The British film industry

  1) Write a one-sentence definition of what makes a film British.

Certain things can answer whether a film is British or not : people making the film are British, is it funded from within Britain, are the cast British, is the film’s subject matter about Britain or British culture. 

2) What is the difference between a Hollywood production context and the production context of a British film?

The Hollywood production context means that most films made by Hollywood studios have high budgets, a heavy reliance on celebrities both in the cast and crew and spectacle driven stories whereas the British film production context does not have as many clearly defined characteristics.

3) When did the James Bond franchise start?

In the 1960's.

4) In terms of film censorship and graphic content, what began to change in British film in the 1970's and 1980's?

The British film industry in the 1970s was dominated by the subject of censorship that continued into the video nasties banning of the 1980's. The 1980's also saw a dramatic decline in American investment in British film that did not increase again until the 1990's.

5) What groups are often represented in British film? Give examples of films these groups feature in.

Representation of youth : For example if we look at the way youth is portrayed in a very singular way in Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange (Warner Bros., 1971), the focus is on violence, anti-establishment and a compulsion to act in an anarchic way.

6) What does the Fact sheet suggest might be the audience appeal of British film?

 The social theme that provides the through like for many British film narratives.

Fact sheet #100

1) What is the 'cultural test' to see if a film counts as British?

The Cultural Test is divided into four sections and a film must score at least 16 out of a possible 31 points to be classified as British.

2) Complete the task on the Fact sheet - choose three of the films listed and research them to work out what they score on the cultural test: The Sweeney (2012), Attack The Block, The King's Speech, We Need To Talk About Kevin and Sky fall.

THE SWEENEY- 16

3) What is the main problem for the British film industry?

Once sold, all revenue from cinema screenings, DVD and Blu-ray sales, plus sales to television companies, are lost. Even a highly successful British film is not necessarily making money that will be reinvested in British film making.

4) What are three of the strengths of the British film industry?

Outstanding creative skills of practitioners, outstanding facilities

5) What are the two options for the future of the British film industry?

Firstly, British filmmakers could choose to rely upon co-productions with American studios to keep the industry afloat. The UK film industry’s second option is to attempt to make low budget films targeted at a niche, British audience.

6) In your opinion, which of these two options would best safeguard the future of the British film industry?

The first option seems to be better because targeting a niche audience overall rather than once in a while will not benefit the future of the British film industry in the long run.