Competing with the US

In the early 1980’s the British Production Company Goldcrest attempted to compete with Hollywood by making big budget films which would succeed in America. For several years the company achieved financial and critical success with Chariots of Fire, Ghandi (which both win Oscars) The Killing Fields and A room with a view HOWEVER………… The big budgets and poor box office receipts of Revolution and Absolute beginners led to the closure of Goldcrest in The fact the TWO poorly performing films can hasten the end of a company is indicative of the problems faced by British independent production companies.

In contrast the production company Warner Brothers survived one of the biggest flops of all time in 1997 when The Postman lost over $75 million However profits from other WB adventures kept the company not only alive but thriving

Film Four

Film Four had success with films such as: The Crying Game Four weddings and a funeral Shallow Grave Trainspotting (symbolised an alternative ‘international market’) However Film4 biggest hit was East is East – a film firmly rooted in the tradition of ‘social Realism’ In 2000 Film Four made a deal with Warner Brothers to deliver seven films over three years with budgets of £13million or over. Film Four was trying to break America and the international market – it had done it before it could do it now!!!! In 2001 they produced Charlotte Grey in an attempt to appeal to both national and international markets. But by doing this they failed at both and this is said to be the demies of Film four on the international market. There was competing pressure on national cinema to provide culturally specific films and survive financially; even Once upon a time in the midlands with starred well-known actors made a loss at the box office – it just wasn’t what the audience wanted!!! We love American Films

Romantic comedies Happy ending Climax Belief in True love Sentimentality Plot twists Humour Stars Settings The weather Representation of race and disability A working formula: It seems this is what audiences on both sides of the pond are looking for