Contemporary British CinemaUnit 2735 Media Issues & Debates

LEARNING OBJECTIVE To question the role and purpose To question the role and purpose

of British Cinemaof British Cinema To develop an understanding of To develop an understanding of

what makes a film “British”what makes a film “British”

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS:ANSWER THE QUESTIONS: What makes a film British?What makes a film British? What is the purpose of British Films?What is the purpose of British Films?

USE : USE : www.imdb.comwww.imdb.com to help. to help. Story and plotStory and plot ActorsActors DirectorDirector StyleStyle GenreGenre Production CompanyProduction Company DistributionDistribution ExhibitionExhibition

HOW IS YOUR FILM BRITISH?

What is British Cinema For?

There are two positions within this There are two positions within this debate about the aims and debate about the aims and purposes of British Cinema:purposes of British Cinema: British Cinema should be a resolutely British Cinema should be a resolutely

national cinema, representing British national cinema, representing British culture to British audiences. To do this culture to British audiences. To do this British films need to be publicly British films need to be publicly funded.funded.

British Cinema should be profitable, British Cinema should be profitable, competing in the international competing in the international marketplace, particularly Hollywood, marketplace, particularly Hollywood, by attracting a wide audience. by attracting a wide audience.

The UK Film Council Set up in 2000 to Set up in 2000 to

centralise ways centralise ways of public support of public support for filmfor film

Took over the Took over the Arts Council and Arts Council and production dept production dept of the BFI.of the BFI.

The UK Film Council Funding now targets different aspects Funding now targets different aspects

of the British film industry:of the British film industry: DEVELOPMENT FUND DEVELOPMENT FUND Aims to raise the Aims to raise the

quality of screenplays producedquality of screenplays produced PREMIERE FUND PREMIERE FUND Supports bigger budget Supports bigger budget

films & established talentfilms & established talent NEW CINEMA FUND NEW CINEMA FUND Supports shorts & Supports shorts &

features; aims to encourage diversityfeatures; aims to encourage diversity REGIONAL INVESTMENT FUND FOR REGIONAL INVESTMENT FUND FOR

ENGLAND ENGLAND Supports nine regional screen Supports nine regional screen agencies which promote filmmaking skills, agencies which promote filmmaking skills, education & understanding of education & understanding of local/regional cinemas.local/regional cinemas.

The UK Film Council Some people believe that British Some people believe that British

cinema should not receive any cinema should not receive any public money. public money.

Before the film council £100m of Before the film council £100m of lottery money was spent on 200 lottery money was spent on 200 films. Only £6m was returned.films. Only £6m was returned.

UFC invested £13m in 20 films UFC invested £13m in 20 films and generated £125m at the box and generated £125m at the box office between 2000 and 2003. office between 2000 and 2003.

The UK Film Council

Complete worksheet Complete worksheet 3: the role of the UK 3: the role of the UK Film Council.Film Council.

Check out the Check out the website for further website for further information:information:

www.ukfilmcouncil.co.www.ukfilmcouncil.co.ukuk

British Film Abroad A problem facing British Cinema is A problem facing British Cinema is

if it addresses a domestic audience if it addresses a domestic audience about culturally specific themes, it about culturally specific themes, it is likely to find wider distribution is likely to find wider distribution more difficult.more difficult.

It is argued that a national cinema It is argued that a national cinema should also be an international one. should also be an international one.

Bend it Like Beckham –Bend it Like Beckham – is set in is set in Hounslow, London but themes are Hounslow, London but themes are universal. universal.

British Cinema & Hollywood

British film production companies British film production companies have co-production and have co-production and distribution deals with Hollywood distribution deals with Hollywood studios (ie Working title)studios (ie Working title)

““British” films can be funded and British” films can be funded and distributed by US companies – ie distributed by US companies – ie The Full MontyThe Full Monty by Fox Searchlight. by Fox Searchlight.

Hollywood studios film in British Hollywood studios film in British locations and with British technical locations and with British technical crews. (ie crews. (ie Harry Potter, Troy, AlfieHarry Potter, Troy, Alfie))

British Cinema & Hollywood

Hollywood studios have often Hollywood studios have often used the UK for post-production used the UK for post-production and special effects.and special effects.

British actors work in US films; British actors work in US films; American stars are used by UK American stars are used by UK producers to widen the appeal.producers to widen the appeal.

British audiences’ taste in films is British audiences’ taste in films is strongly influenced by watching strongly influenced by watching Hollywood films.Hollywood films.

British Cinema & Hollywood

Distribution costs can be 3 times the Distribution costs can be 3 times the budget of making a film, but without budget of making a film, but without marketing it can be a flop. marketing it can be a flop.

This is one reason why using a big star This is one reason why using a big star can draw in the audience abroad – can draw in the audience abroad – consider Hugh Grant. consider Hugh Grant.

Hugh Grant Star Persona Complete the following tasks:Complete the following tasks:

1 1 Research the Hugh Grant filmography using a website Research the Hugh Grant filmography using a website such as www.imdb.com. Do the films have anything in such as www.imdb.com. Do the films have anything in common (for example, in terms of their genre, institution, common (for example, in terms of their genre, institution, budget etc)?budget etc)?

2 a. 2 a. Choose three films and describe the characters he Choose three films and describe the characters he plays in each one. Are any similarities evident? Consider: plays in each one. Are any similarities evident? Consider: nationality, class background, work, relationships (family, nationality, class background, work, relationships (family, friends), appearance, and function in the plot.friends), appearance, and function in the plot.

b. b. Are any repeated characteristics or mannerisms Are any repeated characteristics or mannerisms evident in the performances? If so, why?evident in the performances? If so, why?

3 3 What do you know about Hugh Grant’s life? How did you What do you know about Hugh Grant’s life? How did you acquire this information? How reliable are your sources?acquire this information? How reliable are your sources?

4 4 What representation of masculinity is constructed in What representation of masculinity is constructed in Hugh Grant’s star persona?Hugh Grant’s star persona?

Discussion

Does the persona draw on any Does the persona draw on any stereotypes of British identity? stereotypes of British identity?

If so, which? If so, which?

Does it modify or reinforce these Does it modify or reinforce these stereotypes? stereotypes?

Are these aimed at a British or an Are these aimed at a British or an American audience?American audience?

Useful Websites

www.bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.uk

www.bfi.org.ukwww.bfi.org.uk

www.channel4.comwww.channel4.com

www.filmunlimited.co.ukwww.filmunlimited.co.uk

www.launchingfilms.comwww.launchingfilms.com

www.screenonline.org.ukwww.screenonline.org.uk

www.ukfilmcouncil.org.ukwww.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk