1. Key Problems in the British Film Industry

2. Objective
Understand the difficulties faced by producers in the British Film Industry

3. The British Film Industry
Investment
Financing
Studio
Film
Production
DVD/BD
Cinema
Exhibition

4. Timeline – s
Early 1900s brings experimentation - A Daring daylight Robbery pioneers the chase genre
1930s sees a boom in ‘quota quickies’ and rising attendances – on the downside, a massive ‘brain-drain’ to Hollywood (Chaplin et al)
World War II sees surge in anti-Nazi propaganda films which showcases the massive importance of film in shaping national culture

5. Early 1990s recession seems to signal end of British Film industry…
Timeline – s
The 1950s sees the Rank organisation exporting British film to the world; Hammer begin making horror films. In the 1960s, ‘Swinging London’ and James Bond boost profile of industry
1970s – American studios stop financing British productions and industry begins decline. In 1980s, home videos boom, cinemas fail
Early 1990s recession seems to signal end of British Film industry…

6. The 1990s and Cool Britannia

7. Why is financing a problem?
Government subsidies (withdrawn)
Dependent on American film industry (fickle)
Track record (disproportionate number of ‘failures’)
Complicated process
Lack of a national talent academy (future success is chance)

8. Why is production a problem?
Studios owned by Hollywood or second-rate
Brain drain to Hollywood
British star prices?
Companies are not vertically-integrated (expensive)
Companies have been purchased by American conglomerates (creative freedom)

9. Why is distribution a problem?
Cinema chains (Odeon, Vue, Cineworld)
Centrally-controlled
Few arthouse cinemas; lack of funding
Short lifespan of films
Relatively expensive costs of distribution due to non-vertically-integrated companies

10. ‘Commercial Viability’
Government unprepared to invest, but wants the success
Copycat – Kidulthood is a success, so 20 copies are made (distilling the brand)