Introduction to the British film industry

 Factsheet #132: British Film

Use our brilliant Media Factsheet archive on the M: drive Media Shared (M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets) to find Media Factsheet #132 on British Film. You can find it online here - you'll need to log in using your Greenford Google login. Read the whole of Factsheet and answer the following questions:

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

What makes a film British is the idea of the people making the film are British as well as the funding of the film is within Britain.

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

Hollywood films are typically made with large budgets and depend heavily on star power in both cast and crew. British films, however, can be produced on either low or high budgets and usually reflect distinctly British cultural characteristics.

3) When did the James Bond franchise start?

The James Bond franchise started in the 1960s

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

1970s, a rise of British Films of sexual content both the act of sex and sex linked to violence

1980s sees the rise of videos and 'video nasty's scare

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

British film are representation of youth, especially in the British Horror films such as Stanley Kubrick's and representation of the youth in films such as the Attack the Block. Also, there's representations of women, stereotyping of women as either, the virgin, the mother or the whore.

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

That audiences might appeal to British films due to the actors used, the British locations and the social themes. These are the British film narratives that focus on class, social strife and education. 

Find Media Factsheet #100 on the British film industry. You can find it on the same link as above. Read the whole of the Factsheet and answer the following questions:

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

Cultural test is a test for films in order to be defined as British.

2) Complete the task on the Factsheet - 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 Skyfall.

- The film Attack the Block was able to surpass the required 18 points required due to it having a strong UK         creative team, showing the British diversity and talent. Finance = $11-$13 million 

-  The film The King's speech was also able to surpass the 18 points required due to its use of strong British           cast (Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter). It's also about the British heritage/story and filmed in the             UK.  Finance = $414 million worldwide

-  The Skyfall film was also able to surpass the 18 points required due to extensive UK filming, VFX, British        cast/crew and its strong British cultural themes. Finance = over $1.1 billion worldwide

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

UK films are made but, in order to get the film exhibited, the filmmakers have to sacrifice the distribution rights by selling the film to a distribution company.

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

- Film industry since well before World War I and several important film studios are British, such as Ealing Studios and Pinewood Studios.

-  Directors like Richard Curtis have made films, such as Love Actually (2003), which have grossed billions of dollars worldwide and intellectual property

- British studios, camera companies and digital post-production houses all attract investment from filmmakers around the world, especially the USA

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

To rely to the co-production with American studios to keep the industry afloat and 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?

To attempt to make low budget films that are targeted at a niche, British audience and ore audiences can personally relate to some of the low budget 'indie' films such as I, Daniel Blake which could allow the British film industry to still be successful.