, this association helps to set the scene and will give the viewer an idea of what to expect. British films are known for realism, in comparison to the almost perfect lives that are shown in American films which always have a happy ending. The gritty grip on reality in British films and warped sense of humour in our films, is what truly makes the British film industry as successful as it is.

4. The Harry Potter film is a prime example of how a film can appear to be British, yet isn’t, yes Harry Potter was wrote by a British Novelist, yes it was filmed in Britain and yes the majority of the cast is British, but is it a British film?... No, as it was funded in America by Warner Brothers Inc.

5. British films commonly include… Regional Dialect Swearing Smoking Sex Scenes Pub Punch Up Council Estates Drunkenness (deviant behaviour) High Fashion Football Dry Humour Ethnic Diversity

6. Tradition and culture are important aspects of British films; examples of this include musical theatre and dance. The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins heavily influenced the British Film Industry. In Oliver Twist the ‘wheeler and dealer’ was created. In many films there is now a ‘Dodgy’ or ‘Shady’ character. Royalty and the Queen associate Britain with passion and a patriarchal society. This is a view that some films challenge i.e. This is Britain. Tea, fish and chips, and etiquette Double decker buses, red phone boxes, red post boxes are all associated with Britain Labour and Politics are a large part of the British culture.

7. The film This is England by Shane meadows is a prime example of a gritty British film. When it references a struggle in a war, and the tough times that Britain had to endure, it shows that most of the working class people didn’t search for an American dream, but rather worked hard to support their families. Football is often seen to be the heart of Britain, many British films encapsulate the hooligan culture, managing to glorify as it unites Britain with a passion when football is played. British Music and legendary bands including the Beetles and the Spice Girls influence films. The Hero and Villain aspect of films is very British; Dr Who, James Bond. The British love the Under dog; Bridget Jones’s Diary and Mr Bean are classic examples of this. British Icons include the Mini- The Italian Job

8. Britain is home to one of the worlds fashion giants, London… With this Britain's fashion industry is very affluent. Burberry used to signify luxury, yet due to fake, cheap imitations it is now associated with common ‘chavs.’ Britain has the likes of Stella McCartney and Vivienne Westwood! British heritage is shown in films, from castles and monuments to churches. Bookmarking is a British film technique, it involves starting and ending a film in the same place.