BRITISH CINEMAFinal topicFinal topic

FILM FESTIVALS – THE POWER OF CANNES

RecapRecap

What is a British Film?

What did the PM, David Cameron propose was best for the future of GB film?What did Charlie Brooker say in retaliation?

Surviving in the Shadows» What did Alan Parker have to say about British

film?» Which do feel is the most important point made

by Parker?» Why is it seen as one of the most dynamic

industries in the world?» What has the government done to improve the

film industry?» Why do British films find it hard to reach their

market?» What could turn to British industrial control for

the first time in 50 years?

» What did Alan Parker have to say about British film?

» Which do feel is the most important point made by Parker?

» Why is it seen as one of the most dynamic industries in the world?

» What has the government done to improve the film industry?

» Why do British films find it hard to reach their market?

» What could turn to British industrial control for the first time in 50 years?

Activity

» Complete the production, distribution and exhibition table for British Cinema.

» Where can they find funding?» Where do they go for distribution?» Where are they exhibited?

» Complete the production, distribution and exhibition table for British Cinema.

» Where can they find funding?» Where do they go for distribution?» Where are they exhibited?

Two models

IndependentIndependent

» Production

Distribution

Exhibition

» Production

Distribution

Exhibition

ConglomerateConglomerate

» Production

Distribution

Exhibition

» Production

Distribution

Exhibition

“Who’ll keep the cameras rolling?”

» “The desired conclusion for the British film industry is self sufficiency, a time when movies will be made without US interference and the profits will flow back to the pot and fund fresh productions. The Industry has traditionally been so shackled to the Hollywood system of funding and distribution that filmmakers have long been forced to sell of the Intellectual property rights to their movies in order to get them (a) made and (b) seen. This, no doubt, was what the culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, was referring to when he described Slumdog Millionnaire as ‘a creative success for Film4 but a financial success for Fox Searchlight’”

» “The desired conclusion for the British film industry is self sufficiency, a time when movies will be made without US interference and the profits will flow back to the pot and fund fresh productions. The Industry has traditionally been so shackled to the Hollywood system of funding and distribution that filmmakers have long been forced to sell of the Intellectual property rights to their movies in order to get them (a) made and (b) seen. This, no doubt, was what the culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, was referring to when he described Slumdog Millionnaire as ‘a creative success for Film4 but a financial success for Fox Searchlight’”

2010 studio backed films

Questions to ask ourselves

» Who funds and distributes most British films now?

» How far do you think a ‘self-sufficient’ British film industry is possible or desirable?

» Who funds and distributes most British films now?

» How far do you think a ‘self-sufficient’ British film industry is possible or desirable?

BBC Films and Film4: British

TV as film producers

How important is British TV to British

film?

How important is British TV to British

film?

Peter Buckingham, former head of distribution and exhibition at the UK film council:

» “Previously the focus has all been on cinemas, on finding a home for independent British films in a distribution system that is largely controlled by the US studios, with all the loss of freedom and revenue that this entails. But as we evolve from an analogue to a digital landscape, the game is bound to change. The rise of social media points to a time where every producer can become a push button publisher and where international distribution is no longer in the hands of the Hollywood gatekeeper. Except that we have some way to go to reach that point.”

» “Previously the focus has all been on cinemas, on finding a home for independent British films in a distribution system that is largely controlled by the US studios, with all the loss of freedom and revenue that this entails. But as we evolve from an analogue to a digital landscape, the game is bound to change. The rise of social media points to a time where every producer can become a push button publisher and where international distribution is no longer in the hands of the Hollywood gatekeeper. Except that we have some way to go to reach that point.”

Digital technology

» How far is digital media – evident in digital projection in cinemas, DVD ‘sell-troughs'’, video on demand and exhibition on the web –already significant?

» How far is digital media – evident in digital projection in cinemas, DVD ‘sell-troughs'’, video on demand and exhibition on the web –already significant?

Activity

» If Britain cannot complete on the world stage, and retiring to a ‘cottage industry’ style of production is not moving forward, what approach should British film take?

» CONSIDER DEVELOPMENTS IN PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, AND EXHIBITION.

» If Britain cannot complete on the world stage, and retiring to a ‘cottage industry’ style of production is not moving forward, what approach should British film take?

» CONSIDER DEVELOPMENTS IN PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, AND EXHIBITION.

INDEPENDENT FILM

Film produced mostly outside the major studio. Normally not mass marketed. Majority are partially produced and distributed by a major studio, less than half of the budget most come from a major studio to be considered independent.

Film produced mostly outside the major studio. Normally not mass marketed. Majority are partially produced and distributed by a major studio, less than half of the budget most come from a major studio to be considered independent.

Differences

IndependentIndependent MainstreamMainstream» Not profit driven» Usually about tackling

issues» Audience is forgotten» Usually made by auteurs» Paranormal activity budget

$15,000» Usually grow in popularity

at the cinema» DVDs sales and rereleases

biggest return» Promote through word of

mouth

» Not profit driven» Usually about tackling

issues» Audience is forgotten» Usually made by auteurs» Paranormal activity budget

$15,000» Usually grow in popularity

at the cinema» DVDs sales and rereleases

biggest return» Promote through word of

mouth

» Made for profit» Appeal to as many

people as possible» Avatar budget $237

million poss $150 million on promotion and advertising!

» Will take the most money in the vital opening weekend

» Made for profit» Appeal to as many

people as possible» Avatar budget $237

million poss $150 million on promotion and advertising!

» Will take the most money in the vital opening weekend

‘Indiewood’

» Many of the films these days are ‘Indiewood’ made by an independent director but funded by Hollywood through their ‘independent’ film production companies such as Fox Searchlight and Paramount vantage.

» Financed by tent pole movies made by the parent company

» Goes against the idea of what independent is!

» Many of the films these days are ‘Indiewood’ made by an independent director but funded by Hollywood through their ‘independent’ film production companies such as Fox Searchlight and Paramount vantage.

» Financed by tent pole movies made by the parent company

» Goes against the idea of what independent is!

Example of independent films that have achieved

success!» Paranormal activity» Juno» Lost in Translation» In Bruges» Donnie Darko

» Paranormal activity» Juno» Lost in Translation» In Bruges» Donnie Darko

British film industry may

suffer though as more talent moves to

Hollywood!Digital technology may

keep them at home?Digital technology may

keep them at home?

» How do you view the consumer of films?

» Is he or she using this form of entertainment for escapism, or companionship, or entertainment?

» Is he or she the victim of advertising and marketing when making choices of what to see, or is he or she perfectly able to make his or her choices?

» How do you view the consumer of films?

» Is he or she using this form of entertainment for escapism, or companionship, or entertainment?

» Is he or she the victim of advertising and marketing when making choices of what to see, or is he or she perfectly able to make his or her choices?

Industry and audiences

» Produce a diagram to show the relationship between audiences and the film industry. This can take the form you choose but you should aim to include the product somewhere too.

» Consider how producers exert pressure on audiences and vice versa

» Produce a diagram to show the relationship between audiences and the film industry. This can take the form you choose but you should aim to include the product somewhere too.

» Consider how producers exert pressure on audiences and vice versa

Power

» Fan» Fan » Industry» Industry

Power» Fan - on the

increase with new technologies

» Word of mouth» Websites» Emails» Mobile phones» Text messaging» Fan clubs» Conventions» Been able to dictate slow burning cult

movies out of ones that have initially flopped

» Fan - on the increase with new technologies

» Word of mouth» Websites» Emails» Mobile phones» Text messaging» Fan clubs» Conventions» Been able to dictate slow burning cult

movies out of ones that have initially flopped

» Industry - on the increase due to rise in conglomerates

» They can now:» Make, finance and

distribute their own film

» Reviewing films in newspapers/TV/radio stations

» Publish film scripts/soundtracks

» Screening films via cinema/TV channels

» Industry - on the increase due to rise in conglomerates

» They can now:» Make, finance and

distribute their own film

» Reviewing films in newspapers/TV/radio stations

» Publish film scripts/soundtracks

» Screening films via cinema/TV channels